A high security prison, the line of the first ever railway, views over secluded valleys and London and a stop at The Oaks Park are all on route when you take this walk from Coulsdon South Station to Banstead Station.

The walk is section six on the London Loop – a circular walking route which follows the 150 mile London Outer Orbital Path around the capital.

The loop is split into 24 sections, some of which are managed by the Downlands Countryside Project, in association with Transport for London.

The below instructions have been taken from the London Loop section six leaflet, published by the Downlands Countryside Project. The numbered points indicate points of interest.

For Loop walk leaflets call them on 01737 733933 or go online to www.walklondon.org.uk

London Loop section six – Coulsdon South Station to Banstead Station

Distance: 4.75 miles / 6.8km

Average time: Three hours

Terrain: Mostly level, stiles and kissing gates, only The Oaks Park area is suitable for the less mobile and pushchairs

Maps: Ordnance Survey Explorer 146 and 161 (route is marked on these maps), Walk the Loop leaflet six

Start: Coulsdon South Station, TQ299591

Finish: Banstead Station, TQ246605

Parking: Coulsdon South Station and Lion Green Road, Coulsdon

Public transport: Trains to and from Cousldon South and Banstead Stations – no Sunday service at Banstead. Several bus services

Refreshments: The Oaks Park Cafe

Public toilets: The Oaks Park

Leave the station by the exit on platform one near the footbridge. Cross the car park and head for the road (A23). Cross at the pelican crossing and turn right.

1. Before the railway bridge is a milestone with the distance to Westminster Bridge in Roman numerals and to Brighton in Arabic numerals.

Keep walking until you get to Lion Green Road – a fork to the left – and take it. Carry on past the car park until you reach the post office on your left. Cross Chipstead Valley Road at the traffic lights and fork left up Woodman Road. The road bends left and immediately after there's a turning on your right marked "Public Footpath to Woodmansterne Road" and that's where you need to go. Take the left hand turn between the two fences and go over the railway bridge.

2. This was the line the Croydon, Merstham and Godstone Iron Railway followed in 1803 – the first public railway.

At Woodmansterne Road, turn left. At St Andrew's Road, cross over and take the right fork – a continuation of Woodmansterne Road.

3. In the spring the cherry blossom along Woodmansterne Road is a sight to behold.

Cross Bramley Avenue and keep going up the hill. When the pavement finishes at the top, cross and use the pavement on the left. Keep going across Lynwood Avenue, up to The Mount with a parade of shops and Jack and Jill pub.

4. The Sutton Countryside walk joins from the right at this point.

To carry on, go straight on down the road, past the pub on your left. On your right is an ancient hedgerow. Take the first bridleway off to the right, past the metal post. When you reach a set of black iron boundary gates go through and bear left. You come out onto the Woodcote Smallholdings.

5. The houses here were built for the troops coming back after the First World War. From the top of the hill you get a great view of London, including the masts of Crystal Palace.

Follow the hedge line to your left, as the path takes you down a gradual slope. Carry straight on, keeping the burning area to your right. Go straight on past the bollards. A few metres further on you'll see a stile on the left with a footpath sign to Carshalton Road. Go over it and head diagonally across the field.

At the far side of the field, cross the stile and turn left up the road.

At the field gate on the right hand side of the road, by the 30mph sign, cross the stile and keep to the left hand field edge. At the first corner of the hedge, where there is a signpost, turn right.

Walk across the field, heading towards a fence and a red brick cottage in the distance. Cross a double stile near some large beech trees and then another stile at the end of the field leading onto a very busy road. Cross with extreme care and go straight over into The Oaks Park. Take the first turning on the left or to visit the tea rooms, toilets or The Woodland Craft Centre, take a right turn.

6. At The Oaks Park Lord Derby and Lord Bunbury tossed a coin for who would name the classic horse race on Epsom Downs.

Keep following the tarmac path, which eventually turns into a footpath, as it winds round to the right past two barriers on the left. At the next junction, turn left going downhill to some steps. At the second set of steps, fork left through the gap in the fence and follow the path down, keeping the edge of what used to be a walled garden on your left. Continue round the wall and eventually turn right onto a track called Fairlawn Road. Continue until you see a golf course on your right. Turn left onto a bridleway (called Freedown Lane).

Keep following the track, past the stables and you will see what used to be Banstead Hospital, now part of the High Security Prison, on the right.

7. Carry straight on along the main track, and the high tech walls of the prison appear on your right.

Keep walking straight on towards the tarmac track.

At the end of Freedown Lane, you come to Sutton Lane (another busy road).

About 80 meters up the road to your left is a bus stop – a good place to finish on a Sunday when there are no train services from Banstead.

To carry on, cross the road and go straight down the track onto Banstead Downs, with the car park on your right.

8. John Totland described the Downs as "being covered with grass finer than Persian carpets" and in the 18th century considerable quantities were shipped to France to form the lawns of the palace of Versailles.

When the path forks take a left down the hill. At the bottom is a little brick bridge over the railway line – cross it and follow the path round to the left. Eventually the path takes you to Banstead golf course and brings you out onto the fairway.

Leave the course by the bridleway sign which brings you out onto a main road. Cross with care at the gap in the central reservation.

(You could take a left and cross at the traffic lights. For a short cut to Banstead Station, carry straight on along Fir Tree Road and then right onto Banstead Road).

At the other side of the road take the entrance straight ahead, then turn right by the information board.

This brings you back onto the golf course – follow the path across the fairway and into the trees on the far side.

9. Look out for the juniper shrubs, the berries of which are used in herbal teas, medicines and gin.

The next crossroads in the path marks the end of the section. To go home, turn left. Keep following the path ahead towards Banstead Station. At Banstead Road, cross and turn left. At the top of the hill is the railway bridge and Banstead Station.