A nice easy six-miler starting and ending at Selhurst Park Stadium, taking in Heavers Meadow, South Norwood Rec and the Country Park. Perfect for a weekend stretch of the legs. Could be completed in half an hour flat out, an hour at steady pace, or make a morning or afternoon of it with park, playground and cafe stops.

Dismount to cross Selhurst Road, again for the railway underpass at Norwood Junction (a nice selection of cafes there - Cafe Mimosa or Yeha Noha make a nice pit stop) and at Goat House Bridge.

Once you're on Lancaster Road, South Norwood Lakes (which has a playground and TWO cafes - opening times vary) is a short hop away via Avenue Road. Please cycle considerately around the lake - the path isn't that wide, and it gets quite busy.

This route uses the service road at the end of Southern Avenue to avoid South Norwood Hill, recommend crossing at one of the islands or straight over to Elm Park Road if it's quiet enough.

There are a couple of awkward barriers at the Country Park, so this one is not recommended for adapted cycles or cargo bikes. You may be able to get through by skirting the edge of the country park, staying south and west of the tram tracks, but it's an unpaved surface there. Tandems are OK as long as someone is able to lift them over the barriers.

Bonus local trivia: The culverted river you pass at Heaver's Meadow (next to the railway) is part of the Norbury Brook, a tributary of the Wandle - rainwater falling here joins the Thames at Wandsworth. The streams just around the corner at the Country Park feed the river Ravensbourne, which joins the Thames at Greenwich.

Both rivers have walking / cycling trails along much of their length, but the Wandle is best explored starting at Wandle Park (Croydon), Morden Hall Park or Colliers Wood - the Norbury Brook is not easily accessible along much of its length.