Wednesday Walk: Westhumble Circular

7.7 miles 12.4 km. Difficulty 5/10 A walk in the Surrey Hills, featuring the Polesden Lacey estate. We are doing option b, starting and finishing at "Box Hill & Westhumble" station. 

Transport: Get the 10:25 Horsham train from Victoria (Clapham Jct. 10:32) arriving Box Hill & Westhumble, 11:18, A return to "Box Hill & Westhumble" will do you. A return ticket to Dorking (main) costs the same and gives you the option of returning from either station. 

It is also possible to get the 10:24 Dorking train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct. 10:33) arriving Box Hill & W for 11:11 (wait for the others or else!) Travel from Waterloo costs slightly more. 

Trains return from "Box Hill & Westhumble" at xx:33 for Waterloo and xx:40 for Victoria. Trains leave Dorking 3 minutes earlier, should you choose to finish there.

Lunch: The National Trust tea-room Polesden Lacey is accessible without paying the entrance fee. (£14, free for NT members). Note that the Sir Douglas Haig, once an alternative lunch stop, is permanently closed.

Tea: The Visitor Centre at Denbies Vineyard is first. Then, near "Box Hill & Westhumble" station, there’s  the Stepping Stones pub. 

Walk Directions: here  T=2.14.b

Sunday Walk - Quiet Chalky Uplands of NW Essex: Wendens Ambo (Audley End station) Circular

COVID 19

Track-and-Trace: please provide email address (preferred) or mobile phone number at the start

 

Length: 23.7 km (14.7 mi) or 17.5 km/10.9 mi

Ascent/Descent: 240 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours (both: full walk)

Toughness: 4 out of 10 or 3 out of 10 

A slightly longer, more westerly route (25.7 km/16.0 mi) takes you over Essex’ highest point itself.

 

Take the 09.57 Cambridge North train from Liverpool Street (Hackney Downs 10.03, Tottenham Hale [Victoria Line] 10.10), arriving Audley End at 11.00.Return trains: at xx.10 and xx.47. Buy an Audley End return.

 

This is a relaxing walk in the quiet chalky uplands of north-west Essex, on the borders of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, very much off the beaten track, and with gently rolling hills, plenty of woods and copses as well as some pretty villages. Right from the start the walk takes you past picturesque thatched cottages with ample examples of pargeting, a decorative medieval plastering technique, and on through some farmland to the early lunch stop in Arkesden, one of the prettiest villages in Essex with one of the best pubs and loveliest churches. 

The route then gently ascends to Chrishall, the dedicated lunch stop on the full walk, along field boundaries and green lanes. Chrishall village is close to Essex’ highest point and the approach offers fine views into the Hertfordshire plain and back down the wide ‘winding valley’ that gives Wendens Ambo its name. After lunch you follow the Icknield Way to Elmdon, with views north out across the Cambridgeshire plain to Cambridge, then alongside a high hedge with views off to your right into the winding valley back to Wendens Ambo.

 

Lunch: The Axe & Compasses in Arkesden (4.9 km/3.0 mi, food from 12.00) for the short walk or The Red Cow in Chrishall (13.1 km/8.2 mi, food to 15.30). 

Tea: The Bell Inn, 10 minutes from the station, or The Fighting Cocks, 5 minutes beyond the station. 

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.116

Sunday walk - Shoreham circular (figure of 8)

Length: Main walk 12.4 miles

Alternative walk 9.4 miles or shorter options possible if you just do half of the figure of 8.

Toughness: 6 out of 10 for the main walk, 4 out of 10 for the alternatives. See directions for more information.

Trains: 9.55 train from London Victoria to Otford where you change for the 10.35 train to Shoreham, arriving 10.38.

Or, the 9.43 Blackfriars train will get you to Shoreham for 10.40.

Return trains run at xx:08 and xx:38 to Blackfriars (change at Bickley for Victoria).

More info to follow......

Other Saturday walks

Test post

Guildford Circular combination walk

Length: circa 8 miles or circa 12 miles. T=cw2.12

9.36 train from Waterloo (9.44 Clapham Junction) to Guildford, arriving 10.19

This is a combination walk of some of my favourite bits to the west and south of Guildford. You start by using the alternative Hog's Back start of the Guildford to Farnham walk (directions, GPX etc here) 

Borough Green to Sevenoaks

Length: 15.1km (9.4 miles) or 17.4km (10.8 miles) via Shipbourne

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Travel:  09.55 train from Victoria, calling at Bromley Sth (10.12) St Mary Cray (10.18) Swanley (10.23) arriving Borough Green at 10.41

Frequent return trains from Seven Oaks.

Ticket: Buy a day return to Borough Green, which usually seems to be accepted for return from Sevenoaks.  (If not, buy a single from Sevenoaks to Otford.)

For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.

As this is not a long walk,  a leisurely pace is recommended to experience the fresh green woods, apple orchards, fields with sheep and lambs (and hopefully buttercups) and the quiet village of Plaxtol.  This could possibly be the best time of year to enjoy this walk.    

Lunch: The lunch pub is the lovely Chaser Inn, with a large garden slightly off the route.  Tea or light lunches also available at Igtham Mote, a national trust property.  The café is accessible without paying an entrance charge. 

You eventually end up in Knole Park, with it’s sweet chestnut, oak and beech trees (and the deer).  There is a National Trust tea room which is open till 5pm. Other tea options in Sevenoaks including Gails which is open till 6.30pm.

L=1.36

Saturday Walk - Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk (Proposed)

Length: 15.1km (9.4 miles) or 17.4km (10.8 miles) via Shipbourne

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Travel:  09.55 train from Victoria, calling at Bromley Sth (10.12) St Mary Cray (10.18) Swanley (10.23) arriving Borough Green at 10.41

Frequent return trains from Seven Oaks.

Ticket: Buy a day return to Borough Green, which usually seems to be accepted for return from Sevenoaks.  (If not, buy a single from Sevenoaks to Otford.)

For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.

As this is not a long walk,  a more leisurely pace is recommended to experience the fresh green woods, apple orchards, fields with sheep and lambs (and hopefully buttercups) and the quiet village of Plaxtol.  This could possibly be the best time of year to enjoy this walk.    

Lunch: The lunch pub is the lovely Chaser Inn, with a large garden slightly off the route.  Tea or light lunches also available at Igtham Mote, a national trust property.  The café is accessible without paying an entrance charge. 

You eventually end up in Knole Park, with it’s sweet chestnut, oak and beech trees (and deer).  There is a National Trust tea room open till 5pm.  Alternatively there is a Gails and other tearooms in Sevenoaks. 

L=1.36

Lyme Regis Weekend - with New Walks Friday 26th June 2026 to Monday 29th June 2026.

A coastal holiday in the beautiful counties of Dorset and Devon.  You can admire The Cobb in Lyme Regis the stone-built breakwater and jetty which has ‘starred’ in such films as Jane Austen’s Persuasion and The French Lieutenant’s Woman.  There are walks through woodlands, the forested canopy of the Undercliff walk, and rides on the Heritage Seaton Tramway through the Axe Estuary, and, weather permitting, swimming in the sea.  Full details including tide times will be posted shortly.

Friday 26^th June 2026

Walk from Axminster to Lyme Regis (or take the bus).

Take the 10.20 train from Waterloo; Clapham J 10.27; Woking 10.46; arriving Axminster 13.02

If you don’t wish to walk, bus X53 leaves the station forecourt at 13.15 to Lyme Regis.  The next bus is X51 leaving at 14.22.  About 20 minute journey.

Full details of walk will be posted shortly.

Saturday 27^th June 2026

Seaton Circular via Beer and Branscombe with new extension. 

Bus to Seaton, then walk along the beach, over the cliffs and down to Beer. From Beer walk to Branscombe with wide, long beaches then return to Beer via an inland route following a stream and through woods and fields. 

Other options include a 7 mile walk back to Lyme Regis along the Undercliff, or spending time on the delightful heritage tramway in Seaton.  Further details to be posted shortly.

Sunday 28^th June 2026

Walk from West Bay to Lyme Regis –over the cliffs, through coastal village of Seatown, up to the Golden Cap (highest point in South East England).

Full details including updated bus and tide timetable to be posted shortly.

Monday 29^th June 2026

Lyme Regis to Axmouth – 11.9 miles

Different route to walk back to Axmouth than Friday’s route.  This is a gently undulating route through woods and fields back to Axminster.

Full details with bus times to be posted shortly.

Sunday Walk - Test

Test posting - ignore.

Borough Green to Sevenoaks

Length: 15.1km (9.4 miles) or 17.4km (10.8 miles) via Shipbourne

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Travel:  09.55 train from Victoria, calling at Bromley Sth (10.12) St Mary Cray (10.18) Swanley (10.23) arriving Borough Green at 10.41

Frequent return trains from Seven Oaks.

Ticket: Buy a day return to Borough Green, which usually seems to be accepted for return from Sevenoaks.  (If not, buy a single from Sevenoaks to Otford.)

For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.

As this is not a long walk,  a leisurely pace is recommended to experience the fresh green woods, apple orchards, fields with sheep and lambs (and hopefully buttercups) and the quiet village of Plaxtol.  This could possibly be the best time of year to enjoy this walk.    

Lunch: The lunch pub is the lovely Chaser Inn, with a large garden slightly off the route.  Tea or light lunches are available at Igtham Mote, a national trust property.  The café is accessible without paying an entrance charge. 

You eventually end up in Knole Park, with it’s sweet chestnut, oak and beech trees (and deer).  There is a National Trust tea room which is open till 5pm. Other tea options in Sevenoaks including Gails which is open till 6.30pm.

L=1.36