9.23 train from Waterloo (9.32 Clapham Junction) to Box Hill, arriving 10.11
Buy a day return to Box Hill & Westhumble (unless you plan to do the longer ending - see below - in which case get a day return to Dorking)
Starting with an invigorating climb up the Burford Spur of Box Hill, this walk then descends across the southern side of the escarpment and passes through the interesting Brockham Quarry, before looping back across the lower territory to the south
There are FOUR possible pubs for lunch, and I chose a slightly earlier than recommended train to give you the widest choice of them. The first and probably best is the cheerful Red Lion in Betchworth, with unpretentious food in generous portions (last time I was there, anyway...). But not long after there is the Dolphin and two pubs in Brockham. Plus a cafe and a convenience store in the latter place, so you should not starve.
To stifle moans about all the walks being too short this week, this one comes with a possible longer ending, taking in the Deepdene Trail (whatever that is) on the way into Dorking and extending the walk to 11.5 miles.
The main walk bypasses Dorking, however, and carries on along the River Mole to Westhumble (ie Box Hill station). You might get to Ryka's Cafe (a motorbiker haunt) before it closes at 4pm, but the best tea option here is actually the Stepping Stones pub, which usually serves cakes and tea.
** It is a full moon today and if weather conditions allow, a short moonlight walk might be possible. I have a circular route in mind, starting from the Stepping Stones, but we will see if the clouds part... **
Trains back from Box Hill are at 35 past to Waterloo (48 minutes) or 46 past to Victoria (59 minutes), but the latter train only runs to 18.46, after which it switches to 19 past (19.19 etc), which is a bit strange... All these trains go to Epsom and Clapham Junction: the Victoria trains also take in Sutton.
5 comments:
I have been told in the past that when Peter and I come for a walk we must WARN people. “Walker”consider yourself duly warned!
I completed this walk (but not the extension) by myself today, having missed the train from Waterloo! It was glorious in the sunshine, albeit a bit treacherous underfoot at times owing to snow and ice. Thank you for posting it, Walker!
22 at the station, with at least 3 turning up later, mumbling excuses about closed stations and so on. I also see from a separate comment that another walker did the walk alone. (Did you not look for us in the pub?) So n=26 in all. Another w=sunny day. (Is there any other kind of weather? I have quite forgotten…)
One surprise was that there was quite a bit of snow on the ground - not everywhere, but in many places. On roads some had turned to ice and the ground was in general frozen solid. So careful walking was needed at times but there was almost no mud.
Some went the steep way up Box Hill and others a slightly more indirect gentler way (where the slope had nevertheless got iced up by skiers or tobogganists by the look of it). At the viewpoint some did a very un-SWC thing and waited for others to catch up, which was nice.
What goes up must come down, however, and this walk certainly delivers in that respect, plunging down the south face of the hill. Some grumbling about this, but otherwise positive comments on the route, with several saying they had never tried it before.
We got to the Betchworth Arms fairly early and it was as good as I remembered. An interesting home-cooked menu, brisk service, no fuss. For a change, pretty much all the group seemed to eat there, something about 2 degree temperatures apparently being off putting to sandwich eaters. (Or maybe the latter just came in for drinks: I confess I was not paying close attention.)
In the afternoon the group inevitably fragmented a bit. Did some go to one of the pubs in Brockham? Some certainly profited from their proximity to Dorking to take a train from there. But a slim majority of the group, I would say, did the whole walk and ended up in the Stepping Stones pub in Westhumble just as the sun was setting.
Here the bar area was very busy, possibly due to another walking group, but somehow we all got seats and eventually a whole table. Some waited for the moon to rise above the hills, while some slid off to get the 4.35/46 trains.
The prospective moonlight walkers eventually set off at 5.20, and after one last minute defection, four of us headed up Crabtree Lane and into the woods of Norbury Park. Ice patches were a minor issue here, but there was plentiful snow and the supermoon was fiercely bright, which made for an absolutely entrancing walk. (This is the first time I have been on a moonlight walk in the snow, I think).
We got all the way to the park’s viewpoint and then came back on a …ahem… slightly more adventurous route through Druid’s Grove (scope for tree surgeons seeking employment here….). But we all escaped unharmed and landed up in Box Hill station in time to get the 7.19 train.
Lunch pub was excellent for food, beer and service for a large group and is the Red Lion (or Red Lion and Cellar Room on Google Maps). We also got a bit confused about the meerkats which live at the Royal Oak Inn and Meerkat Retreat in Brockham and not the Inn on the Green.
Sorry, yes, the Red Lion. (You know what I meant….)
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