Length: 19½ km (12.1 miles). Four hours 45 minutes walking time. 5 out of 10.
Longer, after lunch option, via Chartwell: 22¾ km (14.1 miles)
"Much of this walk is on the wooded Greensand Ridge running parallel to and just south of the North Downs. At various points in the walk there are views across the valley to these downs, contrasting with far-reaching views out to the High Weald from the southern escarpment.
The outward route is across the National Trust's Limpsfield Common, the High Chart and Squerryes Park. This brings you to Westerham, described by Daniel Defoe as a “neat, handsome, well-built market town”. Quebec House owned by the National Trust' is open Wed–Sun afternoons from mid-March to October; admission is £7 (2022).
The afternoon route climbs onto the wooded Crockhamhill Common, from where an optional extension loops out to Churchill's family home Chartwell, also owned by the National Trust. The garden and restaurant are open throughout the year, but the house is only open from March to October; admission is £20 or £14 for the garden only (2022). "
Trains: Get the 1007 Uckfield train from London Bridge (East Croydon 1022) arriving 1035, OR the 0950 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham 0957, East Croydon 1010) arriving 1031. "Arriving from London, go down steps and turn right to meet up in a small parking area". Return trains x20, xx23 and xx53.
Lunch: In Westerham after 9km (5.6m), various options. The Kings Arms Hotel (01959-562990) is a Greene King pub and the Grasshopper on the Green (01959-562926) is a free house advertising local beers, and the George & Dragon has been revamped (01959-928414).
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Into every life a little w=rain must fall. Today it fell all day, more or less. Mostly not that heavy. Promised sunny intervals did not appear till we were sat on rain-drenched tables outside the pub at the end. (Grrr!)
Still, one can’t complain. Looking back through my diary to find the last Saturday walk with significant rain, I get to mid June, and even that was sun and showers. A wet-all-day Saturday? This was the first one of the year.
At least you find out who the dedicated walkers are on such days. N=7 hardy souls assembled this time - three off the London Bridge train, one off the Victoria one, two by car and I am not sure where the other one materialised from. We set off into the woods. There are a LOT of woods in this walk. Another time I might moan about this - surely more of an autumn walk than a summer one? - but today it was useful: the foliage kept the rain off.
By the time I got to Westerham the rest of the group were in the King’s Head. A chainy place, with intimidatingly smart decor and the rather unsmiling bar stuff such places engender. The food and service were fine, but another time I might try the more characterful Grasshopper on the Green.
In the afternoon more woods. And then even more. Perhaps the heaviest downpour of the day hit as we approached the pub in Limpsfield Chart. This seemed to me to be a cue to have a tea stop….but no one else thought so. So on we trudged into yet more woods.
In Oxted we diverted to the church to visit Delius’s grave, surrounded by other musicians we had never heard of. Perhaps as a result all cafes were shut by the time we got to the high street. This rendered moot the somewhat complex discussions about where to have tea. We went to the Spoons, the only available option. Two had tea, two puds. We got the 17.20 train.
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