Length: 15 km (9.3 miles). Toughness: 3/10
10:05 Reigate train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 10:12, East Croydon 10:23), changing at Purley (arr 10:29, dep 10:45) for the Tattenham Corner train, arriving there at 11:09.
The gamblers among you could risk the 10:12 Caterham train from London Bridge; it's due to reach Purley at 10:43 which would give you two minutes to jog through the subway to Platform 5 for the connection.
Return trains from Tattenham Corner are hourly at xx:13, again changing at Purley. An alternative would be to take the longer ending to Epsom Downs station, where there are half-hourly trains to Victoria at xx:05 & xx:35.
Southern trains generally seem to be running OK by 10am following a strike day, but if you do get stranded at Purley you could consider switching to another SWC walk in the vicinity (eg. at Coulsdon or Whyteleafe).
I'd been thinking of leaving this walk until next summer when the hills behind Epsom Downs will be awash with poppies and other wildflowers, but I'm posting it now because the First World War Centenary Wood at Langley Vale featured in the edition of Ramblings broadcast on Radio 4 on September 22. Those of you who are tech-savvy will know how to retrieve it and the 20-minute programme will give you a good idea of what to expect on this walk (a spin-off from the Merstham to Tattenham Corner walk, with a longer route through the Centenary Wood).
The suggested lunch pub is the Blue Ball in Walton on the Hill, with the Village Café as an alternative and benches next to Mere Pond where you can munch sandwiches. At the end of the walk you can grab a takeaway drink and snack from the Downs Lunch Box kiosk or relax in a large Beefeater pub.
You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.398
4 comments:
A regular race-goer recommended The Point Cafe or Silver Spoon Diner on Tattenham Corner Crescent. I don't know their opening hours but they're close to the station so might be worth checking out.
Will maybe try this one instead as didnt make Tring today in spite of gd intentions J
Going... Paul
N=21 set of on a w=sunny day, alongside the racecourse at quite a lick. In fact, and this is true, readers, we were asked to slow down in case we frightened the horses. That’s how fast.
A lot of the morning was taken up with the First World War Wood. An impressive size and some evocative sculptures.
At last it was lunchtime. 2 went into the Bell (aka the Rat) for a drink, most went on to the Blue Ball (who had said they were fully booked earlier but were still serving in the garden). People there liked what they got. Some went for childrens portions which were ample. A select few went to the caff. One sat by the pond and threw bread at the gulls.
We coalesced later for a loop round Banstead Common.
The group split up again in the afternoon, one peeling off for Epsom, some for Tadworth and the rest racing back towards T C. Faster and faster they went but they couldn’t shake off Mr Tiger. No sirree. Then it was all over and the 16:13 hauled us back to Purley and home. A grand day out.
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