Length: 11.5 miles (18.5 km) 6/10
This walk has worked really well at this time of year with good paths, autumn colour and mushrooms. Friday Street with its pond makes a satisfying place to aim for even in the absence of the Stephan Langton pub.
Travel: 1011 from Victoria (Clapham Junction 1018, Epsom 1052), arriving Dorking Main station at 1107. You could get the 1024 from Waterloo (arr 1116) and catch us up. The 1000 from London Bridge to Redhill, changing on to the 1043 to Dorking Deepdene arriving 1055, would give you time to intercept the group on the road from Dorking Main station. Returns at 30 past the hour to Waterloo, 17/43 to Victoria and 58 from Dorking Deepdene to London Bridge via Redhill.
Lunch: The Wotton Hatch (01306-887694) on the A25 at Wotton after 7½ km, serves food all day and has a large beer garden with views of the North Downs, although it inevitably has some traffic noise from the main road. As far as I know the Stephan Langton in Friday Street is still for sale.
Tea: quite a few options in Dorking, see the main walk page.
Shortening the walk: the short walk on the walk page avoids takes a lower route from Wotton to Westcott, avoiding the ascent through woods to Friday Street, to make a walk of 10 miles/16 km (4/10). Those with local knowledge may also be able to show you how to avoid the steep ascent of the Nower on the way into Dorking towards the end of the walk.
For walk directions, map and GPX click here
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1 comment:
#16 on a #fine-autumn-day-with-sunshine-in-the-afternoon - 11 were on the posted train; three earlier arrivals plus dog, including one with an afternoon appointment who set off alone; and two more on the delayed London Bridge/Redhill train who met us on the Pilgrim's Way. Most stayed together in the morning and picknicked at St John's Church. When we arrived at the Wotton Hatch the group split with some staying for a drink and then doing the short walk; of the others, six shot off ahead on the full walk and were not seen again. I hear that one of the pub visitors also did the full walk. I don't know if anyone stopped for tea in Dorking. There was beautiful evening-type low sunlight in the afternoon and a few mushrooms to identify.
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