Shorter Walk, omitting Chaldon loop: 12 km (7.5 miles).
Explore a part of the London/Surrey border now designated as a National Nature Reserve. Visit Kenley Airfield (where information panels recall its wartime role), cross Coulsdon Common and Happy Valley then head for Chaldon church (notable for its 12th C doom mural). After looping back to the Fox for lunch, the walk weaves back across Coulsdon and Kenley Commons. A last climb onto Riddlesdown eventually leads down to a café in Whyteleafe Recreation Ground and a choice of return stations. Some plaices will be familiar from our Riddlesdown - Coulsdon walk but this is a whole new kettle of fish..
Trains
The simplest train is the 9:51 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 9:58, E Croydon 10:09) to Upper Warlingham station, arriving at 10:21 (it's near Whyteleafe station and is included in the directions).
There's no direct train to Whyteleafe station today but you could get the 9:39 Thameslink from London Bridge and change at East Croydon onto the Caterham train (arr. 9:52, dep 9:58), arriving Whyteleafe at 10:17.
The two posses can meet up at Whyteleafe’s station car-park (near the level crossing). Say 10:30?
Return direct to Victoria from Upper Warlingham at xx:08 and xx:38, or from Whyteleafe at xx:57 and xx:27 changing again at East Croydon.
All stations are in TfL Zone 6, so you can use Oyster PAYG or buy a Travelcard.
Lunch
The Fox on Coulsdon Common.
Tea
The suggested tea place is the small Pavilion Café (01883-770666; open daily to around 4.30pm) in the Recreation Ground. There are also two pubs by the A22, neither of which do hot drinks, the Whyteleafe Tavern (0121-272 5499) and the Radius Arms micro-pub (07514-916172),
Directions here
A shorter 7 mile walk is possible by cutting out the loop to Chaldon.
T=swc.363
Lunch
The Fox on Coulsdon Common.
Tea
The suggested tea place is the small Pavilion Café (01883-770666; open daily to around 4.30pm) in the Recreation Ground. There are also two pubs by the A22, neither of which do hot drinks, the Whyteleafe Tavern (0121-272 5499) and the Radius Arms micro-pub (07514-916172),
Directions here
A shorter 7 mile walk is possible by cutting out the loop to Chaldon.
T=swc.363
3 comments:
I am interested in this walk and may come if weather is not too bad.
jane
Aiming to start at Whyteleafe
6 assembled in the station car park. Another two joined up the hill. And off we went, up hill, down hill, up again, down again, all along lea. Birds singing, gliders gliding.. As we neared Chaldon, the walk’s author suggested a different route that would avoid so much mud. After a long time, sliding through mud anyway, I began to wonder why we hadn’t reached the church. It gradually dawned on me we weren’t going there. However, my mood brightened when I realised we were almost back at the Fox.
We were joined there by two late starters. Apparently, there were another two doing the walk in reverse but I never saw them. There seemed to be a problem getting tables in the Fox but one of our number had stopped there and guarded one. People seemed to like what they got. I just filled up with cider.
Then we were off again, up hill, down dale, up again, down again. On the way we were joined by one more. How many’s that? I’m going to stick my neck out and say n=13 The weather, which had been w=dry-cold-and-overcast-turned-sunny-later Or maybe it just was my cheerful countenance brightening everyone’s day.
Eventually we reached the recreation ground and had tea and cake outside the café. Most then went to Whyteleafe Station. Myself and ‘Explorer’ paid a quick visit to the Radius micropub. (Had to didn’t I? Just missed the Upper Warlingham train). Quite a place, tiny, crowded, whacky décor. a zillion types of ale, several ciders. Then home.
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