Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 Lots of ups and downs but nothing drastic or dramatic - kid's stuff for seasoned SWC mid-week walkers
Thameslink service from Cambridge to Brighton, with stops at:
St Pancras: 10-00 hrs
London Bridge: 10-15 hrs
East Croydon: 10-29 hrs
Arriving Balcombe: 10-55 hrs
Return
East Grinstead to Victoria: 06 and 36 mins past the hour. Change at East Croydon for London Bridge
Rail ticket: Your best bet probably is a Thameslink single from London to Balcombe, and a single from East Grinstead to London (or East Croydon - Zone 6- if you have a railcard) Note: A Balcombe return does NOT usually work at East Grinstead station.
Please see - and comply with - our Covid Rules and Track and Trace - and practise Hands-Face-Space
This is a walk for our mid-week foodies, as the lunchtime pub - the Cat Inn - is one of the best on any SWC walk. I have made a reservation for our discerning diners.
Today's walk is a most pleasant one through undulating Sussex countryside, with a mixture of woods, farmland and pastures. Mid-morning we walk through the extensive grounds of Wakehurst Place, the seed bank and outpost of Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens). If their Seed Cafe is open, it makes for an early lunch stop. Onwards then through woodland and along a quiet track into the village of West Hoathly, where we stop for a picnic in or near the Church (worth a visit inside) or lunch at the excellent, gourmet Cat Inn. Diners please read their comprehensive Covid rules which they require us to respect and adhere to.
After lunch the walk route takes us up and over the Bluebell Railway then on to Stone Farm Rocks before we follow the Sussex Border Path around Weir Wood Reservoir. On then along a number of field edges (hopefully not too muddy today) then uphill along a road to East Grinstead railway station. For those in need of a proper tea stop, you will need to divert into town. Otherwise, your choice on your way to the station is a cafe in the Sainsbury's supermarket, or the station cafe (if open).
Enjoy !
T=1.34
Walk Directions are here: L=1.34
2 comments:
N=15 who divided into groups. I was in a group of 3 that soon became 3 groups of 1. Although I was the slow guy at the back, 3 of the faster ones caught me up later. It’s what’s euphemistically called “exploring new territory”
A tough walk with mud and slippery descents. The notorious steps at the start, the ones that did for my arm a few years ago, are now missing some sections of handrail.
The weather was W=sunny-intervals-with-one-short-shower. That guy who wrote that song shoulda called it “Acorns keep falling on my head” because they were. Lots of them.
By the time I and one of the Lost Boys reached the Cat, the 5 that stuck their hand up for lunch had moved on. Apparently, the inn has devised an elaborate waitress-summoning system using helium balloons. (Does it involve inhaling? I wonder).
Eventually, not before time, East Grinstead hove into sight and we got a train home.
If any of the Fast Ones would like to post a review, particularly of the lunch pub, please do.
The Cat really exceeded everyone's expectations.
Mussels, Trout, pork belly,Caesar salad, all done to perfection.
Orders were taken and food delivered promptly by people who looked like they knew how these things work. Every nook and cranny seemed full of happy diners.
More crannies than usual as each table had been isolated by hospital type screens, giving the slight impression of an upmarket casualty clearing station! (the screens were tastefully covered in William Morris type cloth work)
Outside, even the car park was full.
What's their secret? Must be the food.
Many thanks to Marcus for reserving our luncheon par excellance.
We partook of tea and cake at the Old Dunning Mill pub on the edge of East Grinstead and, fully replete, limped home to the metropolis on the 18.06.
A memorable day out.
Post a Comment