Midweek end of year walk - Crystal Palace to Forest Hill

Crystal Palace to Forest Hill

Short suburban London walk with plenty of interesting and unusual features and an opportunity to visit an art gallery.

Book 3 Walk 137

Length : 13 km or 8 miles

Toughness : 3 out of 10

Getting there : You may travel to Crystal Palace by train, here are three suggested routes:

1. Catch the 10:06 am Sutton train from London Victoria (Clapham Junction 10:14) - arrives Crystal Palace station at 10:32
2. Catch the 10:14 am London Victoria train from London Bridge (New Cross Gate 10:20)  - arrives Crystal Palace station at 10:34
3. Catch the 9:49 am overground train from Highbury and Islington to arrive at Crystal Palace station at 10:32.  Some calling stations are Dalston Junction, Hoxton, Whitechapel, Wapping, Canada Water and Surrey Keys.  The overground timetable is here

If you live locally you may wish to walk or catch a suitable bus

Meeting point : Crystal Palace Station Ticket Hall at 10:40 am ( I've added a bit of contingency time to allow for the various arrival times)

Tickets : Buy an Oyster Card to cover zone 3 and any other zones you need to travel in. (If you don't already have one)

Brief Description

Inspired by the ever resourceful Sean, I have the pleasure of posting the last mid-week walk of 2015.
The route is mainly on tarmac, but with possibility of some muddy stretches in Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Woods
The route gives walkers an opportunity to visit the Dulwich Picture Gallery which is showing work by M.C. Escher probably best remembered for pictures such as impossible triangles and never ending stairs.

You may find full details of the walk here

Suggested Lunch stop

The suggested lunch stop The Crown and Greyhound is closed for refurbishment so, as an alternative, I'm suggesting ...
The Plough at 381 Lordship Lane, London SE22 8JJ which is about 10 minutes walk away.

I anticipate arriving there about 12:15 

Visiting Dulwich Picture Gallery

Quite a few days for the M.C.Escher exhibition are sold out already, so if your planning on going I suggest you purchase a ticket here  ASAP.

The Gallery is about a 20 minute walk from the Pub, so I would suggest the 13:45 afternoon slot if you wish to visit.

Suggested Tea stops

The café in the Horniman Museum
The Deli on the road to Forest Hill Station

Map

OS Explorer : 161
If you have a London A-Z, perhaps pop in in your bag to cover all eventualities.

Returning home

Forest Hill has plentiful overground and national rail services back to London.

Alternatively, if you've been over-awed by Escher, you may also return from West Dulwich station (about 1 km away from the Gallery).

Trains here go to London Victoria and there are 4 an hour with a journey time of 12 minutes.

Tuesday walk - Up and Over the Greensand Ridge

T=swc.79.a SWC walk 79A+D - Edenbridge Town to Westerham
Length: 13.2km (8.1 miles), with a optional 2.1km (1.3 mile extension)
Longer walk: 19.1km (11.8 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

10.08 train from London Bridge to Edenbridge Town, arriving 10.46.

Buy a day return to 'Edenbridge Stations'

For walk directions click here.

It is challenging to pick walks for the period between Christmas and New Year!! Engineering works to the left of them, engineering works to the right. But we will turn adversity to advantage by giving this little used combination an airing.

It starts with Alternative Route D on page 14 of the walk document, which takes you out, initially over lowland fields (mud likely!) to join with the main walk directions. The Greensand Ridge looms on the horizon and you climb it by gentle stages, with fine views from the top.

The diminutive Royal Oak in Crockham Hill may be able to squeeze some of us in for a pub lunch, but the fall back lunch option is the self-service restaurant at the National Trust property of Chartwell (the home of Winston Churchill, though its house is closed today: the garden and exhibition are open, however).

Just before Chartwell, in paragraph 30 of the main walk directions, switch when prompted in to Alternative Route A (page 11). You then follow this on a direct route for 4.5km (2.8 miles) over the hills to Westerham and its sundry tea options.

LONGER OPTIONS

include an extra 2.1km/1.3 mile loop around the Chartwell estate that can still be combined with the direct Westerham ending.

Or you may like to complete the main walk route - 10.4km (6.4 miles) from Chartwell to Westerham, giving a total walk of 19.1km (11.8 miles).

TO GET BACK TO LONDON

Catch a bus from Westerham (bus stop location given in walk directions) to Oxted railway station: Variously the 594, 595 or 236 and taking 15-20 minutes, the buses go at 15.03, 16.04, 16.33, 17.24, 17.33, 18.33 and 19.18.

Trains from Oxted are at 19 past to London Bridge and 24 and 54 past to Victoria

If it is more convenient, number 246 buses also run to Hayes (30 mins) or Bromley South (40 mins) stations, but your onward train travel from these stations would not be covered by your Edenbridge return. These buses go at 22 and 52 past until 18.22, then 19.22, 20.22, 21.12, 22.12, 23.12

Bank holiday Monday walk - A quick ramble over the North Downs

SWC walk 2 - Woldingham to Oxted
Length: 16.7km (10.4 miles) with shorter options
Toughness: 5 out of 10

9.53 train from Victoria (9.59 Clapham Junction, 10.11 East Croydon) to Woldingham, arriving 10.26

Buy a day return to Oxted.

For walk directions click here.

It looks as if no one else is going to post a walk for today (which is a bank holiday), so here is my suggestion.

This is a bright and breezy walk up over the North Downs. True it has some proximity to the M25 for a while, but it passes through grand scenery, and - perhaps more to the point - has a choice of three pubs for lunch in Godstone, one or more of which will surely be able to squeeze us in.

Tea places in Oxted may be in shorter supply, but the Oxted Inn by the station is a reliable fall-back and I am betting Caffe Nero will be open too.

There are all sorts of shorter options and short cuts for those that wish them.

Trains back from Oxted are at 19 past to London Bridge and 24 and 54 past to Victoria.

Sunday Second Walk - Gentle Essex walk

Extra Walk 55 – Harlow Circular

Length: 13km (8.1 miles) Toughness: 1/10

10:55 Stansted Airport train from Liverpool Street (Tottenham Hale  11:07) arriving at Harlow Town at 11:24.

Return trains are at xx:02, xx:10 and xx:30 (journey time about 35 mins).

This short, easy walk on the Hertfordshire/Essex border is often done as a winter walk when the densely planted crops that can obstruct some paths in the summer are no longer a problem. Be prepared for a certain amount of mud, though in some places you can divert round the edge of particularly muddy fields as indicated in the walk directions.

The late start and short journey time makes this an ideal walk for those who like to have a bit of a lie-in on a Sunday morning. The recommended lunchtime pub is The Crown in Hunsdon (07415-370860).. Please note that The Crown’s phone number shown in the walk directions and on the website is now incorrect.  The nearby Fox and Hounds (01279 843999) is a more upmarket alternative.

You will need to download the Walk Directions.

Sunday First Walk - Surrey commons and canal

Extra Walk 214, Horsley to West Byfleet

Length: 15.4km (9.6 miles). Toughness: 3 out of 10

09:32 Guildford train from Waterloo (Clapham Junction 09:41, Wimbledon 09:48) arriving Horsley at 10:27.

Return trains from West Byfleet to Waterloo are are at xx:10 and xx:40. Buy an off-peak day return to Horsley.

This pleasant walk close to London is getting only its second outing today. It goes through green fields and woods, the yellow scrub and heathland of Ockham Common, Wisley Common and RHS Wisley Gardens, and a stretch of the Wey Navigation. The relatively early start will allow you to complete the long morning route (12.5km) in time to enjoy a leisurely late lunch at a canal-side pub, knowing you have less than an hour’s walking to do afterwards. The alternative early lunch pub requires a detour and would leave too much of the walk to be done on a short winter’s afternoon.

The recommended lunchtime pub is The Anchor at Pyrford Lock, Wisley (01932 342507).

More information and the walk directions can be found here. Please post any comments on this walk on the walk’s Feedback page.

Boxing Day walk - North London

SWC Walk 228 - Totteridge Circular
Length: 13.8km (8.6 miles) with options to extend to 19km (11.8 miles)
Toughness: 2 out of 10

Meet in the ticket hall of Totteridge & Whetstone station (Northern Line, High Barnet branch) no later than 11 am

For walk directions, click here.

Several North Londoners have requested this easy greenbelt walk for today, which manages a thoroughly rural feel despite being reachable by Underground. In places it could be a bit muddy (there are clay soils hereabouts) but it also includes a reasonable number of firm stony paths.

The Three Hammers, the lunchtime pub, is open today and does not require booking, though if any walkers are sure they are going to go today, a booking might not be a bad idea: coordinate this by posting comments below. If you pre-book, a special Boxing Day menu @ £19.99 is available, but the normal al la carte menu is also on offer too.

For tea, you will be delighted to hear that the Costa Coffee in the High Road will be open until 7pm. If you do the alternative ending through the village, the Orange Tree should also be open (leastways it is advertising lunch today)

Boxing Day Walk - Chorleywood to Chesham

SWC Walk 81 Chorleywood to Chesham

There seems to be next to no useful trains running so another tube based walk. This walk was posted on a Wednesday in late October, and we got to Chesham around sunset, so you might want to take the option 1 shortcut, saving 1 mile. You could also start a bit later with the option 2 shortcut, saving 2 miles. If you find yourself too early in Chorleywood, there is a cafe down the hill from the station and turn left under the railway bridge.

The full walk is 9.9 miles (15.9km) with lunch after 3.8 miles (6.1km), rated 5/10.

Trains Take the 1005 Metropolitan Line starting from from Baker Street (1026 Harrow on the Hill) arriving Chorleywood 1047. There are no Chiltern trains on this route, and no Circle line or Metropolitan line trains on the Hammersmith to Aldgate route. Return trains from Chesham are xx26 and xx56.

Lunch There are two lunch pubs in Chenies, The Red Lion

Tea Plenty of options in Chesham
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Mid-week day walk - The Thames Path

The Thames Path - Greenwich to the Tate Modern

The Greenwich Peninsular, O2 dome with views of Docklands. Tower Bridge, London Bridge and a Christmas Market at the Tate Modern 

Book 3* Walk 245 (In reverse with a minor extension to the Tate Modern)

* on-line only

Length : 14 km or 8½ miles

Toughness : 1 out of 10

Getting there : Catch the Jubilee Line to North Greenwich (or any suitable bus, or the Emirates Chair lift etc.)

Meeting point : Top of the escalators at North Greenwich Tube Station for 11:00 am

Tickets : Buy a suitable Oyster card to cover zones 1, 2 and your starting zone. (if you have not already got one.)

Brief Description

An easy pre Christmas stroll "sauth of the river" along the Thames Path.
This has a good chance of being mud free, so no need for walking boots, gaiters, survival bags etc.
The walk continues past London Bridge (the end point) and passes the Clink Prison and Bills Restaurant arriving at the Tate Modern where there is a Christmas Market.

You may find full details of the walk here, but basically it's "keep the river on the right"

Walkers are encouraged to wear Christmas apparel such as Santa hats, Christmas jumpers, Antler hats, white beards, well you get the idea.

Suggested Lunch stop

Mayflower Pub  t: 020 7237 4088
The Pub says booking is essential at this time of year, so I've booked a table for 8 at 1:00pm.
If you'd like to be one of the eight, may I ask you to email me at "arthur_at_quitenear_dot_me" (suitable emailified) - first come first served!) 

Suggested Tea stops

So many choices! I suggest folks make a decision on the day.

Maps

TFL Thames Path

Returning home

Lots of possibilities here which include ...

1. Go back to London Bridge
2. Cross the Millennium Bridge and jump on a tube at St. Pauls.
3. Carry on along the South Bank to Blackfriars or Waterloo

Sunday walk 2 - Only just north: the Chilterns from Chesham

Chesham Circular, Book 2 walk 4 (variant)
11.8 km 7.3 miles
3/10

Take the Met Line all the way to the Chilterns. Sweeping views, big trees. Not too long.
Travel:
Get the Metropolitan line to Chesham from Baker Street at 9:50 arriving Chesham at 10:46.
Trains return at xx:26 and xx:56
A TFL zones 1-9 travel card will do you

"pack a snack or two, just in case"

Lunch:  the Bell Inn, Chartridge 01494 782 878. I suggest phoning from the station. With Xmas being so close, pubs could be busy today. You might want to pack a snack or two just in case there's any problem.
Tea: Several places are listed: The quirky Drawing Room in Frances Yard 01494 791 691 is a favourite - it appears to be open till 5 but advisable to phone and check.
Directions: You need two sets of directions, available from here :  the Book 2 walk 4 directions on the "download walk" button, AND the extra directions on the "Chesham Circular" button.

Sunday walk 1 - Only just south: London's southern commons

Riddlesdown to Coulsdon South
Book 2, walk 15
with shortcut, 7.8 miles 12.5km.
Difficulty 4/10
This walk, all within travelcard zone 6, goes through some of the finest preserved commons in the green belt, including Happy Valley and Farthing Down. All being well, you also get to marvel at one of England's oldest - and possibly biggest - wall paintings in Chaldon Church .
The full walk is 10.4 miles but the 7.8 mile version is recommended, given the limited hours of daylight. This involves taking the shortcut (option a) in the afternoon.
Trains:
09:53 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:59 E Croydon 10:10) arr Riddlesdown 10:17
Trains back: xx:21 & xx:52 from Coulsdon South to Victoria.
A zones 1-6 travelcard is probably your best bet.

"Have some picnic items in reserve"

Lunch The Fox, Coulsdon Common 01883 330 401- Busy, efficient and "oozing rustic charm and rural character" according to their website. Phoning advised. There's a possible earlier stop at  the Wattenden Arms, though it opens at 12 and you may be too early. With Xmas being so close, pubs could be busy today. You might want to have a few picnic items in reserve. Just saying.
Tea: There is a Caffe Nero, 5 mins north of the station at 132 Brighton Road, open until 5pm on Sundays. Additionally, the walk notes give directions to a pub.
The Poppy Café in the Memorial Gardens (across the road from Reddown Road) is open till 4.
If thats all too much, there's an elf-service drinks machine in the station's cab office (note xmas joke).
Walk Directions: Book 2 or from here.
( n.b. in earlier editions of Book 2, the Riddlesdown start is given as option b of what was then the Coulsdon South Circular.)

Third walk - Urban sprawl and other delights

SWC Walk 207 - Farningham Road to Sole Street
Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles). Toughness: 3/10

Catch the 10:07 from London Victoria arrives Farningham Road station 10:36. Buy a day return to Sole Street. Return trains from Sole Street xx:46.

The story so far: In the introductory text, JB never went out of his way to market the walk. It received some tough feedback following on from its first outing in June 2014 (ref.: #207 comments), mainly due to overgrown paths which you certainly could not blame the walk for. Prior to a subsequent Saturday outing / vegetation check in August 2014 Anonymous (bored at work as usual) decided to point out these "issues" under the walk posting a couple of days before the Saturday, so I was pleasantly surprised when two others turned up for the walk. IMO the walk is undersold and apart from the final 100m access road down to Sole Street station it overlaps with no other SWC walk.

Longer option: Catch the earlier 8:52 train from Victoria to Swanley (arrives 9:19). Adds 6.1km to the walk from Swanley to Farningham Road, gpx route here.

Saturday Second Walk - Ancient hillfort, cathedral city

SWC Walk 15 - Winchester Circular
Length: 17.7km (11 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

9.35 (Weymouth-bound) train to Winchester, arriving 10.32

If you miss this, the 9.39 (Poole-bound) train is not tragic: it makes a few more stops (including Clapham Junction at 9.46) but still gets in at 10.48, giving you a good chance of catching the group up. 

For walk directions click here.

This is a bit of a splurge choice (a day return to Winchester is £22.65 with a Network Card), but you get a lot for your money. First a walk through Winchester with its historic attractions (see walk document), then a climb up an ancient Celtic hillfort, a riverside walk, and then more historic attractions on the way back into Winchester. You land up in the Cathedral Close which has a Christmas market, and in general the town is cheerfully bedecked + has lots of tea options. All in all a jolly pre-Christmas outing.

It would be dishonest not to mention that this walk is also in close proximity to the M3 motorway at several points, but one notices this less in the winter somehow, and in the morning fine views compensate. How much traffic noise there is depends on wind direction: with a stiff westerly the afternoon should be fairly quiet. While mud is inevitable on winter walks, this one does have a reasonable number of sections on firm paths or tracks, in particular the afternoon curve back from Shawford to Winchester, which is quite solid underfoot as far as I recall.

The Bridge in Shawford, the lunchtime pub, is large and capacious (or was last time I looked) and so should have no problem fitting us in: but it would do no harm to phone from the station to reserve a table.

If you want to spend the afternoon seeing the sights in Winchester, there is an hourly train at 19 past the hour from Shawford station, almost adjacent to the pub, taking 5 minutes: if you plan to do this, buy a day return to Shawford which is the same price as a day return to Winchester.

Winchester Cathedral charges a hefty £7.50 admission fee, but if you slip in a bit before it closes at 5pm you might get a brief free view.  If you do decide to pay for admission, see the end of the walk directions for a comprehensive walking tour of the cathedral's points of interest. There is also a Carol Service at 6.30pm, but this is ticketed and probably sold out by now.

The Cathedral Refectory (ie the tea room) also closes at 5pm, but there later options in the town. For pubs, you are spoilt for choice, but my recommendation is the Wykeham Arms, just before the end of the walk, where some of the tables are (or used to be) former Winchester College desks.

Trains back are at 18, 25, 48 and 56 past, the 18 and 48 being marginally quicker (1hr v 1hr 10 for the other two).

Saturday Walk 1 - Shiplake to Henley

Book1 Walk 9 - Shiplake to Henley, High Wood option

9.1miles/14.7km

This is a shorter version of the main walk, taking a more direct route to lunch.  You will need the High Wood option, found at the bottom of the online directions.

After lunch it is possible to visit Greys Court (National Trust), a 16th century mansion, now dressed for Christmas, and complete with gardens and Tudor donkey wheel.  Entry is £12, but there is a free cup of tea if you arrive on foot.

Trains: Take the 9:42 London Paddington to Oxford train (9:50 Ealing Broadway), changing at Twyford (arr 10:39) for the Henley train (dep 10:50), arriving at Shiplake at 10:57  Buy a day return to Henley.  Return trains at xx21, also changing at Twyford

Lunch:  The Maltsters Arms, Rotherfield Greys, serving food midday to 2:15pm

Tea: Chocolate Theatre Cafe, Thameside, Henley, open til 6pm.

Click here for full walk details and online directions
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Midweek day walk - Woldingham to Oxted

Woldingham to Oxted (Main Walk with short cuts)

Close to London, this walk combines stretches of both The North Downs Way, and the Greensand Way.

Book 3 Walk 2

Length : 14½ km or 9 miles

Toughness : 4 out of 10

Getting there : Catch the 10:23 am train from London Victoria and alight at Woldingham
Calling stations

• Clapham Junction: departs 10:29
• East Croydon:        departs 10:41

Meeting point : Woldingham Station at 10:56

Tickets : Buy a cheap day return to Oxted

Brief Description

You may find full details of this walk  here and Kindlefolk can download a mobi here

Should the weather turn out to be ghastly, there is an option to do the short version of this walk.

Suggested Lunch stops

There are three pubs and a tearoom in Godstone.
Connoisseurs of fine cuisine may find The Bell the best gastro choice.

Suggested Tea stop

Café Papillon

Those of you who may wish to try something stronger could try ...

The Oxted Inn next to the station

Map

OS Explorer : 146

Return train times

Trains return from Oxted to London Stations at the following times ...

to London Victoria at  15:54 | 16:23 |16:54 |17:24 | 17:53 |18:23

to London Bridge at 16:19 |17:20 |18:18

Sunday Walk 2 – The Thames Path and a Nature Reserve

Extra Walk 172 – Rainham to Purfleet via RSPB reserve
Length: About 12.8 km (8 miles). Toughness: 1/10

10:19 Grays train from Fenchurch Street (Limehouse 10:23, West Ham 10:28, Barking 10:34), arriving Rainham at 10:42. There are several ways to connect with this train en route, eg. Jubilee or District line at West Ham.

Trains back from Purfleet to Fenchurch Street are at 06 & 36 minutes past the hour. Rainham is in TfL Zone 6 and Purfleet just outside it, but you can use Oyster at both stations.

After this prolonged spell of wet'n'windy weather I thought I'd offer one walk where much of the route is on surfaced paths. It's not really a country walk, more a riverside stroll along the “evocative and atmospheric” Thames Path on the capital's eastern fringe. In less than two hours you'll reach the RSPB's Rainham Marshes reserve where you can decide whether to spend the afternoon squinting at the birdlife from the 4 km circuit around the reserve (£5 entry for non-members) before heading for Purfleet station, about 1 km away. The RSPB café is open to non-visitors and you can have lunch and/or tea there as you wish; there's also a large pub (the Royal Hotel) on the way to the station.

You'll need to print the directions from the Extra Walk 172 page.

Optional Adventure: A few weeks ago one of our number toyed with the idea of posting a longer version of this walk past the “dramatic industrial scenery” promised on the Extra Walk 203 page (Rainham to Grays), but feedback from a knowledgeable local about the dire state of the Thames Path on this extension swiftly deterred him. At least one SWC walker has done this in the past and lived to tell the tale, so if you're one of the Sunday hardnuts (© Mr M Tiger) you might like to see for yourself. At your own risk! T=swc.172

Sunday Walk 1 – Two steep hills and the Mole valley

Book 1 Walk 49 – Box Hill to Leatherhead
Length: 11.5 km (7.1 miles). Toughness: 7/10

10:10 Dorking train from Victoria, calling at Clapham Junction (10:18) and lots of other south London stations, and arriving Box Hill & Westhumble at 11:06. Buy a day return to Box Hill.

There are four trains an hour back from Leatherhead: to Waterloo at 15 & 45 minutes past, and Victoria at 23 & 53 minutes past.

This Book 1 walk hasn't had a Sunday posting for nearly four years, so is overdue another outing. The morning route includes two steep climbs up Box Hill and then White Hill (both of which could be slippery), but even so I'd have said that overall it's no tougher than the average 5/10 walk. Unless you do the variation mentioned below, the afternoon is a short and easy stroll along the Mole valley.

In theory there's a choice of two lunch pubs in Mickleham (the Running Horses and the King William IV), but on a Sunday two weeks before Christmas they're both likely to be very busy. It would be wise to bring some provisions and treat yourself to an extra-large tea (or a late pub lunch) in Leatherhead.

You'll need to bring Book 1 or print the directions from the Walk 49 page. Note that part of the morning route was changed in the latest edition, with a scenic route descending Juniper Top replacing a rather gloomy stretch along the valley floor.

Circular Walk Option: For an alternative afternoon you could loop round through Norbury Park and return to Box Hill station, which has trains to Victoria at 18 & 48 minutes past. You can get tea at the Pilgrim Cycles shop (01306-886958) in the station building and stronger fare at the nearby Stepping Stones pub (01306-889932). Some brief directions for two possible circular routes are at the bottom of the online version. T=1.49

Saturday Third Walk -- Ho, Ho, Ho!

Combo Walk – Book 1 Walk 25 and Book 2 Walk 29:  Rye Circular – an interesting exploration of the hills, ancient towns and marshland around Rye finishing with some Festive Cheer at a Dickensian themed Christmas Festival in the historic town center of Rye

Length:  About 12 miles

Difficulty:  3ish out of 10 – largely flat with one hill

Train:  Take the 9:34 Faversham train from London St. Pancras, arriving in Rye at 10:54 (with a change at Ashford – arriving 10:11; departing 10:33). For those preferring the slow train, take the 9:10 Ramsgate train from London Charing Cross (9:13 from Waterloo East) to Ashford and connect with the 10:33 departure to Rye – but, beware, this has a tight connection at Ashford, arriving at 10:28; another option with a more forgiving connection time would be the 8:52 Ashford International train from London Victoria (arriving at Ashford at 10:21) and connecting with the 10:33 train to Rye.  Return trains from Rye are at 56 minutes past the hour until 21:56.  Buy a day return to Rye.

This walk is a “hidden walk”, created by combining two existing walks.  It is being posted specifically to coincide with the Dickensian themed Christmas celebration taking place this Saturday in historic Rye.  The walk essentially follows the 1066 trail from Rye to Winchelsea along the base of the bluff, it then goes through Winchelsea and climbs atop the bluff passing a windmill en route to the Book 1 Walk 25 lunch pub in Icklesham (on an alternative route to the one in Book 1).  After lunch, you then follow the Book 1 route to Pett Level where you pick up the instructions for Book 2 Walk 29 (just prior to [7] in the Book 1 instructions (at instruction point 57) and picking up with [4] in the Book 2 instructions).   The route is actually an oddly contorted figure of eight with Winchelsea in the center.   More information and details for this combination can be found here.  Also, do not forget the instructions for Book 1 Walk 25 and Book 2 Walk 29 (or relevant parts thereof).  More information and a schedule of events for the Christmas Festival in Rye can be found here.  For those interested in shortening the walk and/or spending more time in Rye at the Festival, it is possible to catch a bus at Pett Level (check the times at the bus stop near the Smugglers Inn) or Winchelsea in front of the New Inn (hourly at 49 minutes past; then 18:37 and 19:37) or catch a train from Winchelsea (15:50, 17:50 or 19:50) back to Rye.

The recommended lunch pub is the Queens Head (01424 814 552) in Icklesham (about 5.5 miles into the walk).  A booking for 8 at 1:00 pm has been made – which may need to be adjusted depending on numbers.  Tea and/or afternoon refreshments can be had in Winchelsea at the Winchelsea Farm Kitchen (possibly, if open – there has been some press that it is now closed) or the always  trustworthy New Inn, both passed as you follow the instructions back through Winchelsea in the afternoon (though the New Inn is first).  To round out the day, plenty of festive libations should be on offer in Rye.

Enjoy the walk and Happy Holidays!

Saturday Second Walk - Marc Chagall windows and a multi-tiered Gothic Folly: Tonbridge Circular

SWC Walk 220a – Tonbridge Circular (via Hadlow)

Length:  24.3 km (15.1 mi)

Ascent/Descent:  150 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours

Toughness:  4 out of 10

                or 
Tonbridge to Hadlow

Length:  17.0 km (10.6 mi)

Ascent/Descent:  125 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 3 ¾ hours

Toughness:  2 out of 10

Take the 09.10 Ramsgate train from Charing Cross (09.13 Waterloo East, 09.42 Sevenoaks), arriving Tonbridge at 09.50; 
or the 09.03 Tunbridge Wells train from Cannon Street (09.07 London Bridge, 09.26 Orpington, 09.36 Sevenoaks), arriving Tonbridge at 09.46. (Fast) return trains are 6 per hour.  

If finishing in Hadlow, you will need to take a bus (Arriva 7/77/147) to Tonbridge (every 20 minutes or so up to 18.00 hours, then less frequently up to 19.43).

This walk takes in both sides of the River Medway to the east of Tonbridge, a low-lying area of meadows, farm fields, orchards and hop gardens. The scenery is pleasant rather than dramatic but the walk benefits from two highly unusual features: a unique church and a striking folly. All Saints, Tudeley’s twelve stained glass windows were all designed by the Russian artist, Marc Chagall. The final group of windows were only dedicated in 1985, a few months after his death at the age of 98. Tudeley's sister church, St. Thomas a Becket, is also on the walk route, it has a series of 13 wall paintings.

Throughout the walk there are occasional glimpses of its other main feature, rising high above the landscape, a multi-tiered Gothic folly, taller than Nelson's Column: Hadlow Tower, built by William Barton May as an embellishment to his equally eccentric father's extravagant house in Strawberry Hill Gothic style. Much of Hadlow Castle was demolished in 1951 but the Tower was saved. Hadlow's other attraction, Broadview Gardens, is passed as well (free entry).

The suggested lunch stop is the Two Brewers in Hadlow (16.0 km/10.0 mi).

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. There will be mud, there may be flood: bring your gaiters.

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Saturday First Walk - The Thames and wooded hills

T=2.8.b Book 2 Walk 8b - Henley to Marlow
Length: 16.2km (10 miles) or 14.1km (8.8 miles)
Toughness: 5 out of 10 - three short but steep climbs

9.42 train from Paddington (9.50 Ealing Broadway) to Twyford, changing there (arrive 10.40, depart 10.50) for Henley, arriving 11.02

Buy a day return to Henley-on-Thames, which will usually be accepted for return from Marlow.

Walk directions - you will need both Book 2 walk 7 - click here - and Book 2 walk 8 - click here

This composite walk starts with the morning of Book 2, walk 7 Henley via Hambleden - a pleasant route along the banks of the Thames and over a low range of wooded hill which you follow as far as lunch in the cosy Stag and Huntsman in Hambleden.

There is a 2.1km/1.2 mile short cut on this route if you want to take it - this is reduces the total walk length to 14.1km/8.8 miles

The Stag & Huntstman is quite a busy and popular pub, so it is not a bad idea to ring and book a table when you set out. (We have always managed to squeeze into it somehow, however.) You should get there about 1pm, or 12.30pm if you take the short cut.

In the afternoon you could of course continue with walk 7 back to Henley (4.3 miles after lunch), but a nicely contrasting route is to switch to Book 2 Walk 8 Marlow Circular from point [6] onwards for a five mile walk across the wooded hills to Marlow, which has lots of cheerful tea options.

Trains back from Marlow are at 06 past the hour.

Christmas Party

The Christmas Party will be in the upstairs room at The Ship Inn, 68 Borough Road, Southwark, SE1 1DX, the same venue as last year, from 6.30pm.

The pub is 200 metres south of Borough tube station: see here for details.

Some hot savoury nibbles will be provided, but you can also order full meals at the bar - plus drinks of your choice, of course.

Both new and longstanding walkers are equally welcome.

Midweek day walk - Frant to Tunbridge Wells

Frant to Tunbridge Wells (short walk)

A varied High Weald walk with stretches through parkland, restored heathland and woods containing massive sandstone outcrops, finishing alongside the Spa Valley Railway.

Book 3* Walk 19

* online only

Length : 15 km or 9¼ miles

Toughness : 4 out of 10

Getting there : Catch the 10:15 am train from London Charing Cross to Frant
Calling stations:

• Waterloo East: departs 10:18 am
• Orpington: departs 10:39 am
• Sevenoaks: departs 10:49 am

Meeting point : Frant Station at 11:15

Tickets : Buy a day return to Frant

Brief Description

With the SWC Christmas party just a day away, this weeks offering should help to put you in good spirits if you're intending to go.
You may find full details of this walk here, and hopefully it will not be too muddy through Eridge Old Park

Suggested Lunch stop

Nevill Crest and Gun t: 01892 864209

Suggested Tea stops

One of the many cafés in The Pantiles

Maps

OS Explorer 135 and 136

Return train times

Trains return from Tunbridge Wells to London Charing Cross at  16:09 | 16:21 | 16:49 | 17:06 |17:21 |17:39
Trains return to Cannon Street at 15:51 | 16:39 | 17:49

An invigorating day on the South Downs

Book 2 walk 25 and download walk 181 variation: Lewes to Southease via Glynde

Length 11.4km (7.1m); toughness 6/10, three climbs.

Trains 09.47 London Victoria (Clapham Junction 09.53, East Croydon 10.07) arrive Lewes 10.53.

Return trains from Southease at xx:09. Change at Lewes for connecting trains to London. Buy a day return to Southease

I’m taking  a bit of  a punt with this walk also!  The South Downs is normally summer walking territory but this short but vigorous walk  -3 longish climbs-  I think will make a fine winter outing and get the blood pumping!

The walk is in 3 short sections:

(1)  Lewes to Glynde – see Book 2 Walk 25 for directions (5km, 3.1m)

(2) After lunch in Glynde continue on through  the village, cross the busy main road at the T junction and go along the tarmac lane ahead.In 300m do not turn left down the driveway signposted Preston Park but continue ahead on the lane/track which gradually gets steeper until, after about 1km you get to the top of the hill. Note the radio masts away to your left.(3km, 1.9m)

(3) At the top of the hill turn right along the South Downs Way for an invigorating ridge walk ending with a long descent into Southease and tea.(3.4km, 2.1m)

Shortening the walk

You can end the walk in Glynde and have a long “relaxed” lunch at the Trevor Arms before catching a train from Glynde to Lewes (trains at xx:45) for connecting trains back to London.

Lengthening the walk 

For faster walkers you can extend the walk by taking a circular ridge route to Glynde and then from there continue to West Firle  to have lunch at the Ram Inn before ascending the Downs and turning right at the end of the climb for a longer ridge walk back to Southease (See Book 1 walk 31 for the Glynde to West Firle route). This adds about 5km (3.1m) to the overall walk.

If you have the legs and the speed you could do the Lewes to  Seaford walk (18.6km , 11.6m 7/10 toughness).  See Walk 181 variation. (Here you do not turn right at point (3) above but continue ahead on a direct route to Seaford.

An earlier train at 08.47 might be best for these longer options.

**Whatever walk variation  you choose you are advised to print off the OS map for free walk 181. See here

Refreshments (and timings)

Lunch is at the superb Trevor Arms (01273 858208) in Glynde.  You should get here about 12.15-12.30. Ring ahead as it gets busy.

After lunch you have 6.4km (4m) to do so you need to leave the pub at about 1.30pm in order to get to Southease around 3.30pm for refreshments at the Courtyard café at the South Downs YHA. The café closes at 4pm and then you have a 3 mins walk to Southease station to catch the 4.09pm train to Lewes.

Enjoy your walk! 

An easy Oxford amble

Book 1 Walk 13, Oxford circular

Length 15.2km (9.4m); toughness 1/10. completely flat

Trains: 09.34 London Paddington (Slough 09.54) arrives at Oxford 11.00

Return trains: xx:09 direct slow stopping trains to London

                       xx:51 direct faster trains to London

                       xx:16 fast trains to Reading where you change for a fast train to London

I’m taking a bit of a risk with this Book 1 walk as it has not been done for almost 3 years and has rather fallen out of favour. It was originally designed as an easy, flat  walk for visitors to London and a chance to amble around Oxford colleges.

However the route is redolent with history and interest and Oxford should be buzzing with Xmas shoppers and “end of term” students. (You may care to do a bit of Xmas shopping yourself!) You can do the college tours if you wish but you may prefer to amble round the city centre and take refreshments at one of the many bijou cafes or pubs.

The walk has been rewritten and up-dated so don’t use the book but see here for more information about the walk, refreshment options, and detailed walk directions. 

Saturday Third Walk - A Thames Valley Ramble: Dorchester with its Abbey and Wittenham Clumps Iron Age Hillforts

apologies for the late posting, but I have been away, and my pre-drafted posting didn't work out due to problems with pub availability

SWC Walk 44 – Didcot Circular

Length:  22.1 km (13.8 mi)

Ascent/Descent:  125 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 ¾ hours

Toughness:  3 out of 10 

  

Take the 09.22 Bristol Temple Meads train from Paddington, arriving Didcot Parkway at 10.12 (calls Reading 09.59)

(Fast) return trains are at: 15.47, 16.29, 16.47, 17.01, 17.30, 17.47, 18.01…hours (from 59 minutes journey time)

This walk takes in an attractive part of the Thames Valley south of Oxford, with a lunchtime stop in Dorchester-on-Thames. This handsome village is now bypassed by the traffic but used to be an important staging post between London and Oxford. It has retained a large number of coaching inns and other pubs, so there's plenty of choice for refreshment.  You should be sure to visit Dorchester Abbey, one of the few large monastery buildings to survive the Dissolution; it now functions as an impressive parish church. In the afternoon the walk comes to the Wittenham Clumps, the name given to a pair of Iron Age hill forts set in a nature reserve managed by the Earth Trust.

The lunch pub will be any one of a handful in Dorchester (11 km/7 mi), for details see the walk directions. For tea in Didcot, the Prince of Wales, right by the station, is the obvious watering hole to spend the time waiting for a train.

                                                                                                               

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.

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