The Line: London's first dedicated modern and contemporary art walk
Stratford to North Greenwich t=short.21
Length: 7.2 km (plus 2 stops on the DLR and a Thames crossing on the 'Emirates Air Line'-cable car) Meet 19.00 hours prompt outside Stratford Station, at the bottom of the footbridge to the Bus Station. Exploration of this new waymarked walk in East London, which is split into three parts, and by now should have 14 Sculptures displayed, all by prominent artists. The route initially follows the River Lea, passes Three Mills Green & Water Mill (the largest tidal mill in the world) and the Film and Television Studios (London's largest) and then – a little further along The Lea – Cody Dock, an interesting community project on a former Gasworks site. After a short ride on the DLR (Star Lane to Royal Victoria) we walk along Royal Victoria Dock and take the cable car across the Thames (£3.40 on Oyster Pay As You Go, £4.50 cash fare, closes at 21.00 hours). The route then finishes with a stretch along the Thames Path rounding the O2-Dome, before turning to North Greenwich Underground Station and the neighbouring wide range of eateries and waterholes. The Line's website Map of the route Info on Three Mills Green and Mill Info on Cody Dock
Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Midweek day walk - Tisbury circular
Tisbury Circular
Alfred's Tower, Old and New Wardour Castles
Book 3 Walk 252 (leisurely variant - link below)
Length : 15 km or 9.5 miles
Toughness : 4 out of 10
Getting there : Catch the 9:20 am train from London Waterloo to Tisbury (9:27 from Clapham Junction)
Meeting point : Tisbury Station at 11:06
Tickets : Buy a Summer Promo Return Ticket from London to Salisbury (cost £20) and buy a day return from Salisbury to Tisbury (£5)
You don't need a rail card for the Promo, but some rail cards will get you a discount on the Salisbury to Tisbury extension.
You don't need a rail card for the Promo, but some rail cards will get you a discount on the Salisbury to Tisbury extension.
Brief Description
This is one of the shorter of Thomas's Tisbury treats and you may find full details here
Suggested Lunch stop
The Forester Inn, Lower Street, Donhead St. Andrew, Shaftesbury, Wiltshire, SP7 9EE (01747 828 038)
Suggested Tea and Dinner stops
Beatons Tearooms and Bookshop, The Square, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6JP (01747 871 819 ). Open 8.45-17.00 Mon-Fri,
The Boot Inn, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6PS (01747 870 363).Open 19.00-23.00 Food served until 21.30 evenings.
You may find others in the full details.
The Boot Inn, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6PS (01747 870 363).Open 19.00-23.00 Food served until 21.30 evenings.
You may find others in the full details.
Maps
OS Explorer : 118
Return train times
Trains return from Tisbury to London Waterloo at the following times ...
16:28 | 17:01 | 18:02 | 19:01 | 20:07 | 21:02
16:28 | 17:01 | 18:02 | 19:01 | 20:07 | 21:02
Sunday, 26 July 2015
Sunday Second Walk – The Hucking Estate & Leeds Castle
Extra Walk 253 – L=swc.253
Length: 17 km (10.6 miles). Toughness: 5/10
09:36 Canterbury West train from Victoria, arriving Hollingbourne at 10:49.
Trains back are hourly at 07 minutes past. You could also take an outbound train at 49 minutes past and change at Ashford for a High Speed train to St Pancras, but you'd have to pay a supplement for this.
This newish walk (a spin-off from Extra Walk 221) features a climb onto the North Downs ridge and a circuit of the Woodland Trust's Hucking Estate, returning to an up-market pub on the outskirts of Hollingbourne for lunch. The afternoon section – if you can put up with a noisy link route past motorways and high-speed trains – is a circuit on public footpaths through the scenic grounds of Leeds Castle. Those who'd prefer a quieter Sunday afternoon can simply snooze in the nearby Hollingbourne Meadows before heading for the station.
Late Start option: If a 9:36 train on a Sunday is too much of a struggle, take the train an hour later and do one of the morning short cuts to catch up.
Length: 17 km (10.6 miles). Toughness: 5/10
09:36 Canterbury West train from Victoria, arriving Hollingbourne at 10:49.
Trains back are hourly at 07 minutes past. You could also take an outbound train at 49 minutes past and change at Ashford for a High Speed train to St Pancras, but you'd have to pay a supplement for this.
This newish walk (a spin-off from Extra Walk 221) features a climb onto the North Downs ridge and a circuit of the Woodland Trust's Hucking Estate, returning to an up-market pub on the outskirts of Hollingbourne for lunch. The afternoon section – if you can put up with a noisy link route past motorways and high-speed trains – is a circuit on public footpaths through the scenic grounds of Leeds Castle. Those who'd prefer a quieter Sunday afternoon can simply snooze in the nearby Hollingbourne Meadows before heading for the station.
Late Start option: If a 9:36 train on a Sunday is too much of a struggle, take the train an hour later and do one of the morning short cuts to catch up.
Sunday First Walk – Watts Gallery & Chapel and the River Wey
Book 1 Walk 2 – L=1.02.b
Length: 12 km (7½ miles) to Godalming; about 20 km (12½ miles) extended to Guildford. Toughness: 2 or 3/10
10:30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:39), changing at Guildford (arr 11:10, dep 11:17) for the Aldershot train and arriving Wanborough at 11:23. Buy a day return to Wanborough.
If you finish at Godalming, trains back are hourly at 56 minutes past and you will need to buy a single to Guildford. If you extend the walk to Guildford, fast trains to Waterloo are at 05 & 35 minutes past and your Wanborough ticket will be valid.
The standard Book 1 walk is normally done in the depths of winter so I hope that its dire warnings of waterlogged and muddy paths hold less terrors in July. Its highlights are the Watts Gallery and Chapel in Compton; the latter is free to enter and well worth the short detour. You can choose between a light lunch at the Tea Shop next to the gallery or carry on a little further to one of the best lunch pubs on an SWC walk, the popular Withies Inn; you can usually eat outside or squeeze into its bar area but you'll need to call ahead if you want to eat in the restaurant.
When you reach Godalming in mid-afternoon you can decide whether to extend the walk along the towpath of the Wey Navigation into Guildford, a further 8 km (5 miles). There are no written directions for this but they are hardly necessary: you go through the riverside park, cross the river on the town bridge (A3100) and then simply keep the water on your right for the rest of the day.
Godalming has several tea places on its High Street but 'long walkers' might like to carry on to Hector's On the Wey café, familiar from the end of Walk 20 (Milford-Godalming). The final stretch into Guildford is the same as Walk 14 (Gomshall-Guildford) and you could refer to that walk's notes for further refreshment places before the journey home.
Length: 12 km (7½ miles) to Godalming; about 20 km (12½ miles) extended to Guildford. Toughness: 2 or 3/10
10:30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:39), changing at Guildford (arr 11:10, dep 11:17) for the Aldershot train and arriving Wanborough at 11:23. Buy a day return to Wanborough.
If you finish at Godalming, trains back are hourly at 56 minutes past and you will need to buy a single to Guildford. If you extend the walk to Guildford, fast trains to Waterloo are at 05 & 35 minutes past and your Wanborough ticket will be valid.
The standard Book 1 walk is normally done in the depths of winter so I hope that its dire warnings of waterlogged and muddy paths hold less terrors in July. Its highlights are the Watts Gallery and Chapel in Compton; the latter is free to enter and well worth the short detour. You can choose between a light lunch at the Tea Shop next to the gallery or carry on a little further to one of the best lunch pubs on an SWC walk, the popular Withies Inn; you can usually eat outside or squeeze into its bar area but you'll need to call ahead if you want to eat in the restaurant.
When you reach Godalming in mid-afternoon you can decide whether to extend the walk along the towpath of the Wey Navigation into Guildford, a further 8 km (5 miles). There are no written directions for this but they are hardly necessary: you go through the riverside park, cross the river on the town bridge (A3100) and then simply keep the water on your right for the rest of the day.
Godalming has several tea places on its High Street but 'long walkers' might like to carry on to Hector's On the Wey café, familiar from the end of Walk 20 (Milford-Godalming). The final stretch into Guildford is the same as Walk 14 (Gomshall-Guildford) and you could refer to that walk's notes for further refreshment places before the journey home.
Saturday, 25 July 2015
Saturday Third Walk
Extra Walk 73: South West Coast Path: Branksome to Swanage or Corfe Castle – A Lovely
Long Coastal Journey
Length: 11.6 miles to Swanage; 14.5 to Corfe Castle
Difficulty: 3 out of 10 to Swanage; 5 out of 10 to Corfe
Castle
Train: Take the 9:35
South West Weymouth train from London Waterloo
to Branksome arriving at 11:29. Buy a
special “summer promotion” day return ticket (£20) to Wareham for maximum
flexibility on the return journey.
According to the SW website, these can be purchased online, from ticket
offices and from ticket machines.
In order to return from Swanage, you
will need to take the number 40 bus from the Swanage bus station to Wareham
(approximately 30 minutes) or a number 50 bus from various points along the sea
front to Bournemouth (approximately 1 hour).
From Corfe Castle, take the 40 bus. The 40 bus leaves Swanage at 18:05
and 19:05 (and Corfe at 18:23 and 19:23); the 50 bus leaves Swanage at 18:25;
19:25; 20:25. Return trains from Wareham
are at 18:28; 18:53; 19:28; 19:53; 20:42 and 21:42 – the 40 bus coordinates
well with the 53 trains. These trains
stop in Bournemouth at 18:59; 19:22; 19:59; 20:22; 21:12 and 22:12 – the 50 bus
does not link well, and, you will have a 30 minute or so wait to peruse the
nearby ASDA. To maximize your time or take the 42 trains, you
could also take a taxi from Swanage/Corfe to Wareham – Swanage Taxis 01929 421
122 or 01929 425 350. The quoted fare is £25 from Swanage and the trip takes
about 20 minutes (or 10 minutes from Corfe).
Please make sure to call ahead.
This is a
long and enjoyable summer outing. The
walk takes a hidden valley down to the sea and a long sandy beach. It largely follows the coastline with plenty
of opportunities for swimming. At
Sandbanks, you take a short ferry ride over to Purbeck and enjoy another long
sandy stretch through Studland Bay with more swimming options. At the far end
of Studland Bay, the walk climbs up to Old Harry’s Rocks and then either drops
down into Swanage or carries along the ridge to Corfe Castle. More information and the walk instructions
can be found here.
There are a
couple of lunch options on either side of the Sandbanks Ferry – the recommended
one is the Shell Bay Cafe (01929 450 363)
on the Purbeck side of the ferry. Large
groups should call ahead. There are also
plenty of places to enjoy a picnic.
Tea and
other refreshments can be had at the National Trust kiosk in Studland Bay or at
the Bankes Arms pub in Studland Bay.
Both Swanage and Corfe Castle have a few options for post walk libations.
Enjoy the
walk and fingers crossed for good weather!
Saturday Second Walk - Four villages, each with a good pub
SWC Walk 176 - Kings Sutton Circular
Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles)
Toughness: 3 out of 10
9.36 train from Marylebone to Banbury, arriving 10.40, connecting there to the 11.02 train to King's Sutton, arriving 11.07
Buy a day return to Banbury.
For walk directions click here.
I have had a request for this walk, which has not had a Saturday outing for a good while, if at all, and so deserves one now.
The author says little about the type of terrain traversed, though from the map it seems to be gentle territory to the south of Banbury. But the walk does apparently have four good pubs, each in its own village and each serving a good selection of real ales, so it should be a pleasant way to while away a fine summer's day.
A walker who did this walk in November 2013 commented: "Not a walk for the more precious SWC-folk, what with several long arable field crossings and the ever present hum of the M40 in the morning, but a delightful addition for the rest of us. Lovely villages, some rolling hillocky bits providing occasional far(ish) views, plenty of woods, several impressive stately piles, interesting churches and plenty of pubs, the occasional road walking mostly on quiet lanes."
A glance at the train times will show you that there is a 22 minute wait in Banbury on the outward journey for a connection (for a stopping train heading back SOUTH). You can cut this out by simply starting the walk from Banbury, adding 6km (3.7 miles) to the walk: directions are given in the document.
Trains back from Kings Sutton are at 16.34, 16.43, 17.29, 18.28, 18.43, 19.07, 20.11, 20.28, 20.44. These go in various directions and require various changes:
- The 16.34 and 20.11 are direct services southwards to London
- The 16.43, 18.28, and 20.28 require a change in Banbury - that is, you head north and then connect to a fast train south
- The 17.29 heads south and you change in Oxford.
- The 18.43 heads north requires a change in BOTH Banbury and Oxford.
- The 19.07 also heads south and requires a change in Oxford, but if you also change in Didcot you save 20 minutes (1 hour 30 v 1 hour 50).
- The 20.44 heads south and you change in Oxford and Reading
Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles)
Toughness: 3 out of 10
9.36 train from Marylebone to Banbury, arriving 10.40, connecting there to the 11.02 train to King's Sutton, arriving 11.07
Buy a day return to Banbury.
For walk directions click here.
I have had a request for this walk, which has not had a Saturday outing for a good while, if at all, and so deserves one now.
The author says little about the type of terrain traversed, though from the map it seems to be gentle territory to the south of Banbury. But the walk does apparently have four good pubs, each in its own village and each serving a good selection of real ales, so it should be a pleasant way to while away a fine summer's day.
A walker who did this walk in November 2013 commented: "Not a walk for the more precious SWC-folk, what with several long arable field crossings and the ever present hum of the M40 in the morning, but a delightful addition for the rest of us. Lovely villages, some rolling hillocky bits providing occasional far(ish) views, plenty of woods, several impressive stately piles, interesting churches and plenty of pubs, the occasional road walking mostly on quiet lanes."
A glance at the train times will show you that there is a 22 minute wait in Banbury on the outward journey for a connection (for a stopping train heading back SOUTH). You can cut this out by simply starting the walk from Banbury, adding 6km (3.7 miles) to the walk: directions are given in the document.
Trains back from Kings Sutton are at 16.34, 16.43, 17.29, 18.28, 18.43, 19.07, 20.11, 20.28, 20.44. These go in various directions and require various changes:
- The 16.34 and 20.11 are direct services southwards to London
- The 16.43, 18.28, and 20.28 require a change in Banbury - that is, you head north and then connect to a fast train south
- The 17.29 heads south and you change in Oxford.
- The 18.43 heads north requires a change in BOTH Banbury and Oxford.
- The 19.07 also heads south and requires a change in Oxford, but if you also change in Didcot you save 20 minutes (1 hour 30 v 1 hour 50).
- The 20.44 heads south and you change in Oxford and Reading
Saturday First Walk
I will be standing down shortly - I go away in September
So a new volunteer poster is needed - or volunteers: it is perfectly OK to volunteer for every other week or even one week in four.
Traditionally this slot has been chosen from Book 1 or Book 2 walks and the feeling is that it would be good to continue this.
The work involves choosing a walk - choosing a train time and posting it.
The posting team will be very happy to give the new poster/s support
To volunteer email saturdaywalkersATyahooDOTcoDOTuk (or post a comment if you have a question).
Meanwhile here is this weeks walk
Book 1 Walk 53 Wye Circular
18 Km (11.2 miles)
7 out of 10
map available here
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_53/map.shtml
Take the 09.22 from Victoria to Wye arriving at 11.09
or
St Pancras at 10.08 (Stratford Int 10.15) with a change at Ashford to also arrive at 11.09
Lunch
at The Compasses in Sole St ( http://www.thecompassescrundale.co.uk/ 01227700300 )
From the comments section
The menu is a mix of fairly gourmet mains at around £14-15, but also with a Ramblers Menu which includes huge doorstep sandwiches, nice soup, sausage and mash. They are very walker-friendly and urged us not to take our muddy boots off.
I just rang and they have tables available for next Saturday for lunch
Tea
at Kings Head or Crown Coffee in Wye
More info and directions here
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_53/index.shtml
So a new volunteer poster is needed - or volunteers: it is perfectly OK to volunteer for every other week or even one week in four.
Traditionally this slot has been chosen from Book 1 or Book 2 walks and the feeling is that it would be good to continue this.
The work involves choosing a walk - choosing a train time and posting it.
The posting team will be very happy to give the new poster/s support
To volunteer email saturdaywalkersATyahooDOTcoDOTuk (or post a comment if you have a question).
Meanwhile here is this weeks walk
Book 1 Walk 53 Wye Circular
18 Km (11.2 miles)
7 out of 10
map available here
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_53/map.shtml
Take the 09.22 from Victoria to Wye arriving at 11.09
or
St Pancras at 10.08 (Stratford Int 10.15) with a change at Ashford to also arrive at 11.09
Lunch
at The Compasses in Sole St ( http://www.thecompassescrundale.co.uk/ 01227700300 )
From the comments section
The menu is a mix of fairly gourmet mains at around £14-15, but also with a Ramblers Menu which includes huge doorstep sandwiches, nice soup, sausage and mash. They are very walker-friendly and urged us not to take our muddy boots off.
I just rang and they have tables available for next Saturday for lunch
Tea
at Kings Head or Crown Coffee in Wye
There is a new pub in Wye called the Barbers, which is a micro pub.
More info and directions here
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_53/index.shtml
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
Midweek day walk Chilham to Canterbury
Chilham to Canterbury
A pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral via the Great Stour River, hop fields and orchards
Book 1 Walk 28
Length : 18 km or 11 miles
Toughness : 3 out of 10
Getting there : Catch the 10:08 am train from London St. Pancras to Chilham (10:15 from Stratford International) change at Ashford from platform 5 to 6 to catch the 11:03 to Chilham
Meeting point : Chilham Station at 11:14 am
Tickets : Buy a cheap day return to Canterbury
Brief Description
You may find full details here
Suggested Lunch stops
The Chapter Arms at Chartham Hatch (tel. 01227 738 340)
Suggested Tea stops
Canterbury has many tea options and these may be found in the full details (click the full details link above). Do feel free to post any recommendations you may have.
Maps
Return train times
Fast trains to London St. Pancras return from Canterbury West at 25 mins past the hour, journey time just under an hour.
There are also trains from Canterbury East at 16 and 41 mins past the hour, these return to London Victoria with a journey time of just over an hour and a half.
There are other slower trains too.
There are also trains from Canterbury East at 16 and 41 mins past the hour, these return to London Victoria with a journey time of just over an hour and a half.
There are other slower trains too.
Sunday, 19 July 2015
The beautiful Surrey Hills - an area of outstanding natural beauty
Free Walk 57 Variation : Guildford
circular via Chilworth short cut
17.3km (10.7m);
toughness 4/10.
This lovely walk takes
you through the Surrey Hills – an area of outstanding natural beauty.
I have chosen the
Chilworth short cut this time which means the Percy Arms is your lunch-time pub. However if you want to avoid any
road walking you can take the Downs Link which crosses some attractive
heathland where you can picnic.
Further details
about the walk can be found here .
Click on the download walk tab for full walk instructions and the various
options to shorten or lengthen the walk
South Downs Ridge walk to the sea
T=SWC.26.b
Free walk 26b Amberley to Shoreham on Sea (viaWashington
Free walk 26b Amberley to Shoreham on Sea (via
25.6km (16m); toughness 5/10
Trains: London Victoria 10:02 (Clapham Junction 10:07 and East Croydon 10:17 ) to Amberley 11:26 .
Return trains direct from Shoreham to London Victoria Brighton at 17:07 and thereafter at xx:03 to pick up a frequent fast train from Brighton to London Victoria
Because Amberley and Shoreham are on different lines you will need to buy a day return to Ford where the two lines converge. This ticket is also valid for Lancing if you wish to cut the walk short.
This is a superb South Downs Way ridge walk on a very well marked route. There are panoramic views throughout.
I have suggested the Frankland Arms in Washington for your pub lunch (01903 892220) but this makes the walk 25.6km (16m).
This is an excellent picnic walk and if you do not want a pub lunch or a drink you can have your sandwiches/picnic at Chanctonbury Ring – the site of an ancient hill fort. This makes the walk 24.1km (15m).
Shortening the walk
1. Finish in Upper Beeding and take a bus to Brighton . About 19km (12m)
2. Finish in Lancing where there are two trains an hour to Brighton . Distance is 21.8km (13.5m)
You can find walk instructions here but it is a good idea to either print off the maps on the walks page, or bring your own maps or a gps device.
There are swimming opportunities in Lancing and Shoreham
Saturday, 18 July 2015
Balcombe Circular via Ardingly Reservoir
Length: 20.2km (12.6 miles), Toughness: 8/10
Features: Ardingly Reservoir, Wakehurst Place
Trains: 10:12 from London Bridge to Balcombe arriving at 10:51. Buy a day return to Balcombe. Return trains are at xx:22 (40 minutes to LBG) until 19:22 then xx:57 (about 1h10 to LBG, change required).
Options: There are various options to reduce the walk length. Refer to the instructions for details.
Lunch: The suggested lunch stop is The Ardingly Inn (01444 892 214) in Ardingly about 10km into the walk. Food served 12:00 - 14:00.
Tea: About half-way through the afternoon section there's a cafe at Wakehurst Place. In Balcombe, The Balcombe Tea Rooms (01444 811 777) tends to close early. The Half Moon Inn also serves tea.
Directions: For more information including directions, maps, GPS etc. see SWC.22
Saturday Second Walk - Away from it all on the Sussex marshlands
SWC Walk 14 - Pulborough Circular
Length: 21km (13 miles), but with lots of shorter options (eg 17.5km/10.8 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10 (officially: actually I would say about 2 out of 10… a largely flat walk)
9.32 train from Victoria (9.38 Clapham Junction, 9.48 East Croydon) to Pulborough, arriving 10.51
For walk directions click here.
This interesting walk has not had an outing since May 2014 (and it is even longer since it was done on a Saturday). It is an ideal walk for high summer, exploring various landscapes to the north of the South Downs. These include the semi-marshland of Amberley Wild Brooks, which has interesting flowers and usually good displays of butterflies at this time of year, the very pretty village of Amberley, the Elizabethan Parham Estate, and finally Pulborough Brooks, with its RSPB visitor centre. You never climb onto the South Downs (though see para in italics below) but you have fine views of them all day.
The full walk is 13 miles, but a short cut down a road in the afternoon (omitting the Parham Estate) saves 3.5km - the 17.5km/10.8 mile option. An even lazier option would be to finish the walk after lunch at Amberley (12.3km/7.6 miles).
(Another intriguing idea, hinted at in the text, is to finish with a walk up onto the downs. If you turn right and not left on the road you come to at the end of section 6 of the directions (just past Old Rackham School) you are in paragraph 74 of the directions for SWC walk 9 (directions), which takes you on a lovely flowery climb up onto the downs and then along the downland ridge into Amberley - a walk of about 10 miles. You would need a day return to Amberley (or to pay the excess) to do this option. Note that there is a charity cycle event on the South Downs Way today but this route gives you ample opportunity to avoid the actual SDW path.)
Lunch is probably at the Sportsman pub just beyond Amberley, but it is just possible that the Black Horse in Amberley itself, saved by a recent campaign by locals, has now reopened. It was supposed to open earlier this year, though does not yet have a website. Otherwise, the Amberley Tea Rooms is a light lunch option.
For tea, you will have to step on it to get to the RSPB visitor centre before it closes at 4.30pm. The Crown in Cootham is a mid afternoon option but is closed 3pm to 5.30pm, according to its website. Otherwise, a pub option is mentioned in the directions in Pulborough and in 2014 the station taxi office at Pulborough was selling an impressive range of snacks and hot drinks.
Trains back from Pulborough are at 23 and 55 past till 18.23, then 19.05, 19.35, 20.35, 21.35.
Length: 21km (13 miles), but with lots of shorter options (eg 17.5km/10.8 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10 (officially: actually I would say about 2 out of 10… a largely flat walk)
9.32 train from Victoria (9.38 Clapham Junction, 9.48 East Croydon) to Pulborough, arriving 10.51
For walk directions click here.
This interesting walk has not had an outing since May 2014 (and it is even longer since it was done on a Saturday). It is an ideal walk for high summer, exploring various landscapes to the north of the South Downs. These include the semi-marshland of Amberley Wild Brooks, which has interesting flowers and usually good displays of butterflies at this time of year, the very pretty village of Amberley, the Elizabethan Parham Estate, and finally Pulborough Brooks, with its RSPB visitor centre. You never climb onto the South Downs (though see para in italics below) but you have fine views of them all day.
The full walk is 13 miles, but a short cut down a road in the afternoon (omitting the Parham Estate) saves 3.5km - the 17.5km/10.8 mile option. An even lazier option would be to finish the walk after lunch at Amberley (12.3km/7.6 miles).
(Another intriguing idea, hinted at in the text, is to finish with a walk up onto the downs. If you turn right and not left on the road you come to at the end of section 6 of the directions (just past Old Rackham School) you are in paragraph 74 of the directions for SWC walk 9 (directions), which takes you on a lovely flowery climb up onto the downs and then along the downland ridge into Amberley - a walk of about 10 miles. You would need a day return to Amberley (or to pay the excess) to do this option. Note that there is a charity cycle event on the South Downs Way today but this route gives you ample opportunity to avoid the actual SDW path.)
Lunch is probably at the Sportsman pub just beyond Amberley, but it is just possible that the Black Horse in Amberley itself, saved by a recent campaign by locals, has now reopened. It was supposed to open earlier this year, though does not yet have a website. Otherwise, the Amberley Tea Rooms is a light lunch option.
For tea, you will have to step on it to get to the RSPB visitor centre before it closes at 4.30pm. The Crown in Cootham is a mid afternoon option but is closed 3pm to 5.30pm, according to its website. Otherwise, a pub option is mentioned in the directions in Pulborough and in 2014 the station taxi office at Pulborough was selling an impressive range of snacks and hot drinks.
Trains back from Pulborough are at 23 and 55 past till 18.23, then 19.05, 19.35, 20.35, 21.35.
Saturday First Walk Requested walk
Book 2 Walk 9 The Kintbury Circular variation
23km (14.3 miles) You may shorten the circular walk by 5.5km to 17.5km See directions
3 out of 10
OS Landranger Map No 174, OS Explorer Map Nos 157 &158 (most of the walk is on 158)
Info and directions here
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_2/walk_09/TOCW2_Walk_09_Kintbury_Circular_Option.pdf
Info and directions here
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_2/walk_09/TOCW2_Walk_09_Kintbury_Circular_Option.pdf
Take the 10.18 from London Paddington to Kintbury arriving at 11.30.
Trains back from Kintbury run about once an hour.
Journey time about 80 minutes.
Buy a day return to Kintbury.
Undulating terrain up until Hampstead Lock, finishing with an easy 3.8 km walk along the Kennet and Avon canal.
Though only just over an hour west of London by train, this walk has a decidedly West Country feel, far removed from the more manicured charms of the Home Counties.
Kintbury was named by the Sunday Times as one of the top ten most sought-after villages in England though this was back in 2007
Kintbury was named by the Sunday Times as one of the top ten most sought-after villages in England though this was back in 2007
Lunch
The suggested lunchtime pub is the Swan Inn ( http://www.theswaninn-organics.co.uk/ tel 01488 668326) at Lower Inkpen 6.5 km from the start of the walk. You should get here about 1pm ish
If there are more than 6 wanting lunch then please phone ahead to forewarn them
Picnic Many places along the route would make a good picnic spot.
Info and directions here http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_2/walk_09/TOCW2_Walk_09_Kintbury_Circular_Option.pdf
Thursday, 16 July 2015
Evening Walk - Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath
Distance: 7km
Meet 19:15 prompt outside Waterstones, 68-69 Hampstead High Street. This is a self-led walk across Hampstead Heath, Destination Holly Bush, 22 Holly Mount. NW3 6SG. T=short.15
Distance: 7km
Meet 19:15 prompt outside Waterstones, 68-69 Hampstead High Street. This is a self-led walk across Hampstead Heath, Destination Holly Bush, 22 Holly Mount. NW3 6SG. T=short.15
Wednesday, 15 July 2015
Opera Holland Park - Lakme
This sumptuous jewel of an opera is best known for the ‘Flower Duet’, used for many years by British Airways for its advertisement. Lakmé actually amounts to a great deal more. It is beautifully balanced from a musical point of view, has real heartbreak at its centre and belongs in the stable of opera that absorbed influences from the orient and developed this exoticism into high Victorian art. Ticket from £49.5. To book, please click here.
For pre-opera picnic, meet in the nice garden (with flower beds and benches) next to the opera Marquee from 6pm. Please bring some picnic for yourself and some to share if you wish. If it is wet, we'll meet under the covered area adjacent to the cafe next to the opera Marquee. Let's hope it will be sunny. (The auditorium is under a Marquee, so you will be dry rain or shine.)
For pre-opera picnic, meet in the nice garden (with flower beds and benches) next to the opera Marquee from 6pm. Please bring some picnic for yourself and some to share if you wish. If it is wet, we'll meet under the covered area adjacent to the cafe next to the opera Marquee. Let's hope it will be sunny. (The auditorium is under a Marquee, so you will be dry rain or shine.)
Midweek day walk Battle to Hastings
Battle to Hastings - surf and turf
The 1066 trail, Art at Bexhill and beaches to Hastings
The first section of this walk is map led, the second section forms part of Book 3* Walk 66
*Online only
Length : 17 km or 11 miles
Length : 17 km or 11 miles
Toughness : 3 out of 10
Getting there : Catch the 9:45 am train from London Charing Cross (9:48 Waterloo East) to Battle Or
Catch the 10:15 am from London Charing Cross (10:18 am Waterloo East) to Battle
Catch the 10:15 am from London Charing Cross (10:18 am Waterloo East) to Battle
Meeting point : Battle Station at 11:03 Or 11:42
Tickets : Buy a Cheap day return to Hastings (You can travel on the HST route but the journey time appears to be longer)
Travel Options: I have put two times up for travelling because of the high costs for some on the earlier train.
Thomas will travel on the later train and I will travel on the earlier one.
I'd estimate that team Thomas will most likely catch up team Dent by late lunch at Bexhill where we can all set off on the afternoon leg to Hastings - well that's the theory anyhow.
Brief Description
I thought it was about time the Wednesday folk had a chance to visit the seaside, so this weeks walk is a hybrid offering a map led section in the morning and part of Book 3 Walk 66 (what an appropriate number!) in the afternoon.
The morning section is along the 1066 trail (Bexhill link) to lunch at Bexhill-on-Sea. Then along the sea front to Hastings in the afternoon (Maybe a chance of a paddle or swim)
High tide on this section of the coast is at 10:30am about halfway out by 2:00pm
You may find a map for the morning section here
You may find details of the Bexhill-on-Sea to Hastings section within the walk here
The morning section is along the 1066 trail (Bexhill link) to lunch at Bexhill-on-Sea. Then along the sea front to Hastings in the afternoon (Maybe a chance of a paddle or swim)
High tide on this section of the coast is at 10:30am about halfway out by 2:00pm
You may find a map for the morning section here
You may find details of the Bexhill-on-Sea to Hastings section within the walk here
Suggested Lunch stops
The De La Warr Pavillion at Bexhill-on-Sea
Suggested Tea stops
Plenty of Chippies to choose from,
Lots of cafes which shut before five or don't open Wednesdays, but The Bullet Coffee House tel: 01424717477 at 38 Robertson Street (TN34 1HT) appears to be open to 5:00 pm
Please do post any other recommendations you have for good tea stops.
Lots of cafes which shut before five or don't open Wednesdays, but The Bullet Coffee House tel: 01424717477 at 38 Robertson Street (TN34 1HT) appears to be open to 5:00 pm
Please do post any other recommendations you have for good tea stops.
Maps
OS Explorer : 124
Return train times
Trains return from Hastings at the following times ...
:19 minutes past the hour to Charing Cross(via Waterloo East) journey time 1 hour 45 minutes
:55 minutes past the hour to London Victoria journey time just over 2 hours
Both trains stop at St. Leonards Warrior square station about 3 minutes later should you wish to return from there.
:19 minutes past the hour to Charing Cross(via Waterloo East) journey time 1 hour 45 minutes
:55 minutes past the hour to London Victoria journey time just over 2 hours
Both trains stop at St. Leonards Warrior square station about 3 minutes later should you wish to return from there.
Sunday, 12 July 2015
Sunday Second Walk - Sussex coast and sea
Extra Walk 60 – Eastbourne to East Dean
Length: 11.6km (7.2 miles) (with longer options) Toughness: 5/10
09:47 Ore train from Victoria (Clapham Junction 09:54; East Croydon 10:03) arriving at Eastbourne at 11:12.
Return trains are at xx.26 (journey 1hr 39mins) and xx:59 (1hr 27mins)
In contrast to today’s other walk, this is the one for those who like a) short walks; b) coastal walks; c) swimming walks; or d) a challenging climb. After heading west along Eastbourne’s seafront, the route follows the lower clifftop path before going steeply uphill to the Beachy Head pub for lunch. Then it’s on to Birling Gap and inland to East Dean for more refreshments at the Tiger’s Head or the Hiker’s Rest and frequent buses back to Eastbourne.
Those who’d like to stretch their legs a little more could carry on from Birling Gap along the coast over the Seven Sisters to Exceat to catch the bus back (total 9.4 miles). Or turn off at Flagstaff Point (after the third Sister) to go inland to East Dean (total 8.3 miles). Or carry on from East Dean over the downs and back to Eastbourne, making a circular walk of 11.2 miles. So there’s plenty of choice in ways to finish the walk, as the mood takes you. All of them are described in the Walk Directions
Those who fancy a swim might find it easiest to do this before leaving Eastbourne, when the tide will be halfway out, or on returning there (tide halfway in). Trying to negotiate the rocks for a swim at Birling Gap at low tide could be tricky.
Length: 11.6km (7.2 miles) (with longer options) Toughness: 5/10
09:47 Ore train from Victoria (Clapham Junction 09:54; East Croydon 10:03) arriving at Eastbourne at 11:12.
Return trains are at xx.26 (journey 1hr 39mins) and xx:59 (1hr 27mins)
In contrast to today’s other walk, this is the one for those who like a) short walks; b) coastal walks; c) swimming walks; or d) a challenging climb. After heading west along Eastbourne’s seafront, the route follows the lower clifftop path before going steeply uphill to the Beachy Head pub for lunch. Then it’s on to Birling Gap and inland to East Dean for more refreshments at the Tiger’s Head or the Hiker’s Rest and frequent buses back to Eastbourne.
Those who’d like to stretch their legs a little more could carry on from Birling Gap along the coast over the Seven Sisters to Exceat to catch the bus back (total 9.4 miles). Or turn off at Flagstaff Point (after the third Sister) to go inland to East Dean (total 8.3 miles). Or carry on from East Dean over the downs and back to Eastbourne, making a circular walk of 11.2 miles. So there’s plenty of choice in ways to finish the walk, as the mood takes you. All of them are described in the Walk Directions
Those who fancy a swim might find it easiest to do this before leaving Eastbourne, when the tide will be halfway out, or on returning there (tide halfway in). Trying to negotiate the rocks for a swim at Birling Gap at low tide could be tricky.
Sunday First Walk - Buckinghamshire woodlands
Extra Walk 189 – Beeches Way – Cookham to West Drayton
Length: 27.3km (17 miles) (with shorter options) Toughness: 3/10
10:04 Newbury train from Paddington changing at Maidenhead (arr 10:31; dep 10:35) arriving at Cookham at 10:42.
Or 09:35 Oxford train from Ealing Broadway, also changing at Maidenhead.
There are two return trains per hour from West Drayton (stopping at Ealing Broadway) at approximately xx.12 and xx:49 (journey about 24 mins). All stations mentioned (including those for the shorter options) are on the same line, so an off-peak day return to Cookham will cover your journeys, whichever option you choose.
With no apologies to those who resent seeing long walks posted, this is the first club outing for this long but interesting walk close to London. The Beeches Way, running from the Thames at Cookham to the Grand Union Canal at West Drayton, explores rare lowland heaths and mature woodlands. It has been created by Buckinghamshire County Council and is well waymarked throughout. The council has published a Beeches Way leaflet that provides basic walk directions and OS map extracts. If doing the full walk, see the comment about a missing canal footbridge on the Walk 189 feedback page.
Owing to its length, this walk can be posted only in summer, but if you don’t feel you can attempt the full walk, it can be shortened to 13.5 miles by diverting to Langley station. To do this, continue southwards for 2km instead of turning east at Treal’s Farm (para 18 of directions). An even shorter option is to take a 74 or X74 bus from the lunchtime pub at Farnham Common to Slough. On Sundays these buses run at 13:40, 14:44 and 16:10.
The recommended lunchtime pub is The Foresters (01753 643340) in Farnham Common, about 6 miles into the walk. If you prefer a late lunch you could press on to The Black Horse (01753 663183) in Fulmer, about 9.5 miles into the walk.
t=swc.189
Length: 27.3km (17 miles) (with shorter options) Toughness: 3/10
10:04 Newbury train from Paddington changing at Maidenhead (arr 10:31; dep 10:35) arriving at Cookham at 10:42.
Or 09:35 Oxford train from Ealing Broadway, also changing at Maidenhead.
There are two return trains per hour from West Drayton (stopping at Ealing Broadway) at approximately xx.12 and xx:49 (journey about 24 mins). All stations mentioned (including those for the shorter options) are on the same line, so an off-peak day return to Cookham will cover your journeys, whichever option you choose.
With no apologies to those who resent seeing long walks posted, this is the first club outing for this long but interesting walk close to London. The Beeches Way, running from the Thames at Cookham to the Grand Union Canal at West Drayton, explores rare lowland heaths and mature woodlands. It has been created by Buckinghamshire County Council and is well waymarked throughout. The council has published a Beeches Way leaflet that provides basic walk directions and OS map extracts. If doing the full walk, see the comment about a missing canal footbridge on the Walk 189 feedback page.
Owing to its length, this walk can be posted only in summer, but if you don’t feel you can attempt the full walk, it can be shortened to 13.5 miles by diverting to Langley station. To do this, continue southwards for 2km instead of turning east at Treal’s Farm (para 18 of directions). An even shorter option is to take a 74 or X74 bus from the lunchtime pub at Farnham Common to Slough. On Sundays these buses run at 13:40, 14:44 and 16:10.
The recommended lunchtime pub is The Foresters (01753 643340) in Farnham Common, about 6 miles into the walk. If you prefer a late lunch you could press on to The Black Horse (01753 663183) in Fulmer, about 9.5 miles into the walk.
t=swc.189
Saturday, 11 July 2015
Saturday Third Walk – the River Great Ouse
Extra Walk 31b – Huntingdon Circular (long walk, via St Ives)
Length: 24½ km (15.2 miles). Toughness: 3/10
Shorter Options: 18½ km (11.5 miles) or 15 km (9.3 miles), both 2/10.
10:22 Peterborough train from Kings Cross (Finsbury Park 10:28) arriving Huntingdon at 11:22.
Trains back are at 00 & 34 minutes past (the ones on the hour are quicker).
A couple of years ago I researched an extension to this walk to take in the interesting market town of St Ives (not the town where you can surf, alas). Its first posting was predictably blighted by miserable weather and I think the two brave souls who ventured out switched to one of the shorter options, so in effect this is the Long Walk's début. Whichever walk option you take you'll find a flat landscape with plenty of water features so it should be bearable if this hot weather continues (and swimming might be a possibility, but you'll have to do your own research to see if that's advisable).
You don't have to decide which option to take until you come to the linked villages of Wyton and Houghton, after 6½ km. The Three Jolly Butchers has always provided us with a good pub lunch but if you're doing the Long Walk you might want to carry on: you'll pass a couple more village pubs on the leg to St Ives (including a very up-market one which you'd need to book). My research didn't encompass any of the town's pubs but you won't be short of refreshment choices there either. There are frequent buses back to Huntingdon if you want to finish the walk at the halfway stage.
If you spurn St Ives for one of the shorter options you'll have time to visit the last working watermill on the River Great Ouse, the National Trust's Houghton Mill. The return leg from St Ives rejoins the other routes here and all groups should be in time for some more refreshment at the NT tearoom by the mill. At the end of the walk the George Hotel in Huntingdon's town centre has some comfortable armchairs if you're not in a hurry to catch a train.
You'll need to print the walk directions from the Extra Walk 31 page. Unless you're sure which option you're going to take I suggest printing the whole document. T=swc.31.b
Length: 24½ km (15.2 miles). Toughness: 3/10
Shorter Options: 18½ km (11.5 miles) or 15 km (9.3 miles), both 2/10.
10:22 Peterborough train from Kings Cross (Finsbury Park 10:28) arriving Huntingdon at 11:22.
Trains back are at 00 & 34 minutes past (the ones on the hour are quicker).
A couple of years ago I researched an extension to this walk to take in the interesting market town of St Ives (not the town where you can surf, alas). Its first posting was predictably blighted by miserable weather and I think the two brave souls who ventured out switched to one of the shorter options, so in effect this is the Long Walk's début. Whichever walk option you take you'll find a flat landscape with plenty of water features so it should be bearable if this hot weather continues (and swimming might be a possibility, but you'll have to do your own research to see if that's advisable).
You don't have to decide which option to take until you come to the linked villages of Wyton and Houghton, after 6½ km. The Three Jolly Butchers has always provided us with a good pub lunch but if you're doing the Long Walk you might want to carry on: you'll pass a couple more village pubs on the leg to St Ives (including a very up-market one which you'd need to book). My research didn't encompass any of the town's pubs but you won't be short of refreshment choices there either. There are frequent buses back to Huntingdon if you want to finish the walk at the halfway stage.
If you spurn St Ives for one of the shorter options you'll have time to visit the last working watermill on the River Great Ouse, the National Trust's Houghton Mill. The return leg from St Ives rejoins the other routes here and all groups should be in time for some more refreshment at the NT tearoom by the mill. At the end of the walk the George Hotel in Huntingdon's town centre has some comfortable armchairs if you're not in a hurry to catch a train.
You'll need to print the walk directions from the Extra Walk 31 page. Unless you're sure which option you're going to take I suggest printing the whole document. T=swc.31.b
Saturday Second Walk - Seaside/swimming walk
SWC Walk 74d - Christchurch to Barton-on-Sea T=3.74.d
Length: 12.6km (7.8 miles)
Toughness: 2 out of 10 (basically flat!)
9.05 train from Waterloo (9.12 Clapham Junction) to Christchurch, arriving 10.52.
Buy a day return to Christchurch, which costs £33.25 with a Network Card.
Yes, it is an early start. Yes it is a pricey train ticket (South West Trains having mysteriously decided this year that summer is not the best month to give away cheap train tickets), but yes, it is only summer for a few weeks, so why not make the most of it?
This is a pleasant and interesting walk by the sea, which includes a little ferry ride across the mouth of Christchurch Harbour. In the afternoon it passes Highcliffe Castle (not NT) whose grounds can be visited for free (£3.45 to see the house: I am old enough to remember when the 1970s when the latter was a derelict shell).
SWIMMING
The walk offers plentiful spots for sea swimming, usually in pleasant gently shelving waters and with sandy beaches (? - in places at least). The water temperature is usually a bit higher than in the south east - about 17 degrees is the estimate at time of writing. Low tide is at 12.30pm, so the tide will be coming in in the afternoon, but you are in the Solent here, which has funny double tides, so the tidal range is not as big as in other places on the south coast.
LUNCH AND TEA
There are three main lunch options - the Hiker's Cafe before Hengistbury Head, the Beach House Cafe (more like a table-service pub) on Mudeford Spit, and the Haven House pub on the north side of the harbour channel.
For tea, Highcliffe Castle has a tea room, and Barton has a super self-service cliff with a cliff top garden, the Beachcomber ("open late" on Saturdays), which serves meals and alcohol too, and is a great place to finish the walk.
WALK DIRECTIONS
For walk directions, print both this document and this page. The document gives you two ways from Christchurch station to Mudeford Spit. The recommended walking route is Route #1 but if you fancy a nice long boat ride through Christchurch Harbour try Route #2.
(LAZY OPTION: do route #1 out and route #2 back and spent a lazy day exploring Hengistbury Head, Mudeford Spit and Christchurch - 7.6km/4.7 miles of walking.)
To continue to Barton once on Mudeford Spit you have to get the ferry across the mouth of the harbour, which goes from the pier in front of the Beach Cafe. (Make sure you get the harbour mouth ferry, not the one back to Christchurch!). You then follow the coast to Barton, with the walk's home page (the second link above) providing very brief directions (points 15 onwards).
GETTING BACK TO LONDON
To get back to London, you first have to take bus X1 from Barton (the stop just west of the Beachcomber cafe) to New Milton station (7 minutes journey time - Whitfield Road stop, which is a short distance from the station). The buses leave Barton at 16.16, 16.46 and 18.42 only (note the gap between the last two).
That being said, the buses 16.46 and 18.42 buses connect badly with the trains, so you might prefer to either
- walk to New Milton station, a dull suburban 2.5km/1.5 miles (a map is necessary for this).
- call a taxi from Barton to New Milton - probably not much more than the bus fare if there three or four of you: try Galleon Taxis on 01425 611 111 or Abacus Cars on 01425 638 100 or Coastal Private Hire 01425 628 443 (all these taken from Google).
Trains back from New Milton are at 37 past till 20.37, then 21.29, taking 1hr 45 minutes (1hr 53 mins for the last train). There is also a 22 past train from 17.22 (ie not 16.22) to 20.22 but these are very slow trains that actually arrive later than the subsequent 37 past ones.
Length: 12.6km (7.8 miles)
Toughness: 2 out of 10 (basically flat!)
9.05 train from Waterloo (9.12 Clapham Junction) to Christchurch, arriving 10.52.
Buy a day return to Christchurch, which costs £33.25 with a Network Card.
Yes, it is an early start. Yes it is a pricey train ticket (South West Trains having mysteriously decided this year that summer is not the best month to give away cheap train tickets), but yes, it is only summer for a few weeks, so why not make the most of it?
This is a pleasant and interesting walk by the sea, which includes a little ferry ride across the mouth of Christchurch Harbour. In the afternoon it passes Highcliffe Castle (not NT) whose grounds can be visited for free (£3.45 to see the house: I am old enough to remember when the 1970s when the latter was a derelict shell).
SWIMMING
The walk offers plentiful spots for sea swimming, usually in pleasant gently shelving waters and with sandy beaches (? - in places at least). The water temperature is usually a bit higher than in the south east - about 17 degrees is the estimate at time of writing. Low tide is at 12.30pm, so the tide will be coming in in the afternoon, but you are in the Solent here, which has funny double tides, so the tidal range is not as big as in other places on the south coast.
LUNCH AND TEA
There are three main lunch options - the Hiker's Cafe before Hengistbury Head, the Beach House Cafe (more like a table-service pub) on Mudeford Spit, and the Haven House pub on the north side of the harbour channel.
For tea, Highcliffe Castle has a tea room, and Barton has a super self-service cliff with a cliff top garden, the Beachcomber ("open late" on Saturdays), which serves meals and alcohol too, and is a great place to finish the walk.
WALK DIRECTIONS
For walk directions, print both this document and this page. The document gives you two ways from Christchurch station to Mudeford Spit. The recommended walking route is Route #1 but if you fancy a nice long boat ride through Christchurch Harbour try Route #2.
(LAZY OPTION: do route #1 out and route #2 back and spent a lazy day exploring Hengistbury Head, Mudeford Spit and Christchurch - 7.6km/4.7 miles of walking.)
To continue to Barton once on Mudeford Spit you have to get the ferry across the mouth of the harbour, which goes from the pier in front of the Beach Cafe. (Make sure you get the harbour mouth ferry, not the one back to Christchurch!). You then follow the coast to Barton, with the walk's home page (the second link above) providing very brief directions (points 15 onwards).
GETTING BACK TO LONDON
To get back to London, you first have to take bus X1 from Barton (the stop just west of the Beachcomber cafe) to New Milton station (7 minutes journey time - Whitfield Road stop, which is a short distance from the station). The buses leave Barton at 16.16, 16.46 and 18.42 only (note the gap between the last two).
That being said, the buses 16.46 and 18.42 buses connect badly with the trains, so you might prefer to either
- walk to New Milton station, a dull suburban 2.5km/1.5 miles (a map is necessary for this).
- call a taxi from Barton to New Milton - probably not much more than the bus fare if there three or four of you: try Galleon Taxis on 01425 611 111 or Abacus Cars on 01425 638 100 or Coastal Private Hire 01425 628 443 (all these taken from Google).
Trains back from New Milton are at 37 past till 20.37, then 21.29, taking 1hr 45 minutes (1hr 53 mins for the last train). There is also a 22 past train from 17.22 (ie not 16.22) to 20.22 but these are very slow trains that actually arrive later than the subsequent 37 past ones.
Saturday First Walk Hugh Request Book 1 Walk 22: Haslemere Circular 8.7 miles
I picked this message up off of the walk requests and thus Hugh's first choice is posted
I worked with Nicholas Albery on the 1st TOBCW, contributing 10 of the walks. I now live abroad, but will be visiting London in July and would love to join a Book 1 walk on Saturday July 11th. I would love to meet up with walkers who knew Nicholas and were around in the early days of the walking club, as well as meeting present-day members. If anyone would be interested in organising a walk from Book 1 that day, would it be possible to choose one of these walks (in order of preference):
22: Haslemere Circular
15: Leigh to Tunbridge Wells
44: Witley to Haslemere
I do hope it will be possible to organise this.
Hugh Kelly
I worked with Nicholas Albery on the 1st TOBCW, contributing 10 of the walks. I now live abroad, but will be visiting London in July and would love to join a Book 1 walk on Saturday July 11th. I would love to meet up with walkers who knew Nicholas and were around in the early days of the walking club, as well as meeting present-day members. If anyone would be interested in organising a walk from Book 1 that day, would it be possible to choose one of these walks (in order of preference):
22: Haslemere Circular
15: Leigh to Tunbridge Wells
44: Witley to Haslemere
I do hope it will be possible to organise this.
Hugh Kelly
Book 1 Walk 22: Haslemere Circular
Length: 14.0km (8.7 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Explorer 133 or Landranger 186
Length: 14.0km (8.7 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Explorer 133 or Landranger 186
There is an OS map with the route drawn on it here
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_22/map.shtml
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_22/map.shtml
10:30 London Waterloo (Woking 10.55) arriving Haslemere at 11:20
This train doesn't stop at Clapham Junction so get the 10.22 from Clapham Junction which will get you to Haslemere at 11.16 and then just 4 minutes to wait for the Waterloo train to arrive.
4 return trains from Haslemere at XX.02 XX.15 XX.32 XX.39
Buy a return to Haslemere
The route is through very beautiful countryside. It is mainly National Trust land - mixed woods with blackberries and bluebells and heathlands of bracken, gorse, heather and bilberry, with fine views from Black Down (280 metres / 919 feet), the very highest point in both Sussex and the South Downs National Park.
It is a fairly short walk and the Temple of the Winds detour is highly recommended, (see the walk directions) and thanks to anon in the comments section for this
You came and look'd and loved the view,
Long known and loved by me,
Green Sussex fading into blue,
With one gray glimpse of sea.
well thanks to Alfred Lord Tennyson as well of course
A path just after the lunch pub can be very wet and muddy , even in dry weather: use appropriate footwear but a comment in the Updates and Feedback Section section says that they were okay with trainers and a stick.Long known and loved by me,
Green Sussex fading into blue,
With one gray glimpse of sea.
well thanks to Alfred Lord Tennyson as well of course
Lunch
The suggested lunchtime stop is a lovely fullers pub the Red Lion pub (http://www.red-lion-fernhurst.co.uk/ according to this one http://www.theaa.com/pubs/fernhurst-the-red-lion-375765 dogs are welcome, tel 01428 643 112), by the village green at Fernhurst, offering quality home cooking. It serves food from noon until 2.30pm (I guess that you will arrive around 1.30pm)
The suggested lunchtime stop is a lovely fullers pub the Red Lion pub (http://www.red-lion-fernhurst.co.uk/ according to this one http://www.theaa.com/pubs/fernhurst-the-red-lion-375765 dogs are welcome, tel 01428 643 112), by the village green at Fernhurst, offering quality home cooking. It serves food from noon until 2.30pm (I guess that you will arrive around 1.30pm)
They definitely appreciate a phone call when you leave the station to warn them that you are coming The village green opposite the pub has some benches where you can sit to eat a picnic.
Tea
The suggested tea place is Darnleys tearoom (tel 01428 643 048) on Haslemere High Street, which closes at 5.00 pm but Hemmingways ( http://www.hemingwayscoffeeshop.co.uk/ ) opposite seem to stay open throughout the afternoon and evening.
The suggested tea place is Darnleys tearoom (tel 01428 643 048) on Haslemere High Street, which closes at 5.00 pm but Hemmingways ( http://www.hemingwayscoffeeshop.co.uk/ ) opposite seem to stay open throughout the afternoon and evening.
Alternatives are the Swan Hotel (a Wetherspoons), or the White Horse Hotel (food: midday-9.30pm Saturday), both in the High Street.
The station is a good ten minute walk from the town centre.
There is a bar at the Inn on the Hill opposite the station (though it can be walker unfriendly and didn't serve real ale the last time that I was there) and
Metro Café (tel 01428 651 535) is just before the station (open till 5.00pm Saturdays)
You will also find more details on the lunch and tea options and background to the walk here
Wednesday, 8 July 2015
Midweek day - Winchester Circular
Winchester Circular - a vist to VENTA BELGARVM
A historic Cathedral City, St Catherine's Hill and downland
Book 3* Walk 15
* Online only
Length : 16 km or 10 miles
Length : 16 km or 10 miles
Toughness : 4 out of 10
Getting there : Catch the 10:05 am train from London Waterloo to Winchester
(Departs 10:12 am from Clapham Junction)
(Departs 10:12 am from Clapham Junction)
Meeting point : Winchester Station at 11:04 am
Tickets : Buy a cheap day return to Winchester
Brief Description
This walk takes in all of its major historical points of interest in the ancient city of Winchester, and some of its prettiest streets. It then carries on out along the idyllic River Itchen to St. Catherines Hill, the iron age hillfort, from where there are spectacular views of the city. From here the route crosses some typical Hampshire downland, before descending to a section of ancient watermeadows and to a newly refurbished riverside pub for lunch.
Suggested Lunch stops
The Bridge at Shawford tel 01962 713171. They have been getting busy at the weekends and turning away walking groups, so please do book on the morning!
Suggested Tea stops
The recommended Tea stop is the Winchester Cathedral Rectory however this does shut at five. It appears the Patsy Presto may have closed down, however Cafe Monde Café 22 The Square may be a suitable alternative. Being a largish town there are plenty of Pub Choices as well. These include the Wykeham Arms and The Vine Inn.
Maps
OS Explorer Leisure : 132
Return train times
Trains return from Winchester to Waterloo very frequently, however the slightly fast ones with no changes appear to depart at :18 and :48 minutes past the hour with a journey time of just over an hour.
Midweek day walk - Tring Circular
Tring Circular - a Tube chaser challenge
The Chilterns: An open ridge walk to Ivinghoe Beacon, Ashridge forest, and a classic village pub for tea
Book 2 Walk 5
Length : 13 km or 8 miles
Toughness : 4 out of 10
Getting there : Catch the 10:24 am train from London Euston to Tring station or
Catch the 9:39 am from Clapham Junction arriving at Tring 10:37 am
Catch the 9:39 am from Clapham Junction arriving at Tring 10:37 am
Meeting point : Tring Station at 10:59 am
Tickets : Buy a cheap day return to Tring
Brief Description
With the possibility of a Tube strike later on in the day, I've posted this as an extra walk (in addition to the Winchester Circular). I would suggest walkers do the shorter version of this walk to arrive back in Euston in good time if the potential industrial action is confirmed. (In any event, there are good bus services from Euston) You may find full details of the walk here and a downloadable PDF here
Suggested Lunch stops
The Brownlow Café, a
National Trust kiosk on the Ashridge
Estate.
Suggested Tea stops
Possibility of a quick cuppa at The Greyhound at Albury if strike is on.
Maps
OS Explorer : 181
Return train times
Trains return approximately every 15 minutes to Euston with one an hour to Clapham Junction
Sunday, 5 July 2015
Sunday Walk 2
SWC walk 157 Wickford to Battlesbridge
21.6 km 13.4 miles Difficulty 4/10
Surprisingly diverse rural walk through rolling grassy fields, quiet lanes, woods, and an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve to lunch. The afternoon goes through more fields, valleys and wooded strips, finally following the river Crouch into Battlesbridge.
It is possible to reduce the length to 12.7 miles 20.5 km by following alternative directions to South Woodham Ferrers.
There are also longer routes to SWF that incorporate sections of the coast. Real hardnuts, and by that I mean brazils with their shells still on, will be excited by the 18.8 mile option.
Trains Get the 10:14 Southend train from Liverpool St (Stratford 10:21) arriving Wickford at 11:03.
Return from Battlesbridge at xx:30 changing at Wickford for London. You have 3 mins to get the xx:40 on Plat 3 so don’t hang about (your next connection in half an hour).
Trains return from South Woodham Ferrers at xx:26, also changing at Wickford.
A return to Battlesbridge will do you. A return to South Woodham Ferrers (one stop more) costs the same and covers both endings.
Lunch
Café On The Water Hanningfield Reservoir, (01268 712182, serves a selection of main meals, sandwiches, salads and desserts, along with alcoholic and soft drinks, and has a large decking area overlooking the reservoir.
The Old Windmill, South Hanningfield (01268 712280, has been serving food and ale to locals since at least 1799. Hopefully not the same food!
Tea places in Battlesbridge:
The Hawk Hawk Hill, (01268 7672).
The Barge Inn, Hawk Hill, E (01268 732 622).
Haybarn Tea Rooms Hawk Hill, J (01268 763 500). Open 10.30-16.00
Tea places in South Woodham Ferrers:
Macawbers Café Tropical Wings Zoo, Wickford Road (01245 425394), Open 09.00-17.30 summer, (note the pun).
Shaw Farm Old Wickford Road, (01245 320916), used to be a farm and dates back to the 17th Century. Huge back garden with a sizeable lake.
The Whalebone Inn/Scrimshaw’s Restaurant Old Wickford Road, (01245 320231).
The Railway 50 Hullbridge Road,(01245 320262).
Vicky’s Kitchen Marsh Farm Rd, (01245 321552), Open 11.00-17.00 Weekends.
Walk directions here
21.6 km 13.4 miles Difficulty 4/10
Surprisingly diverse rural walk through rolling grassy fields, quiet lanes, woods, and an Essex Wildlife Trust reserve to lunch. The afternoon goes through more fields, valleys and wooded strips, finally following the river Crouch into Battlesbridge.
It is possible to reduce the length to 12.7 miles 20.5 km by following alternative directions to South Woodham Ferrers.
There are also longer routes to SWF that incorporate sections of the coast. Real hardnuts, and by that I mean brazils with their shells still on, will be excited by the 18.8 mile option.
Trains Get the 10:14 Southend train from Liverpool St (Stratford 10:21) arriving Wickford at 11:03.
Return from Battlesbridge at xx:30 changing at Wickford for London. You have 3 mins to get the xx:40 on Plat 3 so don’t hang about (your next connection in half an hour).
Trains return from South Woodham Ferrers at xx:26, also changing at Wickford.
A return to Battlesbridge will do you. A return to South Woodham Ferrers (one stop more) costs the same and covers both endings.
Lunch
Café On The Water Hanningfield Reservoir, (01268 712182, serves a selection of main meals, sandwiches, salads and desserts, along with alcoholic and soft drinks, and has a large decking area overlooking the reservoir.
The Old Windmill, South Hanningfield (01268 712280, has been serving food and ale to locals since at least 1799. Hopefully not the same food!
Tea places in Battlesbridge:
The Hawk Hawk Hill, (01268 7672).
The Barge Inn, Hawk Hill, E (01268 732 622).
Haybarn Tea Rooms Hawk Hill, J (01268 763 500). Open 10.30-16.00
Tea places in South Woodham Ferrers:
Macawbers Café Tropical Wings Zoo, Wickford Road (01245 425394), Open 09.00-17.30 summer, (note the pun).
Shaw Farm Old Wickford Road, (01245 320916), used to be a farm and dates back to the 17th Century. Huge back garden with a sizeable lake.
The Whalebone Inn/Scrimshaw’s Restaurant Old Wickford Road, (01245 320231).
The Railway 50 Hullbridge Road,(01245 320262).
Vicky’s Kitchen Marsh Farm Rd, (01245 321552), Open 11.00-17.00 Weekends.
Sunday Walk 1.... South downs, art and beer..... (or tea)
Lewes to Berwick
Book 2 walk 25 + download
Length: About 17.5km (11 miles), Toughness: 7/10
Can be shortened by 5km (3.1 miles) and turned into a 4/10 by starting at Glynde.
One of my favourite walks visiting two of my favourite pubs. The morning takes you over the downs, through Glynde, and on to lunch in the characterful Ram Inn in West Firle, a pretty flintstone village.
St Peters church in West Firle has a Piper window.
The afternoon takes you past Charleston Farmhouse (01323 811 265) and Berwick Church, both lavishly decorated by members of the Bloomsbury Group.
Charleston Farmhouse costs £11 for the whole visit or £4.50 for the garden only. There may be reductions for walkers.
The church, reached later, is free and open at most times.
Trains:
Get a day return to Berwick (Sussex). The "Sussex" bit is important.
For the Lewes start.
Get the 09:47 Ore train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:53), arriving Lewes at 10:48.
For the easier start at Glynde, you have several choices.
The Ore train calls at Glynde today, so you could just stay on the 09:47 till the next stop.
However, the 10:47 from Victoria reaches Glynde at 11:54. The Lewes starters would be passing through just about then.
It is also possible to travel via Brighton. Get to Glynde for 11:29 by taking the 10:06 from Victoria to Brighton (Clapham Junction 10:12) then, from Brighton, the 11:12 Ashford train.
Trains back from Berwick are at xx:41, changing at Brighton.
Lunch
The Ram Inn,West Firle 01273 858222
You could also stop at the Trevor Arms in Glynde 01273 858208 but the Ram's my favourite, OK?
Tea:
Charleston Farmhouse has a tea shop, which is accessible without entry fee.
The Cricketers Arms, Berwick 01323 870 469, is another of my favourites, and "open all day, every day". They do tea and they have a nice garden. They have a (not immediately obvious) selection of cask ales behind the bar. You still have a 2 or 3 km.walk to Berwick station, so allow time to reach it. If taking the shorter route to the station, the cycleway to the left of the road is quieter.
There’s also the Berwick Inn 01323 870018, near the station, which has a pleasant garden.
Directions: You need two things:
For the morning, you need the directions for Book 2 walk 25, "Lewes via West Firle Circular".
For the afternoon you need the directions for “Lewes to Berwick option”
Both available here
Book 2 walk 25 + download
Length: About 17.5km (11 miles), Toughness: 7/10
Can be shortened by 5km (3.1 miles) and turned into a 4/10 by starting at Glynde.
One of my favourite walks visiting two of my favourite pubs. The morning takes you over the downs, through Glynde, and on to lunch in the characterful Ram Inn in West Firle, a pretty flintstone village.
St Peters church in West Firle has a Piper window.
The afternoon takes you past Charleston Farmhouse (01323 811 265) and Berwick Church, both lavishly decorated by members of the Bloomsbury Group.
Charleston Farmhouse costs £11 for the whole visit or £4.50 for the garden only. There may be reductions for walkers.
The church, reached later, is free and open at most times.
Trains:
Get a day return to Berwick (Sussex). The "Sussex" bit is important.
For the Lewes start.
Get the 09:47 Ore train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:53), arriving Lewes at 10:48.
For the easier start at Glynde, you have several choices.
The Ore train calls at Glynde today, so you could just stay on the 09:47 till the next stop.
However, the 10:47 from Victoria reaches Glynde at 11:54. The Lewes starters would be passing through just about then.
It is also possible to travel via Brighton. Get to Glynde for 11:29 by taking the 10:06 from Victoria to Brighton (Clapham Junction 10:12) then, from Brighton, the 11:12 Ashford train.
Trains back from Berwick are at xx:41, changing at Brighton.
Lunch
The Ram Inn,West Firle 01273 858222
You could also stop at the Trevor Arms in Glynde 01273 858208 but the Ram's my favourite, OK?
Tea:
Charleston Farmhouse has a tea shop, which is accessible without entry fee.
The Cricketers Arms, Berwick 01323 870 469, is another of my favourites, and "open all day, every day". They do tea and they have a nice garden. They have a (not immediately obvious) selection of cask ales behind the bar. You still have a 2 or 3 km.walk to Berwick station, so allow time to reach it. If taking the shorter route to the station, the cycleway to the left of the road is quieter.
There’s also the Berwick Inn 01323 870018, near the station, which has a pleasant garden.
Directions: You need two things:
For the morning, you need the directions for Book 2 walk 25, "Lewes via West Firle Circular".
For the afternoon you need the directions for “Lewes to Berwick option”
Both available here
Extra Swimming Walk - Folkestone Circular
T=3.13 Catch the 09:37 from St Pancras. Arrive Folkestone at 10:30
13.1km (8.2 miles) - fewer miles than the average walk :)
As it's meant to be hot, an extra seaside walk...
This is a highly scenic coastal walk with fine sea views throughout and a steep but exhilarating climb in the middle. It firstly introduces you to some of the quainter sides of Folkestone, a town which like many south coast seaside towns is undergoing something of a renaissance, and then takes you past two fine Martello Towers (part of a chain built for defence against an invasion by Napoleon). You next descend into The Warren, an unexpected area of wild coastline to the east of Folkestone, and pass along a strange concrete seafront esplanade, almost certainly left over from World War Two. In places this is cracking and care is sometimes needed, but it is perfectly well frequented. With chalk cliffs looming up to your left, on a sunny day this section of the walk can be quite entrancing. The esplanade should probably be avoided when the sea is stormy, however, and if in doubt, you can escape from it by any path leading inland, turning right along the road and later track which parallels the railway line to get to the footbridge in paragraph 28 of the walk directions. The highlight of the walk then follows – an exciting path that climbs perfectly safely and easily up among what look from below like impossibly sheer cliffs. This path owes its existence to the Warren Halt, a station on the line here from 1886 onwards, which in the Edwardian era was a popular tourist stop with a beach and tea garden. At the top of the path, there is a cafe with a spectacular view of the channel. The route takes you back along the cliff top to Folkestone, with stunning views of the English Channel and the Warren below. On the way you pass the official Battle of Britain memorial, attractively sited right on the clifftop.
13.1km (8.2 miles) - fewer miles than the average walk :)
As it's meant to be hot, an extra seaside walk...
This is a highly scenic coastal walk with fine sea views throughout and a steep but exhilarating climb in the middle. It firstly introduces you to some of the quainter sides of Folkestone, a town which like many south coast seaside towns is undergoing something of a renaissance, and then takes you past two fine Martello Towers (part of a chain built for defence against an invasion by Napoleon). You next descend into The Warren, an unexpected area of wild coastline to the east of Folkestone, and pass along a strange concrete seafront esplanade, almost certainly left over from World War Two. In places this is cracking and care is sometimes needed, but it is perfectly well frequented. With chalk cliffs looming up to your left, on a sunny day this section of the walk can be quite entrancing. The esplanade should probably be avoided when the sea is stormy, however, and if in doubt, you can escape from it by any path leading inland, turning right along the road and later track which parallels the railway line to get to the footbridge in paragraph 28 of the walk directions. The highlight of the walk then follows – an exciting path that climbs perfectly safely and easily up among what look from below like impossibly sheer cliffs. This path owes its existence to the Warren Halt, a station on the line here from 1886 onwards, which in the Edwardian era was a popular tourist stop with a beach and tea garden. At the top of the path, there is a cafe with a spectacular view of the channel. The route takes you back along the cliff top to Folkestone, with stunning views of the English Channel and the Warren below. On the way you pass the official Battle of Britain memorial, attractively sited right on the clifftop.
Saturday, 4 July 2015
Saturday Third Walk – The Midhurst Way (Southerly Section)
SWC Walk 217 – Arundel to Midhurst
Long and hilly walk through a remote and less visited part of the South Downs National Park, through the Rother Valley and across the Sandstone Upland to Midhurst
Length: 30.5 km (19.0 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 590 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 7 hours (at 5 km/h)
Toughness: 10 out of 10
9.02 Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis train from Victoria (9.08 CJ, 9.18 EC), arriving Arundel at 10.29 Make sure you are in the rear (Bognor Regis) part of the train.
The return from Midhurst is by bus to either:
A dropout is possible after 21.3 km/13.2 mi: Bus #1 Midhurst to Worthing (via Pulborough Station) stops at Tillington (Upperton Road), about 2 minutes from the pub, at 15.41, 16.41, 17.51 and 18.54.
First posting of this long walk, which has only skeletal directions, but should be easy to navigate.
Amongst the Highlights are: the South Downs crest at Yew Tree Gate, open downland with views in every direction, Bignor with its Roman Villa and vineyards, Barlavington's famous old yew tree, views to Burton Park and Petworth, the Rother Valley, woods, farmland, Tillington Church, the Cowdray Estate with its 1000 year old Queen Elizabeth-Oak, Polo Fields and Cowdray Castle.
For more details and for the walk directions click here.
R&R can be found at:
The White Horse in Sutton (13.3 km/8.2 mi);
The Cricketers in Duncton (16.4 km/10.2 mi, a little bit off-route);
The Badgers Inn in Coultershaw Bridge (18.1 km/11.2 mi);
The Horse Guards Inn in Tillington (21.5 km/13.4 mi);
The Lodsworth Larder in Lodsworth (25.4 km/15.7 mi);
The Hollist Arms in Lodsworth (25.4 km/15.7 mi); and at plenty of options in Midhurst.
For a map click here.
For a gpx or a kml file click here.
To leave feedback after the walk click here.
t=swc.217
Long and hilly walk through a remote and less visited part of the South Downs National Park, through the Rother Valley and across the Sandstone Upland to Midhurst
Length: 30.5 km (19.0 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 590 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 7 hours (at 5 km/h)
Toughness: 10 out of 10
9.02 Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis train from Victoria (9.08 CJ, 9.18 EC), arriving Arundel at 10.29 Make sure you are in the rear (Bognor Regis) part of the train.
The return from Midhurst is by bus to either:
- Chichester Station (Bus #60, dep. 18.00, 18.30, 19.05 and 20.15): Return trains from Chichester are 19.07 (VIC dir.), 19.25 (VIC, chg. Barnham), 19.35 (WAT, chg. Havant), 20.07 (VIC, dir.), 20.35 (WAT, chg. Havant); 21.07 (VIC, dir.), 22.11 (VIC, chg. Horsham), 22.40 (VIC, chg. Three Bridges).
- Haslemere Station (Bus #70, dep. 18.00 and 19.05): Return trains from Haslemere to Waterloo are XX.02, XX.15 and XX.32 until 21.32 (also 19.39), then 22.15 and 23.15.
- Pulborough Station (Bus #1, dep. 18.45): Return trains from Pulborough to Victoria are XX.35 until 21.35 (dir.), then 22.37 (chg. Horsham).
A dropout is possible after 21.3 km/13.2 mi: Bus #1 Midhurst to Worthing (via Pulborough Station) stops at Tillington (Upperton Road), about 2 minutes from the pub, at 15.41, 16.41, 17.51 and 18.54.
First posting of this long walk, which has only skeletal directions, but should be easy to navigate.
Amongst the Highlights are: the South Downs crest at Yew Tree Gate, open downland with views in every direction, Bignor with its Roman Villa and vineyards, Barlavington's famous old yew tree, views to Burton Park and Petworth, the Rother Valley, woods, farmland, Tillington Church, the Cowdray Estate with its 1000 year old Queen Elizabeth-Oak, Polo Fields and Cowdray Castle.
For more details and for the walk directions click here.
R&R can be found at:
The White Horse in Sutton (13.3 km/8.2 mi);
The Cricketers in Duncton (16.4 km/10.2 mi, a little bit off-route);
The Badgers Inn in Coultershaw Bridge (18.1 km/11.2 mi);
The Horse Guards Inn in Tillington (21.5 km/13.4 mi);
The Lodsworth Larder in Lodsworth (25.4 km/15.7 mi);
The Hollist Arms in Lodsworth (25.4 km/15.7 mi); and at plenty of options in Midhurst.
For a map click here.
For a gpx or a kml file click here.
To leave feedback after the walk click here.
t=swc.217
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)