The High Weald

Book 3 Walk 19

Tunbridge Wells Circular – main walk

Length 19.3km (12.0m ); toughness 5/10

Trains:09.55 London Charing Cross (Waterloo East  09.57)Tunbridge Wells 10.51

Return trains xx.09 and xx.39 to London Charing Cross

An interesting walk through parkland, heathland and woods in the High Weald. (There will be some mud I’m afraid but hopefully not too much!)

There are options to shorten the walk should you so wish but you can find further details about the walk, refreshment opportunities  and full walk instructions here. Click on the Main Walk options M  for the 19.km version of the walk

The Seaside and the South Downs

Book 3 Walk 60c Eastbourne Circular

Length 18km (11.2m) ;toughness 6/10.

Trains 09.47 London Victoria (Clapham Junction  09.53, East Croydon 10.08) Eastbourne 11.13.

Return trains from Eastbourne to London Victoria at xx:59

This particular walk variation does not appear to have had an outing for almost 6 years so lets dust it off and give it a go.

This is quite a vigorous walk with a steep climb near the start  but you can cut it short at East Dean and catch a bus back to Eastbourne if the weather is inclement or you have just had enough. The last part of the walk is through Eastbourne’s streets but this is not unpleasant.

Further information about the walk and its options and the lunch and refreshment opportunities  can be found here with the pdf detailed walk instructions here

Saturday Third Walk [Fully Revised] - North West Essex chalky uplands and pretty villages

SWC 116 Wendens Ambo [Audley End station] Circular - re-routed after a pub closure and fully written up

Length: 23.7 km (14.7 mi) [longer and shorter walk possible, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 280 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours

Toughness:  5 out of 10 

Take the 09.28 Cambridge train from Liverpool Street (Tottenham Hale 09.40), arriving Audley End at 10.30. 

Return trains: direct at XX.19 and XX.40, or with a change at Stansted Airport at XX.25 and XX.45.

Buy an Audley End return.

First posting of this former map led walk, now slightly re-routed to involve a new lunch pub, we will take the opportunity to check the walk directions.

To quote the write-up: "This is a relaxing walk in the quiet chalky uplands of north-west Essex, on the borders of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, very much off the beaten track, and with gently rolling hills, plenty of woods and copses as well as some pretty villages. Right from the start the walk takes you past picturesque thatched cottages with ample examples of pargeting, a decorative medieval plastering technique, and on through some farmland to the early lunch stop in Arkesden, one of the prettiest villages in Essex with one of the best pubs and loveliest churches. The route then gently ascends to Chrishall, the dedicated lunch stop on the full walk, along field boundaries and green lanes. Chrishall village is close to Essex’ highest point and the approach offers fine views into the Hertfordshire plain and back down the wide ‘winding valley’ that gives Wendens Ambo its name.

After lunch you follow the Icknield Way to Elmdon, with views north out across the Cambridgeshire plain to Cambridge, then alongside a high hedge with views off to your right into the winding valley back to Wendens Ambo.

A slightly longer, more westerly route (25.7 km/16.0 mi) takes you over Essex’ highest point itself to Chrishall, this is rated 6/10. A shorter route (16.8 km/10.5 mi) cuts out most of the higher ground including the outlying villages of Chrishall and Elmdon, this is rated 3/10."  For the short walk you should take the 10.28 train, so as not to arrive too early at the lunch pub in Arkesden.

The recommended lunch options are The Axe & Compasses in Arkesden (4.9 km/3.0 mi) for the short walk or The Red Cow in Chrishall  (13.1 km/8.2 mi) [a table has been booked]. For tea it’s either The Bell Inn, 10 minutes from the station, or The Fighting Cocks, 5 minutes beyond the station.
For walk directions click here. Due to server trouble, Grandmaster David C had to create this link  for us to the gpx files (one each for main walk, extension and shortcut).

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Saturday Second Walk - Wiltshire downland using SWT offer

SWC Walk 248 - Tisbury Circular via Hindon
Length: 21.8km (13.6 miles) with 3.1km (1.9 miles) of possible afternoon shortcuts
Toughness: 7 out of 10

Catch the 9.20 train from Waterloo (9.27 Clapham Junction) to Tisbury, arriving 11.06

*** Buy your ticket online from SWT or at SWT ticket offices (eg at Waterloo) *** up to midnight the night before*** to get the SWT £15 return offer ("Discover the Great Indoors").

For walk directions click here.

We have not yet made much use of the SWT £15 offer, so here is a chance to do so. A 1hr 46 minute train journey whisks you beyond Salisbury to the Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where this walk circles around the large Fonthill Estate. The walk notes talk of "spectacular walking country", "breathtaking views", "picturesque villages" and "excellent pubs", so that seems to tick all the boxes.

How muddy or otherwise the route is I do not know, but being on chalk one can at least hope the mud will be less gloopy than on other routes. I also note that this walk was debuted in March last year and as far as I know no one sunk without a trace on it.

It is 6 miles to lunch in Hindon (2.5 hours at a reasonable pace) where there are three pubs serving food till 2.30pm. For any that think they might not make this, there is an earlier cafe option after 3 miles.

In the afternoon two shortcuts are possible, which if taken together would reduce the walk to 11.7 miles. However it is also now light till 6pm so it should be possible to finish the whole route.

Trains back from Tisbury are at 01 or 03 past, though evening dining types might like to note that from the 19.03 onwards they take 2hrs rather than 1hr 46 minutes. The last direct train is the 20.01, though there is a 21.01 changing at Salisbury that is actually a few minutes quicker. The 22.03 requires a (rather tight) change at Basingstoke.

Balcombe Circular or Walk Research from Balcombe to Horsham

t=1.16 Length: 17.6km (10.9m)
Toughness: 5/10
Transport: Take the 9:42 from London Bridge to Balcombe arriving at 10:22
Return from Balcombe at xx:22 until 19:22, then xx:59

From the walk description:
This is a walk full of small delights: a nature reserve and lake with Japanese pavilion down by the stream below the gardens and park of Nymans with its part-ruined manor house; a churchyard in Slaugham (pronounced 'Slaffam') with a 600-year-old yew tree some 10 metres in circumference; the ruins of Slaugham Manor; then a walk down to the River Ouse – with the incongruous sight of a Roman arch and columns in the middle of nowhere – and later up through fields and woods to the fine old village of Balcombe.

I would like to offer the option to continue the walk to Horsham by map after lunch instead of returning to Balcombe. This option does not seem to exist yet for this walk but could be added to the walk instructions.

States of Mind: Tracing the edges of consciousness at Wellcome Collection

Exploring phenomena such as somnambulism, synaesthesia, and disorders of memory and consciousness, the exhibition will examine ideas around the nature of consciousness, and in particular what can happen when our typical conscious experience is interrupted, damaged or undermined.  

This changing exhibition will examine perspectives from artists, psychologists, philosophers and neuroscientists to interrogate our understanding of the conscious experience.

For more detail, click here.  Meet at Gallery at 6:45pm. Free Admission. Post exhibition F&B will be at a nearby pub (TBD).

Mid week day walk - Maidenhead to Marlow

Maidenhead to Marlow with the merest hint of mud

A pretty stretch of the Thames to Cookham in the morning. After lunch, a hill with a view of the Thames valley

Book 3 Walk 56

Length :  14½ km or 9 miles

Toughness :  3 out of 10

Getting there :  Catch the 10:12 am train from London Paddington to Maidenhead

Calling stations:

• Ealing Broadway:      departs 10:20
• Southall:             departs 10:27
• Hayes and Harlington: departs 10:31
• West Drayton:         departs 10:35
• Slough:               departs 10:42

Meeting point :  Maidenhead Station at 10:53

Tickets :  Buy a cheap day return to Marlow

Brief Description

This is an ideal walk for those of you weary of mud.  It passes the Cliveden Estate (though not accessible) where the Profumo affair took place many moons ago in 1961.
You may find full details here and a printable PDF here. (Apparently Kindlites may use this PDF) 

Suggested Lunch stops at Cookham

The Bel and Dragon t: 01628 521263 (up market)

The Kings Arms   t: 01628 530667 

The Crown  t: 01628 520163

The Teapot Tea Shop t: 01628 529 514

Hopefully one of these will suffice !

Suggested Tea stop

Burgers t: 01628 483389 Pronounced with a 'soft' G and open to 5:15

There are many other eateries in Marlow too.

Maps

OS Explorer : 172 

Return train times

Trains return from Marlow at the following times ...

15:06  (Change at Maidenhead)
16:05  (Change at Maidenhead)
17:16  (Change at Bourne End and Maidenhead)
17:47  (Change at Bourne End and Maidenhead)
18:17 (Change at Bourne End, Maidenhead and Slough)
18:47  (Change at Bourne End and Maidenhead)

Sunday Second Walk - Hertfordshire woodlands

Extra Walk 168a Broxbourne to Bayford
Length: 18.8km (11.7 miles) Toughness: 5/10

09:58 Cambridge train from Liverpool Street (Tottenham Hale 10:10) arriving at Broxbourne at 10:23.
Or 09:45 Hertford East train from Stratford arriving Broxbourne at 10:15.
Return trains from Bayford to Moorgate, calling at numerous stations in north London are at xx22 and xx:52 (journey time 45 minutes).

The outward and return journeys are on separate, non-intersecting, lines operated by different train companies, so you’ll probably need two single tickets. If you plan to do the full circular walk back to Broxbourne the ticketing issue won’t be a problem. The easiest option is to use an Oyster card, since both stations are within the Oyster zone.

This walk follows a circuitous route that explores age old trails, paths and green lanes through a diverse woodland setting. As always when walking in woods, following the written directions carefully is essential, and a map and compass are recommended. Today is the first posting of the alternative ending at Bayford, though those with sufficient energy could choose to complete the 15-mile main walk back to Broxbourne. Most of the walk is done before lunch, hence the relatively early start.

The recommended lunch stop is The Woodman & Olive (01992 463719) in Wormley West End. As always on a Sunday, reserving a table is advisable.

You will need to download the Walk Directions.

Sunday First Walk - Thames estuary bird life and marshes

Extra Walk 209 Higham to Gravesend
Length: 18.4km (11.4 miles) Toughness: 3/10

10:16 Gillingham train from Cannon Street (London Bridge 10:20, Lewisham 10:28) arriving at Higham at 11:13.
Or 10:27 Ramsgate train (high speed service) from St Pancras (Stratford International 10:34), changing at Gravesend (arr 10:44; dep 11:07) on to the above train from Cannon Street.
Return trains from Gravesend are to Cannon Street at xx18 and xx:48 (journey time 47 minutes), or to St Pancras at xx:12 and xx:42 (journey time 24 minutes).

This is not a typical countryside walk but the vast open spaces of the lower Thames estuary offer a spectacular landscape of open water, marshes and big skies that is evocative and atmospheric with a rich sense of history and the area’s industrial heritage. In its revised version this walk proved popular on its first outing last year, and as the tide recedes in the afternoon, exposing extensive mud flats, there should be ample opportunities to view the bird life on the RSPB reserve around Cliffe Pools and the river Thames.

The recommended lunch stop is The Six Bells (01634 221459) in Cliffe. Do phone ahead to let them know how many walkers will be lunching there.

You will need to download the Walk Directions.

Saturday Third Walk – The Year of the Monkey in London W4

New Walk – Norbiton to Hammersmith
Length: 16½ km (10.25 miles), with longer and shorter options. Toughness: 2/10

10:12 Shepperton train from Waterloo (Vauxhall 10:16, Clapham Jct 10:21, etc), arriving Norbiton at 10:37.

Norbiton is in TfL Zone 5 and all the possible return stations in Zones 2 or 3, so use your Oyster card.

This walk starts with a trek through a huge deer park and ends with a stretch along an attractive part of the River Thames. In between you can have lunch at a pub overlooking a village green and then explore the grounds of a historic neo-Palladian villa, currently celebrating the Chinese New Year. All in south-west London.

The park is of course Richmond Park and the lunchtime stop is at the Sun Inn in Barnes, “the village on the river”. The grounds are those of Chiswick House, where Lord Burlington's attempt to recreate the gardens of ancient Rome is somewhat overshadowed this month by the vivid displays of a Magical Lantern Festival. The suggested destination is Hammersmith but you can easily cut the walk short or extend it to Putney; see the walk document for details. However, if you do the extension note that football fans will be spilling out of Craven Cottage at 5pm as Fulham have a home game with Charlton.

You'll need to print the walk directions (with maps) from this New Walk page. As a fair proportion of the walk is on firm surfaces and the park shouldn't be too muddy, choose comfortable footwear.

PS. Before anyone asks, there's no GPS route on the website; the better to show up any inadequacies in the written directions. In any case you hardly need one for urban walks and Richmond Park is a nice place to get lost in. Leave your gizmo at home! T=swc.261.y

Saturday Second Walk -- Great Lewes Circular

Extra Walk 47: The Great Lewes Circular (Anticlockwise) – An Energetic Walk over the South Downs with Great views, Three Hills, Three Pubs and a Ridge

Distance:  14 Miles (or 10.7 if stopping in Glynde) – for the more metrically minded, that would be, 23.5km or 17.2 km, respectively.

Difficulty:  7 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:47 Bexhill/Littlehampton train from London Victoria (9:53 from Clapham Junction and 10:03 from East Croydon), arriving at Lewes at 10:47.  Return trains from Lewes are at 16 and 54 minutes past the hour until 19:54 when they become hourly at 54 past until 21:54; then a final one at 22:40.  For those opting to end the walk in Glynde, the trains from Glynde are at 23 minutes past the hour. Buy a day return to Lewes (or Glynde if planning to stop there). 

This is an energetic walk over three distinct downland ridges with magnificent views throughout.  For most of the day, you can see your onward route in front of you and your previous route behind.  While there are three substantial climbs, most of the walk is gently undulating across grassy downland – so should be mud free.  For those who linger over drinks at the Trevor Arms in Glynde, there could be an opportunity for a nearly full moon nocturnal walk over the last downland hill into Lewes.  The walk can be shortened by catching the train from Glynde back to Lewes.  Fingers crossed for some clear skies and dry weather to fully enjoy this epic walk.  Further information and the walk instructions can be found here.

The recommended lunchtime pub is the Abergavenny Arms in Rodmell (01273 572 416), about 5.5 miles into the walk.  Tea and other afternoon refreshments can be had at the Trevor Arms in Glynde.   Lewes also has a wide variety of tea shops, pubs and restaurants at the end of the walk.

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday First Walk - Henley to Marlow

Henley to Marlow via Hambleden

Length 10 miles, 3 out of 10

The first part of the walk is from Henley via Hambleden Circular here, and the second part from the Marlow circular here. You are advised to use the download instructions, especially for pre 2011 editions of the book. The Marlow Circular has the overall instructions, but essentially Henley to get you to the Stag & Huntsman, and Marlow after that.

Travel Get the 09:41 from Paddington (0949 Ealing Broadway) Oxford Train. Change at Twyford (arr 1039) for the Henley train 10:50 arriving 11.02. There is an 0957 train via Reading, which involves getting a train back to Twyford from Reading but it has a higher fare. Buy a return to Henley which should be OK from Marlow, though you may have to buy a single from Marlow to Maidenhead.
Return trains from Marlow are xx:06 changing at Maidenhead.

Lunch The Stag & Huntsman in Hambleden (food until 2.30pm)

Tea As well as the places in the instructions, there is a pub right by the station - The Marlow Donkey - which also does food.

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Midweek Day Walk [Fully Revised] - Aldermaston to Woolhampton [Midgham Station] short option

…by special arrangement, Arthur D. has relinquished the walk poster role for this Wednesday, so that we can give this 'new' walk a run-out, thanks ever so much!

SWC Walk 117a – Rolling West Berkshire countryside: woodlands, fields, commons, chalk stream valleys (Kennet, Bourne), heathland, finish along canal or through parkland. Quiet and scenic. Not too muddy

Length: 16.6 km (10.3 mi)

Ascent/Descent:  240 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours

Toughness:  3 out of 10 

Take the 10.30 Bristol Temple Meads train from Paddington, arriving Aldermaston at 11.25; change at Reading: arrives 10.55, departs 11.12 (Newbury Train, usually on Platform 1)

Missed the 10.30? The 10.45 might still suffice: you have three minutes at Reading to get from Platform 9 to Platform 1 (note to self…)

Return trains: 16.24, 17.23, 18.24, 19.29, 20.08 hours (change at Reading, 58-70 minutes journey time)

Buy a Midgham return.

First posting of this former map lead walk, newly re-routed, split into two and fully written up, we will take the opportunity to check the walk directions of the short version of the first walk.

To quote the write-up:

“This walk explores a surprisingly quiet part of the commuter area that is West Berkshire, less than an hour from Central London. It is an undulating landscape with some fine views over unspoilt countryside - the West Berkshire Downs, which are part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and consist of a mix of ancient woodlands, commons, fields and pretty villages with pleasant, historical pubs. The route passes through the chalk stream river valleys of the Kennet and the Bourne. It also leads through parts of the Bucklebury Estate, one of the largest in the South, namely the elevated Bucklebury Common, which includes one of Berkshire’s largest heathlands. At the end there is a choice of finishes either along the Kennet & Avon Canal or through the landscaped Midgham Park. “

The recommended lunch option is The Cottage Inn in Upper Bucklebury (9.5 km/5.9 mi), which has won a Best Community Pub award for two years running. 
For tea The Rowbarge Inn in Woolhampton, 2 minutes from Midgham station, is the only option. 

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

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Sunday Walk 2: Fancy Castle Magic

Robertsbridge Short Circular Book 2 walk 20a
14km 8.7 ml
Difficulty 2/10
Through the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to picturesque Bodiam Castle where you have a choice of lunch in either the Castle Inn or The National Trust tea rooms.
Trains: Get the 9:55 Robertsbridge train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 9:58, Orpington 10:19). Does not stop at London Bridge. Arrives Robertsbridge at 11:17
Trains return from Robertsbridge at xx:14 and xx.44.
Lunch: The Castle Inn  01580 830 330 or the National Trust tea rooms at Bodiam Castle
Tea: The Ostrich Hotel, a quirky favourite, is close to Robertsbridge Station
Directions: are available here (on the Download Walk button) or in Book 2. We are doing the shorter walk, option a. Note that it starts differently to the full walk.
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Sunday Walk 1: Luv u Dearly, Off to Ely

Ely Circular 
SWC walk 118
17.7 km, 11 miles (with options to shorten)
Difficulty 1 out of 10

The walk starts off along the River Ouse then goes through the reclaimed land south of the former ‘Isle‘ (on raised embankments so no wet tootsies). Later, after crossing a WW2 airfield, you return though the historic cathedral city itself, passing two Ely landmarks, the Cathedral and Oliver Cromwell's House. It's Valentines Day, so look out for this heart shaped puddle. Maybe it will reappear. And maybe you'll see the face of your one true love in it. Maybe.
Trains: Get the 10:15 Ely train from Kings Cross (arriving 11:22)
Trains return from Ely at xx:58 (fastest, direct) and xx:04 (requires change at Cambridge)
Lunch : The Village Inn, Witchford  01353 663763.  Carvery only on Sundays so, presumably, no veggie options.
Tea: There are many tea places in Ely. The sedate, genteel Almonry, off Forehill, is recommended, it is open till 5. Also on Forehill, a micropub, the Drayman’s Son (formerly the Liberty Belle) sells specialist locally brewed beer.
Ely Cathedral is open till 5:30 and is free to visit on a Sunday – though I'm sure they would appreciate a donation. It's worth a look.
Oliver Cromwell's House is more or less as he left it, apart from the introductory film, audio tour and lifesize animated dummies. They do a bit of a 'Dear Leader' on him (not so bad, liked a knees-up, didn't ban Xmas, etc. etc) Open 11 till 4 (last entry 3) , admission £4.90
Directions and Maps available here 
This is a map-based walk with limited instructions so some degree of proficiency with a map and compass is advised. The full walk is suggested. The shorter options miss out Witchford and the lunch pub. Though I dare say you could find lunch in Ely......

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Third walk

SWC Walk 10 - Little Kimble to Saunderton
Length: 16.6 km (9.9 miles). Toughness: 3/10

Take the 9:13 train from London Marylebone to Little Kimble, arriving 10:10. Buy a day return to Little Kimble. Return trains from Saunderton: xx:50 until 21:50, 23:00. T=swc.10

Saturday Second Walk - Kentish Downland

Book 2 Walk 17 - Snodland to Sole Street
Length: 13.1km (8.1 miles) - Possible extension to 18.7km (11.6 miles): see end of post.
Toughness: 5 out of 10: some hill climbs, none too strenuous

9.55 Southeastern high speed train from St Pancras to Strood, arrive 10.27, connecting there (quick zip down into the subway and across to the other side) to the 10.34 to Snodland, arriving 10.45.

Alternatively for non-high speed types, three options:

a) Least complicated: 9.09 Charing Cross (9.12 Waterloo East, 9.27 Lewisham) to Strood, arriving 10.19 to connect with the 10.34 to Snodland, as above

b) Prettier route: 9.10 Charing Cross (9.13 Waterloo East) to Paddock Wood, arriving 9.58, changing there (wait on the same platform) for the 10.11 direct to Snodland, arriving 10.45 (not the same train as the one the high speeders get - this one comes from the opposite direction).

c) "Oh blast, I missed the train!": 9.15 from Charing Cross (9.18 Waterloo East, 9.39 Orpington) to Tonbridge, arriving 9.57 - sit in the front of the train so you can quickly cross the footbridge for the 10.04 from Tonbridge direct to Snodland, arriving 10.45.

Best ticket: probably a day return to Rochester. This covers you for London to Strood and Sole Street to Victoria. That only leaves the short hop from Strood to Snodland if you come out via Strood on the high speed train or option a) above. This is not problem on route b) or c) as by these routes Snodland is definitely on the way to Rochester: but these options might be seen by a very literal minded ticket inspector as a somewhat unconventional way to get from London to Rochester.

For the main walk directions bring book two or click here. If you plan to do the extension see ** below

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We have a lot of walks in this lovely area of downland south of the Medway towns, but the original book walk - or rather, its morning route, which is the bit not in other versions - has been neglected. Our resident statistician in fact tells me it has not had an SWC outing since January 2013.

This is a pity, as it is a perfectly nice walk. True, it starts out in the somewhat downbeat surroundings of Snodland itself, but it makes a decisive beeline for the downs and then goes over various hills and dales before it gets to the familiar lunch pub, the unpretentious Amazons and Tigers at Harvel.

The afternoon of the walk following a long ridge down to Luddesdown will probably be familiar to many. The Cock Inn just beyond this is a lovely pub to finish in, but seems to veer between doing tea cheerfully or not. The alternative is the Railway Inn which is also very nice and handily situated right next to Sole Street station.

Though mud is fairly inevitable at this time of year, this route is - at least for long sections - on chalk downland, so cross fingers it will not be too gloopy.

PS If you you want to stay in the Cock Inn after dark, you can: to get to the station afterwards, turn left out of the pub, stay on the road for 1km until you come to Sole Street village and a T-junction with a main road: turn left on this to find the station in 500 metres on the right. All of this is perfectly walkable in the dark.

Trains back from Sole Street go to Victoria exactly on each hour (so 16.00. 17.00 etc). St Pancrasites can take the 25 past in the other direction, to Rochester and connect there, but your ticket would not be valid from Sole Street to Rochester and this only saves you 20 minutes: better to spend them in the pub)

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** EXTENSION It is possible to extend this walk by an extra 5.6km (3.5 miles) using part of SWC Walk 35 Cuxton to Sole Street. This makes a total walk of 18.7km (11.6 miles). The extra route takes you in a loop up to the village of Cobham, where there are two nice pubs - the Leather Bottle and the Darnley Arms (which in December 2014 was doing tea and cakes). Or you can just carry on back to the Cock Inn and join the slower walkers for tea there. To do this option, follow the main walk directions as far as the Cock Inn, then pick up the directions on page 6 of this document at paragraph 55. If you do this, you might be the first SWC walker ever to do this option.

Saturday first walk - Hampshire Downs

SWC Walk 68 - Rowlands Castle Circular
9.6 miles/15.5 km, 3 out of 10

This Hampshire walk in the western part of the South Downs starts off towards Stansted House along a 1-mile-long beech avenue, before heading north along the edge of Stansted Forest and across fields to the villages of West Marden and Compton, with particularly nice views from the downs on the short section between them. You can choose between the Victoria Inn in the first village and the Coach and Horses in the second for lunch. You return through more fields and woods, with a choice of pubs in Rowlands Castle for tea.

(You can shorten the walk by 1.5 miles by following the main walk directions until [4], then follow the Short Cut directions to pick up the main walk directions at [*] just after [7] in the main text.)

Trains: 9:45 Portsmouth & Southsea train from London Waterloo, arriving at Rowlands Castle at 11:21, or 10:00 Portsmouth Harbour train from London Waterloo, changing at Haslemere (arr 10:48, dep 10:55) to arrive at same time.

Return trains at xx46 (and extra service at 17:32)

South West Trains currently have a £15 return ticket offer, but you must buy this by midnight the day before.  Details here.


Lunch  Victoria Inn, West Marden, food served 12:00-2:30, tel 02392 631330.  The Coach and Horses, Compton, food served 12:00-2:00, tel  02392 631228.  The Village Shop and Tea Room, Compton, tel 02392 631144.  

Tea  A few pub options at Rowlands Castle: Castle Inn, Finchdean Road; Fountain, The Green; Robin Hood, The Green

Links  full walk details    walk instructions

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Midweek day walk - Wendens Ambo Circular

Wendens Ambo Circular

An easy walk through the Essex countryside

Book 3* Walk 116    *online only

Length :  18 km or 11 miles

Toughness :  2 out of 10

Getting there :  Catch the 10:28 am train from London Liverpool Street ( 10:40 am at Tottenham Hale ) to Audley End

Meeting point :  Audley End Station at 11:30 am

Tickets :  Buy a cheap day return to Audley End

Brief Description

You may find full details of this walk here

Suggested Lunch stop

The Axe & Compasses Arkesden t: 01799 550272

Suggested Tea stop

The Bell Inn, Royston Road, Wendens Ambo  t: 01799 540382

Maps

OS Explorer : 194  195

Return train times

Trains return from Audley End at 10 and 40 minutes past the hour.

There are other trains to and from Audley End via Stansted Airport, but these may well be more expensive.

Sunday Walk 2 – Towpaths and riverside paths to Hampton Court

Extra Walk 45 – West Byfleet to Hampton Court
Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles). Toughness: 1/10

10:11 Guildford train from Waterloo (Vauxhall 10:16, Clapham Jct 10:21, etc), arriving West Byfleet at 10:55. If you've got a travel card for Zone 6 you'll just need a single from Surbiton to West Byfleet; if not, buy a return to West Byfleet (but see below).

Trains return from Hampton Court (in TfL Zone 6) to Waterloo at 05 & 35 minutes past the hour. If the South West Trains staff are in a good mood your return to West Byfleet will be accepted, but you might be required to buy a single to Surbiton where the two lines meet.

If you want a break from excessively muddy winter walks this one should do the trick, as much of it is along canal towpaths and riverside paths. Navigation shouldn't be a problem, of course, but you'll find the walk document helpful for a tricky section at Weybridge as well as its comments about the hostelries en route. The first possible lunch pub is the Old Crown at Weybridge, with several more at Walton Bridge and beyond. At the end of the walk Hampton Court has several pubs catering for tourists but I would have said that the cafés and tearooms in East Molesey were a better bet for tea. Alternatively, cross Hampton Court bridge for a quick look around the Palace gardens (free in winter) and have tea in its Tiltyard Café.

You'll need to print the (brief) directions from the Extra Walk 45 page. T=swc.45

Sunday Walk 1 – A view of Chequers from the Ridgeway

Book 1 Walk 52 – Princes Risborough to Wendover, omitting Great Kimble
Length: 13.4 km (8.3 miles). Toughness: 5/10

10:43 Banbury train from Marylebone, arriving Princes Risborough at 11:25. Buy a day return to Aylesbury, which is valid to both Princes Risborough and Wendover.

Trains back from Wendover to Marylebone are at 28 & 58 minutes past the hour.

The original lunch pub on this classic Chilterns walk closed several years ago, which means that there is no point in descending into Great Kimble. Instead, stay on the Ridgeway (as described in paragraph 21 of the online directions), saving 1½ km. If you want a pub lunch you will have to choose between an early one at The Plough in Lower Cadsden, or completing the whole walk and going for one of the pubs in Wendover: the Shoulder of Mutton next to the station and the Red Lion in the High Street both serve food all day.

NB. I vaguely remember that the muddiest part of this walk is through the woods from Dunsmore to the Monument. If you've got a map you can avoid this section by turning left at the top of the woods after you've passed Chequers, staying on the waymarked Ridgeway/South Bucks Way. This takes you directly to the Monument and is about 1½ km shorter.

Bring Book 1 or print the directions from the Walk 52 page. T=1.52