Two lovely villages,fields and woodland trails in Bedfordshire

New walk check - Sandy to Biggleswade via Northill and Old Warden

Length 19.5km (12.2m); toughness 4/10 - one short climb after lunch ( Overall, 219m ascent; 215m, descent)

Trains: London Kings Cross 09.35 (Finsbury Park 09.40) arrives Sandy 10.33

Fast return trains from Biggleswade to Kings Cross are at xx:20 (42 mins) stopping at Finsbury Park. There is a slower train (about 1 hour) at xx:00/54/55. (Times vary through the evening so be on the platform by 50 mins past the hour.)

Buy a day return to Sandy.

Walk Description

Although this is an area of large arable fields there is no slogging through crops or over ploughed land . The walk is mainly flat and before lunch generally follows the Greensand Ridge Walk . The route is a mix of attractive broad grassy tracks along field edges and woodland trails. Along the way you will see a number of information boards telling you about the animals, trees and plants you may see around you. Binoculars are useful as the area is rich in bird-life and a healthy population of muntjac deer and brown hares.

There are no stiles on this walk or the short and long walk options

You pass through two attractive villages Northill and Old Warden which both have excellent pubs. 

Refreshments

The Crown, Northill (01767 627337) You will only have done a quarter of the walk when you reach this attractive pub but it still makes a lovely stop for a short break. Should you wish to have an early lunch there is an extensive menu including good vegetarian options. See the web site here for full details

Your recommended lunch stop is the Hare and Hounds, Old Warden (01767 627225) which is 60% (7.6m) into the walk.  This establishment has been nominated for Bedfordshire pub of the year and “pub-lunchers” here are strongly advised to phone ahead. There is outside seating. See the web site here for further information.

If you have a picnic lunch then just before the Hare and Hounds there is the Abbey Church of St Leonard which has seating and is a lovely place to relax and eat.

Tea – Your best bet is the large Surfin café in Biggleswade’s Market Square which is en route to the station.

Walk options

After the Hare and Hounds you can do two very short “there and back”  trips  to see two Landmark Trust properties, one of which  Queen Annes Summerhouse bills itself as the worlds “poshest” bedsit.

Lengthening the walk: You can extend the walk to 26.1km.(16.3m) by taking a route from Biggleswade to Sandy to complete a long circular walk.   

Shortening the walk: There is no option to shorten the walk on the main route but you could do  a short walk from Biggleswade to Sandy (7.7km , 4.8m). This incorporates  a route through Sandy Warren RSPB reserve. (This is also the route for the Biggleswade to Sandy extension above.)

Further details about the walk and full draft walk instructions for all walk options can be found here in the temporary walks depository. 

Please note that the draft instructions will be checked and up-dated en route so there will inevitably be some inaccuracies in the text. 

Bank Holiday Monday Walk South - Hidden valleys in the North Downs

Extra Walk 59:  Eynsford Circular – A Contrast between hidden valleys in the North Downs and the Darent Valley Path through three interesting villages.

Distance:  12.1 Miles

Difficulty:  5 out of 10

This walk has been moved from its original spot on Saturday to Bank Holiday Monday to even up numbers while SWC walkers are in Scotland.

Train:  Take the 9:42 Thameslink train towards Sevenoaks from London Blackfriars, arriving at Eynsford at 10:30.  

You can also get the 9.52 from Victoria to Bromley South, arriving 10.08, to connect with the Blackfriars train there at 10.14.

Buy a day return to Eynsford. 

This walks explores some hidden valleys in the North Downs and also takes the Darent Valley Path through three interesting villages along the river.  There are options to extend and shorten the walk.  More information and the walk instructions can be found here.

Lunch is in Otford (about 5.5 miles into the walk) where there are a couple of pubs from which to choose.  The recommended tea stop is the Riverside Tea Rooms and there are also several pubs in Eynsford for stronger refreshment.

Return trains from Eynsford are at 13 and 43 minutes past the hour until 22:13.   

Enjoy the walk!

Sunday Walk 2 – the Garden of England

Extra Walk 151 – Sutton Valence to Pluckley
Length: 18 km (11.2 miles). Toughness: 3/10

10:42 Folkestone train from Victoria (Bromley South 10:59, Orpington 11:06, etc), arriving Headcorn at 11:46. On arrival move smartly onto the station forecourt where an Arriva 12 bus should be waiting to depart at 11:50 for the 10-minute journey (£3.50) to Sutton Valence, where you start the walk by the King's Head pub. Buy a day return to Pluckley.

If the train is late and the bus driver has given up waiting, it won't be that much more expensive for a group of you to share a taxi. Alternatively, if you're familiar with the Pluckley Circular you could continue on the train to the next stop and do a version of that Book 2 walk instead.

Trains back from Pluckley to Victoria are hourly, at 40 minutes past.

A group of us recently enjoyed the plentiful apple blossom and fine views on the Yalding–Sutton Valence walk, so here's a chance to pick up from where that one finished. Lunch pubs on this stretch of the Greensand Way are thin on the ground and in theory there are two choices, but the later one in Egerton – the George – has apparently been “Closed by the Police” (whatever that ominous phrase means). That means the only convenient choice is the appealing Pepper Box Inn after 5½ km, where you should arrive at about 1.20pm. The pub's website claims to be in “an ideal spot for walkers…happy to accommodate groups” so they're not likely to turn you away, but if it's not warm enough to eat in their garden then do call them in advance to reserve a table.

At the end of the walk the Dering Arms by the station won't be open, so your tea stop is the Black Horse pub in Pluckley village. It's a further 2½ km to the station so allow at least 35-40 minutes for this last leg: there's nothing to do there if you miscalculate and have a long wait for the hourly train.

NB. The walk document does suggest this late start time if lunching at the Pepper Box Inn. However, feel free to post a comment if you'd prefer to start an hour earlier (trains to Headcorn are half-hourly but the connecting bus is hourly). If there's an overwhelming clamour for the earlier train I'll change the walk post.

For more information about the walk and a link to the Directions, OS Map, etc, go to the Extra Walk 151 page. T=swc.151

Sunday Walk 1 – the Thames in south Oxfordshire

Extra Walk 242 – Cholsey to Goring via Wallingford
Length: 20.5 km (12.7 miles). Toughness: 4/10

10:00 Weston-super-Mare train from Paddington, changing at Reading for the Oxford train (arr 10:34, dep 10:45), arriving Cholsey at 11:04. If you get to Paddington early you can take the same Oxford train at 09:45 (Ealing Broadway 09:53) and not need to change. Buy a day return to Cholsey.

Trains back from Goring & Streatley are hourly at 24 minutes past. You can save up to half an hour by changing at Reading for a non-stop train to Paddington.

This new walk had a well-attended début on a hot Saturday in August last year, with the feedback suggesting its wildflower meadows beside the Thames would be particularly attractive in late spring. A relatively short stretch along the Thames Path brings you to the pretty town of Wallingford and a choice of pubs for lunch. The (longer) afternoon is across gently rolling fields in the south Oxfordshire countryside and you'll probably appreciate the chance to break for refreshment in South Stoke, 3.5 km before the finish.

There are some good pubs in Goring if you have time to kill before your train, or you could even take up the walk author's suggestion of a 7 km extension along the Thames Path to Whitchurch and Pangbourne (closer to London, so a Cholsey ticket is valid). There are no written directions but the route is well-waymarked and some of it will be familiar from other club walks in the area.

For more information about the walk and a link to the Directions, OS Map, etc, go to the Extra Walk 242 page. T=swc.242

Saturday Second Walk - Gentle fields, buttercups and an ancient town

SWC Walk 190 - Thame Circular
Length: 21km (13 miles)
Toughness: 3 out of 10

9.05 (Oxford Parkway-bound) train from Marylebone to Haddenham & Thame Parkway, arriving 9.40. *** Go quickly to the bus stop *** in the front forecourt of the station for the 9.43 bus 280 (destination Oxford) to Thame, arriving 9.54. If you miss this, the next bus is the 10.03 arriving 10.14.

Buy a day return to Haddenham and Thame Parkway. You will also come back on the bus from Thame so get a return for this journey too if it is cheaper.

For walk directions click here.

I know this walk had an outing just two weeks ago on a Sunday, but as it has not otherwise been put on since 2013 I thought that Saturday walkers may fancy a pop at it. It was the words "gentle rolling landscape with fields packed with buttercups" which caught my eye from the walk report two weeks ago, since I was looking for a buttercup-rich walk. Thame is also apparently a charming place to start and finish the walk and the walk also passes through "various quiet villages".

There are two lunch options 11.9km/7.4 miles and 13.3km/8.3 miles in, which explains the early train. Thame does not seem to lack tea options.

To return from Thame you once again take the 280 bus (destination Aylesbury this time: from outside the Town Hall):
- The best choice is at 15 past the hour, arriving at Haddenham and Thame Parkway station at 21 past, connecting with the 38 past train which takes 40 minutes to Marylebone.
- You can also get the 55 past bus, which gets to the station at 02 past the hour and connects with the 13 past train, but this takes 54 minutes to Marylebone and so arrives only 11 minutes earlier than the next 38 past train.

These times are valid until 18.55: after that buses are at 19.26, 19.54, 20.24, 20.54, 21.39 (etc): you might want to check how these connect with trains if you plan to come back this late.

Haslemere Circular

CW1 Walk 22 - Haslemere round
Length: 14 km (8.7 miles).
Toughness: 4/10

Catch the 10:00 from Waterloo arrives Haslemere 10:48. (From Clapham Junction: 09:52, arr. Haslemere 10:45)

 A favourite walk of Nicholas's and requested by Josefine who writes:

"Hello Andrew and everyone organising this site. Just to say you do a brilliant and completely professional job with this website and I love it! I am sure many, many people love and appreciate what you and your team do. It adds a wonderful quality to people's lives. That is what the walks meant to me when I went on them every week or almost every week, especially after Nicholas died. But I got out of the routine. There are so many things to do and I still work some weekends. I just looked at the website and am so impressed! It is fantastic!

I am sorry I have not come on walks for years. I am no longer directly involved with the Natural Death Centre, but I do fundraising for them, hold Natural Death Salons at my house and have organised the annual Poetry Challenge. I am a Patron of the NDC now, it is an honorary position. I am so glad the NDC gets much needed support from the walkers! A big thank you for that!

I have been talking with a couple of friends and former Saturday Walkers who walked with Nicholas and me in the '90s to come on a walk. I want do a Haslemere Round walk in May. I will definitely buy you a drink if you or other organisers are on that walk. It should be part of the routine on Saturday Walks, don't you think so?

My best wishes to you, and to all the walkers who remember Nicholas and me.

Hats off to you for a brilliant job to keep this going! Nicholas would be so very proud of what you are doing! I am very proud and very happy about it! THANK YOU!

The Natural Death Centre will be 25 years old on 14 April this year. I am holding a small fundraising event with Rosie of the NDC as a speaker and others to talk about the massive movement and changes that have occurred with help of the NDC since we started. This is a Natural Death Salon NW2 at my house on Sunday 19 June.

If anyone were interested in coming to this or other Natural Death Salons I hold, they are most welcome to contact me. I also host Death Cafes at La Brioche in West Hampstead. There is one on Monday 21 March.

The Saturday Walkers Club must have a 20th anniversary coming up in a couple of years! I hope it continues for a very long time!

All good wishes,

Josefine

www.facebook.com/naturaldeathsalon

www.facebook.com/deathcafehampstead "

T=1.22

Midweek day walk - Balcombe Circular

Balcombe Circular via Ardingly Reservoir

Two interlocking walks in a figure of 8 around Balcombe (one for Summer, one for Winter), taking in Ardingly Reservoir, the Ouse Valley Viaduct, and fine Weald territory

Book 3* Walk 22    * online only

Length :  20 km or 12½ miles ( A shorter 16 km / 10 mile variant is possible if the weather is inclement)

Toughness :  8 out of 10  ( 4 out of 10 for the short 'un )

Getting there :  Catch the 9:42 am Brighton train from London Bridge to Balcombe (9:56 am from East Croydon if you're travelling from Victoria or Clapham Junction )

(From Horley catch the 9:45 am Horsham train to Gatwick Airport and change there catching the 10:12 am Brighton train to Balcombe)

Meeting point :  Balcombe Station at 10:22 am

Tickets :  Buy a cheap day return to Balcombe

Brief Description

The trains to Balcombe are hourly (some walkers may recall that one failed to stop there on one occasion!) so a slightly earlier start today.  The Ouse Viaduct carrying the London to Brighton Railway is a spectacular engineering achievement and worth a photo or two as you walk underneath.
Ardingly Reservoir and the Weald also make for great scenery and there's a chance to visit the National Trust's Wakehurst Place for an afternoon cuppa with the Millennium Seed Bank adjacent.
Mike from Vancouver may join us on this walk. If he does, please make him feel welcome.

As usual, you may find full details of this walk here and a PDF here

Suggested Lunch stop

The Ardingly Inn t: 01444 892 214

Those with a packed lunch may enjoy eating by the side of the reservoir.

Suggested Tea stops

Wakehurst Place (mid afternoon)
The Balcombe Tea Rooms  t: 01444 811777 closes at 4:30 pm
The Half Moon Inn   t: 01444 811582

Maps

OS Explorer : 135

Return train times

Trains return from Balcombe to London Bridge at the following times 15:22 | 16:29 | 17:28 | 18:22
Change at East Croydon for London Victoria.

A South Downs ramble with an ending in bustling Brighton

Free walk 134 Lewes to Brighton via Rottingdean

Length  18.7km (11.8m); toughness 4/10

Trains 09:47 London Victoria arrives Lewes 10.52

There are frequent return trains from Brighton to London – about 5 an hour. You can return to London Victoria or London Bridge so ensure your ticket is valid for either.

Buy a day return to Lewes

This walk takes you across a less-frequented area of the South Down with  a couple of climbs and magnificent views across the plains of the River Ouse.

You take lunch in Rottingdean which has a number of places to eat. Brighton is packed with cafes and pubs for tea options and the walk summary here gives some suggestions. Click on the "download walk pdf" button at the top of the walk's page for full walk instructions. 

Walk options - alternative ending

You can end the walk in Rottingdean and take a frequent bus to Brighton or walk along the concrete promenade path at the base of the cliffs. If this feels a too “urban” an ending to a walk then there is the option to walk from Rottingdean to Southease which adds just under a mile to the walk . (Southease now has a café at the Youth Hostel just 150m from the station but you will need to get there before 4pm on a Sunday. The walk notes need up-dating here.)

If you want to do the Southease option you will need a return ticket from the small station there. Trains are at xx:09 to Lewes where you pick up a connecting train to London.)

A lovely walk in the Thames Valley

 Free walk 56b - Marlow Circular

Length 14.1km (8.8m); toughness 3/10

Trains 09.48 London Paddington (Ealing Broadway 09.56) arrives Maidenhead 10.28.

Then 10.35 Maidenhead (Platform 5b) to Marlow 10.58

Return trains to London from Marlow at xx:03 changing at Maidenhead (and possibly Slough)

This walk variation does not appear to have been done since March 2010 and makes an attractive Spring outing now that the ground has dried out.  You start out walking along the river and return across gentle hills enjoying the splendid Thames valley scenery back to Marlow.

Your lunch stop is in Cookham and there are a number of  pub and café options so take your pick . (see walk instructions for your choices) Marlow has a number of excellent tea places.

You can find more information about the walk and full walk instruction  in the pdf  here.

You have to navigate your way around the walk instructions a bit but first you scroll down to Section b) on page 7 and take it from there.

There are options to extend the walk if you wish 

Saturday Third Walk – the Ouse Valley

Extra Walk 141 – Haywards Heath to Lindfield
Length: 16 km (9.9 miles). Toughness: 3/10

Or complete a Circular Walk back to Haywards Heath: 19 km (11.8 miles), 4/10

10:05 Brighton train from London Bridge (East Croydon 10:19), arriving Haywards Heath at 10:48. If you are travelling out on this service from London Bridge and will also be returning on a Thameslink train, you can get a very cheap Super Off-Peak return to Haywards Heath.

Thameslink trains are not running through central London this weekend, but tickets should be accepted on the Underground if you need to connect between (say) St Pancras and London Bridge.

From Haywards Heath there are Thameslink trains back to London Bridge at 23 & 56 minutes past the hour, and (more expensive) Southern trains to Victoria at 14 & 44 minutes past.

If you decide to skip the last 3 km after tea in Lindfield you'll need to catch a bus (£1.80): there are frequent services into Haywards Heath until about 6pm. Metrobus services 270 & 272 go down the High Street at 1555, 1600, 1700, 1755 & 1810. In addition, Sussex Bus 29 runs half-hourly to Sainsbury's (near the station) and you can take it in either direction: at xx18 & xx48 down the High Street (last bus 1748) or xx04 & xx34 up the hill (to 1804).

This ill-fated walk has had several major revisions and suffered a major blow when its only feasible lunch pub closed in 2014, ostensibly for refurbishment but often the prelude to demolition. Slightly to my surprise the Sloop Inn did in fact reopen last month, so we'll give this walk a try while it's still up and running.

To reduce the reliance on buses to the walk's original start in Lindfield, there's now a route to/from Haywards Heath station. There's quite a lot of this large commuter town to get through but the route takes advantage of a long narrow nature reserve. The rest of the walk is through undulating countryside typical of the Sussex Weald. The area's main tourist attraction is the Bluebell Railway and if you're lucky you'll see a steam train chugging past at one of the places where you cross the line. Its name also implies that you'll get to see some Hyacinthoides non-scripta along the way, though well past their best.

You'll need to print the directions from the Walk 141 page. Clicking the word 'Main' on the Walk Options heading line will cut out the directions for the two alternative walks bundled in with this one. T=swc.141

Saturday Second Walk - Jane Austen's literary landscape

SWC Walk 97 - Overton Circular
Length: 18.7km (11.6 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

9.50 train from Waterloo (9.57 Clapham Junction) to Overton, arriving 10.46

For walk directions click here.

This walk has been "hors de combat" for a while because its most convenient lunch pub closed. But the other lunch pub, The Fox in North Waltham, is very acceptable and seemed to cope well with the midweek walkers recently. The problem used to be that it required and out and back diversion from the main walk route, but a new route has now been created after lunch involving a walk down a quiet tarmac lane (at least, it was quiet in February) that removes the need for repetition.

(Sandwich eaters can avoid this section of the walk altogether, eating their lunch in Steventon churchyard and reducing the walk length to 13.8km/8.6 miles)

Tea options for this walk have also taken a turn for the better with a very pleasant revamp of the White Hart Hotel in Overton, which now makes a nice tea stop, serving tea in pots, and with an outside deck at the rear. The Overton Gallery also has a small tea room if you can get there before it closes at 5pm. In addition, Overton has a convenience store but I am far from suggesting that you smuggle a packet of biscuits into the White Hart - perish the thought!

Otherwise this is a pleasant walk over high rolling downs and for Jane Austen fans it has the added attraction that it passes through the landscape she knew as a child. Several places she would have known are passed during the walk, including the site of the putative romantic fling that formed the subject of the the film Becoming Jane, a possible model for the Bennet's house in Pride and Prejudice, the church her father was vicar of, and the site of her childhood house, now long ago demolished, alas.

Trains back from Overton go at 20 past the hour. Allow 20 minutes to get from the village to the station, and don't miscalculate as there is nothing to do in the vicinity of the station if you miss a train

Crowhurst to Battle

t=1.35 Length: 20.0km (12.4 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Transport: Take the 9:15 from London Charing Cross / 9:17 from London Waterloo East to Crowhurst arriving 10:46
Return from Battle at xx:07 and xx:37

From the description:

Down the road from the station is the church and ruined manor of Crowhurst, and from farmland nearby – on a clear day – you can see Beachy Head and the sea. The potentially muddy route goes through the woodlands and golf course of Beauport Park, to the church and lunchtime pub in the village of Westfield. It is 9.3km (5.8 miles) to this lunch stop. In the afternoon the route is mainly alongside streams or the River Brede, and passes through the parkland of the Pestalozzi Children's Village. Soon the town, church and abbey of Battle are visible ahead, lining the horizon. You may like to end the day wandering over the site of the Battle of Hastings, by the ruins of the abbey that William the Conqueror built in honour of his victory, and so to the tree marking the spot where King Harold is supposed to have been slain.

Midweek Day Walk - Laindon circular

Laindon Circular

A gentle walk through the Essex countryside with lunch at Hordon-on-the-Hill

Book 3* Walk 114   

* online only

Length :  The full walk is 21 km or 13 miles - with both short cuts 15 km or 9½ miles. 

Toughness :  4/5/6 out of 10 ( 2 shortcuts / 1 shortcut / the full monty )

Getting there : Catch the 10:19 am train from London Fenchurch Street to Laindon

Calling stations are:

• Limehouse 10:23
• West Ham 10:28
• Barking 10:33
• Upminster 10:41

Meeting point :  Laindon Station at 10:49

Tickets : Buy a Cheap Day Return to Laindon

Brief Description

The RMT strike on Southern Railways is going ahead, seriously disrupting services between London and Brighton. Hence this had led to the cancellation of the Hassocks to Upper Beeding walk that I posted for this day. (This may be slightly fortuitous as the weather forecast in that neck of the woods is for heavy showers.)
So, in its place, here's a fairly easy walk not too far from the metropolitan sprawl in an apparently surprisingly scenic part of Essex with a gastro Pub as one lunch option.
The walk has been thoroughly revised and updated by our ever enthusiastic Thomas and it now includes two additional sections extending the walk about 6 km. You may omit both extensions, roughly following the original route or alternatively just one or the other.
Full details of the walk are here and a Kindle/PDF download here

Suggested Lunch stops

The Bell Inn   High Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill, SS17 8LD.  t:  01375 642463 (The "Gastro" Pub)

The Swan 121 High Road, Horndon-on-the-Hill, SS17 8LD. t: 01375 640617

Possible Tea stops

Langdon Visitor Centre Dunton Plotlands, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon, SS16 6EB. t: 01268 419103 (If you're not doing the afternoon short-cut)

The Four Seasons Victoria Road, Laindon  SS15 6AW

Map

OS Explorer : 175

Return train times

Four trains an hour return from Laindon to Fenchurch Street, journey time is about 30 minutes

Sunday Walk 2 - The Thame Valley in Oxfordshire

Extra Walk 190 Thame Circular
Length: 21km (13 miles), or 15.2km (9.4 miles). Toughness: 3/10

09:43 Stratford-upon-Avon train from Marylebone arriving at Haddenham & Thame Parkway at 10:34. Then catch a 280 bus at 10:53 from the station forecourt to the centre of Thame, arriving at 11:02

Return trains are at xx:13 and xx:38, (journey times 55 minutes and 43 minutes respectively). Connecting buses from Thame to the station are at xx:23 and xx:53, taking 7 minutes

This is a scenic and easy walk north of the Chilterns through fields and quiet villages in the Thame valley on the Oxon/Bucks border. This is the first Sunday outing for the main walk, which has not been done since its first outing in 2013. An option to shorten the walk to 15.2km is provided. There is also an optional 3.9km extension in the morning but that would get you to the lunch pubs rather too late unless you take the Oxford Parkway train from Marylebone at 09:05 and start the walk an hour earlier, expecting to meet the main group in one of the lunch pubs.

The recommended lunch pubs are the Clifden Arms (01844 339273) in Worminghall after 7.4 miles, or The Rising Sun (01844 339238) in Ickford after 8.3 miles. If you choose the short option, the lunch pub is The Old Fisherman (01844 201247) in Shabbington after 5.9 miles.

You will need to download the Walk Directions.

Sunday Walk 1: Greensand hills in Surrey & Kent

Extra Walk 63 Oxted Circular
Length: 19km (11.8 miles) Toughness: 5/10

09:53 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham Junction 09:59; East Croydon 10:10), arriving at Oxted at 10:30.

Return trains are at xx:28 and xx:58, (journey time 41 minutes).

Much of this walk is on the wooded Greensand hills which run parallel to and just south of the North Downs. There is an option to extend the walk after lunch to pass Chartwell (NT), Winston Churchill’s home. This extends the walk to 13.4 miles.

There are numerous pubs and cafes for lunch in Westerham, which is reached after 5.5 miles, and several options for tea in Oxted.

The walk directions and map can be found on the Walk 63 page.

Saturday Third Walk [Revised Walk] - A demanding trek through remote valleys in the South Downs

I am posting this in Sean's slot, swapped against mine on 21 May

SWC Walk 68 (Fully Revised) – Rowlands Castle Circular (the old route is now the short walk)

Length: 25.5 km (15.9 mi), Ascent/Descent:  678 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ¼ hours, Toughness: 9 out of 10 

                              or

Length: 16.2 km (10.0 mi), Ascent/Descent:  371 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours, Toughness: 4 out of 10 

                              or

Length: 29.0 km (18.0 mi), Ascent/Descent:  840 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 7 ¼ hours, Toughness: 10 out of 10 

Take the 09.00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo, arriving Rowlands Castle at 10.21, change onto the 08.45 stopping service (08.52 Clapham Junction): either at Haslemere (different platform) or Petersfield (same platform)

Return trains: xx.46 (87 mins) plus 17.32 (79 mins, not stopping CJ)

This demanding West Sussex walk in the undulating western part of the South Downs is characterised initially by a mixture of park- and woodland, then steep lonely valleys and some far views to the main South Downs Ridge.

It starts off towards Stansted House along a 1-mile-long beech avenue – one of the best in England according to Pevsner, and then heads north along the easterly edge of Stansted Forest and across fields via the hamlets of West, Up and East Marden to a very remote pub in Hooksway, with particularly nice views on the route between the hamlets, including up to the northern escarpment of the South Downs. From lunch you climb back out of the secluded valley on a westerly route to Compton, from where another couple of hills need to be crossed to finish along the westerly edge of Stansted Forest back into Rowlands Castle.

A shorter route around lunch cuts out more than half the effort.

An extension after lunch follows a lonely, narrow, wood-fringed valley to the main northerly escarpment of the South Downs and then follows one of the most undulating sections of the South Downs Way with unrivalled far views from Pen Hill and Beacon Hill, making this a real challenge.

All three routes share the start, up to West Marden, and the end, from Compton.

Full walk and extended walk (especially) feature several sustained, steep climbs and descents. Walking poles may not be a bad idea.

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

The scheduled lunch stop on the full and the extended walk is The Royal Oak in Hooksway (12.6 km/7.9 mi, a table has been booked), on the short walk it’s either The Victoria Inn in West Marden (6.3 km/3.9 mi, take the train an hour later), or The Coach and Horses in Compton, or The Village Shop and Tea Room opposite (8.7 km/5.4 mi).

For details of the tea room and the  three pubs in Rowlands Castle check page 2 of the walk directions pdf. 

T=swc.68

Saturday Second Walk - Apple blossom special

SWC Walk 150 - Yalding to Sutton Valence

Length: 15.1km (9.4 miles)
Toughness: 3 out of 10

10.10 train from Charing Cross (10.13 Waterloo East) to Paddock Wood, arriving 10.58, changing there (same platform) for the 11.11 to Yalding, arriving 11.19.

If you just miss the above train you can catch the 10.10 from Charing Cross (10.18 Waterloo East) to Tonbridge, arriving 10.57, crossing from platform 6 to platform 1 for the 11.04 train to Yalding, arriving 11.19 as above.

Buy a day return to Headcorn.

For walk directions click here.

This walk had an outing in early February in a howling gale, but it is at this time of year that it is at its best. In particular it passes through a whole series of commercial apple orchards, which should hopefully be in full blossom at present. (Last Sunday the ones near Borough Green were about two thirds out).

Otherwise you get a gentle ridge walk (a bit of climbing in the morning, but otherwise largely flat) with fine views throughout. There is one lunch pub, The Bull in Linton, but it has always accommodated us without trouble before. It serves food all afternoon and has a large outside terrace with a magnificent escarpment view. Whether it is a good idea to give them a courtesy call in advance I do not know: we did this in February and the result was that they put us alltogether and insisted on taking orders at the table, which slowed things down quite a bit. Arriving in dribs and drabs and ordering at the bar would probably be quicker.

In the afternoon you pass several ancient churches before ending in the pretty village of Sutton Valence, though its prettiest bit is not obvious from the main road (see walk directions). Of the three pubs here, we found the King's Arms the most amenable in February, while the Clothworkers' Arms was a 1970s timewarp (I am told it has a fine terrace view, however). The Queen's Arms has a well-hidden garden (ask the bar staff). If a bus is imminent (see next paragraph) another idea is to go to Headcorn, where the George & Dragon in the village centre is a wonderful pub, which sometimes does cakes. It is also a great place for dinner, if you can get a table.

To get home from Sutton Valence, catch the no 12 bus from outside the King's Arms at 15.41, 16.58, 18.05, 18.53, 20.16 or 21.46. This goes all the way to Headcorn station (the stop after the George and Dragon in the centre of Headcorn), taking 9-10 minutes.

Trains back from Headcorn are at 18 and 48 past till 22.48

Saturday First Walk Book 1 Walk - Henley to Pangbourne

TOCW1 walk 51 - Henley to Pangbourne

I remember this as being a lovely walk, which didn't get posted at all last year, and it avoids the current disruptions on Southern services.

Length: 11.9 miles (19.2km) rated 6 out of 10.

There is an option to shorten it to 8 miles, but this involves getting a bus to Reading from Cane End.

Travel: Get the 0943 from Paddington (Ealing Broadway 0951) changing at Twyford for the 1050 Henley train, arriving 1102. Buy a return to Pangbourne. Return trains are xx:17 and xx:47 (change at Reading for a faster train to Paddington). The Pangbourne ticket is usually accepted to Henley. An interesting one for rail ticket buffs, is whether you can get the later 0957 Henley train via Reading (2 changes arr 1102), which is the same fare?

Lunch: You pass three pubs on the walk, but the third, The Reformation, is about halfway, and according to its website does food from 12-3pm (it closes at 4pm). Anyone with a dog should go for the Unicorn.

Directions: L=1.51

T=1.51

Midweek evening walk

Sydenham Hill to Dulwich Village
Time: 19:00 prompt
Distance: 5km
London Victoria 18:45 Sydenham Hill: 18:59. Meet 19:00 at the College Road entrance to Sydenham Hill station. (Return trains from West Dulwich: xx:06 xx:36 until 23:36) This is a self-led walk through Dulwich Wood, Sydenham Hill Wood, Horniman Gardens and Dulwich Park, finishing in Dulwich Village for drink / meal: Directions here

T=short.9

Mid-week Day Walk Riddlesdown to Coulsdon South

Riddlesdown to Couldson South

Kenley Common, Happy Valley and Farthing Down

Book 2 Walk 15      

Length :  17 km or 10½ miles

Toughness :  4 out of 10

Getting there :  Catch the 10:23 am train from London Victoria to Riddlesdown

Calling Stations:

• Clapham Junction:  Departs 10:28 am
• East Croydon:      Departs 10:41 am

Meeting point :  Riddlesdown Station at 10:48 am

Tickets :  If you're fortunate enough to be less that 60 years old and live in London, then a suitable Oyster/Travelcard (covering zone 6 and the zones you will pass through) will do the trick.
I'd suggest that those who will be starting outside the "Great Wen" travel zones should seek advice from their local ticket office for the best tickets to buy.
The rest of you may of course, use your Freedom/Boris passes

Brief Description

With the weather predicted to be warm, but possibly rainy, I've posted this weeks walk fairly near to London with hopefully not too much mud en route.
Lunch is at the Fox where you may drop out and catch a 466 bus to East Croydon.
You can also shorten the afternoon section of the walk by about 4½ km if the rain is heavy.
You may find full details of this walk here and a downloadable PDF here

Art Rebellion may be found by ignoring the signed left turn to Coulsdon South Station and continuing along Marlpit lane on the right-hand pavement to the flyover passing the under the road and railway to reach a roundabout. Here, continue in the same direction and after about 100 metres, bear right into Brighton Road. Art Rebellion may be found on the right in approximately a further 100 metres.
The Poppy Café opening times can be a little unpredictable, but it overlooks the peaceful Coulsdon Memorial Ground and has outdoor seating.

Suggested Lunch stop

The Fox, Coulsdon Common CR3 5QS  t: 01883 330401 

Suggested Tea stops

Art Rebellion 171 Brighton Road Coulsdon CR5 2NH t: 020 8668 0007
Poppy Café  Coulsdon Memorial Ground, Marlpit Lane, Coulsdon, CR5 2HE  t: 01737 669496

Maps

OS Explorer : 146 and a tiny bit of 161

Return train times

Oodles of Thameslink and Southern trains return from Coulsdon South to London Bridge and St. Pancras.
Victorians will need to change at East Croydon.  If you yen for further walking at Victoria Station, you may catch the 18:45 train to Sydenham Hill (platform 3 at the time of writing) there for the midweek evening walk.

On this day in 1997 "The Deep Blue"  defeated Garry Kasparov to win a six-game chess match 

Sunday Walk 2: Sandling to Wye

Sandling to Wye SWC Walk 24
20.5 km (12.8 miles)
Difficulty 6/10

A lovely walk following one of the best sections of the North Downs Way with fine views nearly all the way.
Trains. 
It is cheapest to travel from Charing Cross on the 9:10 Ramsgate train (Waterloo East, 9:13) changing at Ashford for the 10:35 to Dover Priory (platform 5). This gets you to Sandling for 10:46.
For a quicker journey, take the 9:37 Ramsgate High Speed from St Pancras (Stratford International 9:44) and change at Ashford International for the same 10:35 Dover Priory train. High speed costs about £5 more on a return. Railcard savings still apply, but not London zone reductions.
Sandling and Wye are on different Southeastern lines out of Ashford. A return to Sandling, the dearer option, is suggested. In practice this should be accepted to return from Wye but be prepared to pay the difference to Ashford if not.
Return from Wye at xx:57 and xx:21.
The xx:57 will take you direct to Charing Cross in 1hr:37
The xx:21 will take you direct to Victoria in 2 hr.
Or change from either at Ashford for the High Speed to St Pancras (total journey time 1 hr).
Lunch
The Tiger Inn (01303 862130) in Stowting is a charming and friendly pub 9.2km (5.7 miles) into the walk. Open all day from noon.
Alternatively 2.2km (1.4 miles) further up the road you have the Five Bells Inn (01303 813334 in Brabourne. (This requires a detour, adding 800 metres (0.5 miles) to the walk length)
Tea
The Tickled Trout (01233 812227) with a riverside garden just across the bridge from Wye station, is a popular pub stop.
The Devil’s Kneading Trough restaurant and the Latte e Miele (both mentioned in the notes) have closed.
Directions here
There have been difficulties reported with the alternative route offered at point 57 (see comments). You now have to keep to the NDW at that point. This is covered in the directions.
T=swc.24

Sunday Walk 1: Baldock Circular - Ashwell at home

Baldock Circular: SWC Walk 91
17km. (10.6 miles)
Difficulty 2/10

A relaxing amble through Hertfordshire countryside to the ancient settlement of Ashwell. A morning section follows one of Britain's oldest trackways, the Icknield Way. The walk coincides with  “Ashwell at Home” Day, a village-wide event that raises funds for local groups. To visit the event proper you should buy a £6 ticket but you'll still get a flavour of it if you’re just passing through.
Ashwell's 14th C church contains medieval graffiti, some referring to the Great Plague. It should be free to visit but you'll need the ticket if you want to climb the tower (Hertfordshire's highest).
Trains:
09:52 Cambridge train from Kings Cross arriving 10:30
Trains back from Baldock at xx:26 and xx:50
The walk can be shortened by 3 miles to finish at Ashwell and Morden Station – useful if you get involved in the Ashwell hoo-hah. Trains from Ashwell and Morden are at xx:21. There's a pub called the Jester nearby.
A return to Ashwell & Morden, the furthest stop, costs the same as one to Baldock.
Lunch
There are three pubs in Ashwell: the Rose and Crown (01462 742420), the Bushel and Strike (01462742394), and the Three Tuns (01462 742107)
Tea
The Old White Horse near Baldock station.

Walk directions here
At point 32, the footpath to the right across the field is a little hard to find. Once off the road, you need to circumvent a garden area by heading forward a short way then following a path round to the right. When you come level with a gate, you should see a clear path heading off to your left diagonally across the fields. Any problems, follow the road round.

T=swc.91

Third walk

CW2 Walk 18 option - Etchingham to Robertsbridge
Length: 25 km (15.5 miles). Toughness: 4/10
Catch the 10:15 from Charing Cross (Waterloo East: 10:18 - does not stop at London Bridge) arrives Etchingham 11:30.
Buy a day return to Robertsbridge.
Return from Robertsbridge 18:14 18:44 xx:14 until 22:14
Cutting it short to Etchingham 21.5km (13.4 miles)

This walk (as Etchingham circular) has had 3 outings as a midweek day walk over the past years, but never as a weekend walk. Perhaps this is due to the fact that it is a "lost walk" - buried away as as a downloadable option for CW2 Walk 18 Wadhurst Circular, and titled "Wadhurst to Robertsbridge Long Walk Option". However within the document is a start from Etchingham station with the option to finish at Robertsbridge or an earlier finish at Etchingham - now with a refreshment stop.

The directions for the whole walk (Robertsbridge or Etchingham finish) are contained within the Wadhurst to Roberstbridge Long Walk Option.pdf *  Only downside is a fairly early lunch stop after 7km at The Bull Inn, Three Leg Cross. Thereafter apart from a petrol station convenience store close to the crossing of an A road, nothing until your arrival at Robertsbridge or Etchingham.

*Only necessary to print out pages 6-12. An alternative shorter route: skirt along the south side of Bewl Water and head back to Wadhurst. You can use SWC Walk 208 for directions.

Saturday Second Walk -- New Walk 263: Haslemere to Midhurst

SWC 263:  Haslemere to Midhurst via Temple of the Winds and the tiny hamlet of Henley

Distance:  14.1 Miles (22.7 km), with options to shorten to approximately 12 miles (19.4 km)

Difficulty:  8 out of 10 (7 out of 10 with both shortcuts)

Train:  Take the 9:00 Portsmouth Harbor train from London Waterloo to Haslemere, arriving at 9:48.  The return journey requires taking a 70 bus from the Midhurst Bus Terminal to Haslemere station (20 minutes) – buses run at 17:00; 18:00 and 19:05 and return trains to Waterloo from Haslemere are frequent (02; 15; 32 and 39 past the hour – dropping to 02; 15; 32 at 20:00 until 21:32 with a last train at 22:15) -- trains at 32 past the hour connect well with the bus.  Groups of 3-5 may want to consider sharing a taxi – Midhurst Taxi – 01730 622 013) back to Haslemere.  Buy a day return to Haslemere.

As previously highlighted, the third installment of the Get Fit For Ullapool program presents the opportunity to walk check a brand new walk – hot off the press!  The walk combines some of the best features of two existing walks that go from Haslemere to Midhurst – first gently climbing to the Temple of Winds viewpoint on the Black Down before dropping steeply into the valley to lunch in the tiny hamlet of Henley.  After lunch the route again climbs for more stunning views back across the morning route and onward to the South Downs in the distance before dropping down to finish with a stroll through the Cowdray Estate with its evocative house ruins.  The walk instructions and more details are available here.

The recommended lunchtime pub is the Duke of Cumberland Arms in Henley (tel 01428 652 280), about 8 miles (12 km) into the walk, which serves food until 2:00 PM.  A booking for 10 has been made at 1:30.  Larger groups should call ahead.   An earlier alternate pub, the Kings Arms (tel 01428 641 165), which serves food until 2:30 can be found with a diversion from the main route.

The recommended tea stop is the Cowdray Farm Shop and Café – open until 5:00pm.  Alternatively, the White Horse pub in Easebourne is open all day on Saturdays and could provide stronger afternoon refreshment.  Midhurst also has a several options for post walk libations.

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday Book 1 Walk - Hassocks to Lewes

Book 1 Walk - Hassocks to Lewes
A hike over the South Downs

Trains : 9:20 Brighton train from London Victoria to Hassocks , arriving 10:07. Return trains from Lewes at xx16 /54 direct. Buy a return to Lewes.

Lunch :   Half Moon  (tel 01273 890253), Plumpton. 

Tea : There's plenty of choice in Lewes. A few options:  Garden Room Café  (tel 01273 478636) at 14 Station Street, open till 5.30pm,  White Hart Hotel  (tel 01273 476694), 55 High Street

Click here for full details and walk directions
T = 1.29