Evening walk

Boston Manor to Osterley
Distance: 6km
Meet 19:15 outside the entrance hall of Boston Manor underground station. This is a self-led walk.

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Mid-week day walk - Petersfield to Cocking

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Petersfield to Cocking

The South Downs

Book 3* Walk 155

* Online only

Length: 20 Km or 12.5 miles

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Getting there: Catch the 10:00 am from London Waterloo train to Portsmouth Harbour and alight at Petersfield.
Calling stations are :

• Woking  dep 10:25
• Guildford    dep 10:34

Clapham Junctioneers should catch the 9:52am to Portsmouth Harbour and alight at Woking (10:11 am) and wait for the 10:25 described above. At the time of writing both trains use platform 5

Meeting point: Petersfield Station at 11:00 am

Tickets and travel: Get the Southwest Trains £16 special offer ticket.  (Those of a more senior age may do better with a Freedom Pass and Senior Rail Card)
Note that the special offer ticket needs to bought before midnight on the day of travel. 
On a further note, the confirmation email contains a prominently displayed booking reference. Disregard this and use the collection reference which you may find about half way through the email in order to pick up your tickets. 
(On the last SW rail trip, a savvy walker took a smart phone picture of the acknowledgement screen on the SW rail web site which shows the collection reference in large font prominently displayed.)
Finally there are pre-paid only ticket collection points at Waterloo which may be a better bet to pick your tickets up on.

Note there is no station at the end of the walk and the best option is probably to share a taxi back to Haslemere. Walkers on the last visit paid £20 for a four seater, however the driver indicated a seven seater was available for the same cost.
The Taxi company used was Paddy Cars t: 01730 263263 | 01730 262279

There is also the option to return using buses ...

Take the #60 north to Midhurst, then change to the #70 to Haslemere. This costs a reasonable £4.60 ("transfer ticket") and works quite well.

Check the last bus time!
Online bus timetables have always been  a bit of a mystery for me but I suggest http://www.travelinesoutheast.org.uk/ as a useful starting point.

Serious walkers may wish to board overnight in the Five Bells and continue to Amberly on the following day doing Walk thirty three in reverse. If you're planning on doing this, I suggest you seek advice on the best train tickets to buy. Amberly Station is served by Southern, so there might be the odd cancellation .

Brief Description:
This is a ridge walk along the South Downs Way (SDW). A good, easy to follow path, with only gentle ups and downs, and fine 360 degree views for most of the way. 

From Petersfield Station, the walk goes through the town square, then heads south from to Buriton (4 km) along the Hangars Way following a small stream. There is an option for very early pub lunch in Buriton (but you'd have a long afternoon section afterwards.)

Then it's up on to the ridge for the main part of the walk (15 km) which follows the SDW along the crest of the South Downs ridge, with only gentle ups and downs, past Tower Hill (has a folly), Beacon Hill (242 metres, ancient hill fort, free admission), Treyford Hill and Linch Ball (hill, trig point just north of the SDW path).

At Harting Down, just before Beacon Hill, you can head 1km north down off the ridge to the White Heart in South Harting if you want a pub lunch there. (Picnickers may prefer to stay on the Downs).
A little further on, you can head 1km south to Uppark, a NT Historic Country House with a tea room (you need to pay admission to enter). These are the only refreshment possibilities on this part of the walk.
The SDW meets the A286 road just south of Cocking which has a bus stop. Optionally, leave the SDW 1.5k earlier on Cocking Down, and head north east along a path towards Cocking village (1km north along the A286 road) which has the Blue Bell Inn. This opens at 6pm and gives you a chance to take refreshments while waiting for your bus or taxi. 

You may find full details here

Suggested Lunch and Tea stops

The White Hart, South Harting, GU31 5QB, 01730 825124, 1km off the route, below the ridge.

Uppark NT cafe - admission required (don't forget your NT card if you're a member) - Open to 5:00pm
The Five Bells High Street, Buriton GU31 5RX (01730 263584) Food served every day 12 - 2.30pm. A very early stop 4 km from the start of the walk.

The Blue Bell Inn Cocking open from 6:00pm

Explorer Maps 133 and 120

Return train times from Haslemere:

There are frequent trains from Haslemere to Waterloo at approximately 15 minute intervals

Sunday Special: Leigh Folk Festival

Benfleet to Leigh-on-Sea / Benfleet Circular  
Short walk 3.5 miles Difficulty: 1 out of 10
Longer Circular 15.3km (9.6 mile) 4 out of 10

We have paid a visit to Leigh Folk Festival for several years now and the short walk was devised to lead you directly there (though many now veer off to visit the castle ruins on the way). In Leigh, there'll be free stages along the waterfront as well as artists in other venues. If you’re mainly interested in the festival, choose the short walk.
For those wanting a proper walk, there is an exciting development this year - a new Benfleet Circular via Benfleet Down. Do the whole thing or use the first half for a more energetic (5.6 ml) approach to the festival. 

The directions for the short walk are here. Most of it is through Hadleigh Castle Country Park and this map of the park might come in handy. En route, a left turn will take you to the castle, a good place for a picnic. (There are food outlets in Leigh but things can get busy). Note the railway station on your way into Leigh – that’s where you will be leaving from. 

The directions for the circular walk are here. You share the same picnic spot as the short walk (Hadleigh Castle). Although the directions suggest Leigh-on-Sea for lunch, remember that Leigh’s pubs and eateries will be very busy today. The route takes you near Hadleigh Farm's Rare Breeds Centre. It should be open today 10:30 to 17:00, admission £3.50. This is the first outing for this longer walk - a walk-check, in fact. The author would appreciate any feedback.

Trains. Get a return to Leigh-on-Sea (not to be confused with Lee in London, or Leigh in Kent). (This costs no more than a return to Benfleet).
The fastest service leaves from Liverpool Street this Sunday, twice an hour. (Earlier trains still leave from Fenchurch Street, as do the slower stopping services.)
The 10:23 Shoeburyness train from Liverpool Street is suggested for both walks. (Stratford 10:30, Barking 10:39, arriving Benfleet at 11:09)
Returning from Leigh on Sea, the faster trains to Liverpool St are at xx:56, xx:26 with slower ones to Fenchurch Street at xx:43, and xx:13. If we have any night owls, the last train is at 22:56 arriving Fenchurch St at 23:49.
Trains leave Benfleet at xx:01, xx:31 to Liverpool St  and xx:17, xx:47 to Fenchurch St..

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Sunday Walk 1 – the Arun valley

Extra Walk 100a – Amberley Circular via Arundel
Length: 16 km (9.9 miles). Toughness: 4/10.

Or Longer walk, with extra leg back to Arundel: 22¾ km (14.1 miles), 6/10.

10:02 Bognor Regis train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 10:08, East Croydon 10:18), arriving Amberley at 11:25. If you just miss this, the 10:06 Brighton train is scheduled to overtake it, giving you a sporting chance of catching it at Gatwick Airport. Buy a return to Amberley.

Return trains from Amberley are hourly at 20 minutes past, up to 21:20 (or 15 minutes past from Arundel, if you return from there).

This walk in the Arun valley includes a fairly stiff climb onto the South Downs near the start, but gets progressively easier throughout the day. There's a choice of lunch places in the interesting town of Arundel, with its imposing castle and large churches. The second leg takes a gently undulating route through the low hills on the other bank of the Arun, ending with the choice of a riverside tearoom or pub near Amberley station.

If the afternoon cuppa has revived you and it's a nice evening, you might be tempted to extend the walk to Arundel (again) with an undemanding route down the centre of the valley, the full walk's third leg. If you stay on for dinner in one of the town's restaurants, however, note that the last train back (9.15pm) is earlier than usual this Sunday. [You'll also need to buy a single from Arundel to Amberley to supplement your Amberley ticket, but this combination is actually cheaper than buying a return to Arundel in the first place].

You'll need to print the directions from the Extra Walk 100 page. T=swc.100.a

Saturday Third Walk: Book 1 Walk 38 Hanborough to Charlbury

T=1.38 Book 1 Walk 38: Hanborough to Charlbury – Blenheim Palace; the Evenlode River and Cornbury Park

Length:  12.7 miles (20.5 kilometers for those metrically inclined)

Difficulty:  6 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:21 Great Western Worcester train from London Paddington to Hanborough, arriving at 10:34.  Return trains from Charlbury are hourly at 17:03; 18:02; 19:03; 20:03; 21:07.  Buy a day return to Charlbury. 

This walk makes a peaceful stroll through the Cotswold, passing through the impressive grounds of Blenheim Palace en route.  It then passes along the River Evenlode near some old slate quarries and through a few typically Cotswold stone villages before arriving in Charlbury.  More information and the instructions for the walk can be found here.

The lunch stop is at the White Horse in Stonesfield (tel 01993-891063). It serves food until 2:00 – a booking has been made for 1:00.   In Charlbury, tea can be had at the Bell Hotel.  Alternatively, for those seeking something stronger, there are apparently 4 pubs in Charlbury (3 on Sheep street and 1 on Market Street) – perhaps some research is required......

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday Second Walk - Neolithic Wiltshire (II): SWC 255 Pewsey Circular (via Avebury)

This is for all you Pagans out there...flanking the longest day of the year, two expeditions to the most remarkable Neolithic sites in England

SWC Walk 255 – Pewsey Circular (via Avebury World Heritage Site)

Length:  34.7 km (21.5 mi)

Ascent/Descent:  560 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 8 hours

Toughness:  10 out of 10 

            or

Pewsey to Avebury (incl. out-and-back to Silbury Hill and West Kennett Long Barrow)

Length:  22.9 km (14.3 mi)

Ascent/Descent:  390 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours

Toughness:  6 out of 10 

            or

Pewsey to Avebury (excl. out-and-back to Silbury Hill and West Kennett Long Barrow)

Length:  17.2 km (10.7 mi)

Ascent/Descent:  368 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours

Toughness:  5 out of 10 

Take the 08.35 Exeter St. David's train from Paddington (09.03 Reading), arriving Pewsey at 09.38

Pewsey suffers from an infrequent train service, explaining the early start (the next train is at 10.35, arriving 11.34, just about early enough to make it to Lockeridge for lunch on the short options). Return trains: 15.45, 16.59 and 20.23 hours  (69-77 mins journey time)

Cheap Advance tickets are gone now, so… buy separate London-Reading return and Reading-Pewsey return tickets. !! And if you are using a Network Railcard, buy a discounted Reading return ticket and an undiscounted Reading-Pewsey return.!! If you are going to walk “just” to Avebury, the Bus #49 takes you from outside the pub in Avebury to Swindon Station in 25 mins (roughly hourly service until 20.36). Buy separate tickets as follows: London to Reading return (Network RC discount possible), Reading-Pewsey single and Swindon-Reading single!
Or make it a weekend: stay in or near Avebury for the night, visit the sights in your own time, and walk the second half of this walk on Sunday...

This is a strenuous excursion into the heart of Neolithic Wiltshire, a mysterious landscape full of pre-historic earthworks, standing stones, sarsen fields and hillforts as well as barrows – burial mounds of kings and warriors. The route passes through or past four of the most famous Neolithic sites in Britain: Fyfield Down Sarsen Stones Field, Avebury Standing Stones and Bank & Ditch Earthworks, Silbury Hill and West Kennett Long Barrow. You walk out of the beautiful Vale of Pewsey in a northerly direction over the southerly ridge of the Marlborough Downs, from where there are stunning far views over this land of wave-like hills, with its scarps, ridges and valleys, before heading to above attractions. Later the walk leads up to Wiltshire’s highest peak (Milk Hill) with its stunning Down. After a scenic descent into the Vale of Pewsey an undemanding stretch along the Kennet & Avon Canal leads back to Pewsey with its many tea options.

For the walk directions click here.

For a map, a height profile, gpx/kml files, and some photos click here.

The lunch pub is The Red Lion in Avebury (17.2 km/10.7 mi), or The Who'd A Thought It  in Lockeridge (9.7 km/6.0 mi), if you are walking one of the shorter versions of the walk at a leisurely pace (or if you take the later train). For the tea options in Pewsey check page 2 of the walk directions (the cafes will be shut by the time we get there, of course...).

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Saturday First Walk - a South Downs classic

Book 2 Walk 25 - Lewes via West Fire
Length: 16.8km (10.4 miles) with lots of opportunities to extend: see end of post
Toughness: 7 out of 10 (mainly due to two big hill climbs: flat otherwise)

9.47 train from Victoria (9.53 Clapham Junction, 10.03 East Croydon) to Lewes, arriving 10.47.

Buy a day return to Southease, unless you have definitely decided on one of the extensions: see below

For walk directions click here.

It is not without some trepidation that I pick a Lewes walk, given the covert industrial action on Southern that is leading to some train cancellations at present. But trains to Lewes are half hourly, so if the 9.47 gets cancelled, hopefully the 10.17 will run. A fast train to Brighton and a connection there to Lewes may also work. Plus last week the Berwick to Eastbourne walkers had no train problems..... 

We have so many walks from Lewes these days that this classic outing gets overlooked. It is a simple yet beautiful walk, up over the downland massif of Mount Caburn to Glynde, across the valley to West Firle, and then along another beautiful downland ridge to Southease. Both Glynde and West Firle have mouthwateringly nice pubs (under the same management these days), so it is more a question of which one you are outside when your stomach starts rumbling (or which one has room, though both seem to cope with large numbers)

The 10.4 mile version of this walk would end at Southease, from where trains return to Lewes at 36 past to 19.36, and then at 20.39 (last train). Change at Lewes for trains to London (unless your connection has been cancelled, in which case it might be better to stay on the train to Brighton and change there: your ticket will be valid).

The YHA cafe is a possible tea stop at Southease but it closes at 4pm. After that time you may be able to get hot drinks from the YHA reception. Or you could break your journey (allowed on the return leg) at Lewes and search for refreshments there.

Extensions to the walk:

- The "main walk" goes along the River Ouse from Southease to Lewes, a distance of 4 miles. This is idyllic or monotonous depending on your frame of mind, but on a sunny evening could be rather nice. Trains back from Lewes are at 16 and 54 past the hour until 19.54, then 20.54, 21.54 and 22.40

- Or you can carry on from Southease to Saltdean, a seaside suburb of Brighton where a (probably somewhat chilly) sea swim might be possible. To do this you need to have the directions for Book 2, walk 24. This also adds 4 miles or so to the walk. You get a bus from Saltdean to Brighton station. A day return to Lewes is valid for return from Brighton.

- Lastly there is a Lewes to Berwick option on the website - see here, that goes along the base of the downs from West Firle passing Charleston Farmhouse, where the Bloomsbury Group lived and which you can visit, and Berwick church that the group decorated (free). This is only a mile or so longer than the main walk. ie 11 miles. You travel back from Berwick (trains at 17 past the hour), changing at Lewes or Brighton, and will need a day return to Berwick (Sussex).

Midweek day walk - Roydon to Sawbridgeworth

Roydon to Sawbridgeworth via Henry Moore Foundation

A Summer Solstice (well just after) walk through open countryside with wheat fields, woods and waterways - stretches of the River Ash in the morning and the Stort Navigation near the end.  Also, the Henry Moore Sculpture Park at Perry Green.

Book 3* Walk 164      *online only

Length :  23 km or 14 miles

Toughness :  5 out of 10

Getting there :  Catch the 10:28 am Cambridge train from London Liverpool Street to Roydon (10:40 am Tottenham Hale)

Meeting point :  Roydon Station at 10:57

Tickets :  Buy a cheap day return to Sawbridgeworth

Brief Description

 On this walk you may clear your head of EU referendum issues and, as this is a request from the SWC gastro sub-group, anyone eating at the Hoops Inn should be rewarded with good food.
One of the main attractions of the walk is the Henry Moore Foundation Sculpture Park at  Perry Green. The public footpath through the grounds is open as usual with some external sculptures in view.  But do note that the visitor centre is closed for a revamp until 1st July.
As ever, you may find full details of the walk here and a PDF here

Suggested Lunch stop

The Hoops Inn Perry Green, Herts, SG10 6EF t: 01279 843 568

Suggested Tea stops (you're spoilt for choice here!)

George IV 81 London Road/Knight Street, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM21 9AT t: 01279 723 527

The Queens Head 26 Knight Street, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM21 9AT t: 01279 836 057
La Provence 23 Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM21 9AR  t: 01279 726 495 (Closes 4:30pm)
The Old Bell 38 Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM21 9AN  t: 01279 721 050
The White Lion 28 London Road/Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM21 9EN  t: 01279 836 118
King William IV (The Willy) Vantorts Road, Sawbridgeworth, Herts CM21 9AJ t: 01279 722 322
The Railway Hotel Hatfield Health Road (opposite station) Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, CM21 9LD t: 10279 724317

Maps

OS Explorer : 194

Return train times

Trains return from Sawbridgeworth to London Liverpool Street at the following times 15:20* | 16:03 | 16:20* | 16:48* | 17:03 | 17:20* | 17:35 | 18:03
* Change at Harlow Town

The lovely Kentish Downs

Download walk 138 Chilham circular

Length 15.6km (9.6m); toughness 5/10- some climbs in the morning.

Trains:

You could catch the early 09.12 train from London Victoria (09.29 Bromley South) arriving at Chilham at 10.44 but the later option from London St Pancras International at 09.42  (Stratford International 09.48) arriving at Ashford International at 10.19 to then pick up the above Victoria train from Platform 5 at 10.32 may be your preferred option.  However you will pay a small premium for the HS1 train but is well worth it in my  view.

This is a lovely walk in the Kentish Downs which visits two historic houses. Just after lunch you visit  the beautiful estate of Godersham Park  which was often visited by Jane Austen whose brother owned the property.

Your only lunch pub option is the Compasses Inn (01227 700300) in Sole Street and they insist on advance booking irrespective of numbers so you MUST ring ahead when you arrive at Chilham station.

Further information about the walk can be found  here. Click on the download walk pdf tab at the top of the page for full walk instructions. 

A new(ish) ramble in the Chilterns around Henley on Thames

Download walk 223 – Henley circular via Turville

Length 24.0km (15m); toughness 4/10- a few gentle inclines

Trains  09:48 London Paddington to Twyford 10:37; then 10.43 Twyford (Plat 5) to Henley 10.55.

Return trains from Henley to Twyford at xx:07 where you change for connecting trains to London Paddington.

 In terms of the general terrain this is a similar walk to the Book 2 Walk 6 favourite – Henley via Stonor circular – but this relatively new walk covers completely different territory, visiting  a number of small villages which have featured in the Midsomer Murders and the Vicar of Dibley.

There are a number of pub options on this walk including the tried and tested Stag and Huntsman in Hambleden but this comes very early in the walk after just 4.5m. Your recommended lunch time pub is the Frog in Skirmett which you reach after 7 miles.  The walk notes also give  two other options a little further on in the walk.

Note: pubs in this area are very popular on  a Sunday so you will need to phone ahead.

You can shorten the walk by catching a bus at Greenlands College back to Henley. This reduces the walk by 2m. If the weather is poor you could lunch at Hambleden and then walk back along the Thames path to Henley.  This would make a short walk of about 8m.

Further information about the walk can be found here. Click on the Download walk pdf tab at the top of the page for full walk instructions and other possible walk options. 

Saturday Third Walk - Neolithic Wiltshire (I): SWC 67 Salisbury to Amesbury (via Stonehenge)

This is for all you Pagans out there...flanking the longest day of the year, two expeditions to the most remarkable Neolithic sites in England

SWC Walk 67 – Salisbury to Amesbury (via Stonehenge World Heritage Site)

Length: 25.1 km (15.6 mi)

Ascent/Descent:  330 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours

Toughness:  6 out of 10 

             

Take the 09.20 Exeter St. David's train from Waterloo (09.27 Clapham J., 09.46 Woking), arriving Salisbury at 10.42

Return buses from Amesbury to Salisbury City Centre (Stagecoach line 8, about 20 mins journey time): xx.10 and xx.40 to 18.40, then 19.05, 19.35 and 20.33

Return trains from Salisbury: xx.21 and xx.47 hours (about 90 mins journey time) to 18.47, then 19.26, 19.50, 20.26, 21.26, 22.27 (chg Basingstoke) 
Buy a cheap £16 Off-Peak Day return to Salisbury on the SWT website or at ticket offices (b4 midnight the day before travel).

This superb walk has no major climbs but covers beautiful rolling countryside and farmland and fields of golden barley and wheat. You then have an evocative and magical approach to Stonehenge across Salisbury Plain. After passing close to the site the route takes you down the original approach used by the Druids – The Avenue – as you set off on the final leg to Amesbury and a bus back to Salisbury city centre. There is a lot to see on this walk and what you choose to do depends very much on your interests and how far you want to walk or travel. You get excellent views of Old Sarum hill fort and of Stonehenge  from the walk route. If you wish to visit the sites themselves you have to buy tickets though (for Stonehenge: in advance online). The ancient city of Salisbury  has a fascinating history and the Destination Salisbury website provides information about it. If you wish to visit Salisbury Cathedral this is best done before you start the walk (you may want to take an earlier train).

For the walk directions and all options to shorten the walk, a map, a height profile, gpx/kml files, and some photos click here.

The lunch pub is The Wheatsheaf Inn in Lower Woodford (10.2 km/6.4 mi, a table has been booked for 13.15 hours), or The Bridge Inn further along in Upper Woodford (13.0 km/8.1 mi). The gourmet’s favourite The Black Horse in Great Durnford shuts at 14.00 these days, so should be out of reach for all mere mortals (off-route, 15 km/9.3 mi).

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