Wednesday Walk - Box Hill & Westhumble Circular

At very short notice, a walk posting I had up my sleeve…SWC Walk 64 Box Hill & Westhumble Circular

                  

Length: 15.1 km (9.4 mi)

Ascent/Descent: 624m; Net Walking Time: 4 ½ hours

Toughness:  7/10                       

                                                   

Take the 10.31 Horsham train from Victoria (10.38 CJ), arrives Box Hill & Westhumble 11.21.

Off-Peak returns are only £8.90, so don’t use your Network Railcard (minimum mid-week fare: £13.00). 
Return trains are on 15.59, 16.28, 17.03, 17.33, 17.58, 18.33 etc.

I’ve led this walk for The Ramblers at the beginning of the month, and was reminded of how nice this clockwise expedition is, avoiding the steep ascent to Box Hill, yet getting in quite a bit of exercise on a relatively short outing, and the walk has not been posted yet this year.

The Mole Valley, Norbury Park, Headley Heath and Box Hill, fine views from several viewpoints, two nice pubs and plenty of choice for tea stops (café, pub or winery). Optional finish in Dorking (described in the write-up), or via Denbies Vineyard (not described but easy to find for anyone familiar with the area).You can easily extend the walk by taking a longer route through Headley Heath (map required).

Lunch is after about a third of the distance, in Mickleham, either at the recommended King William IV with its nice garden, or at the Running Horses.  

For tea, there is a café inside the National Trust Visitor Centre at the top of Box Hill, plus a Servery offering hot and cold drinks, cakes and ice-creams. There is plenty of outdoor seating and more tables inside. The NT website occasionally offers a “£1 voucher if arriving by public transport”, so you could try showing your train ticket.

At Box Hill & Westhumble station the Old Booking Hall contains Pilgrim Cycles (01306-886958), a bicycle shop with a convenient café; its posted closing time is 17.00, so you should have no problem getting there before it closes. It will also readily stay open later if called in advance.

There are pubs near the end of both walk options which are open all day: the Stepping Stones  (01306-889932) on Westhumble Street and the Lincoln Arms (01306-882820) in Dorking's Station Approach. You will find more refreshment places in and around the High Street if you go past its stations into the town centre (see the webpage for details).

For summary, map, height profile, photos, walk directions/options and gpx/kml files click here.T=swc.64

Bank Holiday Monday Walk 2 - Uckfield to Lewes

Extra Walk 272 Uckfield to Lewes
Length: 20.9km (13 miles). Toughness: 4/10

10:08 Uckfield train from London Bridge (East Croydon 10:23) arriving at Uckfield at 11:21.
Or 09:53 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham Junction 09:59), changing at East Croydon (arr 10:10, dep 10:23), arriving at Uckfield at 11:21.

Return trains from Lewes direct to Victoria are at xx:16 and xx:54 (journey time around 1 hour 10 minutes). Indirect trains are at xx:07 and xx:28 (change at Brighton).

Buy an off-peak day return to Lewes, which is valid for returning via Brighton as well as for the outward journey to Uckfield.

This walk has been neglected because it wasn’t in the main repertoire of SWC walks but this has now been rectified, so it’s time to give it another outing. Much of the walk traverses fields, woods and riverside paths through two quiet river valleys (the Uck and the Ouse), before finishing with an invigorating climb over the South Downs above Glyndbourne. There are swimming opportunities along the River Ouse, both before and after lunch, and the lunch pub offers boat hire if you fancy spending a lazy hour on the river before continuing the walk. In the afternoon you can shorten the walk, and avoid the stiff climb, by following the river all the way into Lewes.

The recommended lunch pub is the Anchor Inn (01273 400414) standing in splendid isolation on the banks of the Ouse. .

Further information and the walk directions can be found on the Walk 272 page
T=swc.272

Bank Holiday Monday Walk 1 - North Downs Way: Caterham to Knockholt

Length: 25.9 km (16.2 mi)

Ascent/Descent: 655/655m; Net Walking Time: 6 ½ hours

Toughness: 9/10           
[shorter versions possible (see the webpage), but mostly depending on buses, which may not run today]            

Take the 09.36 train from Victoria (09.42 CJ), change at East Croydon onto the 09.29 from London Bridge, arrives Caterham 10.24.

Return to Charing X at xx.12 or xx.42, journey time 47 mins (shave off 10 mins by changing at Orpington onto a fast service). Caterham and Knockholt are within the Oyster Zones 1-6.

Tired of reading pages of detailed walk directions? Here is your solution: just follow the well waymarked North Downs Way along one of its better stretches (but do expect some road noise in the early part), with just the minimal directions to hand, found at the bottom of this webpage here.

                                                                                                                       

Lunch is in Botley Hill at the Botley Hill Farmhouse (10.1 km/6.3 mi, food all afternoon). A table has been booked for 13.00 hours. For tea there is nothing close to Knockholt station, but there are 1 or 2 pubs in Knockholt Pound about 4 km from the end and another one a little closer, and a little off-route, in Halstead.

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

T=swc.111

Sunday Walk 2: Cholsey to Goring

Cholsey to Goring
SWC walk 49
Length 22.5km 14 miles.
3/10

An Oxfordshire walk taking in stretches of the Ridgeway, the Berkshire Downs and the Thames. For me, the highlight is the quaint village of Blewbury with its thatched cottages and peculiar thatched walls. Although the walk is fairly long, it has nothing too steep or demanding.
Trains:
Get the Oxford train from Paddington at 9:48 (Ealing Broadway 9:56). Arrives Cholsey at 11:04.
For a slightly quicker journey, take the 10:00 Weston-super-Mare train from Paddington and change to the same Oxford train at Reading (arr 10:31, dep 10:45 plat 13).
Trains return from Goring at xx:42. Again, change at Reading if you wish (arr. xx:57 platform 14, dep. xx:07 platform 15). This saves you 8 minutes to Paddington.
Get a return to Cholsey.
Lunch: The Red Lion, Blewbury 01235 850 403 is recommended.
There is another Blewbury pub, recently revamped as the Blueberry 01235 850 296 on the London Road (A417) near the Pound (a small green). "Walkers dogs and children welcome"
Tea: The Beetle and Wedge, by the Thames in Moulsford 01491 651381 has associations with Wind in the Willows and Three Men in a Boat. It closes at 4 on a Sunday.
The Swan at Streatley 01491 878800 is another riverside pub, nearer the end.
The walk notes offer more suggestions in Goring. 
Walk Directions: available here
Anyone wanting a shorter ending could cut out the loop going through Moulsford and stay on the Ridgeway at point 7 (i.e. don't turn left), rejoining the walk route at the bridge in Streatley. This option is not in the directions. You would need to follow the Ridgeway signs and/or the OS map. This shortens the walk by about 4.53 km /2.81 miles.

T=swc.49

Sunday Walk 1: Guildford to "Gomstock"

Guildford to Gomshall Book 2 Walk 13
Main walk 17.1km (10.7 miles)
a) Short walk to Gomshall 10.9km (6.8 miles)
c) Longer route to Gomshall 19.0km (11.8 miles
Difficulty 5/10

“We are stardust, we are golden, and we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden”
Forget Woodstock. I bet when Joni Mitchell penned those lines, she was really thinking about Gomshall and the garden of the Compasses Inn. I’ve had a request for a walk ending there to coincide with "Gomstock" (a mini festival organised by the pub).
This walk takes you through the Surrey Hills AONB, climbing out of Guildford to the North Downs Way and on to the hilltop church of St Martha-on-the-Hill. From there you follow the Pilgrims Way down to lunch in the pretty village of Shere. Shortly after Shere, option (a) would take you directly to the Compasses Inn. Otherwise it's back up onto the downs for more of the same. Both the main walk and the longer option (c) get you to Gomshall eventually. They just take longer about it.
If you want to visit "Gomstock" (which runs from 12:15 till 9:30), tickets are £6, with proceeds going to charity. If it's "billion-year old carbon" you're after, they do have a barbecue (from 3:00).
Alternatively, you could just go straight home, happy and content with your day's walking.
Trains Get a return to Gomshall. It should specify "any permitted route" to allow travel via Guildford. (There is a cheaper ticket that's no good for Guildford).
Get the 10:00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (10:09 Clapham Junction) arriving Guildford 10:40.
Trains back from Gomshall are

• two-hourly from Platform 1 changing at Redhill  for Victoria 15:11, 17:11, 19:11, 21:11, 23:11 (GWR/Southern)
• and two hourly from Platform 2 changing at Guildford for Waterloo 16:44, 18:44, 20:44, 22:44,  (GWR/SWT)

Note the long interval between the xx:11 and the next xx:44.

Lunch: 2 pubs and a tea room to choose from in Shere.
The White Horse,  (01483 202 518) a rambling ancient inn.
The William Bray,  (01483 202 044) recently refurbished as a gastro pub. Good reviews from walkers.
The Dabbling Duck,  (01483 205 791).Sandwiches, cakes and drinks are available all day at this tea room and restaurant, and it has hot food at lunch time.

Tea: On the two longer options, you can call in at Abinger Hammer Tea Room, attached to the post office in the village of Abinger Hammer.
In Gomshall, the Compasses Inn (01483 202 506) will be free to enter, except for the garden (the one we have to get back to, where Gomstock is happening). You also have Tillings Tea Room, 55 Station Road,  (01483 202 214) and Gomshall Mill Inn (01483 203 060)
Walk Directions here:
Best to use the on-line directions. They have been amended since the book.

T=2.13

Third Walk

SWC Walk 176a - Banbury to King Sutton
Length: 23.2 km (14.4 miles). Toughness: 3/10
Shorter (standard) walk option from Kings Sutton: 17.2km (10.7 miles).

Catch the 9:40 from London Marylebone, arrives Banbury 10:36. (For Kings Sutton dep. Banbury 11:08, arr. Kings Sutton 11:13. To shorten your wait at Banbury, you may catch the slower 9:43 from Marylebone which arrives at Banbury 11:02) A day return to Banbury for the main walk starting at Banbury, otherwise a  day return to Kings Sutton.

Return trains: Direct from Kings Sutton 16:49, 18:49, 20:49, 22:20. Changing at Banbury 17:58, 20:17.

Lunch: The Cartwright, Aynho (after 10km), The Fox, Souldern (after 12¼ km), The Blackbird Inn, Croughton (after 16km).

T=swc.176

Saturday Second Walk - Swimming/coastal walk (another attempt!)

SWC Walk 51 Sandling to Folkestone
Length 11.1km (6.7 miles)
Toughness: 5 out of 10

OR

SWC Walk 51 + 13b Folkestone figure of nine
Length: 21km (13 miles)

9.31 Folkestone-bound train from Victoria (9.56 Bromley South, 10.03 Orpington) to Sandling, arrive 11.11

OR 

10.08 Southeastern highspeed train from St Pancras to Ashford International, arriving 10.46, connecting to the above train to Sandling, depart 11.00. You need to pay about extra for this - about £3 with a Network Card - and tickets from LT boundary zones are not valid: your reward is a much quicker journey home, though: see end of post.

Buy a day return to Folkestone. At St Pancras use the Southeastern machines just before the high speed ticket barriers to get a super off-peak return (£20 with a Network Card).

Links to walk directions: walk 51, walk 13

I have been saving this coastal/swimming walk for the August bank holiday because in the event that the weather is fine, trains to Folkestone will be a lot less crowded than those to other coastal resorts (even more so since the line currently terminates there due to storm damage on the section to Dover, which is taking a year to fix).

The morning is a normal, pleasant country walk from a quiet rural station, with some downland and woodland and a castle (not open to the public). You then come down to the sea at Sandgate, where there are lots of lunch options.

After lunch you have a choice:

1) Spend the afternoon swimming from the very pleasant shingle beaches of Sandgate or Folkestone and/or exploring Folkestone. The town also has popular sandy beach - "Sunny Sands": to get to this follow the link to the afternoon extension, and the beach is just beyond the harbour.

2) Do a grand "Folkestone figure of nine walk" by doing walk 13b Folkestone Circular. To do this, stay on the seafront beyond the Mermaid Cafe (paragraph 49 in the Walk 51 directions). In about 1km you come to Folkestone harbour: follow the road around the edge of this until you cross a seafront square and pass under the arches of the former Folkestone harbour railway line: in another 100 metres or so you pass The Ship Inn on your left: then see paragraph 15 of the Walk 13 directions on page 4.

*** Three special notes about walk 13b:

a) In mid July work was being done on the esplanade past the harbour beach - "Sunny Sands" at Folkestone - blocking the route described in paragraph 16 of walk 13 on page 4 of the directions. To get round this, look out for a path up steps a little way beyond the Ship Inn (paragraph 15), which is signposted as the coast path. This takes you up onto a road, where you turn right. This brings you in a few hundred metres to the "gable-roofed building" mentioned in paragraph 17 on page 4, with the white Martello Tower visible beyond.

b) Folkestone to Dover has now been made the "main" option for this walk. To do walk 13b Folkestone Circular, switch to the special directions as explained in paragraph 19 of the main walk directions, on page 4.

c) There has been a change to the route up the cliff in the middle of this walk. The original path had become (or was in mid July this year) so overgrown as to be impassable - see paragaph 9 of the option a) and b) directions on page 8. Fortunately there is an alternative, which is indicated in the text. This is less dramatic, and also shortens the walk a bit, but it has an exciting finish and brings you directly up to the Clifftop Cafe, a gloriously-sited tea stop. You then continue the walk as before.

If you want to have dinner in Folkestone, the "posh" fish and chip shop on the harbour is recommended, and I have heard good things about the seafood restaurant opposite. In the main high street, slightly off the route described, is a good Oriental buffet (all you can eat: Google "Oriental Buffet Folkestone).

Trains back from Folkestone:

-  00 past (ie on the hour) to St Pancras - 54 minutes journey time, last train 23.00

- 13 past to Victoria - 1hr 54 mins journey time: last train 22.13

Saturday Walk 1 - Guildford to Farnham (Book 2 Walk 12)

Book 2 Walk 12 - Guildford to Farnham
13.8 miles/22.2km
4 out of 10

This is a walk of two halves, with gentle countryside in the morning, passing by the Watts Gallery to lunch at Puttenham.  The afternoon route heads up into the wilder Surrey Heathlands, a vast area of woods, sandy grassland and heather-covered moors.

Trains: 9:45 Portsmouth & Southsea train from London Waterloo, arriving at Guildford at 10:23.  Return from Farnham at xx28/xx58.  Buy a day return to Farnham - recent experience is that this is accepted by the ticket barriers at Guildford station.

Lunch:  The Good Intent, Puttenham, serves food until 2:30pm, tel 01483 810387, located 5.2 miles/8.3km into the walk.  An early option is the tearoom at the Watts Gallery (3.4 miles/5.5km), which serves soups/sandwiches at lunchtime.  And an alternative to the Good Intent is to stop 300m before at the Harvester pub on the B3000.

The traditional place for tea in Farnham is the Bush Hotel, 300m past the station, but there are many other options in Farnham's picturesque town centre.

T=2.12

Evening Walk

Regents Park and Primrose Hill
Distance: 5km
Meet 19:00 prompt on the south side of Marylebone Road next to the eastern exit of Regents Park underground. This is a self-led walk.
T=short.6

Midweek Walk - Branksome to Swanage, SWC 73

Basically, it's the same information posted for [Saturday]. The cheap fare deal £16 with Southwest trains is available. The train leaves Waterloo at 9:35. Ticket to Wareham.

The buses from Swanage to Wareham are 17.05, 18.05 and 19.05.

The trains from Wareham to London will be less busy on Wednesday but it's still a long trip. Trains leave Wareham at 18.28, 18.53, 19.28 and 19.57.

I will stop for a swim. Avert your eyes. 😵 Lunch is in Shell Bay bistro after the chain ferry. Great picnic walk.

Joe's cafe for tea at the very end of South Beach. Ignore the walk instructions which direct you off the beach at the new National Trust cafe, although it does save you the seaweed at the very end of the beach.😱 last year there was a tap at Joe's cafe where you could wash the sand off your feet before setting off for Harry rock.

[Optionally,] You can extend the walk to Corfe Castle and get the bus there. Ridge walk giving 14 miles distance.

Pauline
L=swc.73

Sunday Walk 2 – 3.52 Clacton-Walton

Extra Walk 52 – Clacton-on-Sea to Walton-on-the-Naze
Length: 11.3 km (7.0 miles), with optional 9.2 km extension. Toughness: 1/10

10:35 Clacton-on-Sea train from Liverpool Street (Stratford 10:42), arriving Clacton at 12:09. Buy a return to Clacton-on-Sea, although you might be asked to buy a single from Walton-on-the-Naze to Thorpe-le-Soken on the way back.

Trains back from Walton-on-the-Naze are hourly at xx:29 up to 21:29, changing at Thorpe-le-Soken.

Another SWC walk receiving its first Sunday posting. The Walk Notes specify a late start and imply that you should dawdle along the seafront with plenty of breaks for swimming. At some point, though, a sterner hand has intruded and the most recent version urges you to extend the walk past Walton along the Naze Peninsula. There are directions for a full out-and-back circuit, but for a shorter extension you could turn back at some point and simply retrace your steps.

There are plenty of seafront cafés near the start of the walk at Holland-on-Sea, while a short detour inland there would get you a pub lunch at the Oakwood Inn. Alternatively, anyone planning to do the extension could carry on to Walton and find something there before venturing out to the Naze.

You'll need to print this short pdf document. The Extra Walk 98 page has some additional information about the Naze Peninsula. T=swc.52

Sunday Walk 1 – 3.131 Guildford-Horsley

Extra Walk 131 – Guildford to Horsley
Length: 20.1 km (12.4 miles). Toughness: 4/10

10:00 Havant train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:09), arriving Guildford at 10:40*. Buy a return to Guildford, which is valid for the return journey.

Trains back from Horsley to Waterloo are at xx:03 (via Surbiton) & xx:33 (via Epsom, slower).

This walk seems to get fewer outings than the other SWC walks around Guildford; in fact this is its first Sunday posting. It takes in Chantries Hill, St Martha's church, Albury and Newlands Corner, but the rest of the walk from the wooded North Downs ridge to Horsley is on less familiar territory.

Lunch is at a particularly good pub with a large riverside garden, The Drummond at Albury. If you don't want a pub lunch, however, you can save 3 km (and some climbing) by taking the short cut mentioned in the directions to Newlands Corner, where there is a café and snack bar if you need provisions. The tea options are fairly sparse, however: a pub a mile before the finish or a convenience store near the station.

You'll need to print the directions from this pdf document.

* Car drivers should park at Horsley (station car park is free at weekends) and take the 10:27 to Guildford, arriving at the same time as the London train. T=swc.131

Saturday Third Walk -- Branksome to Swanage -- Summer Seaside Fun

T=3.73 SWC Walk 73:  South West Coast Path – Branksome to Swanage – Loads of Swimming Opportunities and the Stunning White Cliffs of Old Harry Rocks

Length: 11.6 Miles (or 18.7 km for those more metrically minded)

Difficulty:  3 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:35 Southwest Train from London Waterloo to Weymouth arriving at a Branksome at 11:29.   The return journey from Swanage requires taking a bus from Swanage to either Wareham or Bournemouth and picking up a train.  To return via Wareham, you will need to catch a number 40 bus from the Swanage bus/steam train station (about a 10-minute walk from the seaside) – these buses are at 18:05 (arriving at Wareham station at 18:41) and 19:05 (arriving at 19:36) and will connect with trains from Wareham at 18:53 or 19:53 (additional trains from Wareham are also at 19:28 and 20:42).  To return via Bournemouth (which involves a longer bus journey), you will need to catch a number 50 bus from one of the stops along the sea front – these buses stop along the sea front around 18:27 or 19:27 (depending on exactly what stop you use) and arrive in Bournemouth about an hour later.  Trains from Bournemouth are at 19:59, 20:22 and 21:01.  For more flexibility on catching the trains at Wareham, you may want to group together and book a taxi from Swanage to Wareham Station – if you plan to do this, it is recommended to book one in advance at some point during the day – Swanage Taxis 01929 421 122/01929 425 350). Buy a SWT Special Offer ticket to Wareham for 16 pounds return before midnight on Friday night either on-line, from a ticket office or via telesales.

This walk is being posted in response to a recent request to post it before winter.  Also, with the current Southwest Train 16-pound return ticket offer, it is an ideal time for this great expedition which can otherwise be quite costly for a day trip.  It is a marvelous summer walk along the seaside following for most of the route a section of the South West Coast Path.  It has great swimming opportunities all along the route (specifically in Studland Bay) as well as interesting and varied scenery for those not so fond of swimming.  I will also add that the Bournemouth Airshow will be on this weekend which may add some interesting features (or may just make the trains more crowded).  More information and the walk instructions can be found here.

Lunch can be eaten at a café before the Sandbanks Ferry.  Alternatively, the Shell Bay Café just after the ferry is highly recommended – but, do call ahead (01929 450 363). Tea can be had at the National Trust Café in Studland Bay or at the Bankes Arms in Studland Bay – a bit beyond the café.  There are also many places to eat and drink in Swanage.

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday 2nd Walk - Aylesbury Vale & 2 Rothschild Estates: Waddesdon Manor (NT Top 10) & Eythrope

SWC Walk 192 Haddenham to Aylesbury via Waddesdon (Manor)

                  

Length: 25.2 km (15.7 mi) [shorter version possible, see pdf for details]

Ascent/Descent: 300m; Net Walking Time: 5 ½ hours

Toughness:  6/10                       

Take the 09.05 Oxford Parkway train from Marylebone, arrives Haddenham & Thame Parkway 09.40 (or the 10.05, arrives 10.40). The early-ish train is chosen for those wishing to explore the grounds of Waddesdon Manor, one of the National Trust's Top 10 most visited properties with over 360,000 visitors p.a., while still lunching at a reasonable time. Else the later train is fully sufficient to get to Waddesdon village in time for lunch.

Return trains are on xx.18, xx.29 and xx.48, journey time 62 or 67 mins.

Buy an Aylesbury (any route permitted) return, [i.e.: NOT an ‘Aylesbury (via Chalfont & Latimer) Return’], this covers the outward journey up to Princes Risborough. You might then have to pay on board for a one stop Princes Risborough to Haddenham extension.

This walk through some scenic northerly parts of Aylesbury Vale combines tranquil stretches of the Thame Valley Walk with more energetic climbs in between, heading north through Upper Wichenden and the Rothschild’s Waddesdon estate, finally along a long tree-lined avenue up to Waddesdon Manor, situated on a prominent hill. After lunch either at the Manor or in Waddesdon village, Eythrope Park (another Rothschild estate) is passed through and the route follows the Thame River and Bear Brook into Aylesbury.

Lunch is possible at Waddesdon Manor either at their Manor Restaurant (food to 15.00 [booking recommended], tea thereafter) or at the Stables Café, else the recommended of the two pubs in Waddesdon village is The Long Dog (13.7 km/8.5 mi, food all day). There is also The Lion (food to 14.00). For tea there is lots of choice in Aylesbury, see the pdf for details.

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

T=swc.192

First walk - a South Downs and seaside classic

Book 1 Walk 31 - Glynde to Seaford
Length: 23km (14.3 miles) - 16.8km (10.4 miles) with bus from Exceat
Toughness: 8 out of 10

9.47 train from Victoria (9.53 Clapham Junction, 10.03 East Croydon) to Lewes, changing there (arrive 10.47, depart 11.09) for Glynde, arriving 11.14.

** In the event of train disruption, the 9.50 to Brighton also offers a tight connection to the Glynde train (arrive 10.46, depart 10.52). If the Glynde train is cancelled, you could see what a taxi would charge (it is not far) or walk from Lewes: eg see Book 2, walk 25, which covers similar territory and which you could bring with you as back up

Buy a day return to Seaford.

For walk directions click here

*** Last minute weather update: given high winds forecast for today, particularly on the south coast, it could be very blowy up on the downs. An alternative would be to stay below the escarpment in the morning, which might be a bit more sheltered. This document has a route from the Ram Inn in West Firle (reached fairly early in this walk), along the bottom of the South Downs, passing Charleston (summer home of the Bloomsbury set and worth a visit) to Berwick Church (decorated by the Bloomsbury set). If you then take the footpath running south (towards the downs) from Berwick Church, that brings you in a mile or so to Alfriston, the lunch village for Book 1, Walk 31. In the afternoon, book 1 walk 31 is less exposed, but an even more sheltered option might be to simply to follow the path along the Cuckmere River from Alfriston to Exceat, which sticks to the west (and hopefully less windy) side of the valley. From Exceat there are buses to Seaford (providing these are running in the high winds...) Note that all Saturday walks are AT YOUR OWN RISK. Please make your own judgement about the advisability of walking based on published weather forecasts).

If trains to the coast are seriously disrupted due to high winds, meet at Costa Coffee alongside platform 7 at Victoria at 9.50 and we will make other plans.

There have been rumblings in the comments section that we are doing "too many winter walks" this summer. Well, here is a summer classic, which oddly does not seem to have had an outing since April 2015. In the days when there was only book one, it was considered the SWC's favourite walk.

Don't be put off by the length. This is grand scenery and the miles fly by. In the morning you cross a valley and climb up onto the South Downs then walk a glorious stretch of downland to lunch in picturesque Alfriston (lots of options - pubs, tea rooms etc). You then follow the Cuckmere River for a stretch and cross hills to Exceat, for tea at the Saltmarsh Cafe. From there there is a lovely walk down to Cuckmere Haven and over Seaford Head to the best fish and chips on the walk (The Trawlers, just by Seaford station).

If all that is too much joy for one day (or if the winds look to be too strong, as the last section of the walk is very exposed), you can take the very frequent number 12 bus from Exceat to Seaford, shortening the walk to 16.8km (10.4 mile) option. But you miss some very beautiful scenery.

Trains back from Seaford are at 25 and 57 till 19.25, changing at Lewes. After this the 19.57 and 20.57 require a change at Brighton, which is not much quicker than waiting for the 20.28 or 21.28 past, changing at Lewes. After that, there is the 22.20, changing at Lewes which you will share with dinner-jacketed audience members coming back from Glyndebourne. T=1.31