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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Sunday 22 January 2017

London's Green Belt in Kent, and Charles Darwin

SWC Walk 82 – Hayes to Knockholt

Length: 16km (9.9 miles) Toughness: 4 out of 10

10:15 Hayes train from Charing Cross arriving Hayes at 10:59.

Return trains from Knockholt to Charing Cross, changing at Orpington, are at xx:28 and xx:58 (journey time 51 minutes).

Both stations are within London Travelcard Zone 6

This is a fine rural walk through fields, woods and valleys in London’s ‘Green Belt’, with an opportunity to visit Charles Darwin’s home.

The recommended lunchtime stop is the Blacksmith’s Arms in Cudham (01959 572678), though an earlier stop at the Queen’s Head or the George and Dragon in Downe is also possible. The suggested tea place is Arthur’s Coffee Shop in Coolings Nurseries, 2.5 km from the end of the walk.

You will need to download the Walk Directions.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I see there are two walks planned for Sunday 22nd Jan. I would like to know if anyone is going on either walk so I'm not alone.

Jo

Anonymous said...

Hi Jo,
Two of us hope to do the Hayes to Knockholt walk.

Chris L said...

Joanna, since the weather forecast is good, you can expect to find up to a dozen walkers on each of the walks. You definitely won't be alone, whichever walk you choose. We gather on the platform at the destination station for introductions before setting off.

Joanna said...

Good morning see you at Hayes at 10:59.

Joanna said...

Good morning see you at Hayes at 10:59.

Chris L said...

n=12 walkers, including 3 newcomers, on a beautiful w=cold_crisp_sunny day, with not a breath of wind. The ground and bushes were coated with frost and the ice in the Keston ponds was thick enough to skate on, though no-one was brave enough to give it a try. The Blacksmith's Arms being fully booked, the Queen's Head in Downe gave us a table for 10 in a separate room and provided quick and efficient service and ample food. Three non-diners pressed ahead and were caught during the afternoon by the main group who took the shortcut from Downe though the Downe Bank Nature Reserve. Apart from two who stopped at Coolings for tea, everyone finished the walk together and caught the 16:28 train from Knockholt.