Saturday Walk - The North Downs from Zone 6

SWC Walk 38 - Upper Warlingham to Hayes
Length: 16km (10 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

9.53 train from Victoria (9.59 Clapham Junction, 10.10 East Croydon) to Upper Warlingham, arriving 10.22.

Both the outward and return stations are in London Transport zone 6, so you can use Oyster or contactless payment

For walk directions click here.

This is one of those walks between zone six stations that are "surprisingly rural" - fields, woods, quiet bridleways (and almost certainly some mud: but hey, it is February: not long to spring now). It can be started from either Upper Warlingham or Whyteleafe stations and I have chosen the former simply because the trains to it are nicer.

There is one pub for lunch - "a real gem" - whose log fires may be more of an attraction at this time of the year than its outside tables. I am advised that it is actually just over 4 miles into the walk rather than the 5 miles stated. Fast walkers should note that it opens for drinks from 11am but does not start doing food until midday: for more moderate-paced walkers, the specified train should get you to the pub fairly shortly after it starts food service. If it is a big group, try not to arrive all at once.....

You then have six miles or so to do in the afternoon, ending up in Hayes, which has a pub and a cafe, apparently, and trains up to London at 02, 15, 32 and 45 past.