Double Bill at the Science Museum - The Sun: Living With Our Star and The Last Tsar: Blood and Revolution

Tonight, we are visiting the Science Museum taking advantage of the adult only late opening.  

The Sun: Living With Our Star tells the story of humankind’s dependence on, and ever changing understanding of, our star from golden solar religious artefacts in the Nordic Bronze Age (dating back to 1400 BC), to details of upcoming NASA and ESA solar missions.  Set at the centre of our solar system, the Sun's brilliant light shapes our sense of time, our health and our environment. The exhibition offers spectacular interactive experiences, unique artefacts and stunning imagery shed fresh light on humanity's relationship with our closest star.  

The museum offers 1/2 price entry for the late opening.  To book a ticket, please click here.  Book the 7:30pm slot.  Meet at the entrance to the exhibition at 7:25pm.  

The Last Tsar: Blood and Revolution: Rulers of a sixth of the surface of the Earth, the last imperial monarchs of Russia, the Romanovs, enjoyed lives that glittered with unimaginable wealth and power—but the family mysteriously disappeared in 1918. Set against a turbulent backdrop of social upheaval and war between 1900 and 1918, this fascinating exhibition will explore the huge influence of medicine on the imperial family during this period. Discover the private lives of the Tsar and Tsarina and their children through unique artefacts, documents and photographs never before on public display in the UK, examine the crime scene and learn more about the advances in medical and forensic science which would transform the investigation into their brutal deaths.

The exhibition is free, but you need to book a ticket.  To book, please click here.  Book 8:45pm

Wednesday Walk Wendover Circular - a Book 2 Chiltern's Classic not for the Faint Hearted

Book 2, Walk 1 - Wendover Circular

Length: 18.5 km (11.5 miles)
Toughness: 7 out of 10 (8.5 out of 10 with Coombe Hill ending)

London Marylebone: 09-57 hrs       Aylesbury Vale Parkway service
Arrive Wendover: 10-45 hrs

Return: 16-23, 16-53, 17-20, 17-55, 18-26, 18-52 and 19-23 hrs

You get a good work out on this walk, particularly if you attempt the Coombe Hill ending, but  energy spent should be rewarded by Chiltern Hill's leaf colour in the many woods along the way, and you will have some lovely views today.

You will have to maintain a steady pace (no dawdling) if you want luncheon at the Red Lion pub in Whiteleaf - always best to 'phone ahead with numbers: 01844-344476  your e.t.a is 13-25 hrs.

More woods, steep bits and Chiltern's classic countryside in the afternoon before you have that very steep climb to the summit of Coombe Hill with its Boer War monument.  Then - relief - its downhill all the way to Wendover.  For your tea stop, chocaholics go to Rumsey's Chocolaterie, a short distance down the High Street, whilst I prefer the Shoulder of Mutton pub near the railway station.
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Walk Directions here: L=2.1

Sunday walk - A Kentish ramble near London

Knockholt to Hayes

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

09:58 Sevenoaks train from Victoria, calling at several stops in south-east London including Bromley South (10:26), to arrive at Knockholt at 10:45.
If you just miss that train, or if you don’t mind taking a chance, you could catch the 10:13 Ramsgate train from Victoria, changing at Orpington (arr 10:36, dep 10:40) on to the slower service above.

Return trains from Hayes to Cannon Street are at xx:02 and xx:32 (journey time 41 minutes). Change at Lewisham for Waterloo East and Charing Cross.

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, Down House (English Heritage) in the afternoon. If you choose to do this, you will probably run out of daylight to complete the walk but could catch a 146 bus from Downe Church to Bromley South station, leaving at 20 minutes past each hour (journey time 18 minutes).

Today’s walk reverses the familiar Hayes to Knockholt walk for several reasons:
a) Instead of finishing with the same 4km as the Knockholt Circular ending, this walk reverses that stretch to give a new feel to it.
b) There are no tea places near Knockholt station, whereas Hayes offers several options.
c) The recommended lunchtime pub in Cudham comes slightly earlier in the walk.
d) Those wishing to visit Down House can do the bulk of the walk before breaking off and then have an easy onward bus journey available.

The recommended lunchtime stop is the Blacksmith’s Arms in Cudham (01959 572678), though you could carry on for another 30 minutes to the Queen’s Head or the George and Dragon in Downe.

For the moment, the link to the Walk Directions takes you to the original Hayes to Knockholt version of the walk. It is hoped to get the reversed directions up here by Sunday, but even if that isn’t possible, the walk’s author will be there to ensure that no-one goes wrong while following the existing directions backwards.
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Sunday walk - Along and above the Thames Valley

Extra Walk 56 – Maidenhead to Marlow
Length: 15km (9.3 miles). Toughness: 3/10

09:45Reading train fromPaddington (Ealing Broadway 09:53) arriving Maidenhead at 10:31.

Return trains from Marlow to Paddington, changing at Maidenhead, are at xx:09 (journey time 1 hour 16 minutes). Buy an off-peak day return to Marlow.

Well, you’ve enjoyed an extra hour in bed this morning, after the clocks went back last night, so a fairly early start seems a good idea today. Remember that dusk will fall an hour earlier too, so take care you don’t get caught in the dark, though there shouldn’t be much risk of that today.

After following a pretty stretch of the Thames Path as far as Cookham, the route climbs onto an escarpment with fine views of the Thames Valley, before descending to Marlow.

There are several pubs in Cookham where lunch can be taken, but they are likely to be busy, so do ring ahead to book a table when you know how many of you want to eat there. There are plenty of tea places in Marlow. Details of the lunch and tea options can be found on the walk’s introduction page. Then click through to the Comments page to find some useful comments from a group who did the walk very recently.

If you judge that there is enough light remaining when you reach Marlow (it should last till about 5:15pm), you could extend the walk by 3.5 miles by walking back along the river to Bourne End, using the route described in the walk directions.

You will need to download the Walk Directions .

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Saturday walk - East Grinstead Circular

Length: 17.9km (10.9 miles) or 20.2km (12.5 miles)
Toughness: 5 out of 10

9.51 train from Victoria (9.58 Clapham Junction, 10.10 East Croydon) to East Grinstead, arriving 10.50. T=3.40

For walk directions click here. For GPX click here.

Just to be clear, this walk was given a whole new morning route a couple of years ago, which is the one we will be doing today. The old shorter route across the fields to lunch got a reputation for being rather muddy in winter: but this is a completely different route, going out past the National Trust-run Standen.

Mud should in any case not be a problem today, which is one reason to give this pleasant and varied Wealden walk an airing now. It should make a good autumn outing, with a mix of small woods and open fields.

There are oodles of lunch options in Forest Row and after lunch you can choose between the main walk ending over gentle hills back to East Grinstead (the 10.9 mile version), or if you want to make the best use of the daylight on the last day of British Summer Time (it won't be light again till this late until late February), there is the longer afternoon route (the 12.5 mile version) which loops around the bottom of Bewl Water Reservoir, with a possible tea stop at Standen. On the main route you come back to East Grinstead High Street where there are plenty of places for tea.

Trains back are at 6 and 36 past the hour.

Saturday Walk – Eridge Old Park and the hilltop village of Frant

Extra Walk 196 – Wadhurst to Tunbridge Wells
Length: 13¾ km (8.5 miles). Toughness: 4/10

09:45 Hastings train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 09:48, London Bridge 09:54, Orpington 10:10), arriving Wadhurst at 10:47. Buy a return to Wadhurst.

There are four trains an hour back from Tunbridge Wells at 09, 21, 39 & 51 minutes past.

In the last couple of years this fairly short Wealden walk has been posted in late November when the ground has been very soggy, so hopefully it will appear in a better light this time. There should be some good autumn colour, especially on the permissive path along the edge of Eridge Old Park: this has been quite overgrown in the past but recent feedback said that it was now well maintained and easy to follow.

There's a choice of two good pubs in the hilltop village of Frant for lunch, the George Inn and the Abergavenny Arms, plus a large green for hardy picknickers. At the end of the walk Juliets is probably the pick of the tea places in Tunbridge Wells, but there's plenty of choice.

You'll need to bring the directions from the Wadhurst to Tunbridge Wells walk page. T=swc.196

Saturday Walk – A Saturday Saunter Along the Greensand Ridge from Lidlington to Flitwick

SWC Walk 232:  Lidlington to Flitwick T=SWC.232

Distance:  13.7 Miles or 22.0 km (with short cuts of up to about 2.5 miles/4 km available in the instructions)

Difficulty:  6 out of 10 (4 or 5 if one or more short cuts used)

Train:  Take the 9:13 West Midlands Birmingham New Street train from Euston Station, changing at Bletchley (arriving 9:49 and departing 10:01), eventually arriving at Lidlington at 10:22. Return trains from Flitwick are Thameslink Services on the hour and half hour to London Bridge and various other Central London stations. Buy a day return to Lidlington.

This varied walk beings in Marston Vale and takes you up to and along the Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge through mixed woods and open heathland to historic Ampthill.  It also passes the atmospheric ruins of Houghton House and across Flitwick Moor, one of the most important wetland sites in the Southeast. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

The recommended lunch stop is the Prince of Wales in Ampthill (princeofwales-ampthill.com / 01525 840 50) 5 miles/8.1 km into the walk. However, there are also various other choices available in Ampthill, as well as, further along the route in Maulden. Flitwick offers tea and other late afternoon refreshments in a number of places suggested in the walk instructions.

Enjoy the walk!

Wednesday Walk Ockley to Warnham - Woods and Rural Delights along the Surrey-West Sussex Border

Book 1, Walk 47 - Ockley to Warnham

Length: 16.5 km (10.3 miles)
Toughness: 3 out of 10

London Victoria: 10-25 hrs    Horsham service    CJ 10-32 hrs     Sutton 10-54 hrs
Arrive Ockley: 11-33 hrs

Return
Warnham to Victoria: direct service - 18 mins past hour to 17-18, then 17-46, 18-16 and 18-46 hrs,
or 39 mins past hour via Horsham to 17-39, then 18-09 and 18-39 hrs

Rail ticket: Either a day return to Warnham or a day return to Horsham - any route permitted

Leaf colour in the many woods on this walk should be coming on nicely to add to your enjoyment of this rural walk along the Surrey and West Sussex border.

There are two (usually) excellent pubs for your choice of lunch stop, with the Scarlett Arms in Walliswood being on the main route, and the the Punchbowl in Okewood Hill on a short diversion. If there are six or more of you wishing to dine it's best to 'phone ahead with numbers. Scarlett Arms  (e..t.a 13-30 hrs) 01306-627243: Punchbowl (e.t.a 13-15 hrs)  01306-627249.

You walk through more woods and farmland after lunch as you make your way to Warnham. The pub in the centre of town serves as your tea stop - the Sussex Oak. Usual warning - it's a good 20 mins from the pub to the railway station, so best allow 30 mins as trains are not that frequent for your return to London, either direct or via Horsham.

Walkers wanting a longer walk today have the option of adding on the Warnham to Horsham leg ( a couple of miles) as described in the Directions - but you are adding distance for distance sake as the route is not that exciting. But this option comes into its own if you miss the last train (in either direction) from Warnham and you have enough daylight to walk to Horsham.
Enjoy.
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Walk Directions here: L=1.47

Sunday Walk: Great Missenden Circular

Length 16 km 10 miles. Difficulty 3/10
A Chilterns walk that uses sections of two other walks (GM to Amersham and Chesham to GM) and visits the Cock and Rabbit for lunch.
Trains
From Marylebone, get the 9:57 Aylesbury Vale Parkway train arriving Great Missenden 10:38.
Return trains a bit erratic. Hourly at xx:29 to 15:29, then 15:59, 16:59, 17:29 and hourly again from 17:59. Why so? ask Chiltern Railways. Get a return to Great Missenden.
Lunch
The Cock and Rabbit, Lee Common 01494 837540.
Has appeared in Midsomer Murders as the Rose and Chalice.
Tea
There are two pubs near the station.
The Cross Keys is one (it doesn't do hot drinks).
The George Inn has recently re-opened as the George Ale House after a long campaign to save it.
The "Café at the Roald Dahl Museum", as 'Cafe Twit' is now known, should be open till 5. It hasn't been open on Sundays since flood damage closed the attraction. However, if the museum reopens this weekend as intended, the Cafe will resume normal hours. Splendiferous.
Directions
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin. You need two sets of directions. These and these. You start off with the Alternative Great Missenden Circular directions. Rather illogically, you follow the second part of these directions before the first part (start on page 2, column 2, at “Book 1 Great Missenden directions to 3”. Then switch back to column 1 and follow those directions). These take you to point [4] in the main Chesham to Great Missenden directions, which you then follow, weeny weeny weeny all the way home.
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Sunday Walk: Cowden to Hever

Difficulty 4 out of 10, 16½ km (10.3 miles)

Wend your way through the undulating landscape of the High Weald. Visit remote valleys, woods and tiny settlements. Descend into the beautiful villages of Penshurst and Chiddingstone before finally reaching Hever. Each village has an interesting church, as well as a historic house open to the public. The walk can be shortened by up to 5km (3 miles) but the shortcuts bypass the villages.

Trains
Get the 9:51 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 9:58, East Croydon 10:09). Change at Oxted onto the 10:38 Uckfield train. Arrive Cowden 10:55.
Return from Hever at xx:07, changing at Hurst Green or Oxted.
Get a return to Cowden.
Lunch
The attractive Rock Inn  (01892-870296) in Hoath Corner is an early option.
The suggested lunch place in Penshurst is the Leicester Arms Hotel  (01892-871617).
Nearby, just outside the main entrance to Penshurst Place, the Porcupine Pantry (01892-870307) serves light lunches and afternoon teas.
Later in the walk, you have the Castle Inn (01892-870371) at Chiddingstone.
Tea
In Chiddingstone you got The Tulip Tree (01892-871504), behind the Chiddingstone Stores, open to 5pm. You also got the Chiddingstone Castle Tea Room (01892-872746) in the castle grounds (it's accessible without paying).
Last up, you got the King Henry Ⅷ (01732-862457) in Hever village. The station is still 1½ km away and trains are hourly so allow enough time (say, 20-25 minutes).
Optional Features
Penshurst Place is a medieval manor house with an attractive formal garden, admission is £11.50, or £9.50 for the gardens only.
Chiddingstone Castle is a castellated manor house rebuilt in the 19thC, admission is £9.50.
Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, has spectacular gardens, admission is £17.25, or £14.50 for the gardens only.
Walk directions here
We are doing the Main Walk.
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Saturday Walk: Hever to Ashurst

10.1 miles / 16.25 km

A walk in a more remote part of the High Weald, with lunch at the village of Cowden.

Trains: Take the 10:07 train from London Bridge, arriving at Hever at 10:49.  Return trains from Ashurst are at xx:56.  Buy a day return to Ashurst (Kent).

Lunch: The Fountain, Cowden (01342 850528).  Food served until 2:30pm.

There are no refreshments near Ashurst station, but in mid-afternoon the route passes the Perryhill Orchard Farm Shop and Tea Rooms.  Some walkers may remember the Farm Shop for its range of local ciders.  The Tea Rooms are open until 4:30pm.  Allow at least an hour to cover the 4km from here to Ashurst station.

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Saturday Walk - Guaranteed No Leaf Colours: Rye - Camber Sands - Dungeness Nuke and Shingle - Lydd-on-Sea or Lydd, or Rye Circular

The tide is on our side, and the firing range is closed, so here goes: a walk like no other...now fully written up.

Rye to Dungeness and Lydd-on-Sea, or Rye Circular, or Rye to Dungeness to Lydd
Length:  21.7 km/13.5 mi or 17.6 km/11.0 mi or 27.3 km/17.0 mi

Ascent/Descent:  negligible

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours or 4 hours or 6 hours (incl. time added for the shingle and sand for options 1 and 3)

Toughness:  4 out of 10 or 1 out of 10 or 5 out of 10

  

Take the 09.34 Margate train from St. Pancras I’nal (Stratford I’nal 09.41), change at Ashford (10.11/10.24), arrives Rye 10.45. 
Trains from Victoria or Charing X to Ashford can’t be recommended, as they either just miss the connection, or leave only one minute to change trains!

At the end of the walk, from Lydd and Lydd-on-Sea take buses back to Rye or on to Ham Street or Ashford.

Return trains are on xx.47 from Rye and xx.01 from Ham Street. Total journey time 67 mins from Rye.

Buy a Rye (Sussex) return.

This is a fascinating and most unusual walk, initially leading from the historic Cinque Ports Town of Rye along the Rother River to Camber Sands with its shallow and wide sandy beach lined by magnificent sand dunes and with a selection of lunch stops. After lunch you follow the coast along the beach or the seawall through the Lydd Firing Ranges (only open for about 65 days a year, today is one of them) into the desolate, vast expanse of shingle  (one of the largest in Europe) that is the Dungeness National Nature Reserve and then past the Dungeness Nuclear Power Station. You pass a couple of lighthouses (old and new) and a few tea options in Dungeness and then continue past Derek Jarman’s famed garden to The Pilot Inn in Lydd-on-Sea, from where buses take you back to Rye or on to Ham Street or Ashford stations.

Note: to shorten the exposure to the shingle do the walk on days when low tide is around early afternoon (it is, at 14.47).

A circular option from Camber back to Rye through grassy marsh land cuts out all shingly sections.

An alternative ending from Dungeness leads to Lydd through the shingly Denge Beach area and a large RSPB Reserve.

Return travel by bus:

From Lydd-on-Sea (The Pilot Inn) by line 102 to Lydd and on to Rye (xx.50 to 18.50) or by line 11 to Ham Street or Ashford (17.10, arr. Ham Street 17.46, Ashford 18.10);

From Lydd Church by line 102 to Rye (xx.01 to 19.01 then 19.57).

The Lydd Ranges are closed this weekend, see here.

Low Tide is at 14.47, so we should be fine to avoid most of the shingle.

Lunch: The Owl pub or The Rye Bay Bar & Café  in Camber (about 6.0 km).

Tea: [Dungeness/Lydd-on-Sea] The End of the Line  café or The Britannia Inn, 2.0 km from the end, or The Snack Shack or The Pilot Inn at the walk’s end. 
[Rye] Too numerous to list here, check the pdf. [Lydd] The Dolphin or The George Hotel.

For walk directions, map, height profile and gpx/kml files  click here. T=swc.154

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