Wednesday walk Tring to Wendover - A Chilterns adventure with canals and reservoirs and Wendover Woods

Book 1, Walk 11 - Tring to Wendover

Length: 21 km (13 miles)  Option to shorten by 3 miles
Toughness: 6 out of 10    Terrain flat in morning, hilly in afternoon (hills can be avoided if canal route taken)


London Euston: 10-24 hrs   Milton Keynes service
Arrive Tring: 10-59 hrs

Return
Wendover to London Marylebone: 15-56, 16-26, 16-39, 16-56, 17-23, 17-58 and 18-29 hrs

Rail ticket; buy an all zones travel card then a separate single to Tring, and for your return journey, a  single from Wendover to your travel zone boundary (Amersham).

This is a wonderful walk with lots of variety - and scoring highly for its water features. The morning leg is flat, and starts along the Grand Union Canal before you walk around three large reservoirs. Onwards then across country to the village of Aston Clinton (unfortunately split in two by the A41 bypass) for lunch at the Oak pub - with its generously sized food portions.
After lunch you walk along the edge of an airfield, used by the MOD for glider flying, and then you join the Wendover Canal. Decision time now - to avoid the hills and woods you can enjoy a leisurely walk beside the canal all the way to Wendover. Otherwise, you soon take to the hills as you ascend Wendover Woods. At  the top there is a cafe, then the Go Ape Centre, where younger walkers can take to the high wires. Then it's along the ridge of the woods and a steep descent to Wendover. Tea can be take at a number of places. Chocaholics make for the Rumsey's Chocolaterie. The pub next to station road and a few minutes from the railway station- the Shoulder of Mutton -  always wins my vote for the best tea stop.
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Walk Directions here: L=1.11

Sunday Walk: Effingham to Westhumble

15.2km (9.4 miles) Difficulty 5/10
Hidden valleys pretty woodlands, and gentle pastures evoking echoes of a golden yesteryear. The estate of Polesden Lacey is a prominent feature.
Trains:  9:57 Hampton Court train from Waterloo. Change at Surbiton for the 10:32 Clandon train (platform 4) arriving Effingham Junction at 10:50. The first train stops at plenty of intermediate stations, inc. Vauxhall 10:01, Clapham Jct. 10:06, Wimbledon 10:13,
From "Box Hill & Westhumble" station, return to Waterloo at xx:10 or to Victoria at xx:19 and xx:49
Trains leave Dorking three minutes earlier, should you wish to finish there.
The walk's start and finish are on divergent train lines. Your best bet is a return to Effingham Junction plus a single for the short hop from Westhumble (or Dorking) to Leatherhead where the lines re-join.
Lunch: National Trust tea-room Polesden Lacey - accessible without paying the entrance fee. If you do want to visit, it's £13 60 (free for NT members). If you prefer a pub, there are directions to the Sir Douglas Haig 01372 456886. This adds a further 1.2 miles on to the walk.
Tea:  The Visitor centre at Denbies Vineyard does tea. They also have a gift shop and sell their wine. Denbies is open till 5 in winter. There's a caff in the Pilgrim Cycles shop at Box Hill & Westhumble station that closes at 4 and, nearby, you have the Stepping Stones pub.
Directions:  here.  (This online version recommended – many changes since the heady days of Book 2).

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Sunday Walk Beautiful Bucks around Beaconsfield

Book 1 Walk 10: Beaconsfield Circular T=1.10

Distance:  11.9 Miles or 19.0 km for those more metrically minded 

Difficulty:  4 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:43 AM Stratford-upon-Avon train from London Marylebone, arriving at Beaconsfield at 10:12. Return trains are at 03; 36 and 45 past the hour.  Buy a day return to Beaconsfield.  

This Book 1 Bucks classic has not been posted for a spell; so thought that it would make a nice Sunday saunter. In addition to the gentle rolling hills of Bucks, the route takes in some interesting bits of history associated with the Quakers and Pennsylvania….You can find more information about the walk and the instructions here.

There are several options for lunch in the village of Chalfont St. Giles with Merlin’s Cave being the recommended venue.  There seems to be a few places speckled around Beaconsfield Station for post walk bevvies with Jungs (about 100 meters past the railway bridge) being most promising for tea and the Revolution (passed en route on arrival back into Beaconsfield) for stronger stuff.

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday Walk - Sundon Hills, Sharpenhoe Clappers and Hillfort: Harlington to Flitwick or Circular (Bedfordshire Chilterns)

Length: 24.5 km (15.2 mi), Ascent/Descent: 254/272m [shortcuts possible, see route map and pdf]

or 17.3 km/10.7 mi with 267m ascent to Harlington. The routes split just after lunch in Pulloxhill.

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours, Toughness: 5 out of 10; or ca. 4 hours and 3/10.

Take the Thameslink service from Three Bridges to Bedford (selected  stops: East Croydon 09.21, London Bridge 09.35, Blackfriars 09.42, Farringdon 09.46, St. Pancras 09.52, West Hampstead 09.59), arrive Harlington 10.35. Return trains: xx.00 and xx.30 (from Harlington: xx.04 and xx.34).

Buy a Flitwick return (same price as a Harlington return).

The central attraction of this North Chiltern walk in Central Bedfordshire are the Sundon Hills, steep rolling downlands affording fantastic views over the surrounding plain, out north to the Greensand Ridge, and east to the classic steep chalk escarpment of Sharpenhoe Clappers, which is passed through as well. At Sharpenhoe one of the largest Neolithic hill fort sites in the South East is walked through, with good views east to Barton Hills, followed by a steep descent into the plain below. Further fine views of Pegsdon Hills further east along the Chilterns follow from the route through rolling grassy fields to the quiet hill top lunch destination of Pulloxhill. The afternoon route is less energetic, but not without interest, and leads through the gently rolling plain to the finish through ancient Flitwick Wood into the centre of Flitwick.

Lunch: The Cross Keys (01525 712 442) in Pulloxhill (12.2 km/7.6 mi) for the main walk and the circular walk, or The Chequers (01525 712 967, food to 15.00) or Filippo’s at The Bell (01525 712 967), both in Westoning and for the main walk only (16.5 km/10.2 mi w/o Shortcut I, 13.4 km with it).

Tea: plenty of options en route to and in Flitwick and two in Harlington; check page 2 of the pdf for details.

For walk directions, map, photos, height profile and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.230

Wanborough to Godalming

With 66 people walking last Saturday and a dry and fairly mild weekend forecast, here's an 8 mile/13 km walk for those of you who prefer a shorter outing.

Getting there:

Catch the 9:45 am Portsmouth & Southsea train from London Waterloo (9:52 am from Clapham Junction). 
Change at Guildford to catch the 10:30 am Ascot train (currently advertised as departing platform 6) arriving at Wanborough 10:36 am 

What tickets to buy:

Buy a cheap day return to Wanborough and be prepared to buy a single fare from Godalming to Guildford on the return journey.

About the walk:

Watts Gallery (admission about £12) and Watts Cemetery Chapel  about 4 km (1 hour) into the walk make an interesting cultural interlude in this pleasant walk. In a further 1 km The Withies Inn t: 01483 421158  is the suggested stop for those wishing to eat a Pub lunch. Please note booking is strongly recommended for this venue.
The recommended tea stop in Godalming is the Cafe Mila in Angel Court which shuts at 4:30 pm
Enjoy the walk!

Getting back:

Trains depart from Godalming station to London Waterloo at 25 and 53 minutes past the hour. No changes are needed and the train stops at Clapham Junction

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Saturday walk - Henley Circular via Great Wood - the original SWC walk

Length: 16.1km (10 miles) T=1.1 (with possible 3.7km/2.3 mile extension)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

9.42 train from Paddington (9.50 Ealing Broadway) to Twyford, changing there (arrive 10.30, depart 10.38) for Henley-on-Thames, arriving 10.50

Walk directions are here. The walk home page is here. The GPX file is here.

I thought we would go back to where it all began this week - book one, walk one, the original SWC walk. It is a very simple outing, with an easy walk along the prettiest stretch of the River Thames in the morning and then over the fields to picture-perfect Hambleden, beloved of film makers.

Lunch will hopefully be at the Stag and Huntstman: it is always a popular pub but we usually squeeze in. The alternative is the Hambleden Village Stores nearby which has some deli items, serves hot drinks and has a couple of outside tables.

The hard work, such as it is, is after lunch - an extended climb up through Great Wood. (It is for this reason that I have bumped the toughness rating up from the stated 2 out of 10). After that it is downhill all the way on quiet lanes and the Oxfordshire Way to the lovely delights of the Chocolate Cafe in Henley, or the characterful Angel on the Bridge pub.

If you want to extend the walk after tea, it is 2.3 miles down the Thames Path to Shiplake, a very lovely walk for the mile and a half or so, taking in the striking Thames Lock and a watermeadow. After that, it is a bit more suburban, though you get to see how the other half lives. The Baskerville Arms by Shiplake station is a possible drink stop. A day return to Henley covers return from Shiplake.

Trains back are at 23 and 53 past from Henley (27 and 57 past from Shiplake) until 18.53, and then at 19.35, 20.23, 21.23, 22.21....

Cuxton to Sole Street

t=SWC.35 Length: 17km (10m)
Toughness: 5 / 10
Transport: There are two options:

• 9:55 from London St Pancras, change at Strood leaving at 10:34, arriving at Cuxton at 10:38. Note. that there is a special fare on this high speed train and, as far as I know, you cannot buy tickets on the train.
• 9:10 from London Victoria, change at Rochester leaving at 9:59, change at Strood, leaving at 10:34, arriving at Cuxton at 10:38 (Note there is a 28min wait at Strood, it's still a faster connection than going via Tonbridge)

Return trains from Sole Street at xx:01 to London Victoria (there is the option to change at Meopham for 7min faster train to Victoria; you might consider walking to Meopham to catch that train directly, a map would come in handy) or at xx:31 to London St Pancras via Rochester.
A day return to Rochester should cover both legs.

This is a lovely walk across the North Downs with several options: You can have lunch at the recommended lunch pub the Golden Lion in Luddesdown or extend the walk at an earlier point with a 4km there and back again detour to the friendly Amazon & Tiger pub at Harvel. From the latter you could follow the Snodland to Sole Street walk to Henley Street. For tea there are several pubs in Cobham or there is the charming pub in Henley Street where you can while away the time for the final 20min dash across a field to the station. There is also a pub right next to the station should this last dash have sapped your resources.

Wednesday walk Lenham to Charing or Hollingbourne - The North Downs Way and Kentish landscapes

SWC 1 - Lenham to Charing or Hollingbourne

Length: 13.3 km (8.3 miles)  Option to walk to Hollingbourne adds 1.2 km to walk but no lunch stop serving food
Toughness: 3 out of 10 (more when muddy)


London Victoria: 10-25 hrs     Canterbury West service   Bromley South  10-42 hrs
Arrive Lenham: 11-38 hrs

Return
Charing to Victoria:  05 and 41 mins past the hour
Hollingbourne to Victoria: 18 and 54 mins past the hour

Rail ticket: buy a day return to Charing. If walking to Hollingbourne, buy a day return to Lenham

Today's walk makes for a pleasant, tranquil outing on a winter's day in Kent's classic countryside. Your pub stop for lunch is the Plough Inn in the village of Stalisford, some 8 km into the walk. For tea options at walk end, please refer to the Directions.
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Walk Directions are here: L=swc.1

Evening Walk

CW2 Walk 2* - Saunderton via Lacey Green
Length: 9.9km (6.2 miles)

Catch the 18:24 train from London Marylebone, arrives Saunderton 19:08. Return trains from Saunderton 20:54, 21:53, 22:54.

Will stop for a drink / meal at the Whipp Inn, Lacey Green or The Boot, Bledlow Ridge.

* Start with the 2(b) Alternative ending at Princes Risborough route, to then pick up the main walk directions at [3] to then take the short walk option back to Saunderton.
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Sunday walk: Green spaces in west London

Ealing Broadway Circular
Length: 17.8km (11 miles) Toughness: 1/10

10:41 Didcot Parkway train from Paddington arriving at Ealing Broadway at 10:49. Or use the Central or District tube lines to arrive there at the same time. Return services by tube or mainline trains are very frequent. Ealing Broadway is in Zone 3.

In contrast to today’s other walk, this one has a late start, a minimal journey time and is almost guaranteed to be mud-free. It explores many of the green spaces and places of interest in west London, including the Grand Union Canal, Boston Manor, Syon House, the Thames towpath, Kew Gardens and Gunnersbury Park. There are a few helpful tips on the walk’s Comments page.


Recommended lunch stops are the Syon House Refectory or a riverside pub, The London Apprentice (020 8560 1915).

There are plenty of opportunities to shorten the walk by catching a bus or train from various points along the route. A London A-Z is the only map you may find useful.

The walk directions can be found here.

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Sunday walk: The Hampshire hangers

Petersfield to Liss
Length: 16.6km (10.3 miles) Toughness: 5/10

09:30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Clapham Junction 09:39) arriving at Petersfield at 10:43.

Return trains from Liss are at xx:29 (journey time 1 hr 19 mins). Buy an off-peak day return to Petersfield.

This lovely walk is mostly through unspoilt countryside, much of it following a section of the Hangers Way, which runs along a series of steep-sided wooded hills, known as “The Hangers”. It includes a very steep ascent of Shoulder of Mutton Hill, with spectacular views from the top. A gentler ascent is described in case the main route is too slippery.

The recommended lunchtime pub, the Hawkley Inn (01730 827205), 6.6 km into the walk, welcomes walkers but is usually busy, so do phone ahead to reserve a table.

You will need to download the Walk Directions.

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Saturday Walk – The Colne Valley & Batchworth Heath (LOOP 12 & 13)

Sections 12 & 13 of the London LOOP – Uxbridge to Moor Park
Length: 16½ km (10.3 miles). Toughness: 3/10

Take a Metropolitan line tube to arrive at Uxbridge by 11:15 and meet in the booking hall. It's a 40-minute journey from Baker Street, with tubes every 7-8 minutes.

At the end of the walk Moor Park is on a different branch of the Metropolitan line, again with tubes every 7-8 minutes. Both stations are in TfL Zone 6.

There are plenty of SWC walks in the Chiltern Hills just outside the north-western arc of the M25, but the map also shows a large rural area inside it which ought to be worth a look. This is the Colne Valley and as the London LOOP goes through it there's an easy way to find out.

§12 is described as “the bluest section” of this waymarked trail, alongside lakes and the Grand Union Canal on firm and level towpaths for much of the way. In contrast §13 is more undulating, through “remote countryside and luxuriant woodland”.

At the end of §12 you should reach a waterside pub in West Harefield at around 1pm: The Coy Carp (01895-821471) looks well-placed for a lunchtime pub stop. I'm not sure what there is around Moor Park station (apart from golf course club houses) so if you want some mid-afternoon refreshment it might be worth stopping at one of the pubs on Batchworth Heath.

As always, there will be no leader for this walk. You'll need to download the directions for these two sections from the TfL London LOOP page. T=LDP.24

Eridge Circular

Getting there:

Catch the 10:07 am Uckfield train from London Bridge (10:22 am from East Croydon) arriving at Eridge 11:03 am - At the time of writing this service is scheduled to leave from platform 10 at London Bridge. 

What tickets to buy:

Buy a cheap day return to Eridge.

About the walk:

There are options on this walk and I am posting the longer morning route and the shorter afternoon route (about 8 miles). However if you are wanting to walk further, then you may walk the longer afternoon option through Broadwater Warren after lunch (about 9.5 miles)
Vintage trainspotters - oh no, that's not right, ... Trainspotters interested in vintage steam and diesel locomotives can find the Spa valley Railway timetable here
Groombridge station (which the railway passes through) is about 800 metres from The Crown Inn tel: 01892 864742 which is a nice lunchtime pub.

Getting back:

Trains depart from Eridge station to London Bridge hourly at 50 minutes past the hour. However you make take afternoon tea or other refreshments in the Huntsman tel 01892 864258 while you wait. The Huntsman is just a few minutes from the station.

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Why walk near Wye?

Book 1 Walk 53/SWC 138 Combo with extended option via Bodsham t=1.53

Distance:  11 Miles/17.7km for the classic combo or 14 miles/22.5 km for the extended route via Bodsham

Difficulty:  6 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:34 AM train from London St. Pancras (9:40 from Stratford International), changing at Ashford (arriving 10:11; departing 10:35) arriving at Wye at 10:41. Return trains from Chilham at 13 minutes past the hour. Buy a day return to Chilham. 

This route is a classic combo of two walks, creating a linear route from Wye to Chilham. For the standard route, you follow the instruction from Book 1 Walk 53 from Wye up onto the dramatic North Downs escarpment with fine views; then across the downs to the Compasses Inn in Sole Street where you switch to the picturesque afternoon route from SWC 138 to the charming village of Chilham. 

The extended option via Bodsham requires a map-led route (which will be added to the GPX file on line) that some Sunday walkers explored last year and found very enjoyable. The extended route diverts from the classic one along the escarpment in the morning, continuing along the NDW for a spell before turning off the escarpment and passing by two alternate pubs, the Bowl Inn in Hastingleigh and the Timber Batts Pub and Forge in Bodsham, a truly quirky experience and definitely worth at least a drinks stop…..This route eventually also leads you to the Compasses Inn where you can pick up the afternoon instruction for SWC 138. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions/route here and here.

Traditionally, lunch on this route has been at the Compasses Inn, but it has become rather upmarket in recent years requiring carefully timed bookings and proving difficult for walking groups…So, the extended route provides two additional pubs (referenced above) which serve more basic fare and have a more flexible attitude towards life…..

In Chilham, tea and other post walk afternoon refreshments can be had at Shelly’s Tea Room or the White Horse.

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday walk - Haslemere to Midhurst via Henley

Length: 22.6km (14.1 miles), but reducible with shortcuts to 19.3km (12 miles) or even less: see ** below.
Toughness: 8 out of 10

9.30 train from Waterloo to Haslemere, arriving 10.25

From Clapham Junction, get your old friend the 9.29 (Exeter-bound) train to Woking, changing there (arrive 9.47, depart 10.02) for the above train.

Buy a day return to Haslemere. T=3.263

For walk directions click here. For GPX click here. For the walk home page click here.

There are three different versions of this walk, but this one is generally considered to be the best. It has become a firm favourite of the midweek walkers but has not had a Saturday outing since 2016.

** Don't be too put off by the advertised length: perfectly good short options are available to reduce the walk to 12 miles, and in fact it can be shorter than that because a direct path from the ruins of Cowdray House to the bus stop (see paragraph 62) shaves off a loop of the walk into the town of Midhurst (charming though this is if you have the time/energy/daylight). Lastly but not leastly, everything after the Cowdray Estate Farm Shop Cafe is on easy tracks and can be done with no trouble in the dark or (if the skies are clear) near full moonlight.

The morning short cut, albeit that it is only slightly shorter, comes with my recommendation as it has magnificent views from the top of Black Down. It and the main route come together at the Temple of the Winds, with its awesome southern panoramas - like being in a spaceship.

For lunch the desirable choice is the Duke of Cumberland pub in Henley (not the River Thames Henley, by the way: another one) but it tends to be booked up. You are advised not to rely on lunch here unless you have phoned to secure a table, or unless it is a nice enough day to sit outside, when it has a capacious unbooked garden (though even then check to be sure they will be serving food outside).

Otherwise a 1km diversion brings you to the Kings Arms, a perfectly adequate pub, 7.7 miles into the walk, or 7.4 miles via the morning short cut.

In the afternoon you cross a smallish ridge, with more nice views and then there is a choice of a direct descent into Midhurst, saving 1.8 miles, or a longer route, apparently more scenic (I have always opted for the short cut!).

A factor in deciding which afternoon route to take is that you want if possible to get to the gorgeous Cowdray Estate Farm Shop Cafe, a bit before the end of the walk for a truly scrumptious tea. It closes at 5pm.

At the end of the walk you have to get a number 70 bus (ultimate destination Guildford) back to Haslemere: these go at 16.05, 17.05, 18.05 and 19.10 (last bus).

Trains back from Haslemere are at 02 and 32 past ONLY today (slightly reduced service). The bus gets to Haslemere station, the stop before the town centre, at 30 past (35 past in the case of the 19.10), so you will need to be very quick to make the 32 past train even if the bus is on time. But if you miss a train there is a very cosy pub opposite the station to wait for the next one.

Wednesday walk Arundel Round - via Warningcamp Hill, Wepham, Burpham, South Stoke and Arundel Park

SWC 100 - Arundel Circular: morning leg of  SWC 100; in afternoon, opening leg of Book 1, Walk 32 - in reverse

Length: 16 km (10 miles)
Toughness:  3 out of 10  (a few gentle inclines and descents, otherwise flat)

London Victoria: 10-06 hrs   Bognor & Portsmouth Harbour service   CJ 10-13 hrs,  EC 10-23 hrs
Arrive Arundel: 11-28 hrs

Return: 13 & 46 mins past the hour


Mid-week walkers experimented with this mix and match walk combo this time last year, and as it was well received and worked quite well, let's give it another spin !

The walk includes what is arguably the best bits of the SWC Extra walk and the Book 1 classic. I leave it to you to read up the details in the Walk Directions.

Lunch is at the popular George Inn in Burpham. I will make a reservation for us. Back in Arundel you have a choice of tea shops and local hostelries.
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You will need SWC 100 for your morning leg-here  L=swc.100

.......and for your afternoon leg, Book 1, Walk 32 (R) - here

To follow the Book 1 walk in reverse, without one of those hand-held gizmos, the SWC Walking Backwards Guide might be of assistance - here

Sunday Walk: Chesham Circular or to Great Missenden

CW2 walk 4
11.8 km 7.3 miles (circular) or to Gt Missenden 9.6 miles
Difficulty 3/10
Take the Met Line all the way to the Chilterns. Sweeping views, big trees.
Travel:
Get the Metropolitan line to Chesham from Baker Street at 09:50 arriving Chesham at 10:44.
Trains return from Chesham at xx:27 and xx:57.
A zone 1-9 travel card will do you for the Circular.
The Great Missenden ending would require an additional single back to the boundary. Trains leave there at xx:32.
Lunch:  The circular walk visits the  Bell Inn, Chartridge 01494 782 878. Phoning advised. They say they can get fully booked on a Sunday, in which case, you might want to consider the full walk to Great Missenden which visits the The Cock and Rabbit, Lee Common 01494 837 540.
Tea: Several places are listed for Chesham: The quirky Drawing Room in Frances Yard 01494 791 691 is a favourite - it appears to be open till 5 but advisable to phone and check.
Your tea stop in Great Missenden would either be at the Roald Dahl Museum or one of the two pubs near the station.
Directions: here. You need the main directions  plus the extra directions for the circular.
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Sunday Walk: Robertsbridge (short) Circular

The short walk (option a) is suggested for today. (Length: 14km 8.7 ml., Difficulty 2/10).
It takes you through the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural  Beauty to picturesque Bodiam Castle where you have a choice of lunch in either the Castle Inn or The National Trust tea rooms.
Trains: Get the 09:40 Hastings train from Charing Cross, arriving Robertsbridge at 11:14. Return from Robertsbridge at xx:14.
Lunch: The Castle Inn  01580 830 330 or the National Trust tea rooms at Bodiam Castle.
Tea: The Ostrich Hotel, close to Robertsbridge Station. Despite its name, this is not a hotel for ostriches.
Directions: here
The short walk starts differently to the main walk.
The main walk, should anyone wish to attempt it, is 3 miles longer and stops at Hawkhurst Fish Farm's Waterside Cafe for lunch. Both walks share the same route after Bodiam Castle.

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Saturday Walk: 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, while the afternoon route heads up into the wilder Surrey Heathlands.

Trains: 10:00 from London Waterloo, arriving at Guildford at 10:33. Return from Farnham at xx28/xx58. A day return to Farnham is also valid for the outward journey to Guildford.

Lunch: An early stop after 5.2 miles/8.3 km at The Good Intent, Puttenham, food served until 2:30pm (tel 01483 810387).  An alternative to the Good Intent is to stop 300m before at the Harvester pub on the B3000. 

Click here for full walk details

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A short walk with a Pub and maybe a ghost or two - Pluckley Circular

Getting there:

Catch the 10:00 am Ramsgate train from Charing Cross (10:03 from Waterloo East, 10:08 from London Bridge) arriving at Pluckley 11:20am - plenty of time for a natter and a crossword or two.

You could also catch the 10:09 high speed train from St. Pancras (10:16 Stratford) changing at Ashford, but this arrives 14 minutes before the chugger from Charing Cross.

What tickets to buy:

Buy a cheap day return to Pluckley, but note you cannot use this on the high speed service to and from London St. Pancras 

About the walk:

It's short, about 7.3 miles (12 km) and an easy walk around the village of Pluckley with lunch at the Black Horse which is apparently under new management. Connoisseurs of buildings may spot the Derring windows (doubled arched) in local homes and ghost hunters may spot a spectre or two.
The Derring Arms adjacent to the station is alas shut between 3:00 and 6:00pm, however the Rose and Crown, slightly off piste is recommended for afternoon refreshments in the walk information sheet. 
Expect mud, scintillating conversation, sunny spells, a promising pub and afternoon splinter groups.

Getting Back:

Trains depart from Pluckley to Charing Cross at 06 and 36 minutes past the hour.
If you have a high speed train ticket, then you'll need to catch a train to Ashford at 20 or 50 minutes past the hour changing there to catch the high speed train back to Stratford or St. Pancras which will save you about 25 minutes journey time



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Saturday walk - Overton Circular - Sense, Sensibility, and maybe some snowdrops

Length: 18.7km (11.6 miles), or 13.8km (8.6 miles) without pub lunch.
Toughness: 4 out of 10

9.50 train from Waterloo (9.57 Clapham Junction) arriving at Overton at 10.46. T=3.97

For walk directions click here. For GPX click here. For the walk's home page click here.

Years ago I did this walk at just this time of year and there was a wonderful display of snowdrops at Deane House, a couple of miles into the walk. I have no idea if they are still there but thought it would be nice to take a look.

The first half of the walk also takes in the pretty source of the River Test (and its stunningly clear headwaters) and several places from the childhood of Jane Austen (see notes in the walk directions), including the isolated church where her father was the vicar. This is in fact the area she grew up in and whose social set-up shaped all her novels.

Otherwise this is typical upland Hampshire - rolling hills, some big arable fields, distant views of nothing in particular. Lunch is at a pleasant rural pub on the far side of the village of North Waltham, though if you are not having a pub lunch you can cut out this section of the walk altogether and eat your sandwiches in Steventon churchyard - this is the 8.6 mile version of the walk.

Tea in Overton used to be a hassle, with the Overton Gallery having only a few tables and closing at 5pm. But the revamp of the White Hart Hotel, Overton's largest pub, has solved that problem. It is now modern, cosy and - in an update to what it says in the walk directions - seems to serve food all afternoon on a Saturday now, so you can have that nice gooey pudding that you know you deserve.

Leave 30 minutes to walk (up a road, so doable in the dark) from the centre of Overton to the station. It is a 20 minute walk, but you don't want to miscalculate, as trains are only hourly - at 20 past the hour. There is absolutely nothing to do in the environs of the station if you miss the train, apart from contemplating the De La Rue banknote factory next door.

Ely Circular

Length: 18 km (11.2 miles). Toughness: 2/10

Catch the 9:42 from London Kings Cross arrives Ely 10:54. Fast return xx:17 until 22:17.

An easy walk that has been fully revised and expanded from the days when it was a basic map walk.
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The Price By Arthur Miller at Wyndham's Theatre

We are taking the advantage of 'Getting Into London Theatre 2019' special offer, with ticket prices £10, £20, £30 and £40.  To book this offer, please click here.  Alternatively, you can book with other theatre booking sites for regular offers.  Pre-theatre F&B at The Crypt, St Martin's in the Fields from 6:15pm.

The Price follows two brothers, Victor (Brendan Coyle - Mr Bates in Downton Abbey) and Walter Franz.  Victor is a New York cop approaching retirement; Walter, a successful surgeon. Having long since gone their separate ways, the two are reunited when they are called to sell their family furniture in the attic of a condemned New York brownstone.

But as they sift through the memories, revelation follows cutting relevation, and both brothers come to realise the true price they have paid over generations. Anchoring this psychological maelstrom, veteran appraiser Greogry Solomon (David Suchet - best known for portraying Agatha Christie' Hercule Poirot) secure the best possible price for the possessions – and in doing so overcome his own creeping demons.

A richly affecting play which mines Miller’s preoccupation with the perils of the American Dream, this new production is directed by Jonathan Church, and plays at Wyndham’s Theatre following a hugely acclaimed run at Theatre Royal Bath.

Wednesday Walk - Rolling Essex Countryside and historic Saffron Walden: Great Chesterford to Newport (Essex)

Length: 18.5 km (11.5 mi), Ascent/Descent: 174/153 m [shorter ending at Audley End]

Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours, Toughness: 3 out of 10

Take the 10.28 Cambridge North train from  Liverpool Street (Tottenham Hale [Victoria Line] 10.40), arrives Great Chesterford 11.35.

Return trains from Newport (Essex): xx.13, xx.43. Buy a Great Chesterford return.

Most Essex walks feature lines of pylons marching across enormous crop fields and this one is no exception. On the plus side, most of the farmland walking is along wide grassy field edges and there are pleasant interludes through small woods and river valleys to add variety.

The centrepiece of the walk is the historic market town of Saffron Walden. Originally called Chipping Walden, the town acquired its present name in the Middle Ages when it became the centre for the saffron crocus industry; the yellow pigment was used in cloth-making, food-colouring and medicine. The north-west corner of the town has retained many attractive medieval buildings with fine examples of pargeting, the East Anglian craft of decorating external plaster walls. You enter the town through the elegant Bridge End Garden and after lunch you could visit the Fry Art Gallery of works by local artists and the impressive church of St Mary the Virgin, the largest parish church in Essex. If you have time for a longer tour of the town you can see a notable Museum of local and natural history, the Norman ruins of Walden Castle and the largest surviving historic Turf Labyrinth in England.

Immediately after leaving the town the walk route goes through the spacious parkland surrounding Audley End. The house was adapted from the buildings of a Benedictine monastery (Walden Abbey) and since the Dissolution there have been many alterations by a succession of owners. Now one of Britain's finest stately homes, the mansion mostly dates from the 18^thC, with interior rooms designed by Robert Adam and parkland landscaped by Lancelot “Capability” Brown.

From Audley End the Main Walk route follows part of the Harcamlow Way, a long-distance walk linking Harlow and Cambridge; Newport is the crossover point of this unusual figure-of-eight walk. This large village acquired its (rather confusing) name at a time when “port” meant a town with market privileges.

Lunch: 5 pubs in Saffron Walden (8 km/5 mi), recommended is The Eight Bells (food to 15.00).

Tea: The White Horse in Newport, 10 mins from the station (open all day).

For walk directions, map, photos, height profile and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.130

Sunday Walk – An urban walk in the Lower Lea Valley

Sections 3-5 of the Lea Valley Walk – Tottenham Hale to Limehouse
Length: 12.7 km (7.9 miles). Toughness: 1/10

Take a Victoria line tube to arrive at Tottenham Hale by 11:25 and meet outside by the entrance to the mainline station, since east Londoners might find it more convenient to travel from Liverpool Street (Cheshunt trains at 11:10 and 11:12, arriving at 11:21/25). Tottenham Hale is in TFL Zone 3.

The published walk ends at Limehouse Basin. The nearest station is Limehouse (trains to Fenchurch Street or DLR to Tower Hill/Bank), but it's not far along the Thames Path to Wapping if you want to pick up a London Overground train.

A few months ago I saw a BBC TV programme about a chap walking these sections of the Lea Valley Walk. It's one of the Walk London routes which is well described and nicely presented on the Transport for London website so I thought it would be worth posting as a club walk. It's a riverside walk through a mostly urban environment, but with plenty of green spaces and interesting sites (Walthamstow and Hackney Marshes; the Olympic Park; Three Mills) to take in as well as “the ongoing transformation of the Lower Lea”. If you're feeling adventurous you could wander off-piste around any of these places.

The walk documents mention cafés and pubs at Lea Bridge (after an hour's walking), more cafés an hour later at Three Mills, and pubs at Limehouse Basin. No doubt there are plenty of other picnic spots and refreshment places en route. Unless someone with local knowledge would like to post a comment recommending a particular spot, I suggest stopping anywhere which looks appealing.

As always, there will be no leader for this walk. You'll need to go to the Lea Valley Walk page on the TfL site and download the directions for Sections 3, 4 & 5. T=LDP.28

Sunday Walk - 100,000 Starlings: Islip Circular

Length: 17.4 km (10.8 mi), Ascent/Descent: 165 m [longer and shorter options]

Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours, Toughness: 3 out of 10

Take the 09.35 Oxford train from Marylebone (High Wycombe 09.58, Bicester Village  10.20), arrives Islip 10.27.

Return trains from Islip: 15.18, 16.28 (via Oxford Parkway), 17.18, 19.18.

As Oxford Parkway has a more frequent service, an alternative finish there is described (and a fraction longer).

Return trains from Oxford Parkway: 15.15, 15.47, 16.17, 16.47, 17.15, 17.47, 18.17, 18.47.

This walk takes in a quiet area of pleasant rolling countryside north of Oxford, with rivers, fields, woods and a major RSPB wetland nature reserve, Otmoor, extremely popular with birdwatchers. The walk also visits some attractive villages and a couple of old churches with interesting features. Otmoor has literary connections, notably with Lewis Carroll.

There are approximately 90 different species of birds that currently breed at Otmoor and the winter months see an influx of wildfowl and raptors such as the Short-Eared Owl and the Peregrine. You could also be treated to the spectacular Starling roost in the reed bed. For the latest updates and photos from the volunteers at the reserve, click here. [Last year, when I led this for The Ramblers, the Facebook account promised 50,000 starlings. At the reserve itself, the blackboards called it 100,000 starlings. Hence the boast in the walk post’s subject line. Fingers crossed…]

Lunch: The Abingdon Arms in Beckley (8.0 km/5.0 mi, food to 14.00). Saved from closure by a Community-Buyout. 
Now a well-regarded gastro-pub and Sawday’s Community Pub Of The Year 2018! A table has been booked. 
Tea: The Red Lion in Islip (open 12.00-20.00).

For walk directions, map, photos, height profile and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.292