Wadhurst to Tunbridge Wells
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Length: 13¾ km (8.5 miles). Three hours 30 minutes walking time.
"The first part of the walk is along the Sussex Border Path, a long-distance east-west route which here includes open ridges with fine views, interspersed with short sections across streams in wooded valleys.
On the other side of the A267 the scene changes to the landscaped parkland of the Nevill Estate's Eridge Old Park, where the colours on the mature beech trees are particularly attractive in late autumn. A permissive path along its eastern boundary takes you to a lunch stop in the elegant hill-top village of Frant, dominated by its large triangular green.
On the short afternoon section you soon reach the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells, where a relatively traffic-free route along back streets and quiet alleys takes you down to its High Street.
Trains: Get the 1015 Hastings train from Charing Cross, London Bridge 1022, arriving Wadhurst at 1119. Frequent return trains from Tunbridge Wells. There are advance tickets available if you know your return train.
Lunch: The suggested lunchtime pub is the popular George Inn (01892-750350) in Frant village, after 8¼ km; it serves excellent home-made food, up to 2.30pm daily. If this is too busy there is a good alternative on the main road through the village: the Abergavenny Arms (01892-750233) serves food all day.
Tea: Many places with Juliets (closes 5pm ) being the recommended one.
Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Sunday, 27 October 2019
Sunday Walk: Chipstead to Kingswood
Chipstead to Kingswood
Length: 15.5km (9.6 miles) Toughness: 5/10
09:54 Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge, calling at numerous stations in south London and north-east Surrey, including East Croydon 10:26), arriving at Chipstead at 10.52.
Or 09:55 Brighton train from Victoria, changing at East Croydon (arr 1014; dep10:26) on to the Tattenham Corner train from platform 6, to arrive at Chipstead at 10.52.
Return trains from Kingswood to London Bridge, are at xx:27 and xx:57 (journey time 65 mins). Change at East Croydon for Victoria.
All stations on the Tattenham Corner line are within zone 6, so use your Oyster card or buy a one-day off-peak Travelcard.
Just outside the London boundary, this undulating walk takes in a varied landscape of ancient woodland, open downs and farmland. The trees in Banstead Woods in particular should be showing fine autumn colours. Short cut options are available both in the morning and in the afternoon, saving 2km and 5km respectively.
The suggested lunch pub is the Well House Inn (01737 830640) at Mugswell, halfway through the walk.
You will need to download the Walk Directions
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Length: 15.5km (9.6 miles) Toughness: 5/10
09:54 Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge, calling at numerous stations in south London and north-east Surrey, including East Croydon 10:26), arriving at Chipstead at 10.52.
Or 09:55 Brighton train from Victoria, changing at East Croydon (arr 1014; dep10:26) on to the Tattenham Corner train from platform 6, to arrive at Chipstead at 10.52.
Return trains from Kingswood to London Bridge, are at xx:27 and xx:57 (journey time 65 mins). Change at East Croydon for Victoria.
All stations on the Tattenham Corner line are within zone 6, so use your Oyster card or buy a one-day off-peak Travelcard.
Just outside the London boundary, this undulating walk takes in a varied landscape of ancient woodland, open downs and farmland. The trees in Banstead Woods in particular should be showing fine autumn colours. Short cut options are available both in the morning and in the afternoon, saving 2km and 5km respectively.
The suggested lunch pub is the Well House Inn (01737 830640) at Mugswell, halfway through the walk.
You will need to download the Walk Directions
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Sunday Walk: A long pier, a tall tower, sea marshes and a sand spit
Walton-on-the-Naze Circular
Length: 13.8km (8.6 miles) Toughness: 1/10
09:32 Clacton-on-Sea train from Liverpool Street (Stratford 09:39) changing at Thorpe-le-Soken (arr 11:00; dep 11:02) to arrive at Walton-on-the-Naze at 11:14. After an extra hour in bed this morning, a train at 09:30 shouldn’t feel too early.
Return trains are at xx:29 (journey time 1hr 43 mins).
If you decide before Sunday which return train you intend catching, the cheapest fare option is an Advance single each way, bought online or at a station (£10 out, £10-£15 back depending on time chosen). Otherwise buy a Super Off-Peak Return (£33.90). Railcard discounts apply to all fares.
Believe it or not, this is the first weekend outing for this interesting coastal walk that was launched almost ten years ago! It takes you from the faded grandeur of a Victorian seaside resort with a half-mile pier, to a wild, rapidly-eroding headland, a long sand spit and salt marshes with a nature reserve. Stone Point, at the end of the spit, is not accessible at high tide, which today is at 10:42 so, to give the ebbing tide time to recede, you may wish to walk to the end of the pier on arrival in Walton before walking out along the cliffs and back along the beach or the nature reserve’s sea wall.
The walk directions are rudimentary, and a map & compass are recommended, but you can’t really go wrong if you stick to the cliffs, beach and sea wall. There is an option to extend the walk to Frinton-on-Sea by continuing southward along the coast when you get back to Walton, making a walk of 16.3km (10.1 miles)
Pubs will be found only in Walton itself, but the 86-foot Naze Tower with viewing platform and art gallery, situated on the headland, has tea rooms that serve hot and cold lunches and snacks.
You can download the Walk Directions, such as they are.
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Length: 13.8km (8.6 miles) Toughness: 1/10
09:32 Clacton-on-Sea train from Liverpool Street (Stratford 09:39) changing at Thorpe-le-Soken (arr 11:00; dep 11:02) to arrive at Walton-on-the-Naze at 11:14. After an extra hour in bed this morning, a train at 09:30 shouldn’t feel too early.
Return trains are at xx:29 (journey time 1hr 43 mins).
If you decide before Sunday which return train you intend catching, the cheapest fare option is an Advance single each way, bought online or at a station (£10 out, £10-£15 back depending on time chosen). Otherwise buy a Super Off-Peak Return (£33.90). Railcard discounts apply to all fares.
Believe it or not, this is the first weekend outing for this interesting coastal walk that was launched almost ten years ago! It takes you from the faded grandeur of a Victorian seaside resort with a half-mile pier, to a wild, rapidly-eroding headland, a long sand spit and salt marshes with a nature reserve. Stone Point, at the end of the spit, is not accessible at high tide, which today is at 10:42 so, to give the ebbing tide time to recede, you may wish to walk to the end of the pier on arrival in Walton before walking out along the cliffs and back along the beach or the nature reserve’s sea wall.
The walk directions are rudimentary, and a map & compass are recommended, but you can’t really go wrong if you stick to the cliffs, beach and sea wall. There is an option to extend the walk to Frinton-on-Sea by continuing southward along the coast when you get back to Walton, making a walk of 16.3km (10.1 miles)
Pubs will be found only in Walton itself, but the 86-foot Naze Tower with viewing platform and art gallery, situated on the headland, has tea rooms that serve hot and cold lunches and snacks.
You can download the Walk Directions, such as they are.
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Saturday, 26 October 2019
Saturday Walk Woldingham to Oxted
Woldingham to Oxted
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Length: 16¾ km (10.4 miles). Toughness 5/10.
"This walk is only just outside the London boundary and yet the first part with a steady climb up the side of the valley into Marden Park Woods feels completely rural. In these woods the route joins the North Downs Way and heads west on an undulating stretch, still mostly through woodland. This section ends at a fine viewpoint on Gravelly Hill, a potential picnic spot.
The walk then descends from the North Downs ridge into the attractive village of Godstone, which features a large green and a good choice of places for lunch. The afternoon route mostly follows the Greensand Way, heading east from to Oxted. This section is quite different in character: a more open landscape dotted with small settlements, including one with a magnificent ancient tree in its churchyard, the Tandridge Yew."
Trains: Get the 0950 East Grinstead train from Victoria, Clapham 0957, East Croydon 1010 arriving Woldingham at 1026. Return trains are: xx23 & xx53 to Victoria & xx20 to London Bridge.
Lunch: Godstone, 9½ km along the main route. The Hare & Hounds (01883-742296) serves typical pub food; the more up-market alternatives are the White Hart (01883-742521) and the Bell Inn (01883-743216). Light lunches are available at the Green Rooms of Godstone
Tea: Various options in Oxted, including a pub by the station.
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Length: 16¾ km (10.4 miles). Toughness 5/10.
"This walk is only just outside the London boundary and yet the first part with a steady climb up the side of the valley into Marden Park Woods feels completely rural. In these woods the route joins the North Downs Way and heads west on an undulating stretch, still mostly through woodland. This section ends at a fine viewpoint on Gravelly Hill, a potential picnic spot.
The walk then descends from the North Downs ridge into the attractive village of Godstone, which features a large green and a good choice of places for lunch. The afternoon route mostly follows the Greensand Way, heading east from to Oxted. This section is quite different in character: a more open landscape dotted with small settlements, including one with a magnificent ancient tree in its churchyard, the Tandridge Yew."
Trains: Get the 0950 East Grinstead train from Victoria, Clapham 0957, East Croydon 1010 arriving Woldingham at 1026. Return trains are: xx23 & xx53 to Victoria & xx20 to London Bridge.
Lunch: Godstone, 9½ km along the main route. The Hare & Hounds (01883-742296) serves typical pub food; the more up-market alternatives are the White Hart (01883-742521) and the Bell Inn (01883-743216). Light lunches are available at the Green Rooms of Godstone
Tea: Various options in Oxted, including a pub by the station.
Saturday Walk - Leaf Colours (finally?): Wendover to Great Missenden
Length: 21.6 km (13.4 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 360 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5
hours
Toughness: 6 out of 10
or
Length: 16.4 km (10.2 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 290 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4
hours
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Take the 09.27 train
from Marylebone to Aylesbury (Harrow-on-the-Hill 09.39, Rickmansworth
09.49 etc.), arrives Wendover 10.15, for the full walk.
Or the 09.57 Aylesbury
Vale Parkway service, if walking the short version.
Return trains: xx.29
and xx.59 hours (51 minutes journey time). Buy a Wendover return
ticket.
This fairly energetic walk combines some of the
finest elements of the Chiltern Hills, while having very little overlap with
other walks in the area. After leaving Wendover in a south easterly direction
on the Ridgeway the walk rises into woods. It then passes along fields to get
to the picturesque green in The Lee, a conservation area village. From there it
continues through woodland and the beautiful Lee Common to a 16th
century lunch pub at Swan Bottom. The afternoon offers constantly changing
scenery. It completely avoids settlements and roads, mostly following grassy
fields, while still passing through a variety of varied and characterful woods.
Several beautiful valleys are crossed in between and the finish is a scenic
descent into Great Missenden.
Lunch: Cock and Rabbit Inn with its reassuringly (or frighteningly, depending on your perspective)
traditional Graziemille Restaurant (7.3 km/4.6 mi) or The Old Swan
in Swan Bottom (10.0 km/6.2 mi, food to 14.30). It is advisable to book
ahead for the latter.
Tea: Cafe Twit, Origins Winebar at The White Lion, Cross Keys (pub), Matilda's
(Coffee Shop), Pantry on Platform
1…
For walk directions, map, height
profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. t=swc.140.a
Saturday walk - Cuxton Circular - North Downs views and beech woods
Length: 17.3km (10.7 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 T=3.173
9.18 Thameslink train from London Bridge* to Strood, arriving 10.24, changing there for the 10.34 to Cuxton, arriving 10.38
* This train also calls at St Pancras Thameslink at 9.02, Greenwich 9.27
OR
9.55 Southeastern High Speed train from St Pancras International to Strood, arriving 10.28, to connect with the Cuxton train as above.
For walk directions click here. For GPX click here. For a map of the route click here.
According to the dusty tomes of the SWC archives this walk has not had an outing since April 2017. The sharp-eyed among you will notice that the main walk ending is in Halling, but I think at this time of year the Cuxton ending is preferable, since it goes along a lovely ridge of beech woods. It would be a brave man who predicted significant leaf colour on this, since autumn colour seems to be dragging its heels a bit this year, but there may be a bit.
Otherwise this walk includes some pleasant downland views, a mausoleum in the middle of the ancient estate, and the village of Cobham for lunch, where there are three possible lunch pubs (the Leather Bottle making rather too much of its very slight Dickens connections, but otherwise quite nice). The ancient tombs in Cobham church are also worth a glance.
Your tea stop is the White Hart in Cuxton, which is very handy for the station. It serves a full range of hot drinks and food all afternoon ("please ask about today's selection of delicious desserts"), and promises "roaring fires".
Trains back from Cuxton are at 22 and 52 past, arriving at Strood at 26 and 56 past, connecting there with:
- 32 and 02 past Southeastern High Speed trains to St Pancras (34 minutes)
- 45 and 15 past trains to London Bridge (1 hr 9 minutes) and on to St Pancras Thameslink: these trains also call at Greenwich, so the 17.22 from Cuxton = 17.45 from Strood would get you to Greenwich at 18.47
Toughness: 6 out of 10 T=3.173
9.18 Thameslink train from London Bridge* to Strood, arriving 10.24, changing there for the 10.34 to Cuxton, arriving 10.38
* This train also calls at St Pancras Thameslink at 9.02, Greenwich 9.27
OR
9.55 Southeastern High Speed train from St Pancras International to Strood, arriving 10.28, to connect with the Cuxton train as above.
For walk directions click here. For GPX click here. For a map of the route click here.
According to the dusty tomes of the SWC archives this walk has not had an outing since April 2017. The sharp-eyed among you will notice that the main walk ending is in Halling, but I think at this time of year the Cuxton ending is preferable, since it goes along a lovely ridge of beech woods. It would be a brave man who predicted significant leaf colour on this, since autumn colour seems to be dragging its heels a bit this year, but there may be a bit.
Otherwise this walk includes some pleasant downland views, a mausoleum in the middle of the ancient estate, and the village of Cobham for lunch, where there are three possible lunch pubs (the Leather Bottle making rather too much of its very slight Dickens connections, but otherwise quite nice). The ancient tombs in Cobham church are also worth a glance.
Your tea stop is the White Hart in Cuxton, which is very handy for the station. It serves a full range of hot drinks and food all afternoon ("please ask about today's selection of delicious desserts"), and promises "roaring fires".
Trains back from Cuxton are at 22 and 52 past, arriving at Strood at 26 and 56 past, connecting there with:
- 32 and 02 past Southeastern High Speed trains to St Pancras (34 minutes)
- 45 and 15 past trains to London Bridge (1 hr 9 minutes) and on to St Pancras Thameslink: these trains also call at Greenwich, so the 17.22 from Cuxton = 17.45 from Strood would get you to Greenwich at 18.47
Thursday, 24 October 2019
Evening Walk - Thames Path: London Bridge to Greenwich (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Deptford)
Length:
10.0 km (6.2 mi)
Net
Walking Time: 2 ½ hrs
Meet:
main Tooley
Street exit of London Bridge Mainline Station, opposite Hay’s Galleria (i.e.
not the tube station exit) at 18.15 hours.
Finish is at Cutty Sark
DLR or at Greenwich Mainline station.
Drop-out
points just off route: plenty of bus stops, Bermondsey Underground, Rotherhithe and
Surrey Quays Overground, Deptford Mainline.
This
walk along the Thames Path passes the HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge and riverside
pubs and restaurants. It then changes, as you leave the touristy section, and
becomes quieter in nature, passing through residential areas with reminders of
the areas’ industrial heritage, Dickensian in places. The contrast between the
modern apartment blocks with riverside frontages, and the LCC 1920s blocks of
flats on the other side of the road (away from the riverfront) is of interest
to sociologists. 80% of the walk is along riverside paths (with views back to
the City), 20% consists of short detours around riverfront buildings. It ends
in Royal Greenwich. Throughout there are views across the Thames.
Navigation
is easy - keep the river on your left-hand-side and follow Thames Path
signposts and discs.
Eat/Drink:
lots
of choice en route and in Greenwich.
For
walk directions,
map, photos, and gpx/kml files click here.
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