Silent walk

Newport Circular

Saturday walk - Tring to Berkhamsted by a completely new route

Walk 366: Tring to Berkhamsted by Toms Hill T=3.366

Length: 15.5km (9.6 miles)

Toughness: 4 out of 10

10.03 train from Euston to Tring, arriving at 10.49 *

or

9.40 train from Clapham Junction to Watford Junction, arriving 10.20, to connect to the above train, departing WJ at 10.26

* Just missed the train at Euston? Get the 10.24, arriving Tring at 10.57

Buy a day return to Tring

*** Please meet outside Tring station (turn left on the footbridge), where we will rapidly split into groups of no more than six 

For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.

Back in the hot hazy days of summer, the midweek walkers debuted this walk, which takes a quite different route from any other Tring to Berkhamsted walks you may have done. It initially follows the Grand Union Canal, and then goes up into the woods of the Ashridge Estate. Famous last words, but I remember lots of firm-under-foot tracks on this section, overtopped by arching beeches, and I thought then what a good autumn leaf colour walk this would make.

A pub lunch, for those inclined or permitted to do such things, can be had at the Bridgewater Arms, the familiar lunch stop on the other Tring walks. In the afternoon you then get a close-up view of Ashridge College, the former grand mansion of the estate, and discover some WW1 training trenches in the woods. Descent to Berkhamsted is by a ridge with fine views (again, different from the one used by the book one walk). For tea, Berkhamsted has canalside pubs, or cafes in the High Street where you can get takeaways, if no outdoor seating is available.

Trains back from Berkhamsted are at 01, 24 (but 16.26), 30 and 46 past, taking 35 to 40 minutes

For Clapham Junction the easiest train is the 30 past, with a five minute change at Harrow and Wealdstone, taking 1hr 02 minutes. Otherwise the 01 past takes 1hr 09/12 minutes, with changes at Wembley Central and Willesden Junction.

Wendover Circular with Coombe Hill Finish

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Length: 18km / 11m
Toughness: 7 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:27 from London Marylebone arriving in Wendover at 10:15. Returns at xx:23 and xx:53

A classic Chilterns walk in hopefully riotous autumn colours.

Saturday Walk - Ancient Forests and Heathlands: Bentley to Farnham

Length: 26.0 km/16.2 mi [shorter options available, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 416/429m

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours

Toughness: 7 out of 10 

 

Take the 09.00  Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo, change at Woking onto the 08.54 stopping service from Waterloo to Alton (09.24/09.30). 

That train calls Clapham J at 09.01. Train arrives Bentley at 10.02. Buy a Bentley (Hampshire) return. 

Return trains  from Farnham are on xx.28 and xx.58 (direct). There is also a xx.04, changing at Guildford. 

 

This is a varied walk on the Hampshire/Surrey border, incorporating ancient forests (Alice Holt Forest, Farnham Heath and Bourne Wood), some large and popular heathlands on Frensham Common (with several large ponds, one of which has dedicated swimming areas, and the Devil's Jumps) and the more remote Hankley Common, a large Scots Pine and heather-covered area including the heathland ridges of Kettlebury Hill and Yagden Hill, which make for some very scenic views. 

On Hankley Common you have an opportunity to explore a D-Day training site with a replica section of The Atlantic Wall and assorted other defensive structures. From the picturesque village of Tilford, north of Hankley Common, with its pub and cricket pitch on the green you follow quiet woodland paths and lanes (with the occasional steep ascent) to Farnham.

 

Walk Options:

Bus 19 (Haslemere to Aldershot via Farnham, hourly Mon-Sat) to/from Great Pond Car Park (after 9.1 km of walking) enables a very short walk or a late start or a circular or a ‘Lasso’-style route. 

A Shortcut from Frensham Little Pond to Tilford cuts out the Flashes area of Frensham Common with the Devil’s Jumps and all of Hankley Common. [cuts 6.8 km/4.2 mi and 136m ascent, rated 4/10]. 

An Alternative Ending from Tilford along the Greensand Way and the River Wey cuts some steep ascents.

 

Lunch: Several options for elevenses  (see the pdf) plus two principal pub stops. 

They are the Bel and the Dragon in Churt (13.7 km/8.5 mi, food served to 17.00) or The Barley Mow in Tilford (12.6 km/7.8 mi into the short walk, food served to 15.00). 

Tea: a café en route along the short walk, a pub and a village store in Tilford on all options, plus three pubs in Farnham at the end. See the pdf for details. 

 

For  walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.184

Wednesday Walk Ockley to Warnham - a woodland walk between Surrey and Sussex

Book 1 Walk 47 - Ockley to Warnham

Length: 16.5 km (10.3  miles)

Toughness: 3 out of 10

London Victoria: 10-25 hrs     Southern service to Horsham    CJ 10-32 hrs,   Sutton 10-54 hrs

Arrive Ockley: 11-33 hrs

Return

Warnham to Victoria:   direct service at 18 mins past hour.  Service via Horsham at 39 mins past hour

Rail ticket:  buy an off-peak day return to Warnham if you know you will be on a direct service train back to London. An off-peak day return to Horsham any route permitted will give you the option of two trains  an hour back to London.  Your choice.

This is a lovely walk in a quiet part of Surrey through mostly woodland which towards walk-end takes you over the county border through more woods into Sussex. The start of autumn leaf colour in the oak and beech woods en route should be underway by now to add to your enjoyment of this walk.

For those planning to dine alone or outdoors at a pub, you have a couple of good country pubs to choose from - full details in the Directions. But in these partial Covid lockdown times it is probably more practical to bring a picnic with you.  Similarly, at walk-end, rather than dropping in at the comfy Sussex Oak pub for tea, and be Covid compliant, it might be less of a hassle to purchase a drink at the village store in Warnham, near the church.  If you do stop for tea, please allow at least 20 minutes to walk to the railway station some 1.3 km from the Sussex Oak.

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Your walk directions are here: L=1.47

Sunday Walk Little Kimble to Saunderton

Little Kimble to Saunderton walk

Length: 17km (10.6 miles). 5 hours.

Difficulty 4 out of 10

This is a gentle Chilterns walk, with lots of fine beech woods, which hopefully, will be showing their autumn colours. The walk also has open stretches and a number of fine views.

Trains: Take the 10:05 train from Marylebone arriving at Little Kimble 11.08. Return trains from Saunderton are at xx:51 and xx:54. The latter is a slower train. Buy a return to Little Kimble.

On arrival, set off in groups of six or less, allowing gaps between each departure. You will be asked to provide your email address for contact tracing purposes. In the event that you develop COVID symptoms in the week following the walk, please email swc.wanderer@gmail.com  Your contact details will not be shared with anyone.

Lunch: The Pink and Lily Pink Road, Parslows Hillock, HP27 0RJ (01494 489857). Food served noon - 2.30pm on Sunday. Located 7.5 km from the start of the walk, this is the suggested lunch stop.

The Plough Cadsden Road, Lower Cadsden HP27 0NB (01844 343302) Food served noon - 2.30pm Sun) Located 3 km from the start of the walk, this is an earlier possible lunch stop. 

The Whip Inn Pink Road, Lacey Green, HP27 0PG (01844 344060) Food served noon – 14.30. Their website is not working but there are recent reviews on the web. This pub is off route, about a mile down the road from the Pink and Lily but you could follow the Chilterns Way or plot a shorter route to get back on track.

Tea: The Golden Cross Wycombe Road, Saunderton, HP14 4HU (tel 01494 565974). Open all day. This is the suggested tea stop.

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Saturday Walk Amberley to Arundel - the South Downs Way, the village of Burpham, the River Arun and Arundel Park

Amberley to Arundel

Opening leg of Book 2 Walk 22 then switching to reverse of Book 1 Walk 32

Length: 17 km (10.6 miles)        Lots of options to go longer or shorter

Toughness: 6.5 out of 10

London Victoria: 09-35 hrs    Southern service to Bognor and Southampton Central   CJ 09-42; EC 09-53 hrs

Arrive Amberley: 10-57 hrs

Return

Arundel to Victoria: 13 and 45 mins past the hour

Rail ticket   Buy an off-peak day return to Arundel

Please see - and comply with - our Covid Rules

This mix-and-match walk combines (arguably) the best bits of two of our popular walks in the area. Leaving Amberley railway station we start by following the directions in the Book 2 walk up High Titten (road) and skirt by Downs Farm to proceed along the South Downs on a section of the South Downs Way more-or-less all the way to the village of Burpham, the suggested place to stop for your picnic: there are benches outside the church, opposite the pub, and also in the nearby cricket ground. Said pub, The George has a number of outside tables for dining if it is warm enough on the day: bring some extra layers if you plan to have a pub lunch here - the food is usually very good.

After lunch we switch to the Book 1 walk - in reverse - which takes us beside the River Arun  then along a pleasant woodland path above the river before we enter the grounds of the Duke of Norfolk's modest back garden - Arundel Park. Up some steep paths to then enjoy a lovely view as we descend through parkland before leaving the park and entering the town. You should have time to visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral but not the Castle today. Drop down the road through the centre of Arundel, where you should find some pubs and a tea shop open for post walk refreshments. It is a fifteen plus minute walk from the town centre to the railway station. 

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Walk Directions Book 2 walk here: L=2.22  and the Book 1 walk here

A Wander around Wadhurst

Book 2 Walk 18: Wadhurst Circular (or long walk to Robertsbridge) t=2.18

Distance:  Something for everyone:

Main walk:  11.8 miles/ 19.0 km

Short Walk:  6.2 miles/ 10.0 km

Long walk to Robertsbridge: 21.4 miles/ 34.5 km

Difficulty:  4 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:15 AM Southeastern Hastings bound train from London Charing Cross (9:18 Waterloo East; 9:24 London Bridge; 9:40 Orpington) to Wadhurst, arriving 10:19.  Return trains from Wadhust are on the hour and 29 minutes past the hour and from Robertsbridge at 14 and 44 past the hour.  Buy a day return to Wadhurst – unless walking to Robertsbridge, in which case, Robertsbridge. 

This is a lovely high weald walk through rolling hills with lots of woods which should be showing some nice color…hopefully before becoming too muddy……There are at least three options – the main route, plus a long and a short option…..More information and the walk instructions can be found here.

There ae plenty of places along the route for a picnic….

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday Walk: Pluckley to Ashford or Hamstreet on the Greensand Way

Pluckley to Hamstreet - 16 miles

Pluckley to Ashford - 10 miles

This is the only section of the Greensand Way that I haven't yet walked.  It starts in familiar territory through Pluckley village and Little Chart, before heading out to Hothfield Common and Hothfield Bogs, passing by Godinton House and Park, for a lunch stop at Great Chart.  From here you can follow the River Stour into Ashford, or continue along the Greensand Way as it skirts round Ashford to Kingsnorth before heading off south to its finish at Hamstreet.

Some useful places along the way:

Great Chart - 8 miles - Swan and Dog, food all day.  No 2 bus to Ashford: 13:56  16:09.   2 miles walk to Ashford station along the link route (Stour Valley Walk).

Kingsnorth - 11.2 miles - Queens Head, food til 14:45.  No 2a bus to Ashford:   14:57  17:36  18:24.

Hamstreet - 16 miles - official end of the Greensand Way. The Dukes Head in the village centre looks like the only option for refreshments.

Walk Directions/Maps

You will need a map for this walk.  The route is shown on Ordnance Survey maps, or Kent County Council have a nice booklet to download with OS maps, walk instructions and some information about the places on the way.  If using this booklet, take the link route shown from Pluckley station to Pluckley village and start at Chapter 3.3, in section G, by turning left after St Mary's Church.

Explore Kent - Greensand Way booklet

Train Times:

Outward: Charing Cross 9:10, London Bridge 9:19, Pluckley 10:20.  Or St Pancras 9:10, Pluckley 10:08 (change at Ashford).

Return: Frequent from Ashford.  Hamstreet xx:02.

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Last of the Summer Evening Walks - Thames Path: Canary Wharf to Tower Hill or Cannon Street (map-led)

In reverse, to have dinner options at St. Katherine Dock: Docklands via Limehouse and Wapping to the City
Note: London is now a Tier 2 Area: no mixed households indoors.

Length: 5.7 km (Tower Hill finish) or 7.1 km (Cannon Street finish)

Ascent/Descent: negligible

Net Walking Time: ca. 1 ¼ hours or 1 ½ hour

Toughness: 1 out of 10 

 

Meet at 18.30  hours outside Canary Wharf Underground Station’s westerly exit (signed for Bank Street and Heron Quays & Canary Wharf DLR Stations), at street level!

 

Here’s the blurb for the original walk in easterly direction:

“An easy amble following the Thames Path between Cannon Street and Canary Wharf, passing through historic Wapping. Along the way, the route passes three historic pubs – two of which claim to be the oldest riverside pub in London – you decide which has the best claim. Instructions are hardly required for this route – simply keep the river to your right – though occasionally the Thames Path leaves the riverside….” 

 

Dropout: Wapping Overground (3.5 km) 

 

For  walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.28.a

Wednesday Walk Wendover Circular via The Lee and Swan Bottom - a fairly energetic walk through the Chiltern Hills and its woods

SWC 140 - Wendover Circular via the Lee and Swan Bottom

Length: 20.2 km (12.6 miles)    Options to shorten by 3.2 miles before lunch, and 1.1 mile after lunch

Toughness: 6 out of 10              Lots of ups and downs to remove the cobwebs

London Marylebone: 09-56 hrs       Chiltern service to Aylesbury Vale Parkway

Arrive Wendover:  10-45 hrs

Return     16-23, 16-36, 16-53, 17-20, 17-55, 18-26, 18-52 and 19-23 hrs

Please see - and comply with - our Covid Rules and Track and Trace - and practise Hands-Face-Space 

Our last longer walk of the season before clocks go back to GMT. The rewards for the ups and downs are some good views from vantage points, and hopefully some good autumn leaf colour in the many woods which we walk through. 

The first pub which we pass today is the Cock & Rabbit Inn at The Lee. I leave it to individual walkers to call in if you are comfortable having a drink or dining under latest Covid guidelines and directives, which prohibit mixed households from meeting indoors - and applies to Londoners,  now in a Tier 2 area - even though we are walking in a Tier 1 area.  The later pub option on this walk, the charming Old Swan at Swan Bottom, is not serving food during Covid-19 times, nor does it open weekdays for a tincture until 6 pm, but its location Swan Bottom makes for a good place for picnickers to stop for lunch.

On arriving back in Wendover after today's exertions, you have Wendover's usual suspects for tea - again, having regard to latest Covid guidelines and directives. Individual chocoholics make for Rumseys whilst the rest of us usually head for the Shoulder of Mutton pub, despite its more than strict Covid rules which are a bit intimidating.

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Walk Directions are here: L=swc.140