Monday Walk – Godstone to Oxted (with Short Afternoon Options)

Extra Walk 277 – Godstone to Oxted (with Short Walk Options)

Length: Main Walk: 17¾ km (11.0 miles). Toughness 4 out of 10. 

Short Walk Options: 

1. Main Walk, omitting Tandridge 14½ km (8.7 miles). 

2. Main Walk, finishing in Hurst Green 13 km (7.8 miles)

10:15 (Thameslink) Brighton train from London Bridge, changing at Redhill (arr 10.42, dep 11.00) for the (Southern) Tonbridge train, arriving at 11:10. The start and finish stations are on different lines but a return to Edenbridge Stations via East Croydon is valid on the return journey from Oxted or Hurst Green as well as the outward journey to Godstone via Redhill.

Return trains: From Oxted at xx:20 to London Bridge and at xx:23 and xx:53 to Victoria. From Hurst Green xx:16 to London Bridge and xx:20, xx:50 to Victoria

This route allows the group to walk together for most of the walk, since the shorter options would be taken about half way along the afternoon stretch.

It's mostly through low-lying farmland with occasional stretches of woodland in the valley of the River Eden, with good views from the low hills to the south of the river and the Greensand Ridge to the north. Along the main route, you can compare two of the largest British yew trees (the Crowhurst and Tandridge Yews), each at least 1,000 years old, although the two shorter endings both miss out the Tandridge Yew.

You reach the Royal Oak (01883-722207) on the edge of Staffhurst Wood, after 8¾ km. It has an attractive garden with fine views across the Low Weald. It appears to be open and is popular so it would be wise to call ahead/make a booking.

There are various options for tea on the Main Walk and Short Walk Option 1 (see the walk directions for details). If doing Short Walk Option 2, there's nothing near Hurst Green station but you could take the train 1 stop to Oxted and visit the Wetherspoons pub or one of the several cafés and coffee shops there.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.277 page.

Monday Walk - Hitchin Circular

Hitchin Circular T=swc.234

Length: 14.3 miles (23km) 5 out of 10  (with the shortcut ending)

Somewhere the Bank Holiday crowds might not go?

"This Hertfordshire walk covers the hilly area west of Hitchin. The morning route leads along farm tracks, field boundaries, shaded grassy lanes and through a few woods across the most north easterly ridge of the Chilterns, in Great Offley, to the steep chalk downlands of Pegsdon Hills and Knocking Hoe, dissected by quiet flat-bottomed valleys, which form the scenery around the lunch stop in Pegsdon.

From Knocking Hoe the ancient Icknield Way leads to the pretty village of Pirton, with its impressive remains of a motte-and-double bailey castle and traces of an abandoned medieval village."

Hitchin Circular
Trains: Get the 0931 Thameslink Peterborough train from London Bridge  ( 0945 St Pancras - this is a train from Horsham, so there are multiple other joining points) arriving Hitchin 1019. Frequent return trains.

Lunch: The Live and let Live seems to have changed into The View, with a pretentious website to match. The kitchen is closed Mondays, so best plan for a picnic on the hill and afternoon drink in the Motte and Bailey in the next village if doing the full walk.

Tea: Plentiful choice in Hitchin

Sunday walk - Pulborough Circular

Pulborough circular walk

Length: Main walk: 13 miles (21km) . Alternative Walk, finishing in Amberley: 18¼ km (11.3 miles).

             Short Walk, starting in Amberley: 16 km (9.9 miles). 

Toughness: 4 out of 10

 

Trains: London Victoria: 9.35 Portsmouth Hbr train, (CJ 9.42, EC 9.56) arrive Pulborough 10.51. 

London Bridge: 9.36 Brighton train, change at East Croydon to the Portsmouth Hbr  

             train departing 9.56 from platform 3.

Return trains from Amberley xx:58, Pulborough xx:04. Buy a return to Amberley if you 

wish to keep your options open – same fare as Pulborough.

This walk climbs gently at first to give a panoramic view of the South Downs from the low hills above Pulborough, where it joins the Wey-South Path. This goes past two medieval bridges on the canalised River Arun  and continues across the extensive water meadows of Amberley Wildbrooks to the picturesque village of Amberley. After lunch the walk heads eastwards through the landscaped grounds of Parham Park, with its large herd of dark-coated fallow deer and views of Parham House. In the next section you go along the edge of Parham Airfield. You then have the opportunity to spend some time bird-watching in the RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve at Wiggonholt, which has a tearoom in its Visitor Centre, before a final stretch across the water meadows and alongside the River Arun back to Pulborough. Lunch: There are two pubs in Amberley, after 8½–9 km on the main walk. In the village the Black Horse (01798-831183) and the Sportsman (01798-831787), a pub with fine views over the water meadows from its terrace. Tea: The RSPB Visitor Centre (01798-875851) at Pulborough Brooks is conveniently situated for a mid-afternoon break - open until about 4.30pm. The Little Bean Café in Pulborough (01798-874777)  closes 4pm Sun. It’s on Lower Street at the point where the route enters the village, about 1½ km from the station. Other options for lunch and tea can be found in the directions here T=swc.14

 

Saturday Walk - Little Kimble to Saunderton

Little Kimble to Saunderton T=swc.10

Length:  10.6 miles (17km) 4 out of 10 (some comments say 5)

"This is the Chilterns, showing all the characteristics of this range of hills. In particular, there are lots of fine beech woods on the walk, The walk is not all wooded, however, and has some good open stretches and a number of fine views. Though the terrain is undulating, gradients are in general not taxing. 

There are a couple of sections through woodland, where in the absence of other distinguishing landmarks, having a compass will help."

Trains: Get the 0953 Aylesbury train from Marylebone arriving Little Kimble 1106 There is a 1000 with a change at High Wycombe, but it has a warning of being very busy. Return trains are xx57. There may be an option to change at High Wycombe for a faster train coming from Birmingham. Buy a Little Kimble return.

Lunch: The Pink and Lily (01494 489857). Food served noon - 2.30pm. Located 5 miles, 7.5 km from the start of the walk, 

Tea: The Golden Cross by Saunderton Station

Saturday walk Wye Circular - the Crundale Downs and Great Stour River - and an oddball pub as a lunch stop option

Book 1, Walk 53 - Wye Circular

Length: 18.1 km (11.2 miles)   Option to shorten by 2 km, or extend by 4.7 km for additional lunch pub options

Toughness: 7 out of 10     Several good ups and downs to keep you honest

Either

London St Pancras:  10-12 hrs   Southeastern High Speed service to Margate

Arrive Ashford International:  10-50 hrs   Change trains

Leave Ashford International:   11-05 hrs   on Southeastern stopping service from Victoria to Ramsgate

Arrive Wye:  11-11 hrs

Or

London Victoria: 09-25 hrs  Southeastern stopping service to Ramsgate     Bromley South  09-42,   Ashford International 11-05 hrs

Arrive Wye: 11-11 hrs

Or (if you wish to risk a tight change at Ashford International) 

London Charing Cross:  09-40 hrs   Southeastern fast service to Ramsgate      London Bridge  09-49

Arrive Ashford International: : 11-00 hrs     Change trains

Leave Ashford International:  11-05 hrs    on Southeastern stopping service from Victoria to Ramsgate

Arrive Wye:  11-11 hrs 

Return:   Wye to Victoria:    20 mins past the hour     Change at Ashford International for St Pancras or Charing Cross

Rail ticket:  if travelling from or back to St Pancras make sure your ticket includes the High Speed supplement

In the original TO Book walk 53 was added for use when engineering work prevented the posting of one of the 52 walks in the annual rota. But so popular became walk 53 that it enjoys far more outings than was originally intended - for emergencies only. 

When the original lunch pub in Sole Street, the Compasses changed from being a good country pub to being a rather pretentious gastropub a few years ago, an optional loop was added to the original route to incorporate the villages of Hastingley and Bodsham, each with a pub.  Then the afternoon leg of SWC 138 - Chilham Circular was added for a more scenic afternoon route - but today let's do the original route, plus the additional loop for those who have not yet experienced one of the most "unusual " pubs in southern England.

Leaving Wye we climb up onto the Crundale Downs, just above the Crown Memorial cut into the hillside, with a Millennium Stone added for the year 2000. On top of the Downs, with lovely views, it's decision time - to continue on the original route, or visit the quirky, oddball pub in Bodsham - The Timber Batts pub and forge.  Just before you reach Bodsham you walk through the village of Hastingley  where you find the Bowl Inn   open for drinks and maybe sandwiches on a Saturday.

If you keep to the original route and drop down to the hamlet of Crundale, with its loveley church - St  Mary's, then you head up a steep road to the village of Sole Street where you find the Compasses Inn - said pretentious gastropub. But in fairness, the food is good - but you need to book in advance - they don't accept off street walkers, even when empty.  

After lunch we tackle the original Book route, which in places is likely to be overgrown in summer. But with perseverance - and a walking pole - we should get through ! 

Back in Wye there are several pubs and cafes in the village for post walk refreshments but the recommended pit stop is the Tickled Trout pub, next door to the railway station.

This walk seldom disappoints.

T=1.53

Walk Directions are here  L=1.53

Saturday walk - Amberley to Shoreham-by-Sea - South Downs and a swim in the sea

Length: 19.4km (12.1 miles) to Upper Beeding or 25km (15.5 miles) to Shoreham

9.35 train from Victoria (9.42 Clapham Junction, 9.53 East Croydon) to Amberley, arriving 10.57.

T=SWC.26

Buy a day return to Ford (two stops beyond Arundel and also on the coastal route, so valid for return from Shoreham)

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

Experience has taught me that if trains to the coast are busy on bank holiday weekends, the lines to Amberley and Shoreham-by-Sea generally are not. But this is an unusual year, so no guarantees.... There could be longer than usual ticket queues at Victoria.

This is a simple but very scenic walk along the crest of the South Downs, with fine views. Pub lunchers can descend after about six miles to the Frankland Arms in Washington ("Our Nation's Capital" as the National Geographic magazine used to say in my youth...), whose website seems to suggest it is open and serving food all afternoon: but you might want to phone 01903 891 405 to check before you commit yourself. Sandwiches can save themselves 1km of walking and stay on the ridge.

Just after lunch the walk passes the ancient hill fort of Chanctonbury Ring. A little while later you can choose to descend to the pretty twin villages of Bramber and Upper Beeding (the 12.1 mile version of the walk), where there are a couple of pubs for tea. Buses to Shoreham-by-Sea station go from here at 44 past the hour till 18.44 and then at 19.38 (etc), taking 19 minutes.

Otherwise, the main (15.5 mile) walk - recommended - continues down to Shoreham-by-Sea, ending up along the Adur river. I would personally diverge slightly from the official route here, by crossing Old Shoreham Bridge and walking down the east bank of the river - a pleasant and flowery walkway (on the west bank you are walking along the edge of the airport...)

Shoreham itself has a pretty pedestrianised area with various tea options, if you can get there before they close at 5-5.30pm. After that there are pubs. For a swim in the sea, cross the footbridge over the harbour and walk straight through the modern housing area beyond. Shoreham beach is gently-shelving shingle and so a great place for an early evening dip, if the weather/sea conditions are amenable.

Trains back from Shoreham are at 12 and 42 past, taking 1 hour 16 minutes

 

Thursday Evening: Ashtead to Epsom Walk

An Evening on Ashtead and Epsom Commons t=swc.178

Distance:          Approximately 4 miles or 7 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty:         3 out of 10

Train:                18:24 Dorking train from London Waterloo, arriving Ashtead 19:02

Last year we experimented with the end of this walk from Oxshott as an evening walk and found it made a pleasant evening route across Ashtead and Epsom Commons with a country feel but only a stone’s throw from London. The route is varied with woods, open space and a couple of nice ponds…..The idea is to reverse walk the Ashtead ending, fork left along a footpath to where this path crosses the main route of the long walk and then turn right to carry on with the Epsom ending of the main walk… This route is shorter than the one we tried last year to ensure that we arrive at the Cricketers Inn on the edge of Epsom Common in time for a meal,,,,

More information about the route can be found here. As there are no detailed instructions for this option, I would suggest printing out the map page from the OS Map tab and/or downloading the gpx file.

Return travel form Epsom about every 10-15 minutes to various London destinations until 23:00.

Enjoy the walk!

 

Wednesday walk Southbourne to Chichester - along the shoreline of Chichester's tidal harbour, with lunch in Bosham , then on via Fishbourne to Chichester, for tea in the Cathedral

Book 1, Walk 37 - Southbourne to Chichester

Length: 18-5 km (11.5 miles)

Toughness: 3 out of 10

For Senior Railcard holders

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

Arrive Southbourne: 11-14 hrs

For Younger walkers, making use of travelcards

London Victoria:  10-05 hrs   Southern service to Portsmouth & Southsea and Bognor Regis

Arrive Chichester:  11-37 hrs   Change trains

Leave Chichester: 11-52 hrs   Southern service from Brighton to Portsmouth Harbour

Arrive Southbourne: 11-59 hrs

You will probably catch up with the oldies before lunch 

Return:  Chichester to Victoria:  09 and 39 mins past the hour 

Rail ticket:   Buy a day return to Southbourne

It's over three years since this seaside walk was given an outing, so let's dust it off and give it a try before the end of summer. The walk is flat, mostly along the shoreline, with sections inland. The route takes a long sweep of Bosham Bay before we stop in this quaint old village for lunch at Anchor Bleu or the cafe nearby: picnickers usually sit on the sea wall.

On then on an inland section before passing by water again on your approach to Fishbourne. The last urban leg into Chichester is not that exciting, but once in this lovely city your reward is a visit to the magnificent Cathedral with its pleasant cafeteria serving as your tea stop.

Enjoy !

T=1.37

Walk Directions are here:   L=1.37

Sunday Walk – Henley Circular via Rotherfield Greys

Extra Walk 373 – Henley Circular via Rotherfield Greys

Length: 15 km^† (9½ miles). Toughness: 2/10

10:29 Didcot train from Paddington (Ealing Broadway 10:37), changing at Twyford (arr 11:07, dep 11:15) for the Henley train, arriving at 11:27. Buy a return to Henley-on-Thames.

Freedom Pass holders could take the slower 10:13 TfL Reading train from Paddington (Ealing Bwy 10:21), and would then only need to buy a ticket from Twyford (arr 11:01).

Trains back from Henley are hourly at xx:30, again changing at Twyford.

† The walk goes near Shiplake on its way back to Henley, so for a shorter walk (13 km) you could drop out and return from there (trains at xx:34).

This “undemanding walk of pleasant valleys and woodland” appeared unheralded on the SWC site last December, and seems a good choice for those wanting a shorter weekend walk. It looks as if it will be familiar enough to anyone who knows the Book 1 Shiplake-Henley walk, but done in the reverse direction to give a different perspective.

The suggested lunch pub is the Bottle & Glass Inn, which is usually passed too soon for a pub stop on the Book 1 walk. You won't be short of places for tea in Henley.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.373 page.

Sunday Walk: Milford to Godalming

11.5 miles, 18.5 km. Difficulty: 6/10.
The Greensand Way, an ornate church, an arboretum, a historic waterway, and finally, Godalming's ancient High Street. 
Don’t leave Hascombe without admiring the lavishly decorated interior of St Peter's church. Just don’t, OK?.
Trains: Get the 10:00 Haslemere train from Waterloo (Clapham Junction 10:09)
Return from Godalming at xx:56 and  xx:26 Get a return to Milford. 

Lunch: The White Horse, Hascombe (01483 208258). Large groups should phone to book.  The Merry Harriers in Hambledon (01483 682883) is an earlier possibility.
Tea: Hector's on the Wey, at Farncombe Boat House. There are also places in Godalming. 

We go through Winkworth Arboretum on a public footpath. A proper visit costs £12.10 (free to NT members).

Directions: here.
Using a map, it is possible to cut 1 km off the end of the walk by diverting to Farncombe Station from the Boat House. Trains leave Farncombe at xx:59.
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Saturday Walk: Sevenoaks Circular

10.1 miles / 16.3 km

A lovely walk through Kentish countryside and parkland not far from London.

Trains:  10:15 Charing Cross, 10:24 London Bridge, 10:49 Sevenoaks.

Lunch: National Trust cafe at Ightham Mote (5.2 miles into the walk), or take the slightly longer option to reach the Chaser Inn at Shipbourne.

Click here for full details of this walk.

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