Sunday Walk: Witley to Haslemere

14.2km 8.8 miles Difficulty 3/10

It’s Halloween today. After tiptoeing briskly past the old Shockwood Zombie Sanctuary, we’ll continue to the medieval village of Chiddingfold for lunch, then on through Chillingcurse Wood and several National Ghost estates to Haslefear.

Trains: Get the 10:00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Clapham Junction 10:09), arriving Witley 10:59.
Return from Haslemere at xx:17 and xx:42. Get a return to Haslemere.
Clocks go back today. Gets dark earlier.

Lunch: Choose between the 600 year old Crown Inn in Chiddingfold (01428 682 255) or the nearby Swan (01428 684 688). There's also a tea-shop on The Green, Treacle’s, open 7 days a week.
Tea: The traditional stop is Darnley's in Haslemere High St. There is also Hemingway's across the road. Stays open later. Hard to say witch is best. There's pubs too. (Yay!)
Directions: here. t=1.44

Feasting in Frilsham (Aldermaston to Woolhampton)

SWC Walk 260:  Aldermaston to Woolhampton (via Frilsham) t=swc.260

Distance:  14.1 miles or 22.7 km for those more metrically minded (and shorter SWC 117 option which shares start and finish available)

Difficulty: 7 out of 10 (8 out of 10 for the longer option)

Train:  Take the 9:00 AM Great Western train from London Paddington, changing at Reading (arrive 9:23; depart 9:44), arriving at Aldermaston at 9:56.  Return trains (all requiring a change at Reading unless otherwise noted) from Midgham (Woolhampton) are at 16:58 (change Newbury); 18:02; 18:58 (change Newbury); 20:03; and 22:05. Buy a day return to Midgham.   

On the first day after the end of British Summer Time, an early start should be manageable….and well worth the effort for a fabulous lunch in Frilsham (not to mention, the walk should be lovely in full autumnal tint). It explores the undulating territory of the West Berkshire Downs, part of the Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  It includes ancient woodland, commons, including Bucklebury Common (the largest in SE England) and pretty villages. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here. For those preferring something shorter, SWC 117 shares the same start and finish – but has a completely different (and shorter) middle section.

The recommended lunch pub on the main walk is the Pot Kiln Inn (01635 201 366) in Frilsham (5.5 miles/9.6 km into the walk). Note that this is a real foodie kind of pub – specializing in game. I have booked a table (for five) at 12:30. There are some earlier and later lunch options mentioned in the walk instructions.

Tea can be had at the very pleasant Rowbarge Inn near Midgham Station.

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday walk - Billingshurst to Amberley - To the end of the world and beyond

Length: 22.8km (14.2 miles) - but see Shortening the walk below T=swc.8

Catch the 9.24 (Southampton Central) train from Victoria, (9.31 Clapham Junction) *** Note that this train does NOT go via East Croydon, due to engineering works.*** The rail planner shows a change in Horsham (arriving 10.29, departing 10.36), but I suspect this is just the train splitting into a fast (front) portion and a slow (rear) one: but listen out to on-board announcements. You arrive at Billingshurst at 10.46.

Buy a day return to Amberley

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

Yes, dear reader, this is a bit of a long one, which will put off some of you (though note Shortening the walk below). But today is the last day before the end of the world (aka the clocks going back), so it befits and behoves us to make one a grand gesture.

I am not sure I have ever done this walk in autumn, so we will see how it fares. It starts with a good bit of woodland, and in the middle there is a gentle range of hills. There is a vineyard, a glider airport, and a very nice lunch pub (which can, however, be a little slow at service): it serves lunch till 3pm now, apparently, rather than 2pm as the walk directions say. There is no other lunch option (unless you use the Pulborough to Amberley walk to divert to the pub in Marehill, about a mile away) so possibly bring a sandwich just in case.

At the end of the walk you have a stiff climb up onto the downs and a walk along the top, with wonderful views. In Amberley, the Bridge Inn is always a cosy place to end up, and is right by the station, as all good end of walk pubs should be

Shortening the walk. Switching to the Pulborough to Amberley walk at lunchtime saves 1.5 miles (making it 12.7 miles). You could even do that walk as far as the RSPB Visitor Centre and then short cut back across Pulborough Wild Brooks (if they are not waterlogged...) to Pulborough using the Pulborough Circular walk (section M), which would make for an afternoon of about 4 miles, and a total walk from Billingshurst of 10 miles. 

Trains back from Amberley are at 18 past the hour until 20.18, then 21.17 is the last train. By then the dark evenings will have well and truly begun.

Saturday Walk - West Wiltshire Downs at their best: Tisbury Circular via Ludwell and Berwick St. John

This walk was posted on Oct 2, but had no walk report, so let's try again...

 

Length: 26.3 km (16.4 mi) [with a bus option to shorten the walk, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 607 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours

Toughness: 7 out of 10 

                or

Length: 17.2 km (10.7 mi)

Ascent/Descent: 340 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours

Toughness: 4 out of 10 

 

Take the 09.20 Exeter St. David’s & Bristol Temple Meads train from Waterloo (09.27 Clapham J, 09.46 Woking), arriving Tisbury at 11.06 (you have to be in the front 3 cars) 

Return trains: xx.01 (from 108 mins). 

 

This walk explores parts of the Upper Nadder Valley (also known as the Vale of Wardour) in the south westerly parts of the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is spectacular walking country with some breath-taking views. Heading west from Tisbury, initially it broadly follows the valley, while never being flat for long, before routing through Wardour Park with its large neoclassical mansion and romantically ruined 14^th century Castle to then bypass the Donheads via a hill crossing.

After lunch in Ludwell it is a long and steady ascent to South Wiltshire’s highest point: Win Green Hill, providing for 360°-views to the coast and the inland valleys. After a stretch along the Cranborne Chase ridge a steep descent into the Chalke Valley is followed by a re-ascent up Berwick Coombe to White Sheet Hill, followed by a steep and rough descent from the chalk escarpment. A few woods, an often-boggy brook crossing and some smaller copses are followed by the descent back into Tisbury, a remarkably unspoilt village. 

 

Bus Option: The number 29 bus (Shaftesbury to Salisbury) stops outside the lunch pub on the main walk (13.33, 15.18, 16.33), as well as in Berwick St. John later in the afternoon (15.25, 16.40, 17.55), it gets you to Salisbury Bus Station (a 10 minutes’ walk from the train station) in just over an hour. 

 

Lunch: The Forester in Donhead St. Andrew (7.3 km/4.5 mi, food to 14.00) on the short walk (Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2013); The Grove Arms in Ludwell (10.6 km/6.6 mi, food all day) or The Talbot Inn in Berwick St. John (17.6 km/10.9 mi, food to 14.00) on the main walk. 

Tea: Plenty of options in Tisbury; check page 2 of the walk directions pdf. 

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.251

Wendover Circular via Coombe Hill

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Length: 20km (12.5m)
Toughness: 7 / 10
Transport: Take the 8:57 from London Marylebone, arriving at Great Missenden at 9:42 where you need to change onto a bus replacement service to Wendover, arriving at 10:00. Return times at xx:35 with bus to Great Missenden and then train to Marylebone. Apologies for posting this walk with bus replacement service, but Wendover station seems to be closed every weekend for the foreseable future. But I really would like to do this classic walk in autumn colours.

A highlight of the autumn season, this walk promises woods in full colour, paths across freshly fallen leafs, magnificent viewpoints, an iron age fort and a wonderful pub. You might need to vary the beginning since the path to the left after the bridge might be either closed or diverted. If you look at a map there is a ready alternative around this potential closure.

Evening Walk - A walk in the dark: Waterlink Way (Lower Sydenham to Catford, Ladywell, Lewisham or Greenwich)

Length: up to 9.7 km (6.0 mi) [several dropout points en route] 

Ascent/Descent: negligible 

Net Walking Time: up to ca. 2 ¼ hours

 

Take the 18.07 Hayes (Kent) train from Charing X (18.10 W’loo East, 18.16 London Bridge, 18.25 Ladywell), arrives Lower Sydenham at 18.31. 

From locations further south, take the 18.15 train from Hayes to Cannon Street (calls Clock House and New Beckenham), arrives Lower Sydenham also at 18.31

 

Finish is at one of: Ladywell Rail, either of the Catford Stations, Lewisham Rail/DLR, Cutty Sark DLR or Greenwich Rail/DLR. Return trains from these stations go to either London Bridge, then Cannon Street or Charing Cross, or to Blackfriars via Peckham Rye and Elephant.

 

The route connects a number of attractive parks and green spaces in South East London, while following the Pool and Ravensbourne Rivers. It follows parts of the well-waymarked Waterlink Way, the London-part of the National Cycle Network Route connecting Eastbourne to the Thames. Large stretches of those rivers have in recent years been re-naturalised or at least sympathetically embedded in landscaped linear parks such as Ladywell Fields and Brookmill Park, and as such the route makes for a pleasant outing in a densely populated part of London, even though some formerly highly industrialised areas such as Deptford as well as some densely built-up areas such as Catford and Lewisham are passed through. 

 

Note: as per the info available on the www, all parks should be open 24 hours (and the paths are all tarmac and lit all the way, from memory). 

 

Walk Options: The walk route runs past a few railway and DLR stations (Catford/Catford Bridge, Ladywell, Lewisham, Elverson Road and Deptford Bridge), enabling an earlier finish or later start. 

 

Refreshments en route: the Catford Bridge Tavern and the Bottle Bar & Shop in Catford, The Ladywell Tavern in Ladywell, The Brookmill in St. John’s and The Birds Nest in Deptford. Plenty options in Greenwich.

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.36

Wednesday Walk Borough Green to Sevenoaks - Basted Village, Plaxtol with its Cromwellian Church, Ightham Mote and Knole Park

Book 1 Walk 36 - Borough Green to Sevenoaks

Length: 15 km (9.3 miles)

Toughness: 4 out of 10

London Victoria: 10-25 hrs    Southeastern service to Ramsgate    Bromley South:  10-42 hrs

Arrive Borough Green: 11-10 hrs

Return:  Sevenoaks to Charing Cross:   8 an hour (change at Orpington for Victoria, or underground - Embankment, District Line - to Victoria )

Rail ticket: a day return to Borough Green usually works

This lovely walk is enjoyable in all seasons and today should benefit from autumn colours which should be on display in woodland sections.

Leaving Borough Green we walk through Basted village with its ponds to head along a bridleway which is often muddy. Then its through an apple orchard and along tracks to the village of Plaxtol, with its Cromwellian church (worth a visit).  We next walk down through the grassy parkland of the Fairlawne Estate and head for the National Trust's Ightham Mote, a lunch option.  For a pub lunch you need to detour to the village of Shipbourne and its pub, the Chaser Inn. 

After Ightham Mote we head up through light woodland, passing hoppers huts, to exit by a lavender farm. On then over fields and along bridleways to Sevenoaks Primary School. From there it is a short distance to an entrance to Knole Park, which we walk through, viewing herds of deer along the way. Tea can be taken in Knole House's Brewhouse Tearoom, or a little later in Sevenoaks High Street.  

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Walk Directions are here: L=1.36

 

Sunday Walk - Effingham Junction to Westhumble or Dorking

Length: Main walk: 15.2km (9.4 miles)

   Ending in Dorking: adds 1.1km (0.7 miles) 

 

Difficulty: 4 out of 10 

 

This walk has something to offer at almost any time of the year. Despite being relatively close to London, it offers a deep rural tranquility. 

Trains: Take the 10.32 Guildford train from London Waterloo,(  arriving at Effingham Junction at 11.25. Return trains from Box Hill and Westhumble are at xx:05 (Victoria), xx:09 (Waterloo) and xx:35 (Victoria - change at Epsom for the xx:53 to Waterloo)

Buy a day return to Effingham Junction. You will then need to buy a single for the short distance from Box Hill & Westhumble or Dorking to Leatherhead on the return journey.

Lunch: Granary Cafe, Polesden Lacey (01372 452048). 7.4km/4.6 miles into the main walk, This self-service National Trust eatery is currently the only lunch stop on this walk. It serves hot meals from 12-3pm and tea and cakes to 5pm. It may be busy so bring some snacks just in case.

Tea: The self service restaurant in the Denbies Wine Estate Visitor Centre (tel 01306 876616),  serves food until 4pm. The Stepping Stones pub (01306 889932,  is a possible tea option 400 metres beyond Box Hill and Westhumble station.

Pilgrim Cycles (01306 886958) cafe at Box Hill station is closed at weekends according to its website. 

 

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Carefree in Kintbury

 Book 2 Walk 9:  Kintbury Circular  – Exploring the North Wessex Downs t=2.9

Distance:  14.3 miles or 23 km for those more metrically minded (it is possible to shorten the route by 5.5 km/3.4 miles)

Difficulty: 3 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:07 AM Great Western Newbury train from London Paddington, arriving at Kintbury at 10:17 AM (changing at Newbury 9:58 arrival/10:11 departure).  Return trains from Kintbury are at 16:51 (change Newbury); 17:50 (change Newbury/Reading); 18:51 (change Newbury); 19:53 (change Newbury/Reading); and 20:45 (change Newbury). Buy a day return to Kintbury.   

This walk explores the North Wessex Downs which have a decidedly West Country feel – although being only slightly over an hour from London. The route ambles gently through some idyllic woods and pastures; then makes a steep climb up onto the Downs before dropping back into the valley back to Kintbury.  You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.  Make sure to bring the instructions for BOTH the main walk and the circular option, as they are designed to work together! 

The recommended lunch pub is the Crown and Garter (01488 668 325) in Inkpen Common (8.3 miles/13.5 km into the walk), an upmarket looking country pub, serving food until 2:30PM. Tea and other post walk refreshies can be had at the very pleasant Dundas Arms along the canal near Kintbury Station. 

Enjoy the walk!

 

Saturday Walk: Arundel Circular - the River Arun, Warningcamp Hill, Burpham and return via South Stoke and Arundel Park

SWC 100 for morning leg, then reverse of Book 1 Walk 32 Arundel to Amberley, for an Arundel Circular walk

Length: 15 km (9.3 miles)

Toughness: 7 out of 10     Some steady ascents after lunch, and one before lunch

London Victoria: 10-05 hrs      Southern service to Portsmouth Harbour and Bognor Regis   CJ: 10-12, EC: 10-23, Horsham: 11-04 hrs

Arrive Arundel: 11-28 hrs

Return   15-47, 16-13, 16-45, 17-13, 17-46, 18-13hrs and later

Mid-week walkers have tried this mix-and-match walk on a couple of occasions in recent years, and they liked it, so let's now introduce Saturday walkers to it - I don't think they will be disappointed.

Leaving Arundel railway station on walk SWC 100 we walk beside the River Arun for a while until heading inland and then up Warningcamp Hill, to enjoy a fine view from its summit.  It is on then to through the village of Wepham to the village of Burpham, where we stop for an early lunch at The George, popular with SWC walkers.  Picnickers can either stop at the benches just outside the churchyard opposite the pub, or in the nearby cricket field.

After lunch we continue alongside the River Arun to the hamlet of South Stoke, with its lovely little church (usually open).  Those wanting a shorter and easier afternoon could stick with the SWC 100b route and head back down the valley to Arundel, but the preferred route is to switch to Book 1, Walk 32 (in the reverse direction).  We go along a woodland path above the river before we head through a gate in the estate wall to enter the modest back garden belonging to the Duke of Norfolk - Arundel Park.  We now negotiate a number of ascents before we drop down through the vast grassy parkland, with fine views all around.  One more chalky path steadily uphill towards Hiorne Tower (a folly) and then we leave the Park to head downhill into the centre of Arundel, passing on the way Arundel (Roman Catholic) Cathedral on your right and Arundel Castle on your left.   In town you will find tea shops and pubs for post-walk refreshments.

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Walk Directions for the SWC walk are here, and for the Book 1 walk are here