Sunday Walk – Whitchurch Circular

Extra Walk 53a – Whitchurch Circular

Length: 15 km (9.3 miles), or 12¼ km (7.6 miles) with shorter ending. Toughness: 2/10

10:45 Andover train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:53), arriving Whitchurch (Hants) at 11:49.

Trains back from Whitchurch are hourly at xx:23. As a fallback there's also an hourly bus (#76) from the town centre to Basingstoke at xx:10 (until 18:10).

Apologies for posting a second west-of-London walk this Sunday, but I've had a request for this one and because of engineering works further down the line there's a convenient direct service from Waterloo (on Sundays you usually have to connect with a Reading–Salisbury service).

This slightly shorter variation of the Overton–Whitchurch walk never strays too far from the River Test. There should be masses of snowdrops at this time of year and on the riverside stretches you can usually summon large numbers of hungry trout by scattering a few breadcrumbs onto the water.

If you want to stop for an early pub lunch (after 5 km) you'll need to book a table at the popular Watership Down Inn in Freefolk. If they're fully booked (or you just want a shorter walk) you could choose to turn back earlier and make your way to one of Whitchurch's hostelries. The town has three pubs and there's also the Riverside Café in its Silk Mill; this is the suggested tea stop but it also does light lunches.

From Whitchurch you could just head up the hill to the station, but the published walk offers the choice of a fairly short loop out to Tufton or an even shorter one going directly to the picturesque Fulling Mill.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.53.b page. Clicking ‘Circular’ on the Walk Options heading will hide the directions for the longer walk starting from Overton.

Sunday Walk - North Wessex Downs an hour from London, a chalk figure, some stunning views: Pewsey Circular

I make absolutely no excuses for posting this walk again and again, as I think it is – pound-for-pound and train minute-for-train minute – amongst the very best walks we have.

Outside of the Network Railcard Area, and without lunch pubs. But the scenery…!

Length: 26.9 km (16.7 mi) [shortcuts possible, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 410 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours

Toughness: 6 out of 10 

 

Take the 10.34 Paignton train from Paddington (11.03 Reading, 11.19 Newbury), arriving Pewsey at 11.37. 

Return trains: 17.01 (64 mins), 19.04 (63 mins) or 22.14 (84 mins). All return trains stop in Newbury and Reading, so a split ticket London – Newbury and Newbury- Pewsey will give you the best prices. The Network Railcard is valid to Newbury. Cheap Advance Tickets are currently (31 Jan) available. 

 

Exhilarating excursion through the solitude of the Vale of Pewsey, which separates the chalk upland of the North Wessex Downs to the north from that of Salisbury Plain to the south, including an ascent up the southerly hill chain of the Marlborough Downs, from where there are stunning far views in all directions over this land of wave-like hills, with its scarps, ridges and valleys. It is a mysterious landscape, full of pre-historic earthworks and hillforts as well as barrows – burial mounds of kings and warriors. After a scenic descent back into the Vale of Pewsey, your tea option is in the hamlet of Honeystreet. Finally, an undemanding stretch along the Kennet & Avon Canal leads back to Pewsey. 

 

Two Shortcuts on the Downs are possible, they reduce the walk by 3.5 km (2.1 mi) or 3.4 km (2.1 mi) respectively. See route map and pdf for details.

Lunch: Picnic. 

Tea: Honeystreet Mill Café in Honeystreet (19.6 km/12.2 mi, open to 17.00), or The Barge Inn (open all day), also in Honeystreet, plus one other en route and several others in Pewsey; check page 2 of the walk directions pdf.

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.127

Silent walk

Halesworth

Saturday Walk - Buxted Circular

Buxted Circular swc.95

Length: 10.1 miles (16.3km) 3 out of 10

This is a gentle walk over a mix of fields and woods from a quiet station on the quiet Uckfield Line in East Sussex. It heads north for lunch at the rural Crow and Gate pub at Poundgate. 

There are views of the distant South Downs ridge for most of the walk. At the end, there is choice of 2 pubs for a drink

Trains: Get the 1007 Uckfield train from London Bridge (East Croydon 1022) arriving Buxted at 1116. From Victoria, get the 0954 Three Bridges train changing at East Croydon 1010. Return trains are xx37

Lunch: The Crow and Gate (0892 603461) Food served noon - 10pm daily  Part of the "Vintage Inn" chain, located 5 miles, 8.5km from the start of the walk.

Tea: You pass The Buxted Inn. The White Hart is further down the main road after the station turn off.

Saturday Walk - South Downs Way Section 3: Petersfield to Cocking (map-led), Lunch Pub off route downhill, Uppark House visit possible

South Downs Way Section 3: Petersfield to Cocking (return by bus to Haslemere) (map-led)

 

Length: 20.4 km (12.7 mi)

Ascent/Descent: 508/470m

Net Walking Time: 5 – 5 ½ hours 

Toughness: 6 out of 10

 

Up and down the Downs, with a lunch pub down the hill a km away, or a tea stop off route a km away at Uppark House and Garden, which you could visit, have tea at and then take the bus back to the station from.

 

Take the 09.30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Woking 09.55), arrives Petersfield 10.32. 

From Battersea Central (a.k.a. Clapham Junction) take the 9.19 Basingstoke service (calls Surbiton at 09.30), and change at Woking (09.48/09.55). 

In Cocking take bus line 60 to Midhurst Bus Station (every half hour on xx.12, takes 15 minutes) and change there to bus line 70 to Haslemere (16.05, 17.05, 18.10 and 19.05), through-tickets ought to be available. Any waiting time in Midhurst can be bridged at Fitzcane’s Café or a pub. 

Return trains from Haslemere are xx.02, xx.14, xx.30. Buy a Petersfield return.  

 

Shorter Walk: Bus 91 to Petersfield from outside the lunch pub, at 16.20. Or Bus 54 to Petersfield, either from Uppark House (on the main road) at 16.44 or from outside the lunch pub (16.47). 

 

Lunch: Picnic or The White Hart in South Harting (10.3 km/6.4 mi, 1 km off route downhill, food to 15.00) or the Café at Uppark (10.3 km/6.4 mi, 1 km off route but not downhill, NT membership or ticket needed, open 10.00-16.00). 

Tea: The Bluebell at Cocking, plus plenty of options in Midhurst. 

 

For summary, map, height profile, some photos and gpx/kml files click here.t=swc.155

Saturday Walk Tring to Wendover - Grand Union Canal, Reservoirs, Aston Clinton, a MOD Airfield, up into Wendover Woods, then down to Wendover

Book 1, Walk 11 - Tring to Wendover

Length:  21 km (13 miles)  Option to shorten by 1 mile plus by walking along the canal into Wendover 

Toughness: 6 out of 10   One steady ascent up into Wendover Woods - which can be avoided if you stay on the canal into Wendover. Rest of walk 3 out of 10

London Euston: 09-24 hrs    West Midlands service to Northampton   Watford Junction: 09-39 hrs

Arrive Tring:  09-57 hrs

Return

Wendover to London Marylebone : Chiltern Rail services at 28 and 58 mins past the hour

Rail ticket:  As the rail termini serve different rail companies you cannot buy a return ticket for today's walk. Instead, utilising your railcard, buy an off-peak single from the edge of your railcard (or travelcard) to Tring, and for your return journey, an off-peak single from Wendover to the edge of your railcard or travelcard.

Those who attended and enjoyed the Princes Risborough to Wendover walk a month ago should also enjoy today's Chilterns walk, which inspite of ending in the same town, is totally different. The morning is completely flat - and the afternoon hilly.

You start with a relaxing leg along the tow path next to the Grand Union Canal before walking around three large reservoirs. Inland then over fields to cross under the A41 Aston Clinton bypass and over a vast field to Buckland, and on then to the village of Aston Clinton where you stop for lunch at the very good Oak pub. 

After lunch you walk along the edge of a MOD airfield to come to the Grand Union Canal again. The main route has you heading east on the tow path before heading up into Wendover Woods. But this ascent can be avoided if you turn west along the Canal and stay on the towpath all the way to Wendover. 

On reaching Wendover you walk up through the town to one of its refreshment options. The two most popular venues with SWC walkers are Rumsey's Chocolaterie, for those in need of a chocolate fix, and The Shoulder of Mutton pub, next door to the railway station access road. 

Unfortunately I cannot be with you today (for one of my favourite Book 1 walks) due to a family commitment in Kent but usually those who give this walk a go really enjoy it, for its variety.

T=1.11

Walk Directions are here: L=1.11

 

Wednesday Walk Lenham to Hollingbourne - along the North Downs Way through attractive Kentish villages

SWC 1 - Lenham to Hollingbourne

Length: 14.5 km (9 miles)

Toughness: 4 out of 10 

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

Arrive Lenham: 11-45 hrs

Return

Hollingbourne to Victoria: Southeastern services at 15-52, 16-17, 16-52, 17-17, 17-47 and 18-17 hrs

Rail ticket:  Buy a day return to Lenham

Today's tranquil walk takes you through some pretty Kentish hamlets and villages. Your recommended lunch stop is in the village of Harrietsham at the Ringlestone Inn, some 6 km into the walk. Lunch should be served today if power has been restored to the pub after last weekends storms. You might wish to check by 'phoning the pub ahead: 01622 859900.

After lunch it's more of the same as you head towards Hollingbourne. For walk-end refreshments please refer to the Walk Directions. 

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Walk Directions are here: L=swc.1.a