Evening Walk: Woolwich to Greenwich -- Far East Thames Path

Thursday Evening:  Woolwich to Greenwich – Far East Thames Path (short walk 42 in reverse)

Distance:          Approximately 6.8 miles or 11 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty:         1 out of 10

Transport:        18:04 train from London Cannon Street (18:09 London Bridge) to Woolwich Arsenal, arriving 18:31

Return:             Various – Thames Clipper; DLR; Mainline train

I have always been tempted to post this walk in reverse – starting in Woolwich and ending in Greenwich, as I thought it would be nice to walk towards the bright lights of the Thames barrier, Canary Wharf and the City….I have waiting until the first week of BST in hopes of also having a sunset to enjoy….rather than setting off in the dark….The route follows the Thames Path and is entirely paved and well-lit – so should be fine even after the sun has set.

There are several refreshment points along the route (including a new Brew by Number brewery) that we may choose to visit…There are also two very good riverside pubs on the East side of Greenwich (Enderby House and the Cutty Sark) where we may opt to have a meal.  In Greenwich proper there are a number of further options…..

More information about the route can be found here.

Enjoy the walk! t=short.42

Wednesday Walk Welwyn Circular - through Sherrardspark Wood to Ayot Green, Brocket Hall, Ayot St Lawrence, then return to Welwyn Garden City

SWC 69 - Welwyn Circular

Length: 17.7 km (11 miles)

Toughness: 2 out of 10     No steep hills

London Kings Cross:  10-22 hrs   Thameslink service from Kings Cross to Letchworth Garden City  Finsbury Park (for LT Victoria & Piccadilly Lines): 10-31 hrs

Arrive Welwyn Garden City: 10-54 hrs

Return  

Welwyn Garden City to Kings Cross:  22 and 52 mins past the hour

Welwyn Garden City to St Pancras (changing at Finsbury Park): 28 and 56 mins past the hour

Having left Welwyn Garden City you walk gently up through a wood then down one of Brocket Hall's golf courses through this lovely estate. Onwards then to the village of Ayot St Lawrence, to pass George Bernard Shaw's house (open to the public) to stop for lunch at the Brocket Arms, which is usually very good when they don't forget your order. After lunch your return route to Welwyn GC is over pleasant, flat countryside.

Tea back in Welwyn GC is best taken at Simmons cafe, close to the railway station. 

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Walk Directions are here: L=swc.69

Sunday Walk – The Deepdene Trail (Dorking Circular) [New]

SWC Walk 364 – The Deepdene Trail: Dorking via Brockham Circular

Length: Up to 16 km (10 miles). Toughness: Up to 5/10

As we get an hour less in bed I've plumped for a late start: the 11:02 Dorking train from Waterloo (Vauxhall 11:07, Clapham Jct 11:12, etc), arriving Dorking (Main) at 11:54.

There are hourly trains back to Waterloo at xx:07 and half-hourly ones to London Bridge (not Victoria today) at xx:02 & xx:32. Somewhat ironically, I've chosen a date when there are only replacement buses at Dorking's other station (Deepdene).

This walk has been sitting unheralded on the SWC site for a while and deserves an outing. In fact it's not so much a defined walk, more a series of linked trails to places of interest on a ‘lost estate’ which a charitable trust is gradually restoring. You'll get more out of the day if you check out the Deepdene Trail site and print off its ‘Map of the Trail’.

If you choose to follow the GPX route on the SWC site you'll start with a quick look at the Gardens (as yet, not much more than a mass of rhododendrons), climb to the Terrace and then head off to Brockham. There's a choice of refreshment places around its large village green: I don't reckon there'll be much chance of getting Sunday lunch at the Inn on the Green (a “Grumpy Mole Restaurant”) on Mother's Day, but you could try phoning ahead (01737-845101). If the Royal Oak is still closed the alternatives are in the Village Hall, which contains The Taphouse (a small village bar) and the Reading Room Coffee and Cake House.

The afternoon route makes its way back to Dorking's High Street via the Terrace and Glory Wood, with optional out-and-back extensions to the ruins of Betchworth Castle and the Hope Mausoleum. Few of the town's independent tea rooms deign to open on Sundays but you'll find most of the usual suspects (Costa Coffee, etc) and plenty of pubs. Allow 20 minutes to reach the station from the High Street.

As well as the Deepdene Trail map, do bring the outline description of the walk and/or GPX file from the L=swc.364 page.

Kings Sutton

SWC Walk 176 - Kings Sutton Circular 

Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles). Toughness: 3/10 

Catch the 10:00 from London Marylebone arrives Kings Sutton station 11:02. 

Direct return trains to Marylebone: 15:43, 17:43, 19:43. 

Reminder: Clocks go forward Sunday 1:00 

An enjoyable walk courtesy of JB. The good news is that all the pubs are still open: here, here, here, here, here and here. (Particularly gratifying given the walk authors emphasis on drinking establishments.)

This Sunday is Mothers Day and with a choice of four pubs for lunch there should be one able to accommodate us, BUT please bring an emergency snack just in case. 

Comment from an experienced and trusted walk checker for CW2 

"Sun 29 Jul 18, 17:58 There are some great long views on this walk and much is out in the open across the large fields mentioned below, with less variety than for some walks. It's a shame therefore that the author did not point out some of the noteworthy features of the villages (apart from the pubs): churches in most of them have unusual features (e.g. medieval wall paintings in Croughton, spire and weird monument in Kings Sutton, tablets in Aynhoe), the fine Grammar School in Aynho, Anynho Park (grand 17th century house, Soane involved in design, gardens by Capability Brown) is private but one gets a very good view of the house from the road, handsome houses such as Souldern House and others." T=swc.176

Saturday Walk - Saunderton via Bledlow Circular

Saunderton via Bledlow Circular T=2.2

Length: 17.3km (10.7miles), 5 hours 20 minutes. 6 out of 10

You can shortcut the ending after lunch by walking to Princess Risborough, the next stop on the line.

"This walk through a peaceful part of the rolling Chiltern Hills has one or two steep hills, but otherwise gradients are gentle and there are many fine views out over the valley and plain. The first part of the walk follows the valley bottom before following the Ridgeway to lunch at Bledlow. In the afternoon you pass through a series of secluded valleys before reaching Radnage and then over Bledlow Ridge and back along the valley to Saunderton."

Trains: Get the 0953 Aylesbury train from London Marylebone (running late? get the 1000 Birmingham train and change at High Wycombe), arriving 1051. Return trains are xx57. You can shorten the journey time by changing at High Wycombe.

Lunch: The suggested lunchtime place is the Lions Bledlow, 7km from the start of the walk, food from 12 to 2.30pm daily and has an extensive garden. There is also the church & Lyde Gardens for a picnic.

Tea: The Golden Cross is an excellent place to wait for the train.

Saturday Walk Milford to Haslemere - Thursley Common, Hindhead Common, the Devil's Punchbowl, Sailor's Stone and Gibbet Hill

Book 1 Walk 27 - Milford to Haslemere

Length: 18.7 km (11.7 miles)

Toughness: 6 out of 10

London Waterloo:   09-45 hrs   South Western service to Portsmouth & Southsea    Clapham Junction: 09-52 hrs

Arrive Milford:  10-38 hrs

Return

Haslemere to Waterloo: South Western services at approx 02, 14 and 30 mins past the hour

Rail ticket:   Buy a day return to Haslemere

It takes a while and some unavoidable road walking before this walk gets going, but when it does, through Bagmoor Common Nature Reserve, you are soon on sandy paths through Surrey heathland, parts of which are surprisingly remote. 

You reach the village of Thursley after a couple of hours where lunch can be taken at the usually good pub, The Three Horseshoes. Booking ahead is advisable (01252-703900).

After lunch you head for the Devil's Punchbowl - now mercifully quiet after the A3 road was diverted into a tunnel. You have a choice of walking down into the Bowl then up the other side, or you can walk around the rim of the Bowl - both are pleasant.  At the top of the Bowl you have a National Trust Cafe - an early tea stop. From here it is 80 minutes walk to Haslemere Railway Station, if you take the original, direct TO Book route, but the recommendation is to detour to two historic (and gruesome) landmarks - Sailor's Stone then Gibbet Hill. Directions are given from both to walk-end. 

Tea can be taken in Haslemere at either of its two cafes, opposite one another; Darnleys - a long-time SWC favourite - and Hemingways, the relatively new kid on the block, but equally good. For a stronger drink, there are three pubs in town, as noted in the Directions. 

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Walk Directions are here: L=1.27 

Saturday Walk - Salisbury to Amesbury (via Stonehenge)

Length: 25.1 km (15.6 mi) [shorter and longer options possible]

Ascent: 322 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours

Toughness: 5 out of 10 

 

Take the 09.20 Salisbury train from Waterloo (09.27 Clapham J., 09.46 Woking), arriving at 10.42. Meet outside the station building in the car park, to the right as you come out.  

Return buses from Amesbury (outside Library) to Salisbury Blue Boar Row (from 19 mins journey time): Lines 8, X4 and X5, between them with 5 buses per hour in the relevant time window. 

Return trains from Salisbury: xx.21 and xx.47 to 19.21, then 20.26, 20.53, 21.26 and 22.26. 

 

This superb walk has no major climbs but covers beautiful rolling countryside and farmland and fields of golden barley and wheat. You then have an evocative and magical approach to Stonehenge across Salisbury Plain. After passing close to the site the route takes you down the original approach used by the Druids – The Avenue – as you set off on the final leg to Amesbury and a bus back to Salisbury city centre. There is a lot to see on this walk and what you choose to do depends very much on your interests and how far you want to walk or travel. You get excellent views of Old Sarum hill fort and of Stonehenge from the walk route. The ancient city of Salisbury has a fascinating history and the Visit Wiltshire website provides information about it. If you wish to visit Salisbury Cathedral this is slightly off route. 

 

Lunch: The Wheatsheaf Inn in Lower Woodford (10.2 km/6.4 mi, food all day) or The Bridge Inn in Upper Woodford (13.0 km/8.1 mi, food to 14.30, pizza all day). The Black Horse in Great Durnford (15 km/9.3 mi) is off-route and does not do food at the moment, as it’s closed and for sale! 

Tea: Pubs in Amesbury and plenty of cafés and pubs in Salisbury at the central square on Blue Boar Row and on Station Road. 

 

For walk directions and all options to shorten or lengthen the walk, a map, a height profile, gpx/kml files, and photos click here. T=swc.67

The World of Stonehenge at the British Museum

Tonight, we will visit British Museum to see the newly opened exhibition about Stonehenge,  the iconic monument that requires no introduction.  The exhibition has received excellent reviews by multiple press.  

To book your ticket,  please click here.  Book the 6:30pm slot.  

Ticket costs £20,  Art Fund £10, National Lottery Open Week 2 for 1 offer £20 for 2 (see details for this offer here).  Meet at the entrance to the exhibition at 6:25pm or inside the exhibition.  

Post exhibition F&B at Carluccio's St Pancras around 8:30pm.  

Shrouded in layers of speculation and folklore, Stonehenge, the iconic British monument, has spurred myths and legends that persist today.  This special exhibition reveals the secrets of Stonehenge and shines a light on its purpose, cultural power and the people that created it.    

Informed by ground breaking recent archaeological and scientific discoveries, this landmark exhibition offers new insight and brings the true story of Stonehenge into sharper focus than ever before. 

Evening Walk: One (or more) for the Road on a Historic Thameside Journey

Evening Walk: Thames Historic Walk: Cannon St (Banker Pub) to Canary Wharf t=short.28

Distance:          5 miles or 8 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty:         1 out of 10

Meet:                The Banker Pub – 200 meters from Cannon St. Tube and Rail Station (on the Thames)

Time:                18:30 – but if you miss our departure, you can certainly catch us up along the way…

This is a relaxed outing along the Thames that hardly requires any instructions, aside from, keep the river on your right.  The route basically follows the Thames Path from Cannon St. Station to Canary Wharf Pier, passing through historic Wapping.  We will pass three historic hostelries – the Town of Ramsgate, the Prospect of Whitby and the Grapes.  At Canary Wharf Pier, you can catch a Thames Clipper back to central London or meander through the buildings to the DLR/Jubilee line Station.

More information and the instructions can be found here.

Enjoy the walk!

Wednesday Walk Manningtree Circular - through the Stour Valley in Constable Country

Boo 1 Walk 39 - Manningtree Circular

Length: 17.3 km (10.7 miles)  Short cut omits Statford St Mary for a walk of 8.2 miles

Toughness: 4 out of 10      No steep hills 

London Liverpool Street: 10-00 hrs     Greater Anglia fast service to Norwich

Arrive Manningtree: 10-53 hrs

Return

Greater Anglia services at approx 02, 19 and 52 mins past the hour

To complement our mid-week walk through Gainsborough country two weeks earlier, today's walk takes us through Constable country - and very pleasant it is, too. 

Leaving Manningtree we head across country to the village of Dedham, where we stop for lunch, at its  pub-hotel - The Sun - which I recall can be walker unfriendly - or a tea shop. The large church in the centre of the village is worth a visit. 

After lunch, on reaching the River Stour, we have choice of route: the main route takes us beside the river along field edges towards the village of Stratford St Mary, then some road walking before continuing on to the village of East Bergholt. The shortcut takes us alongside the river in the opposite direction towards Flatford Mill - the setting for one of artist John Constable's most famous paintings. Tea can be had here or on the railway station at its very acceptable station buffet.

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Walk Directions are here: L=1.39