Halloween Special -- Evening Walk along London Wall

Walking the Wall (Tower Hill to Blackfriars or Circular)

Distance:          Approximately 2.8 miles/4.5 km or 4.2 miles/6.8 km

Difficulty:         1 out of 10

Meet:                Outside Tower Hill Tube Station (main exit facing Trinity Square) at 18:30

Return:             Blackfriars (train or tube), back to Tower Hill (tube) or various other drop out points

This is a fascinating short walk that explores the perimeter of London’s Roman Wall. It passes by many substantial sections of the wall that have been incorporated into the modern city of London – a real window into history. In addition to comprehensive walk notes, the route is speckled with information panels proving interesting insights into the history of London.

More information about the route can be found here.

Enjoy the walk!

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Aldermaston to Midgham via Stanford Dingley

SWC Walk 117:  Aldermaston to Woolhampton (via Stanford Dingley) t=swc.117

Distance:  12.6 miles or 20.4 km for those more metrically minded (with a short cut available reducing route to 9.5 miles or 15.5 km)

Difficulty: 4 out of 10

Train:  Take the 10:03 AM Great Western Penzance train from London Paddington, changing at Reading onto a Newbury bound train (arrive 10:26; depart 10:43), arriving at Aldermaston at 10:54.  Return trains (all requiring a change at Reading unless otherwise noted) from Midgham (Woolhampton) are at 16:56 (change Newbury); 18:02; 18:56 (change Newbury); 20:01; and 22:05. Buy a day return to Midgham.   

This walk 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. This is NOT the walk via Frilsham and the delightful Pot Kiln Inn – although it shares the same beginning and ending.  Instead, it explores a different, but similarly pretty, area with a nice variety of possible lunch pubs.

The recommended lunch pubs are in the pretty village of Stanford Dingley – either the Old Boot (01189 745 191) or the Bull Inn (01189 744 582). The Bull Inn seems to be the preferred option – but, being Sunday do call ahead. 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 or if pressed for time the Angel which is on the same side of the tracks as the required platform.

Enjoy the walk!

Sunday Walk: Henley Circular via Middle Assendon

14 km 8.8 miles, Difficulty 6 out of 10
The clocks went back last night and they’re not happy about it.  AT ALL. When will they listen?

This Chilterns walk, a shortened version of the Stonor circular, still has dramatic views. And – fingers crossed – autumn colour.
Trains: Get the 9:18 Reading bound Elizabeth Line from Paddington (Ealing Broadway 09:26). Change at Twyford for the Henley train (arr 10:00platform 3, dep 10:15 platform 5) arrive Henley 10:28.

It is also possible to catch the 9:35 GWR train from Paddington, changing at Twyford for the same train.
Trains return at xx:01 and 31 changing again at Twyford. (The xx:31 connects best with the GWR service, but there is a half-hourly Elizabeth Line).
Get a return to Henley-on-Thames.
Freedom Pass holders can travel free on the Elizabeth Line as far as Twyford  but still need a return from there to Henley.
Lunch: The Rainbow in Middle Assendon (01491-574879).  
Tea: The Chocolate Café (tel  01491 411 412) on Thameside (Henley’s waterfront) open to 5pm. The station is 5 minutes away.
Henley has more than its fair share of pubs. The Angel is nearest the café. There’s also a Wetherspoons on the High Street.
Walk Directions: here. We are doing the shorter version that heads left for Bix Bottom after the Rainbow (paragraph 22).    
Any hardnuts up for the full walk should note that the Crown in Pishill is still closed.
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Kenley to Caterham - a short but hilly walk in the North Downs

Length: 14.3km (8.5 miles) or 12km (7.5 miles) if you miss out one of the afternoon hills. T=swc.406

10.40 train from London Bridge (10.53 Norwood Junction, 10.58 East Croydon) to Kenley, arriving 11.14.

This walk is entirely within zone 6, so use contactless, Oyster, passes.

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

Conscious though I am that the Great Darkness starts tomorrow - the next time it will be light till 5.42pm will be the start of March!!!! - which would normally prompt me to post a long-ish walk, it seems that this tendency is already well catered for in the other posts. With the forecast also (at the time of writing) being very changeable, a shorter walk close to London, with possible escape options at lunchtime, might also prove welcome.

Hence this little gem, an almost new walk, in that its only outing to date has been midweek in May. I did not do it then, so rely on the walk author's description - up onto Riddlesdown and through Kings Wood in the morning, then round the Halliloo Valley (is that really its name?) and over two or three steep-sided valleys into Caterham. For more see the walk's home page.

For lunch in Warlingham there is a choice of two chain pubs (and maybe some cafes) and for tea in Caterham two chain coffee shops (and maybe some independent cafes) and a pub.

Trains back are at 25 and 55 past the hour.

Wendover Circular via Coombe Hill

t=2.1 Length: 21km / 13m
Toughness: 7 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:27 train from London Marylebone, arriving in Wendover at 10:16. Return trains at 16:54, 17:54, 18:24, 19:24, 19:46, 20:24

My favourite autumn walk in the Chilterns: Lunch in the cozy Red Lion in Princes Risborough before steeply climbing up to Whiteleaf Cross for a magnificent view along the Chilterns escarpment, then onwards to Pulpit Hill with its iron age fort, and finally a second steep climb up to Coombe Hill with another great view before descending into Wendover for hot cholocate or tea at Rumsey's, cheese and wine at No2 Pound Street or pub fare at the Shoulder of Mutton. Hopefully, the woods will display spectacular autumn colours.

Saturday Walk - Inland from the sea - fine seaviews, plenty of undulation, beautiful valleys, lunch in Berwick: Bishopstone Circular

Length: 21.3 km (13.2 mi)

Ascent: 510m

Net Walking Time: 5 ¼ hours

Toughness: 6 out of 10

 

Take the 09.24 Eastbourne train from Victoria (09.31 CJ, 09.40 EC), change at Lewes (10.26/10.30, Seaford train), arriving Bishopstone 10.44. 

Take an earlier train to Lewes if you want to avoid the suspense of the 4 minute up and over change to the far platform (there is a café on the platform and another one by the gates). 

Return trains: xx.27 and xx.55.

 

A demanding walk with spectacular views and 6 distinct climbs, from the sea over the Comp and the South Downs to Berwick, returning via an equally undulating route, featuring two separate climbs up to the South Downs, first from the sea, then from the North. There is no coastal walking (plenty of sea views) and very little ridge walking, but there are a series of climbs before you reach the Downs and after you think you have left them behind but also a level section between Berwick and Alciston.

 

Lunch: The Cricketer’s Arms in Berwick (10.9 km into the walk, food served all afternoon). 

Tea: Papachino’s at the Galley, Marine Parade and Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club, both near the station. Or walk on to Seaford for pubs...

 

For walk directions, map, height profile, and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.379

Late at Tate Modern

The detailed programme for Late at Tate Modern will only be available two weeks in advance.  Most events do not require tickets,  but some do.  If you wish to attend the latter, you will need to book a ticket when the programme comes out.   Some information about the night is currently on the Tate website, please click here.  I recommend that you check the Tate website near the time.

Several regular exhibitions (see below) are also open during the late opening.  I am told by the customer service that tickets are only released for online booking 2 weeks in advance. 

A World in Common, for details, click here 

Capturing the Moment, for details, click here

Philip Guston, for details, click here

Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Rooms, for details, click here   -  Unfortunately, this very popular  exhibition will not be open on the night.  

Meet at Turbine Hall Entrance (or close by) at 6:15pm.  

If you wish to book any event/exhibition, please book 6:30pm

Post Exhibition F&B:  Founder's Arms, for location/details, please click here.   

A Whatsapp group has been setup for participants.  If you wish to join,  please send your mobile number at least a day before to swcsocialATgmailDOTcom.  

Evening Walk - Royal Parks in the Dark (without Kensington Gardens)

Length: 5.0 - 6.0 km

Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hrs

 

Meet: Lancaster Gate Station (at street level on Bayswater Road) at 18.30 hours.

Lancaster Gate is on the Central Line in Zone 1, Paddington Station is a 5-minute walk away. 

Finish: Whitehall, near Charing Cross/Embankment & Westminster stations. All are in Zone 1. 

Drop-Outs: Hyde Park Corner, Green Park or St James’s Park tube stations, or buses.

 

Map-led, through Central London's extensive parks. With Kensington Gardens closing at dusk and off limits, we will explore Hyde Park in more detail than usual on this walk, then commence through Green Park and St. James’s Park.

 

Eat/Drink: Numerous options around Westminster/Whitehall/Trafalgar Square.

 

For walk directions, map, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.19.a

The Pilgrim's Way and Surrey slopes: Dorking circular via Friday Street

Length: 11.5 miles (18.5 km) 6/10

This walk has worked really well at this time of year with good paths, autumn colour and mushrooms. Friday Street with its pond makes a satisfying place to aim for even in the absence of the Stephan Langton pub.

Travel: 1011 from Victoria (Clapham Junction 1018, Epsom 1052), arriving Dorking Main station at 1107. You could get the 1024 from Waterloo (arr 1116) and catch us up. The 1000 from London Bridge to Redhill, changing on to the 1043 to Dorking Deepdene arriving 1055, would give you time to intercept the group on the road from Dorking Main station. Returns at 30 past the hour to Waterloo, 17/43 to Victoria and 58 from Dorking Deepdene to London Bridge via Redhill.

Lunch: The Wotton Hatch (01306-887694) on the A25 at Wotton after 7½ km, serves food all day and has a large beer garden with views of the North Downs, although it inevitably has some traffic noise from the main road. As far as I know the Stephan Langton in Friday Street is still for sale.

Tea: quite a few options in Dorking, see the main walk page.

Shortening the walk: the short walk on the walk page avoids takes a lower route from Wotton to Westcott, avoiding the ascent through woods to Friday Street, to make a walk of 10 miles/16 km (4/10). Those with local knowledge may also be able to show you how to avoid the steep ascent of the Nower on the way into Dorking towards the end of the walk.

For walk directions, map and GPX click here

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