Extra Walk 107 – Ash to Brookwood

Ash Ranges to Brookwood Cemetry

Length: 15.3 km (9.5 miles), with shorter and longer options.

Toughness: 5/10 (but more like 2/10)

Trains: 10am  train from Waterloo changing at Guildford (arr  Guildford 10:32, dep Guild. 10.43) arriving Ash at 10.52.
Trains return from Brookwood at xx:16, xx:23, xx:46 & xx:53 minutes past the hour (some stop at CJ).

 Ticket type: The Walk Notes say that a return to Ash is normally accepted from Brookwood (but to be sure, buy a return to Aldershot, which is valid to both stations).

Walk directions found here: https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/ash-to-brookwood/

This interesting walk was last posted in 2016.  The walk goes through the Ash Ranges but the walk poster has checked the government website and telephoned the relevant office, both of which confirmed there will be no firing on Saturday 30^th November 2024.  You cross this heathland habitat in the morning and the afternoon is an excursion through the huge and atmospheric Brookwood Cemetery (with directions for shorter and longer options). The full walk ends with a short loop around Sheet's Heath on the other side of the railway, but there's an exit from the cemetery to Brookwood station if you want to finish earlier.

The recommended lunchtime pub is the popular White Hart in Pirbright (01483 799715), with the nearby Cricketers Phone: 01483 473198 mentioned as a quieter alternative. Opportunities for refreshment at the end of the walk are limited, however.

You'll need to print the directions from the Extra Walk 107 page, which contains directions for an alternative walk just in case you see red flags at the entrance to the Ash Ranges.

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Saturday Walk - Chipstead to Kingswood

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Length: 15¼ km (9.5 miles). Four hours walking time. There are various shorter options described
5 out of 10

"This undulating walk takes in a varied landscape of ancient woodland, open downs and farmland. You will have plenty of company in the popular recreational areas of Banstead Wood and Chipstead Downs, but few dog-walkers venture across the railway into the network of footpaths, horse rides and quiet lanes which make up the walk's middle section.

On the other side of the railway a section along an open valley in Shabden Park and across a golf course takes you to an out-of-the-way pub for lunch.

The return route starts along a remote area of quiet country lanes and narrow paths, followed by a woodland path through the Shabden Park's Long Plantation. After going back across the railway the final section is around the southern edge of Banstead Wood and across farmland to Kingswood station."

This is a walk with loops, so gps followers take care! Always advisable to get the latest version of the instructions and gpx (Jan 24).

Trains: Get the 0940 Southern train from London Bridge to Caterham, Tattenham Corner (0958 East Croydon) arriving Chipstead 1025 . Return trains xx22 & xx52. Buy a return to Kingswood. These stations are on the same line and in Zone 6 so use Oyster.

Lunch: The suggested lunchtime stop is the Well House Inn (01737-830640) in Mugswell, after 5m, 8¼ km. Ramblers welcome & now seems to do food all day and have a large covered garden space.

Tea: The Waterhouse Café open to 3.30pm Mon–Fri on Waterhouse Lane. The alternative is the Kingswood Arms directly opposite the station.

Saturday Walk - Quiet Chalky Uplands of North West Essex - Wendens Ambo (Audley End station) Circular (Long or Short)

Length: 23.7 km (14.7 mi) or 17.5 km/10.9 mi

Ascent/Descent: 258m (full walk)

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours (full walk)

Toughness: 4 out of 10 or 3 out of 10 

 

Take the 08.58 Cambridge North train from Liverpool Street (Tottenham Hale [Victoria Line] 09.10), arriving Audley End at 09.50. 

Return trains: at xx.19 and xx.40. Buy an Audley End return.

Start an hour later for the short walk…

 

This is a relaxing walk in the quiet chalky uplands of north-west Essex, on the borders of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, very much off the beaten track, and with gently rolling hills, plenty of woods and copses as well as some pretty villages. Right from the start the walk takes you past picturesque thatched cottages with ample examples of pargeting, a decorative medieval plastering technique, and on through some farmland to the early lunch stop in Arkesden, one of the prettiest villages in Essex with one of the best pubs and loveliest churches.

The route then gently ascends to Chrishall, the dedicated lunch stop on the full walk, along field boundaries and green lanes. Chrishall village is close to Essex’ highest point and the approach offers fine views into the Hertfordshire plain and back down the wide ‘winding valley’ that gives Wendens Ambo its name. After lunch you follow the Icknield Way to Elmdon, with views north out across the Cambridgeshire plain to Cambridge, then alongside a high hedge with views off to your right into the winding valley back to Wendens Ambo.

A slightly longer, more westerly route (25.7 km/16.0 mi) takes you over Essex’ highest point itself. 

 

Lunch: The Axe & Compasses in Arkesden (4.9 km/3.0 mi) amazingly has reopened after a devastating fire in March 2022, but you will pass it before it opens for lunch (unless you start an hour later and do the short walk). So, there is only The Red Cow in Chrishall (13.1 km/8.2 mi, food to 14.30). 

Tea: The Bell Inn (open all day), 10 minutes from the station.

 

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here . T=swc.116

Evening Walk - Xmas has come early...The brand-new Canada Water Boardwalk, 2 Scandinavian Xmas Markets and a riverside pub crawl to the Winter by the River festivities: Canada Water to London Bridge (or Rotherhithe or Bermondsey)

Length: up to 4.5 km

Ascent: negligible

Net Walking Time: up to 1 hour (not including time spent at fairs and markets)

 

Meet: Canada Water Station (Library Exit at street level!!!) at 17.00 hours (Jubilee Line and Overground, Zone 2).  

Finish is at Rotherhithe Overground (1.6 km), Bermondsey Underground (3.1 km) or London Bridge Mainline and Underground stations. All are in Zone 2 or 1. Bus stops are never far away.

 

Meet at the Library Exit and walk the brand-spanking new Canada Water Boardwalk, then circle around the Water back to the station and pick up SWC Short Walk Rotherhithe (away from the river) for a very short stretch. At Albion Street, turn left to the Norsk Sjømanskirken/Norwegian Seaman’s Church for their Julebasar (Christmas Market), which closes at 18.00. Then walk two doors down back along the road to the Suomen Merimieskirrko/Finnish Church’s equivalent Christmas Fair, which closes at 20.00.

 

From there cross the Rotherhithe Tunnel towards the Overground Station (1.6 km into the walk), then pass through the historic Rotherhithe village, passing some famous pubs and continuing along the Thames through North Bermondsey and Shad Thames to Tower Bridge and the now empty former Town Hall and on to London Bridge Station. On this last stretch we venture through the Winter by the River fair, which closes at 22.00. 

 

Eat/Drink: Some legendary London riverside pubs en route and many food stalls, pubs and restaurants near the end.  T=short.54.a

Balcombe to East Grinstead

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LENGTH : 17.2km (10.7 miles)

DIFFICULTY : 6 out of ten

TRAVEL : Take the 0950 Thameslink train for BRIGHTON calling at St.Pancras 0950, Farringdon 0954, City Thameslink 0956, London Bridge 1005 and East Croydon 1019 arriving at BALCOMBE  1046

Buy a Balcombe return and try to blag your way past the barriers at East Grinstead. If unsuccessful, an extension to East Croydon can be purchased at the nearby ticket office.

Return trains from East Grinstead depart half hourly at .06 and .36, taking 59 mins to reach London Bridge.

LUNCH : My main purpose in posting this walk is to have a Wednesday Walkers seasonal lunch at the excellent Cat Inn in West Hoathly.

https://www.catinn.co.uk/

A table for six has been reserved for 1.30pm (only one place left). Advance booking essential as the Christmas dining out begins in earnest, but please note there is charge of £25 for each no-show not cancelling at least 24 hours in advance.

If feeling unwilling/unable to face the remainder of the walk buses are available from the village as follows,

To Three Bridges ( on the morning line) at 1535

To East Grinstead at 1640

TEA : The Old Dunnings Mill on the outskirts of East Grinstead.

https://www.olddunningsmill.co.uk/

Sunday Walk: Loughton to Epping

13.4km (8.4miles) Difficulty 3/10.  Through the ancient woodland of Epping Forest, renowned for its ancient pollarded trees (primarily oak, beech and hornbeam), supporting a wealth of rare insects and fungi. The afternoon takes you through open countryside.
Transport
The walk starts from Loughton Underground Station at 10.30am. Meet outside near the ticket gates.
Loughton and Epping are both in Travel Zone 6 on the Central Line. Trains are frequent. It takes about 37 minutes to travel from Oxford Circus to Loughton. Use the TfL journey planner to calculate your journey time from other stations.
There is car-parking at both Loughton and Epping underground stations.
Lunch
You first reach High Beach Visitor Centre where there is a refreshments kiosk (cash-only), toilets, café and the Kings Oak pub  (0208 508 5000). There are also picnic benches nearby.
The Horseshoes pub (01992  712745 ) in Copthall Green is better placed, with friendly service and good food. Nearby, the entrance gate to St Thomas’ Church leads to a pleasant grassy area with wooden benches suitable for a picnic.
Tea  There are pubs, cafes and restaurants in Epping High Street. Costas and Caffe Nero are open till 5:30. Stronger stuff available at the George and Dragon, the Black Lion or the Duke of Wellington.
Walk Directions here You can shorten the walk to about 5 miles by staying on the 3 Forest Way between paragraphs 7 and 30 t=swc.197

Knockholt Circular

SWC 7: Knockholt Circular t=swc.7

Distance: 11.8 Miles or 18.5 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 5 out of 10

Train: Take the 9:35 AM train service from London Cannon Street (stopping at London Bridge 9:40), arriving at Knockholt at 10:20. If you miss this train, you can take the 9:49 from Cannon Street/9:54 from London Bridge and change onto the specified train at Orpington (arrive 10:00; depart 10:14). Return trains from Knockholt are at 28 and 58 past the hour…. Buy a day return to Knockholt.

This is a charming little walk on the doorstep of London’s southeast suburbs. Notwithstanding its start point being in zone 6, it is a completely rural walk, and the route covers very pretty and undulating terrain. There are several wooded sections which may have some final foliage clinging the branches of the trees. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

There are two pubs to choose from for lunch in Downe – The Queen’s Head (suggested) and the George and Dragon (8 km into the walk). Also, a little further on is the Blacksmiths Arms in Cudham (10 km) into the walk. Tea is traditionally had at Arthur’s Coffee Shop and Restaurant located in Coolings Nurseries (2.6 km from the end of the walk). For those looking for stronger stuff, the Rose and Crown in Halstead is 2 km from the end of the walk.

Enjoy the walk!