Wednesday Walk - St. Margarets circular (with shortcut 1)

T=swc.165

L=swc.165

LENGTH 12.6km (7.8 miles)

DIFFICULTY 1/10

TRAINS. Take the 10.12 from LIVERPOOL STREET Station, calling at TOTTENHAM HALE (Victoria Line) 10.25, arriving at St. Margarets 10.51

Buy a return to St. Margarets. 

Return trains are half hourly at .17 and .47 taking just over 40 minutes

LUNCH 

https://www.chequerswareside.com/

TEA

In the predicted  “heatwave” what about some beer/wine and crisps in the riverside garden of

https://www.mcmullens.co.uk/local-pub/jolly-fisherman/

As the outward and return legs of this walk run almost parallel and 7.8 miles may seem a tad short, it’s easily possible to improvise an extra mile or two before lunch without going as far as Shortcut 2 (12.2 miles)

Bluebells in the Evening: Oxleas Wood and Shooter's Hill (Falconwood Circular)

Length: 6.3 km with 124m ascent/descent

Net Walking Time: ca. 1 ½ hours

 

Take the 18.17 Southeastern service from Cannon Street (London Bridge 18.22, then via Lewisham (18.33) and Blackheath), arriving Falconwood 18.46. 

From Victoria, take the 18.03 Dartford train via Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye and Nunhead, arriving Falconwood at 18.39. 

Return trains : xx.10 to Charing Cross, 20.25 and xx.55 to Cannon Street, xx.17 and xx.48 to Victoria (change at Lewisham for London Bridge). Falconwood is in Zone 4.

 

This is an undulating route in the Royal Borough of Greenwich through several mostly ancient woodlands with a rich variety of plants and trees, up the southerly flank of Shooter’s Hill, past a large south facing meadow with far views across South East London (and a (daytime) café) and on through more woods past remnants of a stately home’s gardens to the architecturally interesting folly of Severndroog Castle, with its (daytime) tearoom.

The descent back to the station passes another terraced garden and drops along Oxleas Meadows to cross over into Shepherdleas Woods for the return to Falconwood station.

Tea: The Falcon A Harvester pub right by the station.

For walk directions, map, photos, height profile and gpx/kml files click here . T=short.44

Sunday Walk: Knebworth to Hitchin

11.6 miles, difficulty 4/10.

This walk, a variant of the Knebworth Circular, goes through Knebworth Park, glimpses Knebworth House and, later, passes near the ancestral home of the Queen Mother. You also pass a church associated with the family, that’s worth a look. But today’s big stars are the bluebells in Graffidge Wood. “Arguably the best bluebell walk in the SWC repertoire” said one admirer. “Could eat Dockey Woods for breakfast” said another (me).

Trains:

Get the 10:02 (possibly Royston) train from Kings Cross, Platform 9 (Finsbury Park 10:08) arriving Knebworth 10:39.

Return from Hitchin at xx:00 and xx:30, with a slower train at xx:34. Get a return to Hitchin.

Lunch

The recommended choice, after you’ve turned onto the Hitchin walk, is the community-owned, CAMRA-recognised, Red Lion in Preston 01462 459585. You should reach this about 1:30. Booking advised.

An earlier possibility would be a short diversion to the village of Whitwell, using the main (circular) directions (page 9), to find Emily's Teashop 01438 871928. (The Bull Inn there 01438 871513 also does food.

Tea The directions recommend Halsey's Deli in Hitchin - near St Mary's Church - open till 5.

If it's beer you're after, try the Half Moon, 57 Queen Street (01462 452 448), winner of several CAMRA awards You'll find this on the right hand side where you would turn left into Bridge Street (para 25).

Walk Directions here

If you like to use a printout, the pages needed are 6-9, then 21-25. When you get to point 17 in the main walk, skip forward to page 21 where the walk to Hitchin continues. (If, perchance, you finish in Knebworth, trains back from there are at xx:44). t=swc.353

Sunday walk: Wye to Chilham

17.7 km (11 miles). Toughness 7 out of 10 (but the afternoon is mostly downhill)

This walk, an amalgam of two walk halves, goes high up on the Crundale Downs with breathtaking views, then past an isolated Norman church before stopping at a 15th C inn for lunch. There, you swap walks, following the escarpment (good place for a picnic), descending to Godmersham Park and, finally, visiting the picturesque village of Chilham with its teashop and two pubs. 

Shortly after Wye's Memorial Crown, you may catch an impressive display of flowering wild garlic as you descend through Collyerhill Wood. 

The Wye and Chilham circulars went out of favour for a few years, when the lunch pub stopped accepting walk-in trade, but, thankfully, it has changed hands. 

Trains:

• Either 09:34 Ramsgate train from Charing Cross (London Bridge 9:43) , arriving Wye 11:02, Cheapest.

• or: 10:04 Dover Priory High Speed train from St Pancras (Stratford Int. 10:12) and change at Ashford (arr 10:43 dep 10:56) onto the same Ramsgate train (Platform 5). Costs more.

• Trains back from Chilham are at xx:15. High speed passengers change at Ashford for the xx:40 back to St P.

• Get a return to Chilham.

Directions:

• For the morning you follow CW1.53 Wye Circular to point 26 (the Compasses Inn).

• For the afternoon you follow SWC.138 Chilham Circular from point 38 

• Some years ago, a kindly walk elf used magic walk-glue to splice the two written segments together. They are unlikely to have been updated since – but are available here, on a secret page, known only to walk elves. 

•  GPX files are available separately on the two walk pages. Follow Wye anticlockwise and Chilham clockwise.   

• If you forget what you're doing and find yourself back in Wye, there are half-hourly trains to Charing Cross, connecting with HS1 at Ashford.

Lunch  The Timber Batts at the Compasses, Sole Street, (01227) 531898 booking advised.

Tea :  

The White Horse, open till 10, or the Woolpack open till 7. Both in Chilham.

There is also a tea room, the Church Mouse, open till 5.

 Allow 20 mins to get from the village to the station. Nothing nearby.

Saturday Walk - Chippenham Circular

Map walk - Chippenham Circular 

Length: 17.9 km (11.1 miles). Toughness: 2/10 

Catch the 10:00 train from London Paddington to Chippenham, arrives 11:06. 

Return trains: xx:26, xx:56. 

As the walk starts after 11am, the recommend lunch at one of the pubs in Lacock 6km into the walk (which will add an additional 2km to the walk). A fairly easy walk with moderate climbs. Option for a longer walk via Bowden Hill 26.5km 

This is a map based walk, so there are only basic directions included, with more detail in certain sections where it is not so obvious. L=swc.408

Saturday Walk: Sevenoaks to Westerham

11.6 miles / 18.6 km

This is a lovely walk through Knole Park, then west along the Greensand Way with spectacular views of the Kent Weald.

The afternoon route passes through Emmetts Garden on a public footpath, handily passing the cafe.  If you want to look round the gardens you'll need to pay an entrance fee or be a National Trust member - this is well worth doing as the bluebells were looking very fine on Easter Monday and many other flowers were in bloom, including some particularly lovely tulips guarded by an electric fence.

Trains/Buses: 10:04 from Charing Cross, (10:07 Waterloo East, 10:13 London Bridge), arrives at Sevenoaks at 10:37.  You can now use contactless to Sevenoaks, and a single fare can be cheaper than a paper return ticket with railcard discount.  A return ticket however can be used for travel back from Bromley South to London Victoria.

Return from Westerham is by bus no. 246, which goes to Bromley North passing Hayes and Bromley South stations.  Oyster cards are valid on this bus.  The bus leaves Westerham Green at 15:39, 16:10, 16:41, 17:12, 17:43, 18:14 and then roughly hourly til late.

Lunch: an early stop is possible with a 1 km diversion to The Windmill at Sevenoaks Weald.  The usual stopping place is at Ide Hill, where you will find The Cock Inn and plenty of picnic spots.  There's also a Community Shop, passed a little before the village centre.

Westerham has plenty of places for refreshments at the walk end.

T=swc.20

Saturday Walk - Pulborough to Petworth - AGAIN!! Good bluebells!

Length: 12km (7.5 miles) to Petworth, up to 18.8km (11.7 miles) including a loop around the Petworth estate, and 23.8km (14.8 miles) for the circular walk back to Pulborough. T=swc.128

9.35 train from Victoria (9.42 Clapham Junction, 9.53 East Croydon) to Pulborough, arriving 10.52.

Buy a day return to Pulborough

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

Yes, I know this walk was posted a couple of Sundays ago, but only two people turned up on that occasion. Not sure why, as it is a great choice for this time of year. My memory is of several nice bluebell woods and pretty countryside on the way to Petworth. Definitely a good April walk.

It is 7.5 miles to the charming town of Petworth, where there are two pubs and some cafes for lunch. You can take it easy in the afternoon by doing a loop around the estate of Petworth House, which adds anything from two to four miles depending on the option you choose, or by visiting the house itself (National Trust: grand but a bit intimidating, if you ask me...). Either way you then catch a number one bus from Petworth back to Pulborough station (departing at 13.44, 14.44, 15.49, 16.54, 18.04, 19.14 and 19.44: 13 minutes journey time)

Alternatively, red-blooded walkers can walk back to Pulborough, making a total walk of 14.8 miles. The tea/drinks stop on this option is the extremely quaint White Hart at Stopham Bridge, 1.4 miles before the end of the walk. This serves drinks all afternoon, though its kitchen does not reopen till 6pm. There is nothing much in the refreshment line in the vicinity of Pulborough station.

Trains back from Pulborough are at 24 and 54 past.

Dear England at National Theatre

We missed this Olivier Award winning smash hit back in 2023 but it will return to National Theatre in 2025.  I am putting this advanced notice whilst cheap tickets are still available, tickets from £25. To book, please click here 

Some walkers have booked in Circle row B and some in Circle row E, both in the side block with lower seat numbers. 

The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?

The team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.

Writer James Graham (Punch, Nottingham Playhouse; Sherwood, BBC) updates his epic examination of nation and game to reflect Gareth Southgate’s final chapter as England manager. Rupert Goold (Patriots, Cold War, Almeida Theatre) once again directs this ‘back-of-the-net winner’ (The i).

Pre-Theatre meeting details:   meet at the ground floor of NT from 6pm for F&B.  You can choose from:

- Atrium Cafe - menu constantly changing,  for details, please click here. 

- KERB@the Understudy - serves street food and craft beers, for menu please click here. 

- Picnic - you can bring your own picnic and join the group for social.  

A Whatsapp group will be set up for this event.  If you wish to be on it,  please email with your mobile number to swcsocialATgmailDOTcom

Bluebells in the Evening: Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood (East Finchley to Highgate)

Length: 5.5 km/3.4 mi with 144m ascent

Net Walking Time: ca. 1 hours 20 mins

 

Meet at 18.45 hours downstairs at East Finchley Station (exit to the left) on the High Barnet Branch of the Northern Line. Journey time from Bank is 24 minutes.

Highgate is one stop closer to Central London. Both stations are in Zone 3.

 

This is an undulating meandering route in the Borough of Haringey through a couple of remnants of the ancient Forest of Middlesex, in one of the highest parts of Inner North London.

Both woods are very different in character and feel: Highgate Wood is only part ancient wood and has been managed for a long time, with several areas having been coppiced and others having been cleared, and it mostly has the appearance of a parkland wood. Queen’s Wood has a wilder, less managed and more challenging feel and consequently features a greater mixture of flora and fauna.

And while Highgate Wood is famous for its bluebell displays in season, these are largely confined to the northeasterly corner of the wood. In contrast, Queen’s Wood displays a fine mixture of wildflowers in season, amongst which are bluebells, wood anenomes and daffodils.

Both woods feature ancient – possibly pre-historic – earthworks and they also boast cafés for refreshments.

Walk Options: 

A Short Walk – of 3.7 km and with half the ascent – omits the more undulating Queen’s Wood. 

An Extension leads to Finsbury Park along the Parkland Walk, part of a dismantled railway line and now a very charming linear and raised Local Nature Reserve. This adds 3.5 km and is map-led.

Tea: See the pdf. The cafés are likely to be closed at that time, but The Woodman will certainly be open.

For walk directions, map, photos, height profile and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.49

Wednesday Walk - Tring – the classic circular via Ivinghoe Beacon

16.3 km (10.1 miles) 4/10

I've previously posted this walk earlier in the year, but I have noticed that it features on no less than five of the lists of recommended walks for April flowers, so suggest doing it today. It has an exhilarating start along the Ridgeway to the Chiltern escarpment and Ivinghoe Beacon, then by contrast, into the beechwoods of the Ashridge Estate. If it's too muddy on the approach to the Bridgewater Monument, a hard-surface alternative is possible. Finally a gentle descent back to Tring station, with tea at the Monument Cafe or the pub in Albury.

Travel: 1009 from Euston, arriving at Tring at 1051. Four returns trains an hour.

Lunch: the only possible pub lunch stop is the Bridgewater Arms, Little Gaddesden (01442 842 408). Located 10.2km (6.3 miles) from the start of the walk, this traditional country inn, now owned by Greene King, serves food all afternoon daily either in its restaurant or bar area. It also has a small garden. Fast walkers might be able to lunch at the Monument cafe – see below – especially if you short cut to avoid Little Gaddesden.

Tea: There's nothing by Tring station, but the Monument Cafe by the Bridgewater Monument on the Ashridge estate is a popular place for tea. It is self-service, with outside seating. Open till 4pm in winter, and 2.5 km from the end of the walk. Alternatively, the Greyhound Inn (01442 851228) or the Trooper (01442 949020), in the village of Aldbury, should be open for drinks. They are even nearer the end – say 25 minutes to be on the safe side. I think there's a village shop in Aldbury too.

Shortening the walk: You can go directly from Ivinghoe Beacon to the Bridgewater Monument, 4.7km (2.9 miles) for the most part on an easy gravel track through beech woodland but with occasional escarpment views. This misses out Little Gaddesden (and the lunch pub) and shortens the walk by about 2 miles.

For walk directions, map and GPX click here

T=2.5