Saturday Walk - Box Hill Circular, via Betchworth

Box Hill Circular via Betchworth

Length: Length: 16¾ km (10.4 miles). Toughness: 5/10

09:41 Dorking train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 9:48), arriving Box Hill & Westhumble at 10:37

Buy a return to Box Hill & Westhumble or Dorking (same price). If you want the option to do one of the alternative endings (see the walk document for details), get a return to Dorking.

Return trains from Boxhill are at xx:35 to Waterloo & xx:46 to Victoria (from Dorking at xx.32 to Waterloo, xx.17 and xx.43 to Victoria

You may recognise the villages of Betchworth and Brockham from another walk, but this walk offers some novelty: the inside of a large chalk quarry (and maybe its pair of peregrine falcons), fine views across parkland towards the North Downs and there's an opportunity to visit the ruins of Betchworth Castle (detour at point 41 in the directions).

The Red Lion in Betchworth (01737-843336) has been well received by past walkers. You may wish to call in advance but their website says they accept walk-ins with no booking. Fifteen minutes further on the walk route also passes the Dolphin (01737-842288), for which booking ahead is advised.

Not long after Betchworth, you arrive in Brockham where it's worth stopping for a drink at the friendly The Royal Oak and Meerkt Retreat pub. In its garden, you'll find the family of meerkats. The pub also serves traditional pub food.

The church in Brockham sometimes offers Teas on the Green with home-made cakes.

The Village Hall contains the Reading Room Coffee and Cake House and a Real Ale pub, The Taphouse.

For end of walk refreshment, there is the Stepping Stones pub near Box Hill station

For full details and to download your copy of the directions see the L=swc.396 page.

Saturday Walk - Saunderton Circular via Bledlow

T=2.2

Length: 17.3km (10.7miles), 4.5 hours. 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 0952 From London Marylebone arriving Saunderton 1051 (zone 6 is West Ruislip). If late, or, catch the 1002, changing at High Wycombe (1027 - 1045) for the above train. Return trains at xx57. Again, change at High Wycombe for a faster journey.

Lunch: The suggested lunchtime place is the Lions Bledlow (tel 01844 343345), 7km from the start of the walk, food from 12 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.

(the brief appearance of Little Kimble was scuppered by the Pink & Lily being closed)

Saturday Walk - Fine Views and Buttercups on the NDW from Sandling to Wye

SWC 24: Sandling to Wye Along the North Downs Ways t=swc.24

Distance: 13 Miles/20.9km

Difficulty: 6 out of 10

Train: Take the 9:40 AM train from London St. Pancras (9:48 from Stratford International), changing at Ashford (arriving 10:18; departing 10:25) arriving at Sandling at 10:36 OR take the 9:04 AM direct train from London Charing Cross (9:13 from London Bridge). Return trains from Wye are at 22 past the hour with a choice of destination and speed.

This lovely walk follows one of the finest sections of the North Downs Way (NDW) along the edge of the North Downs escarpment – in many ways it feels more like the South Downs - with fine views for nearly the whole walk. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions/route here.

Lunch is at the Tiger Inn ( 01303 862130 ) in Stowting, 9.3km (5.8 miles) into the walk, an alternative is also available a bit further on on a short diversion -- the Five Bells in Brabourne.

In Wye, the Tickled Trout is the recommended tea/drinks stop. However, there are some other options available as well.

Wednesday Walk - Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

T=1.45

LENGTH 15.8km (9.8 miles)

TOUGHNESS 5/10

TRAINS Take the 10.06 from Marylebone (usually platform 6) arriving at Princes Risborough at 10.51

Trains return to Marylebone from Great Missenden roughly half hourly at .03 and .33 ( Consult your favourite train app for exact times)

As the starting and ending  stations are on different lines you’ll need to buy a return to Aylesbury (any route permitted) where both converge 

A cheaper option would be two singles, one from Boundary Zone 6 to Princes Risborough and another from Great Missenden to Boundary Zone 6

£16.10 versus £14.45 (with Freedom pass and Senior Rail Card)

LUNCH A choice of 

https://www.thegate.pub/   or

https://www.thepolecatinn.co.uk/about

TEA There’s a Costa with Matilda’s, an independent cafe near the station and two pubs of which the George has had an excellent review from Mr. Tiger. 

The Wild Kite taproom and bottle shop on Station Approach appears to have closed permanently after 6 years on April 26.

L=1.45

Monday Walk Whit Bank Holiday Walk - Amberley to Arundel - The South Downs, Burpham, River Arun and Arundel Park

Start Book 2, Walk 22 - Amberley to Arundel

After Lunch, Book 1, Walk 32 - Arundel to Amberley (R)

Length: 17.5 km (10.9 miles)

Toughness: 6 out of 10

London Victoria:  09-35 hrs  Southern Service to Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis  CJ 09-42,  EC 09-53

Train splits at Horsham - be in the section (usually rear 4 coaches) for Bognor Regis

Arrive Amberley: 10-58 hrs

Return: Arundel to London Victoria:  14 & 44 mins past the hour

Rail ticket: buy a day return to Arundel

This combination walk mixes and matches the start of Jane's Book 2 walk along the South Downs before switching to the classic Book 1 walk at Burpham, to reverse the directions to Arundel via South Stoke and the lovely Arundel Park.

Lunch can be taken at the very popular (and usually busy) George Inn in Burpham. You might be lucky if you book ahead for an indoors table, but you can usually find an outdoor table if the weather "co-operates" today. Picnickers use the benches outside the church, opposite the pub. 

In the afternoon you head for the Duke of Norfolk's modest back garden - Arundel Park - before you arrive in the centre of the town. See the directions for tea and pub stops in Arundel. The railway station is a 15 minute walk from the centre of town. 

T=1.32

If you haven't tried this combination walk before I think you will enjoy it. You will find the directions for the start of the Book 2 walk and the reverse directions for the Book 1 walk after the main directions in the Book 1 walk - here :  L=1.32 

Sunday Walk: Theydon Bois to Epping

15.5 km 10 miles 3/10

A pleasant rural walk near London, devised by the London Walker User Group in collaboration with SWC There are written directions for guidance but use of the GPS route is advised.

Places of interest en route include nature reserves, an old church and a Railway Heritage Centre.  

This walk was requested for today to mark the 3 years since we lost Stephen Backes (aka Bridie). The walk is, of course, open to all, but, for those who knew him, an optional spur in the afternoon takes you to where he lies.

Transport 

Get the Central Line to Theydon Bois to arrive at 10.30. Use Journey planner to time your arrival. 

Finish at Epping Station, also on the Central Line. Both stations are in zone 6. It is also possible to finish at North Weald and get a bus to Epping. Maybe even a heritage bus. 

Lunch

The recommended stop is the Dog House, (formerly the Moletrap) open from 12 tel: 01992 522093 Picknickers can stop at the nearby village pond. (There’s a bench). Booking advisable

You also have the Kings Head in North Weald tel:01992 525001 and a café at the Railway Centre 

Tea

The earliest version of this walk rounded things off with a visit to the Theydon Oak, which on one memorable occasion was hosting a beer and cider festival. Guess what walkers, they're hosting another one today! Directions to that pub have been restored as an alternative ending.

For a quieter end to the day, the main route takes you past The Garnon Bushes pub 13 km into the walk +44 1992 560211

There are also any number of pubs in Epping High Street including the George and Dragon, the Black Lion and the Duke of Wellington, as well as various cafes. 

Directions here.  t=swc.409

Sunday walk: Berwick to Exceat or Seaford

14.4km (8.9 miles) or 12.4 km (11.9 miles)

7 out of 10: two extended hill climbs, otherwise flat or gently undulating

Over the South Downs to the sea. Through Wilmington, with its famous Long Man figure, through Alfriston, a stretch of riverside, up and over High-and-Over-Hill, and then on to Exceat. You can finish the walk there by catching a bus to Seaford or continue via Cuckmere Haven and a cliffside walk to Seaford.

Trains

9:46 from Victoria, change at Lewes (arr 10:52, dep.11:13, platform 3) reaching Berwick at 11:24.

Return from Seaford xx:59 (fastest) to Victoria changing at Lewes platform 2, or …. xx: 33 changing at Brighton for London Bridge.  

 A day return to Berwick will usually be accepted from Seaford. If not, you may have to pay a single back to Lewes.

To end the walk at Exceat, catch a 12, 12a or 12x bus to Seaford from the Seven Sisters Visitor Centre stop (every 10-15 minutes).

Lunch An early option is the Long Man Inn in Wilmington (01323 368 525) (Wilmington church has an old yew and a charming "bee and butterfly" window).

Or save yourself for the George Inn (01323 870 319) in Alfriston after 5.8 miles. There are several teahouse there, too.

'Tea', Exceat  There's the Cuckmere Inn (01323 892 247) by the Cuckmere, or, perhaps handier for the bus, the "Grab and Go" (hot /cold drinks, cakes, sandwiches etc.) in the Visitor Centre courtyard open till 5

Tea, Seaford

There is, reputedly, a tea kiosk on the seafront open until about 6pm, also the pleasant Plough Inn, just before the church. However, a walker's favourite is the  Steamworks micropub on the station, which serves coffee, tea and cakes as well as beer, and is open till late.

Directions: here  T=swc.90

Saturday Walk: Gerrards Cross to Cookham

9.6 miles 15.4 km Difficulty 2/10

Across Bulstrode Park, past lakes and through woods, including Egypt Wood and Burnham Beeches, to a pub in Littleworth Common. (An  optional 1.5 mile diversion would take you deeper into Burnham Beeches with its elderly gnarled inhabitants and, if you can find it, a mysterious ancient moat). Cookham is associated with the artist Stanley Spencer whose memorial stone is in the churchyard.  There is a small Spencer gallery in the town, open to 4:30..  

Travel:  10:37 train from Marylebone arriving Gerrards Cross 11:07

Return from Cookham at xx:14 changing at Maidenhead for Paddington.,

The return journey is on a different line and requires a different ticket.

So that’s a single from Marylebone to Gerrards Cross and a single from Cookham to London.

An All-Zones Travelcard  + singles from/to the London boundary may be cheaper. 

Freedom Pass holders can return free from Maidenhead on the Elizabeth line.  

Lunch (early) An early temptation, the White Horse in Hedgerley (01753 643225) is renowned for its real ale, and guess what, walkers, they have a beer festival this weekend, so there’ll be even more temptation. 

Lunch (proper) The original lunch pub closed last year, leaving the Blackwood Arms, 01753 645672 a short out-and-back distance from the route. (The deeper delve into the Beeches actually passes this pub).  Advisable to book.

Tea:  there are a few places in Cookham High Street 

Infusions 01628 528 537 has a garden.

The Teapot at Cleve Cottages – open till 5.

For yet more drink, the  Kings Arms 01628 530667 is suggested. 

Other pubs are available.

It is 15-20 mins to the station from the High St. so allow time. 

Walk directions  here  T=1.40

Saturday Walk - East Grinstead Circular

Length: 17.6km (10.9 miles) or 20.5km (12.5 miles) T=swc.40

9.50 train from Victoria (9.57 Clapham Junction, 10.10 East Croydon) to East Grinstead, arriving 10.50

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

I feel like I am constantly trying to rehabilitate this walk after it had a couple of disastrously muddy winter outings about a decade ago. It definitely will not be muddy at present!!, even if we have had some rain this week.

It is a very pleasant little Wealden walk, not too hilly but with a nice range of territory, and a gratifying plethora of lunch options (including the Chequers and Brambletye pubs and the Java and Jazz Cafe which does Italian food in Forest Row) and tea options (coffee chains, cafes, pubs in East Grinstead).

You also pass the National Trust Standen House in the morning: if you want to visit it, there are short walk options designed for that - see the walk home page or walk directions.

After lunch there is a choice of a standard ending - the 10.9 mile walk - or a longer one - the 12.5 mile walk. Both are very nice! 

The standard ending passes Tablehurst Farm quite soon after Forest Row, a possible tea stop (through very soon after lunch).

The longer option loops round the Bewl Water Reservoir and comes back to Standen, and you may just get there in time for tea (closes 5pm). The tea room is inside the paywall, so to speak, but right by the property entrance, so they might just let you in free if you arrive late and say you want to spend money on refreshments: there is also a back way into the property for National Trust members only. There is also a pub with a fairly nice garden - Old Dunnings Mill - towards the end of this option.

Trains back are at 06 and 36 past the hour.

Evening Walk: Nonsuch Park & Warren Farm

Walk 352 – Nonsuch Park

Walking time: 1.5-2 hours. Toughness 1/10

17.55 Epsom service from London Victoria (calls at Clapham Junction 18:02 and various stations in south west london) arriving at Cheam 18:29

17.55 Epsom service from London Bridge (calls at Norwood Junction 18:10 and various stations in south west london) arriving at Cheam 18:32

Cheam station is in zone 5

There are 4 return trains each hour back to London

An easy journey from London, this short tour of Warren Farm (woodland Trust) and Nonsuch park can be as long or as short as you'd like it to be. There aren't any directions on the website for the Cheam start but it's only a 12 minute walk from Cheam Station - I'll 'lead' the way until the point where we join the official directions for the loop around the park.

Directions from Cheam station: If arrivng on the train from London, go down the stairs and though the tunnel to the opposite plaform and exit the station there. Continue ahead on Station Way to reach the main road (opposite The Railway Inn pub). Turn right on the main road. At the junction (traffic lights), cross the road and turn left. Then continue ahead on Ewell Road (park on your right) to enter Nonsuch Park at The Avenue entrance. A little further along The Avenue becomes a path and you enter Warren Farm on your left to follow the mapped route (initially in reverse). When you exit Warren Farm, don't turn left. Turn right and re-join the mapped route (in the correct direction now). You are now at Point 39 in the written directions, turning diagonally left to follow the route around the park.

There several pubs and restaurants to choose form back in Cheam, including:

The Railway Inn, a CAMRA pub at 32 Station Way, Cheam, SM3 8SQ. Telephone: 020 8642 7416. Serves Real Ale - not sure if it serves food.

Ye Olde Red Lion, 17 Park Rd, SM3 8QB. 020 8642 5108 (The one with the Priest Hole)

The Harrow Inn, High St, SM3 8RL. Tel: 020 8652 9476

The Grumpy Mole, Ewell Road, SM3 8AA. Tel 0208 394 2000

Pizza Express, 4-6 Ewell Rd, Cheam SM3 8BU

Please download your own copy of the directions from the L=swc.352 web page.

Wednesday Walk - Knockholt Circular

Walk SWC.7 – Knockholt Circular

Length: 18.5km 11.5 miles Toughness 7/10. You could join or leave the route at lunchtime by bus.

10:01 Sevenoaks service from London Charing Cross (calls at Waterloo East 10:04, London Bridge 10:10, Lewisham 10:19 etc...) arriving at Knockholt 10:50

Knockholt station is in London Travelcard Zone 6

Return trains xx.28 and xx.57

TFL bus 146 runs between Downe and Bromley

An easy journey from London, this is a pretty and completely rural walk through a mixture of woodlands and open stetches. There are some lovely views and wildflowers. Shortly after lunch, you pass Down House, once home to Charles Darwin and now open to visitors.

There are two pubs to choose from for lunch in Downe:

The Queen’s Head, High Street, Downe, BR6 7UT (01689 852145)

The George and Dragon, High Street, Downe, BR6 7UT (01689 889030)

Or, a little further along in Cudham, The Blacksmith's Arms, Cudham Lane South TN14 7QB (01959 572678)

For tea, Coolings tea shop 2.6km from the end of the walk is open until 16.30: Arthur’s Coffee Shop and Restaurant, Cooling's Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill, TN14 7NN (01959 532269 )

Remember, these walks don't have a leader so you'll need to download your own copy of the directions from the L=swc.7 web page.

Scotland 2025: Onich (near Glen Coe)!!!

We are pleased to announce that plans for the annual SWC Scottish trip are afoot for the week of 19 May 2025 to 26 May 2025 (Monday to Monday)!  We have secured a collection of small chalets in Onich with views of Loch Linnhe. This location is roughly midway between Fort William and Glen Coe so has access to a wide range of hill walks. For more information on walks in the area, see Glencoe and Kinlochleven walks (Walkhighlands) and Fort William and Glen Nevis walks (Walkhighlands).

For more information about the trip and to check availability, please contact goepfertkarenATyahooDOTcom.

Sunday Walk – Redhill Circular, via Bletchingley

Extra Walk 425 – Redhill Circular, via Bletchingley

Length: 20 km (12.4 miles), with shorter endings available (see below). Toughness: 4/10

10:06 Reigate train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 10:13, East Croydon 10:22), arriving Redhill at 10:40. Alternatively the 09:48 Horsham train from Blackfriars (not via London Bridge) arrives a few minutes earlier at 10:31. [If you take this Thameslink service, wait for the Southern train near the front of Platform 3 because the walk notes suggest exiting there, not via the main exit in the ticket hall.]

If you miss both of these you could get off the next train at the stop before Redhill and do the walk's alternative start from Merstham. You should connect with the main group where the two routes join at Spynes Mere.

Trains return from Redhill at xx:16 & xx:54 to Victoria and around xx:13 & xx:41 to Blackfriars. You can use Oyster or contactless at Redhill but you might find that buying a day return paper ticket is cheaper, especially with a railcard discount.

This walk's début in October was cursed with poor weather. One of the few hardy souls who turned up later confessed to being unable to recall anything about it, so this might as well be labelled a New Walk. Much of it is relatively flat as it takes in a series of lakes and nature reserves created from worked-out sand quarries, but it does include a couple of steady climbs up and over the Greensand Ridge.

For this Sunday I'm proposing the walk's longer version, via Bletchingley. I suggest skipping the Inn on the Pond (which you'll pass at around noon) and breaking for lunch an hour later in one of Bletchingley's hostelries, the Whyte Harte Hotel or the Red Lion. The village also has a tea room and there's a churchyard for picnickers. If you complete the full walk to Redhill there are several refreshment places in its pedestrianised town centre.

Shorter Endings: If you want to cut the walk short after the 10 km morning leg, two buses an hour go through Bletchingley to Redhill. On the afternoon leg you could divert to Nutfield station (after 13¼ km) for an hourly train to Redhill at xx:53, or to Earlswood (16¼ km) for an hourly train at xx:08. If you might want to do any of these options, check the walk document for the relevant train ticket and bus details.

Please bring the directions from the L=swc.425 page.

Sunday Walk - Pewsey Circular: North Wessex Downs, a Chalk Figure, some stunning views across the Vale of Pewsey

Length: 27.0 km (16.8 mi) [shorter walk possible, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 380m

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours

Toughness: 6 out of 10

 

Take the 10.30 Paignton train from Paddington (11.01 Reading, 11.16 Newbury , 11.25 Hungerford), arriving Pewsey at 11.37.  

Return trains : 16.58 (73 mins), 19.01 (70 mins) or 22.14 (79 mins).

Split Tickets and Network Railcards: All return trains stop in Newbury and Reading and all but the last one also in Hungerford, so a split ticket London – Hungerford and Hungerford- Pewsey will give you the best prices (unless you are planning to take the last train back, in which case split the ticket at Newbury). The Network Railcard is valid to Hungerford, so split the ticket there AND take a return train no later than the 19.01.

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 options are 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 (20.0 km, open all day), also in Honeystreet, plus one other en route and several others in Pewsey; check the walk directions pdf.

 

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

Saturday Walk - Henley Circular via Great Wood Walk

Temple Island, Hambleden & the Great Wood

Length: 16.1 km (10 miles)

Toughness: 3 out of 10

This is a very pretty walk, out along the sparkling waters of the river Thames, and back via the hills above. You follow the Thames path in the morning to attractive hamlet of Hambleden with its brick and flint red roofed buildings. The return is via the wooded geological terrace above river.

After lunch, the walk for the next 2.5km takes you through the Great Wood, the endlessness of which gives an inkling of how most of Britain must once have been. From the village of Fawley with its church and mausoleum, the walk returns along the Oxfordshire Way, past the manor of Henley Park, to Henley for tea.

Travel:  Take the 10.08 train from Paddington to Twyford (arrives 10.37) change to the 10.45 train from Twyford, arriving Henley on thames 10.57.

Return trains: xx.00 and xx.30 mins past the hour.

Ticket: Return to Henley on thames

Lunch: Lunch: The Stag & Huntsman (01491 571 227), in Hambleden. For picnics, the nearby church.  There is also a little shop with benches outside, which does sandwiches, cakes etc.

Tea:  Plenty of options in Henley, including The Chocolate Café in Henley (now renamed as Viv’s) and the Weatherspoons or The Angel on the Bridge pub to name but a few.

T=1.1

Extension:  If you would like to extend this walk (by about 2 miles), then continue along the Thames towpath towards Shiplake passing a pretty lock and weir and a watermeadow.  You then vier off the path towards Shiplake station through the suburb.  Trains back to xx.o4 and 00.34.  Pub near the station is the Baskerville Arms. Your Henley ticket will cover you for the return to London from Shiplake.

Saturday Walk - Balcombe Circular via Nymans (National Trust)

Length: 19km (11.8 miles), 5 hours walking, 5 out of 10

"This walk is full of small delights: a nature reserve and lake with Japanese pavilion down by the stream below the impressive gardens and park of Nymans (National Trust) with its part-ruined manor house; a churchyard in Slaugham (pronounced 'Slaffam') with a 600-year-old yew tree some 10 metres in circumference; the ruins of Slaugham Manor; then a walk down to the River Ouse."

You should use the online directions in order to get the route to a tunnel under the A23 (motorway)

Trains: Get the 1005 Thameslink Brighton train from London Bridge (East Croydon 1019) arriving 1046. Return trains are xx25 xx55.

Lunch: Early in Handcross at the Red Lion, after 3.5 miles, 5.6km. After 7.6km there is the Heritage in Slaugham, an altogether more upmarket place.

After 7.5 miles, 12km (3 hours) you get to Staplefield and The Victory Inn (tel 01444 400 463) all day at weekends for a late lunch or early tea. On the other side of Staplefield Green, some 300 metres north of the Victory Inn, The Jolly Tanners (tel 01444 400 335), a family run village pub with a pleasant beer garden. This gives you only 3 miles left to get to the station.

Tea: The Half Moon, an excellent community pub.

T=1.16

Saturday Walk - Pulborough to Halfway Bridge or Petworth via Tillington

Length: 26.0 km (16.1 mi) [shorter or longer walk possible] 

Ascent/Descent: 484/467m  

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours 

Toughness: 7 out of 10

 

Take the 09.05 Portsmouth Harbour & Bognor Regis train from Victoria, arriving Pulborough at 10.22 (you have to be in the rear part of the train, as it splits in Horsham) [CJ 09.12, EC 09.23]. 

After the walk you will need to catch a Bus Line 1 (Midhurst – Worthing via Pulborough Station) from Halfway Bridge. The bus leaves Midhurst hourly on xx.30, then 15.35, 16.40, 17.50 and 19.00 and passes Halfway Bridge six minutes later, Tillington 11 and Petworth 14 later resp. 

Return trains: xx.24 and xx.54.

This walk is a winding excursion through the Rother and Lod valleys in central West Sussex, routing through various quaint, remote villages, some atmospheric woods and several fine commons, part-wooded, part sandy heathland. Frequent southerly views of the South Downs and of Black Down to the north and long stretches in deep, shady holloways add to the mix, making this a very varied outing.

After leaving Pulborough on a westerly route familiar from other walks, past the picturesque Stopham Bridge and church and on to Littleworth Common, the walk leads in a southerly direction through the Rother valley and picks up the Serpent Trail Long Distance Path up to the idyllic Sutton Common heathland and various woods to Burton Park, a large estate with multiple ponds in a fold of the South Downs.

Leaving the Serpent Trail, the two recommended lunch options are back in the Rother valley, in Coultershaw Bridge and Tillington, and in the afternoon the route rises to Upperton and Hoe Hill, in between dropping into the Lod Valley through woods and fields. The finish is a descent back to the Lod River at Halfway Bridge, where another well-run pub helps whiling away the wait for the bus back to Pulborough.

Note: The route off Hoe Hill includes a precipitous descent down a very narrow and slippery gully.

Walk Options 

A Morning Shortcut cuts out Sutton Common heathland (cuts 1.2 km and 48m ascent).

An Afternoon Shortcut cuts out several woods and the last sharp ascents around Hoe Hill by taking a much more direct route through the Lod valley (cuts 4.4 km and 135m ascent). 

Bus Line 1 (see above) can be used for finishing the walk at Tillington (late lunch stop) and Petworth (reached shortly after lunch via an alternative route through Petworth Park). 

For an epic walk, use the alternative route after lunch through Petworth Park to Petworth and there pick up SWC 128’s Pulborough Ending.

Lunch 

The Badgers in Coultershaw Bridge (13.0 km/8.1 mi, food to 14.30); The Horse Guards Inn in Tillington (16.0 km/10.0 mi, food to 15.00).

 

Tea 

The Hollist Arms in Lodsworth (1.6 km from the end); The Halfway Bridge (a table has been booked for 18.00 hours); The Chequers Hotel in Pulborough (650m beyond the station.  

Tea in Petworth 

Audit Room Café at Petworth House (NT); Plenty of options in Petworth.

 

For walk directions, map, height profile , photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.294