Sunday Walk: Dorking to Reigate

7.8miles 12.5 km Difficulty 3/10

This walk part-follows the Greensand Way and the River Mole through the picturesque villages of Brockham, Betchworth and Skimmington. The church in Betchworth dates from 1080 (more importantly, it featured in Four Weddings and a Funeral). There's bit of a climb near the end of the walk, then down you go, down, down, down to the grounds of Reigate Priory.

Trains: Get the 10:02 Dorking train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:12) arr. Dorking Main 10:56.

Return from Reigate (Platform 1) at xx:04 direct to Victoria or xx:30 (direction Gatwick Airport) changing at Redhill to platform 2 for Victoria. 

A return to "Dorking stations" covers. You may have to use the intercom for the barrier at Reigate station

Lunch: The suggested pub is the Dolphin Inn  in Betchworth  01737 842288 phoning advised. 

Earlier, there's the "Royal Oak Inn and Meerkat Retreat" in Brockham (01306-733147), serving traditional pub food, with added meerkats (they’re in the garden).

The Skimmington Castle on Reigate Heath is a later one. 

Tea:

First up, there's a cafe in Priory Park.

Then, Monty Bojangles, 57 The High St, is recommended, open till 4:30. 

No pub mentioned in the notes but you could try the Bulls Head at 55 the High St.

Directions here

T=swc.16 

Sunday Walk - Didcot Circular

Didcot Circular t=swc.44

Train: Take the 9:47AM Hereford-bound train from London Paddington, arriving Didcot Parkway 10:28. Return trains are frequent -- 04; 09; 12; 46 and 56 past the hour. Buy a day return to Didcot Parkway.

Length: 22.1 km (13.7 mi)

Difficulty:  3 out of 10

This walk takes in an attractive part of the Thames Valley south of Oxford, with a lunchtime stop in Dorchester-on-Thames. This handsome village is now bypassed by the traffic but used to be an important staging post between London and Oxford. It has retained a large number of coaching inns and other pubs, so there's plenty of choice for refreshment. You should be sure to visit Dorchester Abbey , one of the few large monastery buildings to survive the Dissolution; it now functions as an impressive parish church. In the afternoon the walk comes to the Wittenham Clumps , the name given to a pair of Iron Age hill forts set in a Nature Reserve managed by the Earth Trust .

Lunch: The Fleur de Lys , The White Hart, or The George in Dorchester-on-Thames (11 km/7 mi).

Tea: the Prince of Wales (Greene King), right by the station and open all day, is the obvious watering hole to spend the time waiting for a train.

For more information and the walk instructions/GPX, click here .

Saturday Walk - A river valley, gentle pastures, Watts Gallery, woods, remote heathlands and heather covered moors: Guildford to Farnham

Length: 22.1 km (13.7 mi) 

Ascent/Descent: 281/243m

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours 

Toughness: 5 out of 10 (higher for the Hog’s Back start)

 

Take the 10.00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (10.25 Woking), arrives Guildford 10.32. From Clapham Junction take the 09.57 to Woking and change there. 

Return trains from Farnham are on xx.28 and xx.58 (changing at Woking may cut off a few minutes).  

Buy a Farnham return.

 

Pretty villages, gentle green pastures, and the country houses of retired stockbrokers. Then, after lunch, surprisingly wild and uninhabited Surrey heathlands - a vast area of woods and heather-covered moors (now past their best).

 

Options: 

-      Alternative Start via the Hog’s Back ridge (shorter but more strenuous); 

-      Guildford Circular (13.4 km);

-      Farnham Circular (16.2 km).

 

Lunch: Watts Gallery Café (10.00-17.00), The Good Intent in Puttenham (8.9 km, lunch served 12.00-14.30) on the main walk. Or on the Guildford Circular walk: The Withies Inn in Compton (7.2 km, lunch served 12.00-14.00). 

Tea: The Mulberry near the station plus several pubs further into town (check the webpage for details).

 

For walk directions, map, height profile, some photos, a video and gpx/kml files click here. T=2.12

Saturday Walk - Henley via Stonor - new variation to new lunch pub

Length: 23.4km (14.5 miles). T=2.6

Shorter options (no lunch pub!!): 19.1km (11.9 miles) or 14.4km (8.9 miles)

9.38 train from Paddington to Twyford, changing there (arrive 10.09, depart 10.16) for Henley-on-Thames, arrive 10.27.

From Ealing Broadway get the Liz Line at 9.26, arriving Twyford 10.05. This train leaves Tottenham Court Road at 9.11 and Paddington at 9.17

Buy a day return to Henley-on-Thames (not Henley-in-Arden)

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

Due to the closure of the original lunch pub for this walk, the Crown in Pishill, a new route was pioneered last year to a new lunch stop - the White Hart in Nettlebed. The walk directions to this were composed on the hoof by yours truly, so before the shorter days set in I want to give them a check. Not only is this a scenic addition to the walk, but it also brings the former “Stonor short cut” into play as part of the main walk: also very scenic, giving views of Stonor House not previously seen on the main walk. 

A shorter option would be to cut out the route to the new pub, making a walk of 11.9 miles, but you need to bring sandwiches if you are doing this as there is no pub stop on this option. The same applies to the original 8.9 mile short option for this walk. I can find no evidence that the closed Rainbow pub in Middle Assendon (3 miles into all walks) has reopened.

The main walk is a longish outing, I know, but we still have daylight to do it comfortably, which won’t be true much longer. 

In Henley the Chocolate Cafe is now called something else. It has riverside tables these days. 

Trains back from Henley are at 00 and 30 past until 20.00 and then hourly. 

Saturday Walk - Hurst Green to Chiddingstone Causeway (Penshurst Station)

t=2.16

Length: 20.5km (12.7m)
Toughness: 6 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:20 train from London Victoria, arriving in Hurst Green at 10:04. Return trains from Penshurst Station at xx:09 to London Victoria via Redhill and xx:22 to London Charing Cross via Tonbridge. Buy a day-return to Penshurst.

This is a lovely walk along parts of the Greensand Way. Lunch is at the Cock Inn in Ide Hill and tea is conveniently just next to Penshurst Station at the Little Brown Jug.

Evening Walk: Hampton Court and Bushy Park Short Walk

Hampton Court and Bushy Park Short Walk t=short.3

Distance: Approximately 4 miles or 7 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 1 out of 10

Travel: 18:12 South Western Train Shepperton bound train from London Waterloo, arriving at Hampton Wick at 18:42. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE CORRECT TRAIN STOPPING IN HAMPTON WICK (NOT Hampton).

Return trains run every fifteen minutes until 23:30.

This is one of my absolutely favorite evening walks and has proved to be a real cracker of a walk the past few years at this time of year. Plenty of magnificent beasts starting the annual rut!

The walk meanders through a combination of the public grounds of Hampton Court Palace and neighboring Bushy Park with its resident deer population. The grounds are varied with pretty gardens and water features. Please ensure you keep a safe distance from any deer spotted in Bushy Park and do NOT feed them – they are potentially dangerous wild animals!

Post walk refreshments and possibly a meal can be had at the Foresters Arms, open until 23:00 with kitchen open until 22:00.

More information about the route can be found here .

Look forward to seeing you there!

Wednesday walk: Walk and art: Folkestone circular and Triennial

13.9 km (8.6 miles) 5/10

If you've been to Folkestone you may have noticed lots of public artworks around. Every three years they are refreshed under the aegis of the Folkestone Triennial with various related events going on. Today I propose going down there and doing the relatively short Folkestone circular (an option on the Folkestone to Dover walk SWC 13) leaving time to walk round the artworks. There are 74 works on display this year; a map and a number of suggested walking routes are available here on the Triennial website.

If you don't want to look at the artworks you could do the main walk to Dover (14.8 km/9.4 miles).

Swimming may be possible at the Folkestone Warren (tide permitting - there are underwater rocks) and Sunny Sands beach.

Or you could skip the walk altogether and do a guided tour of the artworks or go to one of many fringe events.

Trains: To give enough time to do the Triennial justice or have lunch in the Royal Oak (see below) get the 1007 High Speed from St Pancras arriving at Folkestone at 1102. The 1004 direct from Charing Cross gets in at 1143 and obviously gives you less time there. I'm posting the walk a bit early in case anyone wants to try and get an Advance ticket. Otherwise if travelling high speed, make sure you get a super off-peak return to Folkestone.

Return trains at 50 (High Speed), 05 and 35.

Lunch: From the intro page “This is a good walk to bring a picnic. There are places on the clifftop and the Warren seafront is also an option. You may be able to get a light lunch at the Cliff Top Cafe, 7.9 km/4.9 miles into the walk. Otherwise the only lunch option is the Royal Oak (01303 244 787), situated 6.8km (4.2 miles) into the walk. A somewhat basic pub serving a caravan park, it serves food 12-2.30pm Monday to Saturday and 12-4pm Sundays, and is open all afternoon for drinks.”

Tea: The Harbour area has various pubs, including the quayside Ship Inn and a smart fish and chip shop, as well as a kiosk cafe with a deck jutting out over the harbour. The refurbished Harbour Arm (the former ferry port) has even more bars and restaurants, with good sea views. In the Old High Street on the walk back to the station there is the Steep Street Coffee House, open to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. I like Kipp's Ale House (corner of Old High Street and Bayle Street) but it doesn't open till 4.30. For all these options, note that Folkestone station is about a mile's walk from the harbour.

L=swc.13.c and choose the Folkestone Circular option.

Sunday Walk – Highgate to Hampstead

Extra Walk 257 – Highgate to Hampstead

Length: 15½ km (9.6 miles), with many ways to shorten. Toughness: 4/10

Take a Northern line tube (High Barnet branch) to arrive at Highgate (TfL Zone 3) by 10:45. Go through the ticket barriers and turn left to meet by the Priory Gardens exit.

Slug-a-beds could take the tube one stop further and start from East Finchley (also Zone 3). If the main group manage to avoid the temptation of an early coffee stop in Highgate Wood they should be passing through this station at around 11:15.

This urban stroll through London's “Northern Heights” goes through plenty of woods and green spaces; as it often gets posted in winter it will be a pleasant change to experience them when they're leafy rather than leafless. There's much of interest to be seen along the way and if you're not familiar with this part of London it's worth skimming through the Features section at the start of the walk document.

A pub lunch is possible halfway round at the Old Bull & Bush in North End, with the nearby Refreshment House café in Golders Hill Park as an alternative. In mid-afternoon there's a large café at Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath; the house is free to visit but you can book in advance if you want to guarantee entry. There are lots of refreshment places in Hampstead if you're not in a hurry to get away.

Please bring the directions from the L=swc.257 page.

Sunday walk - Effingham Junction to Westhumble

Polesden Lacy (dramatic NT country house) for lunch, steep woods opening out onto the North Downs Ridge, and an English vineyard for tea.

Length: 15.2km (9.4 miles)

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Trains: 10.32 from London Waterloo (10.42 Clapham Junction arriving Effingham Junction 11.25.

Return from Box Hill and Westhumble: xx.08 to Waterloo, xx.16 and xx.46 to London Bridge 

Buy a day return to Effingham Junction and a single from Westhumble to Leatherhead for the return journey.

Lunch: Polesden Lacey coffee shop has snacks and cakes and tables in the courtyard that picnickers often use. Its Granary cafe has more substantial plates.

Tea: Denbies Vineyard visitor centre has tea/coffee and cakes. The Stepping Stones pub near Westhumble station is another possibility.

For more details click the link L=2.14

Saturday Walk 289a Shoreham Figure-of-8

Extra Walk 289a Shoreham Figure-of-8

Alternate walk (shorter north and south loop): 9.6 miles / 15.5 km

• 9:46 Sevenoaks train from London Blackfriars, calling at lots of stations in south London (Elephant and Castle, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye etc..) and arriving Shoreham (Kent) at 10:46

• Or 9:55 Sevenoaks train from London Victoria and change at Bromley South (arr 10:11, dep 10:23) and join the above Sevenoaks train there. Make sure you buy a ticket to Shoreham (Kent), not Shoreham-by-Sea.

Direct trains back from Shoreham to Blackfriars are half-hourly, at xx:02 and xx:32. There are options to change at Swanley for a faster train to London Bridge or Victoria. I suggest checking on the day.

This is a figure-of-8 walk in the familiar surroundings of the Darent valley: you might prefer to do the northern loop first, coming back to Shoreham for lunch, and do the southern loop in the afternoon - then you have the option of an opt-out at Otford in the afternoon. The usual way round is the a southern loop via Otford followed by a northern loop via Lullingstone. You could take the train from there at lunchtime, if the weather turns.

Shoreham village has four pubs and as well as cafes. I'd suggest calling the pubs to book in advance. Your choice is The Crown (01959-522903; Kings Arms (01959-523100); The Mount Vineyard (01959-524008) and The Samuel Palmer (01959-525442)

I'm proposing the shorter version of the figure-of-8 walk, described in the text as the Alternative Walk. Click on option (a) to only download the relevant written directions.

You'll need to bring the walk directions from the Shoreham Figure-of-8 walk page. Clicking 'Alternative Walk' under Walk Options will save two or three sheets of paper and hopefully make them easier to follow.T=swc.289.a

Saturday walk - Berwick to Birling Gap - a final slice of summer

Options from 15.2km (9.4 miles) to 21.3km (13.3 miles): see text below - no need to choose which you do until the end of the walk

9.58 train from London Bridge - not Victoria as usual -  (10.12 East Croydon) to Lewes, arrive 10.57, changing there for the 11.14 to Berwick, arriving 11.25. T=swc.129

Buy a day return to Eastbourne

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

Summer is nearly over, so let's take this last chance to have a walk across the downs to the sea….

This is a lovely walk, and not over-strenuous: mostly flat apart from two climbs onto the downs. You start with a walk across fields to Wilmington. It is just three miles into the walk, but the lunch menu at the Long Man Inn (which replaced the Giant's Rest) looks nice.

You then pop into Wilmington churchyard to see the fabulous old yew and up to and over the Long Man of Wilmington chalk figure - your biggest ascent of the day. After that it is flat or downhill to Jevington, 6 miles into the walk, where the Eight Bells serves food until 3pm.

After this, another climb onto the downs, but a relatively gentle one, and a nice long walk along a flat ridge, with fine views, to Friston, reached in 9.4 miles. The very regular (4-5 an hour) 12, 12a, and 12X buses pass this way, taking you to Eastbourne station eastbound and Seaford station westbound, so you can finish the walk here, but it is only an extra mile (so 10.4 miles) to walk down the hill to the lovely Tiger Inn in East Dean: the same buses go from the village bus stop nearby.

Alternatively, the main walk route takes you down onto Flagstaff Point, where you turn left to walk over three of the Seven Sisters and arrive at Birling Gap (11.8 miles). The National Trust cafe here closes at 5pm. 

A swim in the sea is not impossible. It will be at or near low tide (5.36pm), which means the sea will have retreated across the rocks. But the area opposite the steps is mostly free of rocks, and the sea beyond will be nice and shallow, with a (mostly) sandy bottom

Since we are still on the summer timetable (it ends next weekend!!) you can get the 13X bus from Birling Gap: it goes at 16.06, 17.06, 18.05 and 19.05 to Eastbourne and 16.21, 17.21, 18.20 and 19.17 to Seaford.

Alternatively, you can walk the 1.5 miles inland to East Dean and the Tiger Inn, making a total 13.3 mile walk.

Buses from East Dean - 12, 12A, 12X - are very regular - four or five an hour up to 9pm: a bit less frequent after that. It is quicker to go to Eastbourne, but in extremis Seaford is not that far. In both directions the bus stops right outside the railway station.

Trains back from Eastbourne are at 05 and 33 past until 22.05, then 22.30

Trains back from Seaford are at 25 and 53 past to 21.53, changing at Lewes

This walk is posted by Walker Stand-In Services on behalf of Stargazer Overseas Enterprises Inc

Saturday Walk - Oxted to Lingfield

Length: 19½ km (12.1 miles). Four hours 30 minutes walking time.

4 out of 10 T=swc.135

"The walk goes across a meadow to the neighbouring village of Limpsfield , where a stained glass window dedicated to St Cecilia in St Peter's Church commemorates the celebrated musicians who are buried in its churchyard. After continuing over the wooded Greensand Ridge the remainder of the walk is across the Low Weald , a gently rolling landscape of scattered settlements.

The afternoon section is mostly across low-lying farmland but a number of low hills offer surprisingly good views. The walk crosses the River Eden and comes to a churchyard containing a magnificent ancient tree, the Crowhurst Yew .

The route into Lingfield is through Lingfield Nature Reserve , which includes a Community Orchard . The conservation area around the grand parish church contains many well-preserved buildings from the 16 th –18 th C. By the village pond there is another ancient tree (the Lingfield Oak) and a cage which was still being used to imprison miscreants in the late 19 th C."

Trains: Get the 0953  East Grinstead train from London Bridge (East Croydon 1010) arriving 1031 (if late get the 1000 London Bridge changing at East Croydon 1016 for the 1022 Uckfield arriving 1035. Return trains from Lingfield xx13 xx43 to London Bridge. No Southern trains from Victoria today. Buy a Lingfield return.

Lunch: the Royal Oak ( 01883-722207 ) on the edge of Staffhurst Wood, 10¼ km from Oxted.

Tea: In Lingfield the suggested tea place is Costa Coffee open to 6pm on East Grinstead Road, near the village pond, or with earlier closing times is the Red Rum Caffé or Greyhound pub . The closest place to the station is The Star , just outside the Old Town.

Wednesday Walk - Pangbourne Circular

T=1.4

A short walk with great views over the valley of the river Thames. 

LENGTH 8.5 miles (13.6km)

DIFFICULTY 3/10

TRAVEL. Take the 10.08 train from PADDINGTON arriving PANGBOURNE at 11.01 If you just miss this train, jump on the  10.15 CARDIFF train and wait at READING. 

Return trains are roughly half hourly. Buy a return to PANGBOURNE 

LUNCH You can divert easily to the Sun Inn at Hill Bottom which will be open for drinks, though almost certainly not doing food. As the walk is short it’s perfectly feasible to eat back in Pangbourne or its sister town Whitchurch. (Or bring a picnic, as most seem to do these days)

Previous walkers have said good things about the SWAN, which is near the station and has a riverside dining terrace. 

EXTENSION If you like you can add on another 3.5 miles to the walk by continuing along the Thames Path to TILEHURST station, covered by your return ticket. 

Directions here L=1.4

Evening Walk: Benfleet to Leigh-on-Sea on the High Road

SWC 268: Benfleet to Leigh-on-Sea on the High Road

Distance: 5.6 miles or 8.9 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 2 out of 10

Train: 17:43 Shoeburyness train from London Fenchurch St. Station (17:48 Limehouse and 17:53 West Ham), arriving Benfleet at 18:23 – buy a day return to Leigh-on-Sea

Return: Trains back from Leigh-on-Sea are at: 20:43; 20:57; 21:13; 21:27; 21:43; 21:46; 21:50: 22:20: 22:46 and 22:50.

A special treat for this week, a lovely sunset over the City from THE hill in Essex (see banner photo) with atmospheric castle ruins near where the Thames meets the sea on the way to Leigh-on-Sea… It should take about 2 hours to walk to Leigh-on-Sea – so time to have a meal in one if its many pubs before heading back to London. More information about the route can be found here .

Look forward to seeing you there!

t=swc.268

Sunday Walk: Chesham to Great Missenden

Difficulty 3/10 Length 15.5 km 9.6 miles (shorter pub-less option possible).

A varied Chilterns walk. Sloping fields, woods and hamlets, ending with a descent through Frith Wood into Great Missenden. 

Travel: Get the Metropolitan line to Chesham to arrive 10:47 (from Kings Cross St Pancras 9:39, Baker Street 9:49). Or plan your journey here.

Trains return from Great Missenden at xx:03 and xx:33

A zone 1-9 travel card (or Freedom Pass) will cover most of the journey. You will also need a single from Great Missenden to Amersham for the return.

Lunch The Cock and Rabbit, Lee Common 01494 837 540. Picnic possible on the nearby green.

Tea:  The George Ale House,  94 the High Street, is recommended. A proper real ale pub with a large selection and an oldie worldie feel. There's also the Cross Keys, and at least one café, Matilda’s, slightly nearer the station. 

Directions here t=2.4 Note that the ending was rerouted (2022) to avoid HS2 work. This is covered in recent directions and GPS 

Amberley to Pulborough

SWC Walk 39: Amberley to Pulborough

Distance: 15.9 Miles or 25.7 km for those more metrically minded with a shorter 12.3 miles/19.9 km version available

Difficulty: 8 out of 10 (6 out of 10 for the shorter option)

Train: Take the 9:35 AM Portsmouth Harbour train from London Victoria (stopping at East Croydon at 9:53), arriving at Amberley at 10:58. Return trains from Pulborough are at 04 past the hour until 21:04. Buy a day return to Amberley.

This walk always makes a very enjoyable and varied day out – in short, a nice long Sunday outing….It begins along the South Downs then passes through some hanging woods and across heathland before eventually arriving on the outskirts of Pulborough at the lovely ancient bridge in Stopham. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

The recommended lunch spot on the main walk is the Cricketers (01798 342 473) in Duncton (8.1 miles/13.1 km into the walk). For those doing the short walk, the recommended lunch stop is the White Horse (01798 869 191) in Sutton (5.9 miles/9.6km into the walk).

Tea and other late afternoon refreshments can be had at the White Hart in Stopham (1.4 miles/2.3 km before the end).

Look forward to seeing you there!

t=swc.39

Saturday Walk - Tring to Berkhamsted

CW2 Walk 5b  - Tring to Berkhamsted

Length: 20.6km (12.8 miles). Toughness 4/10.

Catch the 10:09 train from London Euston, arrives Tring 10:51. 

Buy a day return to Tring. 

If finishing at Tring 16.3 km (10.1 miles)

T=2.5.b 

Saturday Walk: Rainham to Grays (or Purfleet)

A PICNIC-ONLY walk

(but see Royal Hotel below)

Toughness 2 out of 10.

Rainham to Purfleet plus circuit of RSPB reserve: 12.6 km (7.9 miles) 

Rainham to Purfleet excluding reserve about 8km (5 miles)

Rainham to Grays including  reserve, 12.8 miles / excluding reserve (10.1 miles).

t=swc.203

Urban and gritty, just like us, an evocative, atmospheric walk completely flat, well signposted, and on tarmac or other hard surfaces. It starts through an area rich in flora and insect life. On the way to Purfleet, you pass concrete barges, abandoned since the D Day landings. Look out too for 'The Diver' sculpture in the river, and a string of jokey wooden ‘tombstones’. 

The RSPB Reserve at Rainham Marshes has a visitor centre, not quite what it was, now the café has gone, but there’s still picnic and toilet facilities. Entry to the reserve is free. 

Directions: I’m suggesting walk 203 as your main source because this describes both Rainham to Purfleet and Purfleet to Grays. (Walk 172 describes the same route as far as Purfleet).

On reaching the reserve, you have choices.

• Continue to Purfleet.
• Go further to Grays
• Return to Rainham, about 3 miles back. (For this, you would need the “return to Rainham” section of walk 172, Rainham to Purfleet, found on this page).  

On the approach to Purfleet, be sure to dip down to the museum building to look back at the impressive line of soldier silhouettes. 

A little later, the path veers from the river beside the Royal Hotel. 

Purfleet was one of Dracula's hangouts, but you should be alright, he's long undead.

The section past Purfleet is a walk of two halves. Look left, it’s grim and industrial, but look right and you got the river – and (possibly) oystercatchers. Other birds available.

One update: To regain the riverside after Purfleet, follow walk 203 to point 19 and, shortly after passing a gate on the right-hand side, go right through a gap between concrete blocks. This takes you back to the flood wall. Follow the 'land' side of it, left, sometimes between it and chain-link fence, over rickety bridges, through tunnels, until, eventually, you cross over the wall to the river side. You continue alongside a renowned graffiti wall (let’s be kind and say ‘street art ‘). Some is of high quality, some less so, and some is flaking away. 

En route, for a change of 'scenery', you have the option of a diversion inland through a nature area, to view a pre-Norman church. It’s more than the “few metres“ described, more like a few hundred. 

Travel:    

Get the 10:07 from Fenchurch St (Platform 15) calling at West Ham 10:17,  Barking 10:23 arriving Rainham 10:31. 

Trains return from Rainham at xx:03 and 33, from Purfleet, xx:28 and xx:58. Four trains an hour from Grays. The xx:22 and 52 via Rainham (furthest platform), the xx:00 and 30 via Ockendon (near platform).

Rainham station is in London Travel Zone 6. Purfleet is one stop beyond. and Grays is two stops beyond. Get a return to Purfleet or Grays. If covered for the zones, you would just need a single from Grays (or Purfleet) to Rainham.

Lunch: Picnic, Rainham Marshes RSPB Visitor Centre. .

Tea: Purfleet ending: Royal Hotel, Purfleet. London Road  01708 860 852). The Royal is located 450m from the station. (Despite its forbidding exterior, if you go round the front of the building, to the car-park side, you will find an entrance leading to its bar).They serve food on Saturdays 2-7pm.

Rainham ending: The Phoenix, A community-run pub, near the station. 

Near Grays, you’ve got the Wharf. There are probably other pubs nearer the station but, by then, Mr Tiger, who recently tested the route, was scurrying for a train and didn’t investigate.

The directions caution against doing the Grays section if there is a risk of flooding. (Looking OK at time of posting. Check here).

Saturday Walk - Eridge to Forest Row or East Grinstead

17.5km (10.9 miles) to Forest Row, 23km (14.3 miles) to East Grinstead T=swc.109

9.54 train from Victoria (10.01 Clapham Junction) to East Croydon, arriving 10.10. Change there for the 10.22 train to Eridge, arriving 11.03

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

Various bits of rail engineering work this week, so I have decided to roll with this one, which hopefully will only be a minor inconvenience. With no trains to East Croydon from London Bridge, the Eridge train will start from East Croydon today. So you have to get a train from Victoria to connect to it, as outlined. 

Reasons for picking this walk: 1) It is a nice Wealden walk: scenic and not too hilly. 2) Though it was done backwards in February, it has otherwise not had an outing since 2021. 3) It is nice to do Wealden walks before they get too muddy (ie as they do in winter).

And 4) there are longer and shorter options in case the weather is better or worse than expected: 

The longer option is to walk to East Grinstead, which involves switching late in the afternoon to walk 40, whose directions or GPX you will need. (This is a different and better route to the one bundled into the walk 109 GPS, which just goes up the old railway line).

The shorter option involves taking the 291 bus from Wythyham (14 past the hour) or Hartfield (18 past the hour) to East Grinstead. 

Lunch is after 5 miles at the Dorset Arms in Withyham or after 6.5 miles at the Bear Inn in Hartfield. 

For tea, Tablehurst Farm just before Forest Row has a cafe: otherwise in Forest Row itself Java & Jazz is best for tea and the Hop Yard Brewery seems favoured by the drinkers. 

Getting back: From Forest Row take the 270 or 295 bus outside the Brambletye Hotel to East Grinstead station at 15.32, 16.01, 16.32, 17.15, 17.32, 18.18, 18.34, 19.15, 19.51 (etc...). £3 flat fare courtesy of Rachel from Accounts. Have you said thank you?

Trains from East Grinstead are at 06 and 36 past.

Wednesday walk: FOLKESTONE POSTPONED; Alternative: Guildford circular via Albury Mill

A visit to the Folkestone Triennial (and circular walk) was scheduled for today but it is postponed to September 24 as it will be difficult for some, including the walk poster, to get there on a tube strike day. If you still want to do the Folkestone walk today, scroll down to the 24^th for details and perhaps post a comment to let others know.

Emergency alternative: Guildford circular via Albury Mill

16.7 km (10.4 miles) 5/10

This is the “western walk” of the longer walk 185 Guildford circular via Albury Park. It's really a figure of eight: Chilworth on the way out, St Martha's Hill on the way back.

Train: 1030 from Waterloo (Woking 1055) arriving at 1102. Don't get the 1033 (CJ 1042) slow train to Guildford. 

From Clapham Junction, get the 1027 Exeter train, or any train going to Woking, and change there [Woking that is ;-)]. 

Hopefully this later start will allow people time to take a tube-free route to Waterloo or Clapham Junction. Four fast return trains an hour.

Lunch: Percy Arms (01483-561765) near Chilworth station, after 5½ km.

Tea: usual options in Guildford, e.g. Yvonne Arnaud theatre cafe, the Britannia pub near the station.

L=swc.185.b and choose the Western Walk.

Prom - Mozart Symphony No. 38 and Tchailovsky Symphony No. 6

This year, we will be doing three proms.  Here is the third in the series. 

The booking has just opened.  To book your ticket, please click here.  I expect this prom will be popular,  so book early.  Alternatively, you can also get a promming ticket on the day. 

Please note:  This concert starts at 6:30pm.   

Pre-concert F&B:   Meet at the steps of Albert Memorial from 5:30pm for picnic. 

A WhatsApp group will be set up near the time.  If you wish to be on it,  please email your moble number to swcsocialATgmailDOTcom.  The group will be deleted after the event.

Programme

Mozart Symphony No. 38 in D major, ‘Prague’ 29' 

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, ‘Pathétique’ 50' 

Vienna Philharmonic 

Franz Welser-Möst conductor

Monday Walk - The Clent Hills: Hagley to Barnt Green or Circular [First Posting] [Malverns Trip]

Length: 19.2 km (11.9 mi) [shorter and longer versions possible, see below] 

Ascent/Descent: 565/490m 

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours 

Toughness: 6 out of 10

Take the 08.56 Paddington train from Great Malvern (change at Worcester Foregate Street 09.08/09.15), arrives Hagley 09.45. [If the connection is missed, there will be a 30 minute wait.] 

Return from Hagley to Great Malvern: xx.01 and 15.31, 17.31, 19.31.

Return from Barnt Green to Great Malvern: xx.50 (change at Bromsgrove). 

Buy a Barnt Green Return (which is dearer than a Hagley Return, so hopefully will be accepted on the stretch between Droitwich Spa and Hagley). 

 

Return from Barnt Green or Hagley direct to London: either via Worcester Foregate Street (longer) or via Birmingham (to Euston). 

Return from Great Malvern to London (with sub 3 hours journey time): 19.02, 19.45.

This walk follows the North Worcestershire Way along the ridge of the Clent and Lickey Hills (or North Worcestershire Hills) about 15 kilometres south west of Birmingham. Near the start, there is a short out and back extension to visit Wychbury Hill (an Iron Age hillfort site with an obelisk). The route then passes Hagley Park (ticketed entry) to enter the Clent Hills (National Trust), and climbs to a very fine viewpoint by The Four Stones (a folly) and on to the summits of Clent Hill (309m) and Walton Hill (315m). 

Optional: from The Four Stones, contour around the north side of the Clent Hill ridge along a well maintained path to a Café at Nimmings Wood car park (bacon butties, nice view, toilets).

 

Further along, from Walton Hill, you have two options: 

Shorter Circular Walk – return to Hagley via a lower route which passes Dark Pool and some good pubs (The Vine Inn in Clent and The Woodman (the ex-French Hen) and The Hill Tavern in Adam's Hill). There is another fine pub passed as you reach Hagley (The Lyttelton Arms) and there are also a pub (The Station Inn) and a café/wine bar (West One) near Hagley station. 

The Main Walk – stay up high, and follow the "Clent-Lickey" ridge via Calcot Hill, Romsley Hill, the Waseley Hills and the Lickey Hills (298m) to Barnt Green Station.

 

Lunch: Picnic. 

Tea: The Duckpond Café (3.5 km from the end),  The Barnt Green Inn and The Victoria (both a short walk from Barnt Green station).

 

For walk directions, map, height profile , photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.161