Opera Holland Park - Un ballo in maschera by Verdi

Un ballo in maschera is based on the real life assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden in 1792.  It is a dramatic and emotional charged opera that blends romance, political intrigue and tragedy.  Verdi's rich orchestration and memorable melodies make the opera both captivating and deeply moving. 

Booking is already open.  Tickets from £65.  To book,  please click here. 

Other discounted tickets available - for details, click here 

(1) Inspire tickets at £26, for people who cannot afford regular tickets or first time to OHP,  you need to fill in an application form online (recommend you do this asap before the booking opens), once approved, book online from Apr 8 at 10am.

  

(2) Limited tickets available for Monday Rush tickets at £40,  booking for this performance opens on Aug 3 at 1pm.

(3) Blue Light Scheme for key workers - please inquire with the box office    

A Whatsapp group will be set-up for this event to help co-ordination and deleted post the event.   Please email socsocialATgmailDOTcom if you wish to be on it. 

Pre-opera picnic details will be posted in due course.  

The Car Man by Matthew Bourne's New Adventures

Following our last two successful outings to see Matthew Bourne's innovative dance productions,  I am delighted to organise another trip to Sadler's Wells to see Matthew Bourne's award winning The Car Man.  

'Loosely based on Bizet’s ever-popular opera (Carmen),  The Car Man has one of the most thrilling and instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures’ repertoire.

The familiar 19th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy 1950s garage-diner in the American Mid-West where the dreams and passions of a small-town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome and enigmatic stranger. Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.

Matthew Bourne’s vivid storytelling combines with one of the most passionately dramatic scores ever written, with music by Terry Davies featuring Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen), to create a dance thriller like no other.

The Car Man will ignite your senses and leave you breathless.'

Tickets from £15, to book, please click here.  At the moment, good availability for £15 seats, but I would advise book early as cheap seats are the first to go. 

Pre-show F&B will be posted near the time. 

To assist easy co-ordination on the day,  there will be a Whatsapp group setup for the event.  If you wish to join the group,  please email your mobile number and your name to swcsocialATgmailDOT.com.  Note: I will not respond to request for personalised email communications for this event.   

 Note: you need to set your Whatsapp privacy setting to give me the permission to add you to the group.  I had a couple of incidences that I was unable to add people to the group.  My invitation did not reach the recipient either.  

Carlisle Trip - 5 nights, 5 walks (Hadrian's Wall and Eden Valley)

A Thursday to Tuesday trip with 5 walks:

Notes:

-  Only one of the walks below has been walked on the previous trip 3 years ago in the exact same way. Two others have not been walked at all, and the other two are different this time around (i.e. one is in reverse and with slightly different routing – and minus a rather famous tree; the other has a major option that nobody walked then)

-  Train and bus details are based on the current schedule, which may be different in summer.

-  In case of train strikes and/or track works this schedule will need to be altered, in the simplest case by using Bus Line 685 along Hadrian’s Wall instead of the train for the two Wall walks, or by shifting walks around if the Eden Valley Line is affected, or – in the worst case if there are no trains along the Eden Valley line at all – by walking other routes along the Wall, either repeats from the last trip or sections not covered by the SWC route (i.e. west towards the Sea from Carlisle, back by bus). 

 

Friday 31 July: 08.24 Leeds train, arrives Kirkby Stephen at 09.19.

Walk SWC Walk 416 Nine Standards (Kirkby Stephen Circular or to Garsdale): 18.1 km (11.2 mi) or 29.3 km (18.2 mi), with 584m or 899/819m ascent/descent. Not walked 3 years ago.

Walk Options: loads of variations of the main walk, several involving going through the lovely Kirkby Stephen village rather than straight to the station, but also a tough extension along the British watershed above the Mallerstang valley to Garsdale. 

Saturday 01 August: 09.33 Middlesbrough train to Bardon Mill, arrives 10.12. 

Walk SWC 413d Hadrian's Wall Core Section (Bardon Mill to Hexham). 28.6 km (17.8 mi) with 455/509m ascent/descent. Not walked 3 years ago.

Walk Options: bus shortcut by using Line AD122, which shadows this stretch of HW close-by (every 2 hours in each direction, for example from Walwick Farm last at 16.46 back to Haltwhistle and at 18.39 on to Hexham). 

Sunday 02 August: 09.23 Leeds train, arrives Appleby at 10.07.

Walk SWC Walk 415 High Cup Nick (Appleby-in-Westmoreland Circular): 23.9 km (14.8 mi) with 748m ascent. Repeat walk from 3 years ago.

Walk Options: Shortcuts and car parks halfway up the hill, but also a tough Extension through an MOD Range on the moors (not walked 3 years ago).

Monday 03 August: 08.24 Leeds train, arrives Garsdale at 09.33.Walk  

SWC Walk 417 Wild Boar Fell (Garsdale to Kirkby Stephen): 23.3 km (14.5 mi), with 676/756m ascent/descent. Repeat walk from 3 years ago.

Walk Options: several minor shortcuts and extensions (see the webpage for details).

Tuesday 04 August: 08.52 Newcastle train to Haltwhistle, arrives 09.20 (or maybe a later one?). 

Walk SWC 413c Hadrian's Wall Core Section (Haltwhistle to Bardon Mill). 19.5 km (12.1 mi) with 390/416m ascent/descent. Yes, yes: the stretch with the Sycamore Gap walked 3 years ago but not the same walk: walked in reverse compared to 3 years ago, and descending via the very impressive Vindolanda Roman Fort, enabling a visit of it. 

Walk Options: going over the hill on the descent from HW, rather than going via Vindolanda (i.e. the reverse of the start of Saturday’s walk), or going up to and around Vindolanda rather than going past its entrance in the valley.

 

Last trains back to London from Carlisle on weekdays: 18.54 and 19.49.

 

Theatre: When a King meets a President...

Springwood at the Hampstead Theatre (next to Swiss Cottage Underground)

A new play, with a cast including Robert Lindsay, about a meeting between King George VI and US President Roosevelt in 1939. Will the "special relationship" survive a diet of hot dogs and beer? Will the US support Britain in the coming war?

Four of us have booked tickets for this, and there is still good availability. Do join us!

Details of the play and how to book here

Lyme Regis Weekend 26 June 2026 to 29th June 2026 UPDATED

A coastal holiday in the beautiful counties of Dorset and Devon.  You can admire The Cobb in Lyme Regis the stone-built breakwater and jetty which has ‘starred’ in such films as Jane Austen’s Persuasion and The French Lieutenant’s Woman.  There are walks through woodlands, the forested canopy of the Undercliff walk, and rides on the Heritage Seaton Tramway through the Axe Estuary, and, weather permitting, swimming in the sea.  Full details including tide times GPX, maps will be posted shortly.

Friday 26^th June 2026

Walk from Axminster to Lyme Regis (or take the bus).

Take the 10.20 train from Waterloo; Clapham J 10.27; Woking 10.46; arriving Axminster 13.02

If you don’t wish to walk, bus X53 leaves the station forecourt at 13.15 to Lyme Regis.  The next bus is X51 leaving at 14.22.  About 20 minute journey.

Full details of walk will be posted shortly.

Saturday 27^th June 2026

Seaton Circular via Beer and Branscombe with new extension. 

Bus to Seaton, then walk along the beach, over the cliffs and down to Beer. From Beer walk to Branscombe with wide, long beaches then return to Beer via an inland route following a stream and through woods and fields. 

Other options include a 7 mile walk back to Lyme Regis along the Undercliff, or spending time on the delightful heritage tramway in Seaton.  Further details to be posted shortly.

Sunday 28^th June 2026

Walk from West Bay to Lyme Regis –over the cliffs, through coastal village of Seatown, up to the Golden Cap (highest point in South East England).

Full details including updated bus and tide timetable to be posted shortly.

Monday 29^th June 2026

Lyme Regis to Axminster – 11.9 miles

Different route to walk back to Axminster than Friday’s route.  This is a gently undulating route through woods and fields back to Axminster.

Full details with bus times to be posted shortly.

Visit to Farleys House (“home of the surrealists” Lee Miller and Roland Penrose) and walk to Berwick

After our outing to the Tate Britain Lee Miller exhibition in February, interest was expressed in a visit to her home on Sussex, which is open over the summer for garden and gallery visits (£10) and pre-booked guided tours (£26 including garden and gallery entry).

This posting is to enable people to do that and follow it up with an afternoon walk along the Vanguard Way to Berwick.

Length: 10.5 km /6.6 miles (plus 1.5 km /0.9 miles walk to Farleys House for the visit); 1/10

Travel: To get to the house, take a train to Lewes, bus to Golden Cross and 20 minute walk to Farleys House. Get the 0946 from Victoria, arriving in Lewes at 1050. Then walk to Lewes High Street to pick up the 28 bus to Eastbourne via Hailsham, scheduled to leave at 1104. Get off at Golden Cross and walk up Burgh Hill Road for 1.5 km to Muddles Green. The house and gallery are on the right. IF YOU WANT MORE TIME AT THE HOUSE, GET THE TRAIN AND BUS AN HOUR EARLIER.

Train back from Berwick at 57 past the hour, changing in Lewes for London. Buy a return to Berwick.

If you don't want to do the walk but just do the visit, buses back from Golden Cross are at approx half past the hour, or on to Eastbourne at about 45 past. These times are approximate and you need to allow at least 20 minutes to walk back to the bus stop.

House visit and timing: I propose setting off on the walk to Berwick at 2 pm. That should give people enough time to look round and have lunch, If you are interested in a 50-minute guided tour of the house, book here: Farleys tour link for the 1 o'clock slot. If you don't want to do the walk you could book a later slot, or if you get the earlier train you could go for an 1130 or 12 o'clock slot.

IF YOU JUST WANT TO VISIT THE GALLERY AND GARDEN, YOU STILL NEED TO BUY A TICKET HERE: Gallery visit link

Walk route: From Muddles Green, we take a bridleway north for 800m to Chiddingly and pick up the Vanguard way from there – it leads to Berwick station in 10 km/6 miles. A GPX file of the route will be posted nearer the time, or confident map-readers can find the route on the OS 1:25 000 map sheet OL25.

Lunch: Refreshments, snacks, cake and light lunches are available in the Farleys Gallery Cafe. Visitors are also welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the garden.

Tea: The Berwick Inn is directly opposite the station at the end of the walk. If we are in a rush at Berwick, there might be time to get something at the Runaway Cafe on Lewes station. 

Sunday Walk – Amberley Circular, via Cootham

SWC Walk 11 – Amberley Circular, via Cootham (or #14·a to Pulborough)

#11, returning to Amberley: 18.3 km (11.4 miles). Toughness 5/10.
#14·a, finishing at Pulborough: 16 km (9.9 miles). Toughness 3/10.

09:35 Portsmouth Harbour train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:42, East Croydon 09:53), arriving Amberley at 11:02. Buy a return to Amberley. You'll need to be in the front five coaches.

Return trains to Victoria are hourly at xx:58 from Amberley, xx:04 from Pulborough.

These two walks were developed at about the same time and have the same morning route: starting through water meadows beside the River Arun and continuing via Amberley village, Rackham and the grounds of Parham Park to the Crown Inn at Cootham for lunch. Afterwards you can choose between:

• a “long but reasonably well-graded climb” onto the South Downs and back along the ridge, eventually descending to Houghton Bridge and returning from Amberley station. If you get there in time refreshments are available at either the Riverside South Downs tearoom (open to 4.30pm) or the Bridge Inn (closes at 5pm on Sundays).
• a gently undulating route to the RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve at Wiggonholt, then alongside the River Arun to return from Pulborough station. The walk document lists a few possible refreshment places in Pulborough but I suggest breaking at the tearoom in the RSPB Visitor Centre (open to 4pm).

Depending on your choice of afternoon route, please bring the directions from either the L=swc.11 page or the Pulborough Circular walk page (click on Option a for the Shorter Walk starting from Amberley).

Scotland 2026: The Far Northwest Coast!

Scotland 2026:  The Far Northwest Coast!

We are pleased to announce that plans are afoot for Scotland 2026! We have secured accommodation during the week of 16-23 May 2026 in a group of lodges located on the Far Northwest Coast of Scotland beyond Ullapool near a place called Kylesku Bridge. The accommodation is just off the famous NC 500 route and is surrounded by iconic mountains and gorgeous beaches.

For more information on the walks in the area, please see https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ullapool/assynt.shtml.

If interested, please contact goepfertkarenATyahooDOTcom.

Saturday Walk - Undulating Hertfordshire: Sawbridgeworth to Bishop's Stortford via Henry Moore Foundation

Length: 23.7 km/14.7 mi 

Ascent/Descent: 187/176m 

Net Walking Time: 5 hours 

Toughness: 4 out of 10

 

Take the 09.24 Audley End train from Liverpool Street (Tottenham Hale/Victoria Line 09.36), arrives Sawbridgeworth at 10.03. 

Return trains: six per hour. Buy a Bishop’s Stortford return.

 

After passing through the centre of Sawbridgeworth, much of which is a conservation area, this East Hertfordshire walk leads mainly through open countryside, either along tracks, green lanes or quiet country roads, providing extensive views across the gently rolling countryside of fields, woods and waterways. The most attractive parts are then a scenic stretch of the Ash Valley around lunch in Much Hadham, one of Britain’s longest villages, and the long peaceful ending along the Stort Navigation past a couple of Nature Reserves. The pretty town centre of Bishop’s Stortford with its many tea options can be explored on an optional extension.

The Henry Moore Foundation in Perry Green is passed in the morning and the walk features a substantially shorter version to enable an extended visit of the Henry Moore Sculpture Park, Studios and House. This version cuts out some of the most attractive parts of the walk, though.

 

Walk Options:

It is possible to shorten the walk in four ways:

-  Shortcut I cuts 0.7 km (0.4 mi) at the start,

-  Shortcut II cuts 5.5 km (3.5 mi) and 84m ascent around lunch (and gives a rating of 2/10),

-  Shortcut III cuts 1.0 km (0.6 mi) after lunch,

-  Shortcut IV cuts 0.5 km (0.3 mi) near the end. 

Taking all shortcuts reduces the length of the walk to 16.1 km (10.0 mi).

 

Lunch: 

The Hoops Inn in Perry Green (7.4 km/4.7 mi into the walk, food to 15.00);  

Café at Henry Moore Perry Green (7.5 km/4.7 mi into the walk);  

The Bull Inn in Much Hadham (10.8 km/6.7 mi into the walk, food served to 16.00); 

The Prince of Wales in Green Tye (13.0 km/8.0 mi into the full walk (12.3 km if skipping the out-and-back to the recommended lunch pub), but unclear whether food is served!

 

Tea: Too numerous to list here. See the walk directions pdf for details.

 

For walk directions, photos, map, height profile and gpx/kml files click here.t=swc.210

Evening Walk - Staines-upon-Thames Circular: the Thames, the Colne River, Staines Moor, the Wraysbury River [New Walk]

Length: 7.8 km (4.8 mi)

Ascent/Descent: negligible 

Net Walking Time: 1 ¾ hours 

 

Take the 17.50 Reading train from Waterloo (via Clapham J, Richmond and Twickenham), arrives 18.22.

Returns: xx.08, xx.29, xx.38, xx.58. 

Staines is outside the London Travel Zones!

 

This circular variation of the full walk covers in a meandering fashion the Lower Colne Valley, from the Colne’s meeting with the Thames upstream through Staines Moor and back through the moor and the town centre to the station.

From the station, you make your way to the Thames and turn upstream past the mouth of the Colne and under Staines Bridge, site of the only Roman bridge across the Thames outside of London, before turning through old Staines and under one of many busy roads into Staines Moor. The moor is dominated by the meandering Colne, many low-lying flooded areas, bulrushes and reeds, scattered trees, imposing bramble bushes and myriads of very old anthills, as well as a varied birdlife all year round.
This variation of the main walk leads further through Staines Moor onto a modest rise for surround views and back along the Colne and the Wraysbury River (an anabranch of the Colne) to the town centre and railway station.

Refreshments: Plenty of options, see the walk directions pdf for details.

For detailed route maps, gpx/kml files, photos and walk directions click here. T=short.72.a

Wednesday walk - Witley to Haslemere via Thursley

Length: 10.8 miles/17.3 km

Difficulty: 5 out of 10

This is a map/GPS led walk which follows the Greensand Way from Witley to Haslemere.There are no written instructions so if you're not confident followng a map or GPS route, best to keep in sight others who are.

Trains: Catch the 9.45 Portsmouth Harbour train from London Waterloo, (9.52 Clapham Junction, 10.13 Woking) arriving Witley 10.42

Trains back from Haslemere are at xx.02, xx.10 and xx.29

Buy a return to Haslemere

Lunch: Picnic in the churchyard in Thursley or, for a pub lunch, walk up to the main road and turn right to find The Three Horseshoes pub (01252 703268).

Tea: An early tea option is the National Trust’s Devil’s Punch Bowl Café (tel. 01428 606565) in Hindhead [12.3 km]. Otherwise, continue to Haslemere where Hemingways is a popular stop. Other options are available.

For more details click L=swc.145 (If you don't have a GPS app on your phone there are suggestions when you click on the GPS tab)

Sunday Walk - Fine views and buttercups along the North Downs Way from Sandling to Wye

SWC 24: Sandling to Wye Along the North Downs Way

Distance: 13 Miles/20.9km

Difficulty: 6 out of 10

Train: Take the 10:07 AM train from London St. Pancras (10:14 from Stratford International), changing at Ashford (arriving 10:44 departing 11:00) arriving at Sandling at 11:11. 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.

t=swc.24