Length: 17.3km (10.7 miles), see † below for a shorter walk. Toughness: about 3/10
Take the Southern train towards Reigate from London Victoria at 10:08 arriving Merstham at 10:41.
If it's more convenient you could take the 10:00 Thameslink Peterborough to Horsham train from London Bridge, arriving at Merstham at 10.31
Trains back from Tattenham Corner are hourly at xx:15 and xx:45 to London Bridge (change at Purley or East Croydon for other London stations).
You can use Oyster PAYG or contactless at both stations but note that Merstham is one stop outside Zone 6, so with a Travelcard or Freedom Pass you'd need an extension from Coulsdon South. Alternatively you could chance a simple day return to Merstham, which is unlikely to be challenged on the train back to Purley (where the two lines meet).
This short walk goes through the landscaped Gatton Park and along a stretch of the North Downs with fine views. After a possible pub stop in Mogador it continues across Banstead Heath to Walton on the Hill and Tadworth. The suggested lunch stop is at The Sportsman in Mogador, but you could break for refreshments earlier at the Junction 8 servery on Reigate Hill or later at Walton on the Hill, which has the Blue Ball pub and The Village Cafe overlooking the village pond.
† For a shorter walk of 11¾ km (7.3 miles) you could finish at Tadworth ie branch off at Walton on the Hill. Return is on the same line as Tattenham Corner, leaving four minutes later at xx:19 and xx:49. See the walk document for more details.
You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.4 page.
2 comments:
#14 in #cool weather.
The first 9 on the early train politely waited for 3 more from Victoria. The M25 was noisy with the trees still more or less bare. Part of the route has been nicely resurfaced including the path through the woods after the golf course and a long section after Walton on the Hill. However our route through Gatton Park was horribly muddy, I suspect the author carefully chose it to take advantage of the views over Lancelot Capability Brown's landscape. The prudent walker would follow the North Downs Way after a wet winter and recent rain. Seven of us had lunch at the Sportsman. It was a little disorganised on arrival and I nearly walked out but we were actually well looked after with late arrivers being accommodated. Food was rated fair to middling by the dinners, but I would give it a better score. Although we all left together we got strung out in the afternoon and two of us arrived at Tattenham Corner just 1 minute before our train departed. I don't know if anyone got tea or went to the pub before catching the train. A dull day weather-wise but brigtened by pleasant company and interesting conversation.
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