Bluebells in the Evening - Lesnes Abbey Wood with or without Bostall Wood

Length: 9.6 km (6.0 mi) or 5.2 km (3.2 mi) without Bostall Woods 

Ascent/Descent: 214m or 127m 

Net Walking Time: ca. 2 ¾ hours or 1 ½ hours 

 

Meet upstairs outside Abbey Wood Station (Zone 4) at 18.30 For that, take...

Either Elizabeth Line (Paddington 17.56, (...), L'pool Street 18.06, (...), Canary Wharf 18.13… 

Or the 17.52 train from Cannon Street (London Bridge 17.57, Deptford 18.03, Greenwich for DLR 18.05, Woolwich Arsenal for DLR 18.20). Both trains arrive at 18.26. 

Return trains: frequent (Mainline and Elizabeth).

 

This is an undulating route on the boundary of the Boroughs of Bexley (Lesnes Abbey Woods) and Greenwich (Bostall Woods) in South East London, based upon the atmospheric ruins of Lesnes Abbey, surrounded by a beautiful park with some ornamental gardens and towered over by ancient and secondary woodland, with a high extent of sessile oaks, some large wildflower meadows with bluebells and native wild daffodils in spring and several scenic ponds. A heathland with an Iron Age tumulus and some acid grassland are passed through as well. A longer version leads across a busy road junction on Bostall Hill into Bostall Wood, with its dense sloping woods and deep ravines.

 

Walk Option:

Bus stops on the A206 near the off-route pubs and on Bostall Hill enable early returns to Abbey Wood, Woolwich or Slade Green stations (see the route map for the exact locations of the bus stops).

 

Refreshments en route: two pubs, 600m off route, after 2.3 km of the route.  

Refreshments at the end of the walk: The Abbey Arms or the Taj Mahal.

 

For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.43

Wednesday Walk - Sevenoaks to Westerham

11.6 miles/18.6 km

Toughness 6/10 Quite hilly in places

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Trains//Buses. Take the 10.04 from Charing Cross, Waterloo East 10.07, London Bridge 10.13 arriving Sevenoaks 10.36

Return is by TFL bus 246 from Westerham half hourly to Hayes in 31 minutes or Bromley South in 43 minutes, with onward trains to London Bridge and Victoria respectively 

Freedom pass holders need only buy a single from Boundary Zone 6 (Knockholt) to Sevenoaks as return bus and trains are all within the TFL travel area 

Otherwise you can use contactless at Sevenoaks and on your return journey. 

Lunch 

https://cockinnidehill.co.uk/

During the afternoon we pass through

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/emmetts-garden

on a public footpath which passes a cafe in what was the former stables. Entry to the cafe is free to all, though if you want to leave the footpath and explore the gardens, you’d need to pay an entrance fee ( or be an NT member)

Westerham has several pubs and cafes and a Co-op for takeaway supplies 

Sunday Walk: Bluebells, Knebworth to Hitchin

11.6 miles, difficulty 4/10.

The big stars of this walk to Hitchin are the bluebells, first in Graffidge Wood and, later, Hitch and Wain woods. “Arguably the best bluebell walk in the SWC repertoire” said one admirer.

A variant of the Knebworth Circular, it 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 that family, that’s worth a look. 

Trains: Get the 10:06 Cambridge  train from Kings Cross Platform 10  (Finsbury Park 10:12) arriving Knebworth 10:46.

Return from Hitchin at xx:57 and xx:29. There's also a slower one 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 - Market Place, 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 prefer to use a printout, the pages needed are 6-9, then 21-25 At point 17 in the main walk, skip forward to page 21 to continue.  t=swc.353.variant

Sunday Walk: East Malling Circular

Length: 16 km (9.9 miles). Toughness: 3/10

Through Kent orchards and coppiced woodlands to the River Medway at Wateringbury, further to Teston Bridge, and then back again. 

At Well Street, energetic types could switch to a longer ending and finish in West Malling (adds 2¼ km).

Trains: Get the 09:55 Ashford Int. train from Victoria (Bromley South 10:12), arriving East Malling at 10:49.

Return from East Malling xx:38. Trains leave West Malling two minutes later at xx:40. A return to East Malling covers both stations.

Lunch: First up, in Wateringbury, the Railway pub (01622-812911), the River Kitchen (07983-577102) or, across the river, the Ramblers Rest Café (07736-990485). Half an hour later, there's the up-market Tickled Trout (01622-814717) in West Farleigh (advisable to book).

Tea:

You could stop early at the North Pole (sounds chilly but it’s a pub) +44 1622 812721 

Or you could wait and go for a drink with the King & Queen back in East Malling, …er ..that's IN the King & Queen (01732-842752).

West Malling finishers have more choice - the Five Pointed Star (01732-842192),the Joiners Arms (01732-840723) ,The Swan (01732-521910) or a micropub the Malling Jug (01732-667832).

Directions: here click on option b "Alternative Circular Walk, from East Malling" T=swc.446.b

Saturday Walk: Horsenden Hill, Perivale Wood bluebells.

A walk exploring Horsenden Hill in West London, length: 5.3 km (3.3 mi), is followed by a visit to a secluded nature reserve. The reserve in question Perivale Wood opens to the public just two days a year to show off their bluebells. 

The plan is:- do the SWC Horsenden Hill walk in the morning, stop for lunch or drinkies in the Ballot Box and visit the reserve in the afternoon, for which you need to book a slot  (between 1 and 4 pm, cost £5.50). Numbers are limited so get booking. No dogs – sorry dogs.  (The morning walk is, of course, free).

Lunch The Ballot Box, Horsenden Lane, UB6 7QL T: 020 8902 2825  (or picnic on the hill). 

Tea .. and cakes.. on offer in the reserve.

Meet: outside Perivale tube 11:00. Central Line (West Ruislip branch). Zone 4.

Directions: here

Our short walk returns you to the station. The reserve's entrance is between 36 and 38 Sunley Gardens. To find, follow this map.  t=Short.4

Saturday Walk - Hurst Green to Westerham - but ending at Penshurst station

Length: 20.3 (12.6 miles). For a shorter option of 12.6km (7.8 miles), see end of post T=swc.79

 

9.50 train from Victoria (9.57 Clapham Junction, 10.10 East Croydon) to Hurst Green, arriving 10.34

But a day return to Penshurst

Bluebells started very early this year and were at their best last week. Will they be on the fade this week? But even if they are going over, this walk provides lots of spring delights and fine views throughout. We might even hear a cuckoo (a man can dream….)

Notes on the route:

1) Yes, the book two version of Hurst Green to Chiddingstone Causeway was posted on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago, but only one walker was reported to have turned up and this walk takes a different route for its first two-thirds.

2) To start the walk, follow the Hurst Green start of SWC walk 79 - Edenbridge to Westerham and stay on it for 8 miles to the Cock Inn in Ide Hill.

3) There switch to the book 2, walk 16 Hurst Green to Chiddingstone Causeway walk and follow this to its end (= Penshurst station)

Lunch is possible after 5.8 mile at the National Trust cafe at Chartwell - some hot food items. For a pub lunch the Cock Inn in Ide Hill after 8 miles is popular and busy, but serves food until 3pm (and from 5pm…), so it might be an idea to arrive a bit after the main rush. A nice alternative used to be the Ide Hill community shop and cafe, but sadly this now shuts at 2.30pm on Saturdays. 

At the end of the walk the Little Brown Jug is a lovely rural pub with an idyllic garden, just across the road from Penshurst station.

Trains back from Penshurst are at 22 past eastbound, changing at Tonbridge to go to London Bridge and Charing Cross (59 minutes total journey time).....

.....or 09 past westbound via Redhill (last train at 18.09), changing there for Victoria (1hr 10 mins total journey time), calling at East Croydon en route. (Redhill is also on Thameslink, but it is quicker to go via Tonbridge to London Bridge)

Those wanting a shorter walk, though it misses out the Ide Hill pub and the best of the bluebells, could do the morning walk as far as Chartwell for lunch and then switch to the shorter ending of SWC walk 79 to Westerham. In total this is 12.6km (7.8 miles). London Transport bus number 246 runs from Westerham to Bromley South with standard TFL bus fares & oyster, contactless and passes valid. If doing this option, a single to Hurst Green is all you need.

Saturday Walk - Wadhurst to Robertsbridge

CW2 18 Wadhurst to Robertsbridge 

Length: 34.5 km (21.4 miles). Toughness: 4/10 

Standard walk option - finish at Wadhurst: 19km (11.8 miles) 

Catch the 9:15 from London Charing Cross (Waterloo East 9:18 London Bridge 9:24) arrives Wadhurst 10:17. Buy a day return to Robertsbridge. 

The walk follows the Wadhurst short walk until Wadhurst village, then along the northside of Bewl Water and onto Robertsbridge. Lunch is best taken at The Waterfront Café, Bewl Water 16 km from the start of the walk. T=2.18

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

Length: 6.3 km 

Ascent/Descent: 124m

Net Walking Time: ca. 1 ½ hours 

 

Take the 18.07 Rochester train from Cannon Street (London Bridge 18.12, then via Lewisham (18.22), Blackheath and Kidbrooke), arriving Falconwood 18.35. 

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

Return trains: xx.10 and xx.40 to Charing Cross, 20.25 and xx.55 to Cannon Street, xx.17 and xx.47 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 pretty decent Harvester pub right by the station. And The Lingfield micropub and cocktail bar opposite may still be in business…

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

Bluebells in the Evening - Chingford Circular: Varied undulating route through commons, ancient woods and wildflower meadows, with fantastic views of London Skyline and Lea Valley.

Length: 7.6 km (4.7 mi) 

Ascent: 109m 

Net Walking Time: 1 ¾ hours

 

Take the 17.59 Chingford train from Liverpool Street (all stations via Bethnal Green, Hackney Downs and Walthamstow Central [18.14]), arrives Chingford at 18.26.

Return trains are every 15 minutes on xx.08 etc.

A varied and undulating route through commons, ancient woods and wildflower meadows, with plenty of fascinating trees as well as fantastic views to Central London and across the Lea Valley.

You leave Chingford into the Chingford Plain, heading for the main body of Epping Forest, where you cross Cuckoo Brook, the main tributary of the River Ching and then the Ching itself, before rounding most of the artificial lake of Connaught Water. Follow a meandering route along forest paths, tracks and rides through the very interesting ancient treescape, dominated by ancient, often pollarded oak and hornbeam, including stretches along the Upper Ching River and through the valley of the meandering Cuckoo Brook.
You bypass Sewardstonebury and the Hawk Wood to walk up the sloping, south facing Yates’ Meadow, from where fine far views open out to the close-by wooded hills and into the Lea Valley with its large reservoirs, across it to North London’s higher ground and also providing for panoramic views of the London Skyline.
Descend from Yates’ Meadow and rise again along Daisy Plain into Hawk Wood and then initially skirt the wooded Pole Hill along the edge of the Chingford Plain, before turning up to Pole Hill’s summit obelisk and trig point. From nearby, a residential road takes you back to the station and some tea options, while a longer alternative leads past some more tea options, including the only pub in this end of town.

Walk Options: various shortcuts and extensions, see the webpage or the pdf for details.

Tea Options: several options near the station, plus a pub and a wine bar on a loop through town. See the webpage or the pdf walk directions for details. T=short.58

Wednesday walk: A warm-up for pre-Scotland warm-ups: Hassocks to Upper Beeding (or Shoreham)

Length: 16.3 km (10.1 miles) 7/10

As the time approaches when the SWC hits Scotland, a hilly walk is called for. With other obvious choices already in the calendar, I propose an outing for this walk mainly along the South Downs Way, with what some claim to be the finest view in southern England, a charming farmyard cafe, and depending on your escape route from Upper Beeding (see below), the many delights of Shoreham-by-Sea after the walk.

Travel: 1005 from London Bridge (East Croydon 1019) to Hassocks arriving 1102. *This is a Thameslink train from Bedford so also stops at West Hampstead Thameslink 0939, St Pancras 0949, Farringdon 0954 etc if that helps avoid the Tube strike.* From Victoria you could get the 1016 (Clapham Junction 1023, East Croydon 1034) arriving 1113 and try to catch up.

There are three ways back from Upper Beeding:

1. the bus 100 scheduled at 1531, 1616, 1716 and 1825 to Burgess Hill – this is the next stop towards London from Hassocks

2. an hourly bus number 2 to Shoreham scheduled at approx 45 past the hour until 1940, or

3. walk on to Shoreham – two routes are described on the walk web page adding 4-5 km (2.5-3 miles).

Get a return to Shoreham-by-Sea unless you are definitely getting the 100 bus, in which case you just need a return to Hassocks. Got that?

Lunch: the Wildflour Cafe 7km (4.4 miles) into the walk, is an early stop. This farmyard cafe with tables pleasantly arranged around a courtyard, is open 10am to 4pm. Near the entrance to the cafe is a drinking water tap, and it also has toilets. Alternatively the Devil’s Dyke pub (01273 857256), 8.9km (5.5 miles) into the walk on the lip of the South Downs escarpment, is always busy but very efficient.

Tea: The Kings Head in Upper Beeding (01903 812196) is conveniently sited by the bus stop at the end of the walk, and has quite a large garden. The Old Tollgate Restaurant & Hotel and the Castle Inn Hotel in Bramber on the other side of the river Adur are two possible other tea options: for details see the walk directions pdf. Shoreham has a range of cafes and pubs, including the interesting Old Star micropub.The cafes are mainly in the pedestrianised area near the church.

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Sunday Walk – Balcombe Circular, via Wakehurst

SWC Walk 447 – Balcombe Circular, via Wakehurst

Length: 14¾ km (9.2 miles), plus whatever extra you do if visiting Wakehurst. Toughness: 5/10

09:50 Thameslink (Brighton) train from St Pancras (…Blackfriars 09:59, London Bridge 10:05, East Croydon 10:19, etc), arriving Balcombe at 10:46.

Thameslink trains back from Balcombe are half-hourly at xx:25 & xx:55.

The first posting of this walk was scuppered by poor weather last October so let's hope for better luck this time. It's been designed to allow plenty of time for an afternoon visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Wakehurst. Admission is free to NT members and half price to those who can “present proof of car-free travel”, so show a rail ticket if you need to pay. If you decide to skip the gardens you shouldn't have a problem finding your way back to Balcombe as the route will be familiar from other SWC walks.

The lunch pub is the Gardeners Arms on the B2028 to the north of Ardingly, which usually has space in its garden. However, you'll probably need to book a table if you want to eat inside, especially as there's a “Spring Live!” event at the Showground across the road. As an alternative the Seeds Café at Wakehurst is open to non-visitors.

Those heading straight back to Balcombe might find its new coffee shop JO.CO still open, but if not the Half Moon Inn is a reliable watering-hole.

Please bring the directions from the L=swc.447 page. There's a possible short cut at the start if the train is delayed or the weather isn't great, but I suggest taking the full outward route via the Loder Valley.

Sunday Walk - Haslemere to Midhurst via Lurgashall or Lickfold (bluebells, hills, heathland, far views)

Length: 21.7 km (13.5 mi) or 20.8 km (13.0 mi) 

Ascent/Descent: 469/587 

Net Walking Time: 5 ¼ hours 

Toughness: 6/10

Take the 09.30 Petersfield train from Waterloo (09.40 Clapham J, 10.02 Woking, 10.18 Godalming), arrives Haslemere 10.29. 

Return to Haslemere Station from Midhurst by Bus Line 70 (16.30, 18.40) or by taxi. 

Return trains from Haslemere are on xx.17 and xx.42.

 

The route leads from Haslemere station through the town’s centre and along the waymarked Serpent Trail through a small Nature Reserve to rise steeply out of town and back down through Camelsdale to then rise with the Sussex Border Path through pastures and pine and heather covered slopes up to the Black Down. Following the crest through open heathland, with far views across West Sussex and out to Hampshire, you reach the Temple Of The Winds viewpoint, with further panoramic views over the Rother Valley to the South Downs escarpment and easterly across to the West Weald. 

A long descent through the sloping open grounds of Blackdown House and through woods carpeted in bluebells in season, leads to either the classic Sussex village of Lurgashall, with its pub and church at the corner of a picturesque village green and cricket pitch, or to the hamlet of Lickfold with its renowned Three Horseshoes Inn. 

The afternoon takes you through a mix of flat farmland and wooded hills to the Cowdray Estate, with its golf course-with-views as well as several polo fields, to the romantic ruins of Cowdray House, as captured by JMW Turner. Climbing from the River Rother’s banks, Midhurst's Norman castle ruins are passed en-route to the old market town's attractive centre with its many tea options. 

 

Walk Options: 

A variant of the middle of the route, south of Black Down, enables a lunch stop at The Three Horseshoes Inn (cut 900m).  

In Midhurst, go straight to the Bus Station from the Rother crossing, instead of going up through the town (cut 700m).

 

Lunch: The Noah's Ark in Lurgashall (10.3 km/6.4 mi, food to 14.30, a table has been booked for 12.45). Or The Three Horseshoes Inn in Lickfold (11.0 km/6.8 mi, food to 16.00, booking recommended). 

Tea: The Halfway Hut (3 km from the end), Cowdray Farm Shop & Cafe (2 km from the end, open to 17.00), Garton’s Coffee House (open to 16.00), The Wheatsheaf or Fitzcane’s (open to 16.30).

And, if there’s time between bus and train in Haslemere, Harper’s Steakhouse (and pub bar).

 

For summary, map, height profile, some photos, walk directions and gpx/kml files click here. t=swc.48

Saturday Walk - Goring Circular via Hill Bottom Walk

Length: 11.3 miles 18km, 4 out of 10. Or do a 4 mile extension along the river to Pangbourne.

"This walk is a mix of beautiful, rolling Chilterns countryside, forest trails and quiet country lanes. This is a spring to early autumn walk. The best time to do it however is probably late April or early May when the foliage of the beech trees is at its most vibrant and where there should be good displays of bluebells and other spring flowers in some woods."

The walk heads off from the station, away from the river and Goring High Street.

Trains: Get the 1008 Didcot Parkway train from Paddington, arriving 1102 If late, get the 1013, changing at Reading. The Elizabeth Line 0956 from Ealing Broadway (0938 Farringdon), change at Reading 1040, for the 1050 Goring Train arriving 1102. Return trains are xx18 and xx48.

Lunch is the Sun Inn on Whitchurch Hill (0118 984 3909) after 5 miles. This friendly pub has new management since May last year and according to a CAMRA report does food 1200-1400. If that doesn't appeal, there is The Red Lion (food until 3pm) 2.4 miles futher on. Picnic spots are a bit limited near the Sun Inn, you need to walk on to some woodland. There is also a recreation ground just before the Red Lion.

Tea: Various options in Goring, including The Cathrine Wheel in Station Road. Or enjoy the extention to Pangbourne.

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Saturday Walk - Eridge Circular Walk

Length: Main Walk: 16¾ km^† (10.4 miles). 

Toughess: 4 out of 10

Train:  Take the 10.00 train from London Bridge; Norwood Junction 10.12; alight at East Croydon at 10.16 and change onto the 10.33 Uckfield train to Eridge. 

Return trains:  xx:02 mins past the hour

Ticket type: Return to Eridge

Description:  A very attractive High Weald walk, which should yield some lovely swathes of wood anemonies and bluebells. Walk past the impressive Harisson Rocks with climbers scrambling about, and you may hear toots from the local steam railway (if running).

Lunch Pub:  Both the suggested lunch pubs are in Groombridge.  The more characterful one is the Crown Inn, but the Junction Inn is a bit more spacious. The village also has a grocery shop.

Tea (or something stronger):  The Huntsman pub in Eridge few minutes from the station is a good place to while away the time until your train arrives.

Details of the walk can be found here:  https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/eridge-circular/

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Saturday Walk - Arun & Rother valleys, bluebell woods, heathery commons, old churches and a landscaped deer park: Pulborough Circular via Petworth

Length: 23.8 km (14.8 mi) 

Ascent/Descent: 390m

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours 

Toughness: 6 out of 10

 

Take the 09.06 Bognor Regis & Portsmouth Harbour train from London Bridge (09.22 EC), arriving Pulborough at 10.23 [the train splits at Horsham]  

Return: xx.26 and xx.56.

 

Across the Arun valley and Greensand Hills to an attractive town with one of the National Trust's finest properties, Petworth House. Back to Pulborough on a more southerly route between the A283 and the Rother valley, with views of the South Downs along the way. This is a mixed landscape of farmland and wooded commons, with Hesworth Common being particularly attractive. The route passes two fine old churches at Fittleworth and Stopham, and crosses back over the River Arun on the medieval Stopham Bridge.

Walk Options:

Add a loop through Petworth Park – up to 30.5 km (19.0 mi) with 525m ascent/descent. 

Finish the walk in Petworth (Bus Line 1, at 13.44, 14.44, 15.49, 16.54, 18.04, 19.14 and 19.44 back to Pulborough Station) – from 12.2 km (7.6 mi) with 245m ascent/descent. 

Add a loop through Petworth Park to that – up to 18.9 km (11.7 mi) with 380m ascent/descent.

 

Lunch: Angel Inn (food to 15.00) or The Star (food all day) in Petworth, reached after 12 km. 

Tea: Plenty options if finishing the walk in Petworth and else The White Hart in Stopham (2.3 km from the end). 

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.t=swc.128.a

Bluebells in the Evening - Wanstead Park

Length: 6.0 km (3.7 mi)  

Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hrs

Meet: Wanstead Station, at 18.30 hours. Wanstead is a station on the Hainault loop of the Central Line in Zone 4. Travel time from Oxford Circus is 27 minutes, and from Liverpool Street 17 minutes.

Leafy stroll in the Borough of Redbridge through the Grade II* listed historic landscaped parkland of Wanstead Park, once home to the Palladian mansion of Wanstead House, compared at the time to Blenheim Palace. Today only two smaller structures, The Grotto and The Temple, remain (and the House itself stood on what is now a golf course), but nevertheless the present smaller park retains some of the layout of Wanstead House’s grounds, especially its many ponds, and provides a perfect venue for relaxing and escaping the urban sprawl, with its plentiful water features and varied woods, famous for their bluebell displays in season.
The park closes ‘at dusk’.

Eat/Drink: Plenty of options near the station. See the webpage for details.

For walk directions, map, photos, and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.11