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

Sunday Walk: Baldock Circular (Ashwell at Home)

Circular 19.5km. (12.1 miles) ..

..or .. 9.1 miles to Ashwell-and-Morden station.

Difficulty 2/10

An amble through Hertfordshire countryside to the ancient settlement of Ashwell. There are usually good displays of cow parsley in the morning. Today is “Ashwell at Home” day, a village-wide event that raises funds for local groups. To visit the event proper, you should buy a ticket ( £8 advance, £10 on the day) but you'll still catch glimpses (morris dancers etc.) if you’re just passing through. 

The 14th C church there contains medieval graffiti, some referring to the Great Plague. It should be free to visit.  

A shorter 9.1 mile walk, finishing at Ashwell and Morden station is also possible.

Trains: 09:40 Cambridge train from St Pancras (platform B) arriving Baldock at 10:24.

Trains back from Baldock at xx:24 (to Kings Cross) and xx:49 (to St Pancras)

Trains from Ashwell-and-Morden at xx:19 and xx:44.

(A return to Ashwell-and-Morden, one stop further, is the same price as one to Baldock).

Lunch: There are three pubs in Ashwell: the Rose and Crown (01462 742420), the Bushel and Strike (01462742394), and the Three Tuns (01462 742107). The last is probably best suited.

Tea The George and the The Old White Horse are both near Baldock station.

No tea stop near Ashwell & Morden station.

Walk directions here 

! Note that at point 26, the full walk, back to Baldock, incorporates a stretch of path that is not an official right of way. We have used it for quite a few years, but if you’d rather avoid it, take the shorter ending from Ashwell to Ashwell-and-Morden station. 

T=swc.91

Saturday Walk - Milford to Godalming

t=1.20

Length: 18.6km (11.5m)
Toughness: 5 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:45 train from London Waterloo arriving in Milford at 10:38. Return trains from Godalming at xx:10, xx:42 and xx:51

This is a lovely walk in Surrey, partially along the Greensand Way, passing through the Winkworth Arboretum where the Azeleas should be flowering at this time of the year and a pretty village with a cozy pub that also has a large garden, should the weather be accommodating. The final stretches of the walk follow the River Wey Navigation into Godalming where you can find plenty of places for refreshments of all sorts.

Saturday Walk - Scottish Warm-up: Surrey Peaks Challenge (map-led Holmwood to Box Hill)

SWC 456: Surrey Peaks Challenge -- Holmwood to Box Hill

Train: Take the 9:41 AM Horsham-bound train from London Victoria arriving in Holmwood at 10:47. Given the length of the full challenge, some planning to do the full route, may wish to start an hour earlier by taking the 8:41 AM train. Return trains from Box Hill & Westhumble are at 35 and 46 past the hour until 18:46 and 19 and 35 past the hour until 23:35 (plenty of time to finish the full route!) and from Gomshall at 17:01; 17:52; 19:01; 19:52, 21:01 and 21.26. Unless walking to Gomshall, buy a day return to Holmwood. If walking to Gomshall, buy a “any permitted” day return to Gomshall.

Distance: 17.8 miles (28.7 km) for the full challenge; shorter options available – Holmwood to Gomshall as written in Book 1 Walk 42 (10.4 miles/16.7 km) or Holmwood to Box Hill (without going up Box Hill (about 10.8 miles/17.0km)

Ascent: 800 meters for full challenge

Difficulty: 12 out of 10 for full challenge; 6 out of 10 for walk to Gomshall and walk to Box Hill without ascending the Hill

It is that time of year again! Time for those going to Scotland to do some peak bagging prep work!  This delightful and challenging route based on a combination of Book 1 classics (Walk 42 and 49) has not been done in a couple of years and now has its own walk page and gpx file. At this time, it is map-led with only a GPX file for guidance. 

The route takes in several “local” peaks to make a “Surrey Challenge” and with 800 meters of total ascent is the perfect warm-up walk for those heading to Kylesku. You can find more information about the walk and its GPX file here.

The recommended lunch stop is the Wooton Hatch pub in Wooton (about 7 miles/11 km into the walk). Tea, afternoon and/or evening refreshments can be enjoyed at the café at Denbies, the William the 3th in Mickleham or the Stepping Stones pub near Box Hill station or at the Abinger Hammer Tea Rooms or Compasses Inn in Gomshall.

Look forward to seeing you on the challenge!

t=swc.456

Saturday Walk - Rowlands Castle Circular (bluebells past their best, but lots of wild garlic and rape oil seed)

[From 2/10 (16.1 km /10.0 mi) with 213m ascent/descent to 9/10 (30.0 km /18.6 mi) with 716m ascent/descent.]

Length 25.5 km (15.9 mi)  

Ascent/descent: 520m  

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours 

Toughness: 7 out of 10

 

Take the 09.00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (09.25 Woking), change at Petersfield (same platform, 10.04/10.13), arriving Rowlands Castle at 10.23. 

From Clapham J, take the 08.52 stopping service to Portsmouth & Southsea, direct to Rowlands. 

Later trains would be sufficient for the short walk.

Return trains: xx.58 (change at Petersfield to cut 18 minutes journey time to Waterloo).

 

This demanding West Sussex walk in the undulating western part of the South Downs is characterised initially by a mixture of park- and woodland, then steep lonely valleys and some far views to the main South Downs Ridge.It starts off towards Stansted House along a 1.5 km-long beech avenue – one of the best in England according to Pevsner, and then heads north along the easterly edge of Stansted Forest and across fields via the hamlets of West, Up and East Marden to a very remote pub in Hooksway, with particularly nice views on the route between the hamlets, including up to the northern escarpment of the South Downs.From lunch you climb back out of the secluded valley on a westerly route to Compton, from where another couple of hills need to be crossed to finish along the westerly edge of Stansted Forest back into Rowlands Castle, with its teashop and a choice of pubs.

The walk (especially the extended version) features several sustained, steep climbs and descents.

Walk Options: 

A shortcut around lunch cuts 9.4 km and 307m ascent/descent. 

An extension after lunch adds 3.4 km and 162m ascent/descent. It follows a lonely, narrow, wood-fringed valley to the main northerly escarpment of the South Downs and then follows one of the most undulating sections of the South Downs Way with unrivalled far views from Pen Hill and Beacon Hill, making this a real challenge. 

All three routes share the start, up to West Marden, and the end, from Compton. 

Bus Service 54 (Petersfield – Chichester) serves West Marden (the early lunch stop) and Compton (the late lunch/early tea stop), about every two hours, to late afternoon (last at 16.37/16.39).

Lunch: The Victoria Inn in West Marden (6.3 km/3.9 mi, open all day, food all day); The Royal Oak in Hooksway (12.6 km/7.9 mi, food to 14.00), The Coach & Horses in Compton (8.7 km/5.4 mi on the short walk, it looks as if this pub is still closed!). 

Tea: Darcy’s Tea Room in Compton (7.4 km/4.6 mi from the end, open to 17.00), plus three pubs and a café in Rowlands Castle; check page 2 of the walk directions pdf.

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.t=swc.68