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 - including the way from the Golden Cross bus stop to Muddles Green - is here: #/test/sandy/golden-cross-to-farleys-and-afternoon-route-to-berwick-on-vanguard-way.gpx

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 - Cholsey to Goring

SWC 49: Cholsey to Goring

Distance: 14.5 miles or 23.5 km

Difficulty: 3 out of 10

Train: Take the 9:50 AM Hereford-bound Great Western train from London Paddington to Reading (arriving 10:13) and change onto the 10:25 Didcot-bound train to Cholsey, arriving Cholsey at 10:41.

Return trains from Goring are at 22 past the hour Buy a day return to Cholsey

This walk offers a fine combination of gentle Oxfordshire countryside, wide grassy horse training gallops, a stretch of the Ridgeway with splendid views from the Berkshire Downs, and a final saunter along the banks of the Thames. Although the walk is fairly long, it has nothing too steep or demanding. More information, instructions and GPX can be found here.

The recommended lunch pub is the Red Lion in Blewbury (4 miles/6 km into the walk). Tea and afternoon refreshments can be had at the Wedge & Beetle Boathouse on the Thames.

Look forward to seeing you on the walk!

#2026-05-31T10:00

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Saturday Walk - Tring to Berkhamsted via Tom's Hill

Length: 15.8km 9.8 miles Toughness 4/10. You could join or leave the route at lunchtime by bus.

The weather looks cooler on Saturday but this walk should provide plenty of shady woods for forest bathing if the heat continues and, hopefully, uncrowded trains. It starts off along the Grand Union Canal, and takes in the Ashridge Estate, Berkhamsted Common, World War One training trenches and the delightful Golden Valley.

Take the 10.06 from Euston, arriving at Tring 10.48

Return trains from Berkhamsted are 15.04; 15.26; 16.58; 16.00; 16.24; 16.58; 17.26 etc... Buy a return to Tring

The walk notes give a few lunch options. The first one you come to is the Bridgewater Arms (tel 01442 842408 ) in the village of Little Gaddesden. For a picnic, if you walk along towards the church behind the pub, you will come across a playground with benches. About 30 minutes further along the walk route, you come to the Bakehouse Cafe at the front of Ashridge House. This licensed cafe has a varied menu to cover most tastes and comes recommended by previous walkers. There is outside seating at the front of the Bakehouse.

Back in Berkhamsted, there are lots of options for tea or something stronger. Just before the railway station you come to the Crystal Palace pub on the canal but the recommended pub is The Rising Sun, a community "real ale" pub just a short distance further along the canal path (go to the canal path and turn left past the rear of the Crystal Palace). If you are running out of time there is a kiosk in Berkhamsted station next to the ticket office selling tea/coffee/alcoholic beverages.

Full details, directions and GPX can be found on this walk's web page. L=swc.366.

I can't join this weekend but enjoy the walk!

#2026-05-30T10:00

Saturday Walk - Dorking Circular via Friday Street

Length: 18½ km † (11.5 miles) or short version 16 km † (9.9 miles)

6 out of 10 or 4 out of 10

With the possibility of the sunny weather continuing, this walk avoids the seaside train routes.

"The walk starts with a long stretch along the lower chalk slopes of the National Trust's Denbies Hillside , a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Main Walk then heads south into the wooded Greensand Hills, going through the extensive Wotton Estate to the picturesque hamlet of Friday Street with its large Hammer Pond.

The return leg crosses a number of ridges on open access land managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commission. After passing the large ponds of Bury Hill Fisheries a final climb takes you along the top of The Nower , a semi-natural woodland reserve with splendid views. There are plenty of opportunities for refreshment in Dorking before the journey back."

Trains: Get the 0941 Horsham Train from London Victoria (Clapham Jct 0948) arriving 1040. Return trains to Victoria are xx17 & xx48. (note, that for travel options to/from London Bridge/Waterloo/Dorking Deepdene, you need a more expensive all routes ticket)

Lunch: The Wotton Hatch (01306-887694) on the A25 at Wotton, after 4.7 miles, 7½ km. It serves food all day and has a large beer garden and fast service on previous outings. Just before the pub, there is the church of St John the Evangelist for picnics, which is slightly off the gpx route on a path going uphill to the right.

Tea: Various options in Dorking. The Lincoln Arms by the station is good enogh for a post walk drink, otherwise The White Horse.

#2026-05-30T09:41

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Saturday Walk - Hastings to Winchelsea via 3 Oaks (SWC walk 316 in reverse)

SWC 316: Hastings to Winchelsea (via Three Oaks) -- SWC 316 -- In reverse!

Distance: 16.4 Miles or 26.4 km for those more metrically minded (with options to shorten to about 8 miles by starting or finishing in Three Oaks -- see walk notes)

Difficulty: 8 out of 10

Train: Take the 9:15 AM train from London Charing Cross (9:24 London Bridge) to arrive in Hastings at 10:47. Return trains from Winchelsea via Ashford and St. Ps are at 43 past the hour until 22:43. Buy a day return to Hastings with a high speed upgrade for a quicker return journey.

I thought that it would be interesting to try this walk in reverse to catch high tide at the very Mediterranean cove of Fairlight Glen at the start of the walk; rather than low tide at the end.... with an atmospheric finish in the charming Ancient Town of Winchelsea. The walk is principally map or GPX-led and the recommended lunch pub is midway -- so it should work reasonably well in reverse.....You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions/gpx here.

The recommended lunch stop is at the Three Oaks Pub in, well you guessed it, Three Oaks (01424 813 303) about 8 miles/12.9 km into the walk and serves food all afternoon. A booking has been made for 2:30pm. The New Inn in Winchelsea is a charming country pub to enjoy post walk refreshments....

Look forward to seeing you on the walk!

#2026-05-30T09:15

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Evening Walk: West End and Esher Commons Walk (AKA Short Oxshott Circular) -- IMPORTANT TRAVEL UPDATE-- SEE UPDATED POST

West End and Esher Commons Short Walk (AKA Oxshott Circular) -- TRAVEL UPDATE ORIGINAL TRAIN CANCELLED -- TAKE 17:33 INSTEAD.

Distance: Approximately 6.2 miles or 10 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 3 out of 10

Travel: 17:33 South Western train from London Waterloo, arriving at Oxshott at 18:11. Return trains run every half hour on the hour and half hour until 23:00

This is one of my favorite evening walks….just a short train journey from London brings you to Oxshott from where you magically step from the train platform directly into heathland….. The walk explores two adjoining common lands, both with a fairly wild wooded feel….We will stop midway through at the Prince of Wales pub in the pretty village of West End Common for a quick drink and bite…

As a bonus, there will be a near full blue moon to help guide us back to the station after our pub stop......

More information about the route can be found here .

I look forward to seeing everyone who comes!

#2026-05-29T18:00

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Wednesday Walk - Haddenham Circular, shorter route via Ashendon

#2026-05-27T10:02

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LENGTH 20.1 km (12.5 miles)

TOUGHNESS  4/10

TRAINS Take the 10.02 Birmingham Moor St train from MARYLEBONE arriving at HADDENHAM at 10.40

Return trains at 15.36, 15.47, 16.33, and 16.49

Today’s route is the shorter version via Ashendon. 

The lunch pub is

https://www.theashtree.co.uk/  formerly known as the Hundred of Ashendon. It has reopened as a community pub and seems to be doing quite fancy food. Vegan Haloumi skewers, for example. Phone 01296 925980

TEA. THE CROWN in Cuddington, a lovely thatched pub is currently closed, though soon to be reopened having been bought by the local community. 

However, I have sourced another lovely thatched pub in a village also starting with a C around a mile away. 

This is 

https://thebellchearsley.co.uk/ , Chearsley, afternoon closing at 3pm!!

You could devise a shortcut from lunch to pass through this charming village (as seen in Midsomer Murders) and rejoin the morning route quite near the station. This would save a mile or more while also cutting out the long and somewhat tiresome Main Street of Haddenham. 

Monday Walk: Gerrards Cross to Cookham with added Beer Festival

Gerrards Cross to Cookham with optional Burnham Beeches detour

9.6 miles 15.4 km Difficulty:2/10

The optional detour adds about 3 km, 1.5  miles onto the overall length 

Across Bulstrode Park, passing  woods and lakes, then going through Egypt Wood and Burnham Beeches to finish by the Thames.  Cookham is associated with the artist Stanley Spencer and there is a small Spencer gallery in the town. The optional detour would take you deeper into Burnham Beeches with its elderly gnarled inhabitants, bustling wood ants, and, if you can find it, a mysterious ancient moat a younger Mr Tiger helped to clear out. 

Travel  10:06 Oxford train from Marylebone arriving Gerrards Cross 10:25,

Return from Cookham xx:28 and xx:58 (xx 34 and xx:04 after 17:30) changing at Maidenhead.

Note that the journey back from Cookham is on a different line and requires a different ticket. You should be able to buy both at Marylebone.

So that’s a single from Marylebone to Gerrards Cross and a single from Cookham to London.

A travelcard + singles from / to the boundary would most likely be cheaper. 

Freedom Pass holders can return free from Maidenhead on the Elizabeth line.  

Elevenses/Early lunch Even more of a temptation than usual, the White Horse in Hedgerley (01753 643225). is holding a ...

.. BEER (and cider) FESTIVAL this weekend. Just make sure you’ve got your legs on straight when you leave.

Lunch: The Blackwood Arms (01753 645672) is a short out and back diversion from the route. (The walk option delving deeper into Burnham Beeches goes right past). You are advised to phone.

Tea: there are a few places in Cookham High Street 

Infusions 01628 528 537 has a garden.

The Teapot at Cleve Cottages – open till 5.`

There are pubs too - the  Kings Arms 01628  530 667 (suggested), the Bel and Dragon 01628  521 263 and The Old Swan Uppers on the way to the station.

It is 15-20 mins to the station from the High St. 

Walk directions:  here  T=1.40

#2026-05-25T10:06 

A bank holiday outing to the south coast: Southease circular

Length: 23.5 km (14.5 miles) with options to shorten to 18-19 km. 6/10

A varied South Downs walk featuring the Sussex Ouse, Centenary Park (Peacehaven), the Undercliff Path, Telscombe Tye, and optional climbs. It also passes a surprising monument to the point where the Greenwich Meridien crosses the coast, hence the walk page's reference to visiting both hemispheres.

Travel: 0954 from Victoria, changing at Lewes for the 1100 to Seaford, arriving at Southease six minutes later. Regulars will be familiar with the dash across the station at Lewes. The latter train normally waits till the train from London has left, so we should be fine, but be in the middle carriages to be nearest the stairs to Platform 3. Return trains from Southease at 05 past the hour.  

Lunch: The recommended lunch stop is the Smugglers' Rest but an extremely wide choice in Peacehaven is listed on the walk intro page.

Tea: The YHA Courtyard Cafe, 200m beyond Southease station, is a good place to wait for the hourly return train.

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#2026-05-25T09:54

Sunday Walk: Didcot Circular

13.7 miles  22 km. Difficulty 3/10

Through an attractive part of the Thames Valley and a riverside nature reserve to lunch in Dorchester-on-Thames. Dorchester Abbey ,now the parish church, is one of the few large monastery buildings to survive the Dissolution and is worth a visit. After lunch, you go back along the river to Little Wittenham and another church worth a look.  Then, you reach Wittenham Clumps, a nature reserve encompassing two Iron Age hill forts. 

Trains 

Get the 09:38 Hereford train from Paddington arriving Didcot Parkway at 10:27. 

Freedom Pass holders can travel free on the Elizabeth Line as far as Reading but require a ticket for the rest of the journey. (Elizabeth Line times: 8:45 Paddington, 8:56 Ealing Broadway) arrive Reading:09:42, dep 10:14 on the above train Platform 9). 

Frequent return trains. Change at Reading if you want the Elizabeth line. 

Get a return to Didcot Parkway.

Lunch:   Choose between the George, (a pub revelling in its use as a Midsomer Murders location) and the White Hart. 

Tea There is a real ale pub, the Prince of Wales (01235 511380) opposite the station. 

Directions are here. At point 12 in the text, be sure to follow the directions back to Didcot, not Appleford. Appleford has no trains on a Sunday. t=swc.44  #2026-05-24T09:38

 

Sunday Walk: Wanborough to Godalming

I12.9 km (8 miles), Difficulty3/10

A lovely, if short, walk featuring open fields, remote woodland, and, in Compton, the Watts Gallery (£19:80  entry), the tea room, and the beautifully decorated Watts Chapel (worth a look - and free). Have lunch there or a little further on in The Withies Inn. Later, there's more woodland and a stretch along the River Wey to the ancient town of Godalming.

Anyone wanting more of the river could continue along it for another 4 miles to Guildford.

Trains 

Get the 09:30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct. 09:39). Change to the Ascot train at Guildford (arrive 10:10, depart 10:17 plat 6). Arrive Wanborough 10:23.

Return from Godalming at xx:56, xx:27.

Buy a return to Wanborough, plus a single for the short stretch back from Godalming to Guildford.

There are frequent trains from Guildford if anyone is thinking of finishing there.

Lunch The Withies Inn 01483 421158 or Watts Gallery Tea Shop 01483 811 030 (free entry).  

Tea In Godalming,  Caffè Nero is open till 5:30 and Costa Coffee open to 5, both on the High Street. . There’s a Wetherspoons on the High St. The Star on Church Street is well known to our crowd as a purveyor of real ales and ciders.

Walk Directions: here

T=1.2   #2026-05-24T09:30

Saturday Walk - Eynsford Circular via Farningham - NEW to Saturdays!!

17.3km (10.7 miles), with an optional extra loop adding 1.8km (1.1 miles) T=swc.419

9.47 train from Victoria, calling at all sorts of SE London stations, including Bromley South depart 10.23, to Eynsford, arriving 10.41  If you just miss this, catch the 9.55 train, arriving Bromley South at 10.11, to connect to the above train

From London Bridge, you could get the 9.44 train to Peckham Rye, arr 9.54 and connect to the Eynsford train there at 10.01

For walk directions, GPX and map click here.

Would you believe, this walk has never been posted on a Saturday, and seems so far to have been mostly confined to midwinter That is a pity, as this is gorgeous May territory. In particular, early on in the Lullingstone Country Park, it crosses a hillside that is usually awash with oxeye daisies at this time of year. The park is also my favourite spot to hear yellowhammers, and the river near Farningham is a good spot for mayflies. I am pretty sure there will also be good displays of buttercups somewhere or other. Among other delights...!!

There is a positive embarrassment of lunch pubs - four in Eynsford, one in Farningham - and if you do the extra 1.1 mile loop to Horton Kirby there is another pub there with (from memory) a rather nice garden that would make a good mid-afternoon stop. Otherwise for tea/end of walk drinks there is a riverside pub in Farningham and the aforementioned four pubs in Eysnford.

Those that want a longer walk could follow the Darent Valley Path south from Eynsford to Shoreham or even Otford.

Trains back are at 35 past, going to Victoria in 55 minutes: but you can also change at Swanley (arriving 40 past, depart 48 past) and get a fast train to London Bridge, arriving 07 past: ie just 32 minutes journey time in all. 

#2026-05-23T09:47 

Saturday Walk: Pluckley Circular

Difficulty 1 out of 10 (2 or 3 for the longer versions)

Length 7.2, 9.2 or 11.2 miles (11.5, 14.7, or 18 km)

Welcome to Pluckley, the Kent village so haunted they banned Halloween. 

The land around Pluckley was owned by one family for 900 years and their influence - distinctive Dering windows and the black horse symbol - can still be seen on many of the buildings. The author of “The Darling Buds of May” lived in the area and the TV series was filmed here. And, guess what, its May!

The basic walk is 7.2 miles but there are a couple of options extending it. 

Trains

Get the 09:34 Ramsgate train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 09:57 London Bridge 10:03) arriving Pluckley 10:46.

Return trains at xx:37: to Charing Cross Get a return to Pluckley. 

(Rich toffs could take the 9:40 Margate HS1 from St Pancras and change at Ashford for the 10:30 Charing Cross-bound, Platform 1, arriving Pluckley 10:37. There's little advantage and it costs more, but it would give an extra return train at xx:46, changing at Ashford).

Lunch

The Swan Inn in Little Chart is recommended 01233 840 011. They've got a garden by the stream.

A bit later, in Pluckley, there's the Black Horse  01233 224 224. It hasn’t been tried for a while, but, apparently, they're not as sniffy about walk-in trade as they used to be. (It's haunted, so don't ask for spirits).

Tea

The Black Horse (see above) is a possibility.

Both of the longer options and a short diversion from the short walk, take you to the Rose and Crown at Mundy Bois 01233 840 048. From there, allow 45-50 minutes to the station

Although the Dering Arms, 01233 840 371 is just opposite the station, it closes 3:30 to 6, just when you’d want it open. It’s haunted anyway. t=2.21

Directions: here. 

 #2026-05-23T09:40

Saturday Walk - Map walk - Pease Pottage to Steyning

SWC Map walk #433 - Pease Pottage to Steyning 

Length: 40.6 km (25.2 miles). Toughness: 3/10 

Various options to shorten the walk finishing:
• At Crabtree after 15.5km.
• At Cowfold after 20km.
• At Partridge Green after 24.9km.
• At Henfield after 28.5km
• For the above endings. Catch the 17 bus to Horsham railway station (hourly service)

Catch the 9:00 from London Bridge (East Croydon 9:17) arrives Horley 9:47 to catch the #20 at 10:06 (from the bus stop outside the main station entrance) to Pease Pottage, Woodgate. arr. 10:43 (If walking on to Steyning buy a return to Burgess Hill and, if you end up taking bus to Shoreham-by-Sea, buy a single from Shoreham to Burgess Hill.) 

This is a map based walk - it is preferable to have the gpx on your smartphone / gpx device. This is the 3rd stage (of 5) of a walk from Robertsbridge to South Harting, inspired by Hilaire Belloc's walk undertaken in 1902, and detailed in his book The Four Men: A Farrago. Sections of the route taken in 1902 were along "cart tracks" which are now roads. Consequently the route taken varies slightly from the 1902 route, but it does pass by sights and villages and pubs detailed in the book. The full third section is from Pease Pottage to Steyning, although there are convenient drop out points along the way (listed above). 

Belloc took four days to complete the walk from Robertsbridge to South Harting, so we are already behind. Friday 30th October 1902: Having set off early for Ardingly stopped at ‘The (black) Swan Inn’ Pease Pottage for some ale. Then onto St. Leonards Forest and Shelley Plain, Leonards Lee, Crabtree Inn, Crabtree and arrived just after 3pm at Little Cowfold. South towards Henfield to stop at an inn for a meal. After which Ashurst Road to spend the night in a barn [Sent out to ‘Fountain Inn’, Ashurst for bread, cheese and Steyning ale]  

#2026-05-23T09:00

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Evening Walk: Richmond Circular

#2026-05-21T18:15

Richmond Park Short Walk t=short.7

Distance: Approximately 4.25 miles or 7.6 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 2 out of 10

Travel: 18:18 South Western Reading bound train from London Waterloo, arriving at Richmond at 18:36. Richmond is also reachable by the District Line -- but this may not be reliable due to strike action.

This walk takes a varied route first along the Thames River, then past the impressive Ham House before entering Richmond Park. Once in the park, the route climbs the escarpment for some fine views across the Thames valley.

Please ensure you keep a safe distance from any deer spotted in Richmond Park and do NOT feed them – they have apparently become quite interested in people (and any food that may be offered)….

Various options exist for post walk drinks and/or meal….

More information about the route can be found here.

Wednesday walk: Greensand Way Eastern End: Ashford to Ham Street FIRST POSTING

Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles) 2/10

OK I must admit I didn't even know where the Greensand Way ended until I searched on walks you could do from stations accessible by Thameslink or the Victoria line (which was running on the last tube strike week). As far as I can see this walk has never been posted!

It starts with a very acceptable urban stretch out from Ashford's station, following the Stour Valley Walk, through parks and along the Great Stour river. It then skirts Ashford's sprawling suburbs with its many new estates and passes a couple of farms. Some pretty countryside follows though, with tranquil pastures and the enchanting Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve, all the way to the fine village of Ham Street. There's an hourly train back from Ham Street but the village pub looks lovely.

Travel: From Victoria – 0955 arriving Ashford 1132

From Charing Cross – 1004 to Dover Priory (Waterloo East 1007, London Bridge 1013) arriving Ashford 1122

From St Pancras (High Speed ticket needed) – 1040 arriving Ashford 1118. Those on the last two trains please wait for the Victoria train.

Return train from Ham Street at 02 past the hour. 8 minute journey back to Ashford where you change for St Pancras, Victoria or London Bridge, Waterloo East and Charing Cross (last option very slow though).

Get a return to Ham Street

Lunch: Queen's Head in Kingsnorth. (9.1 km)

Tea: The Duke's Head in Ham Street, close to the station. A small coffee shop, The Cosy Kettle (01233-733030; is open to 4pm.

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#2026-05-20T10:00 

 

Sunday Walk - King's Sutton Circular: Undulating Northamptonshire (with plenty of pubs)

#2026-05-17T11:03

Length: 18.2 km (11.3 mi) [Longer Walk possible, see below] 

Ascent/Descent: 232m

Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours 

Toughness: 3 out of 10

 

Take the 10.00 Birmingham Moor Street train from Marylebone, arrives Kings Sutton 11.03. 

Return trains: 15.44, 17.44 and 19.44 direct (64 or 73 minutes), plus 18.05 (via Oxford).

 

This circular walk passes through four small Cotswold villages each with a good pub serving real ale. 

There are some great long views, much is out in the open across the large fields, with less variety than for some walks. The villages are noteworthy (apart from the pubs): churches in most of them have unusual features (e.g. medieval wall paintings in Croughton, spire and weird monument in Kings Sutton, tablets in Aynho), the fine Grammar School in Aynho, Aynhoe Park (grand 17th century house, with John Soane involved in design and gardens by Capability Brown) is private but one gets a very good view of the house from the road, handsome houses such as Souldern House and others.

Note: For the first 2-3 km, depending on the speed and direction of the wind the nearby M40 can be noisy. On other days it's a far-off sound.

Walk Option: you can extend the walk by starting or finishing at Banbury (better train service), this adds 6 km.

Lunch: Cartwright Hotel & Restaurant (4.2 km) in Aynho (this may be out of business), The Fox (6.7 km, food to 14.00) in Souldern, The Blackbird Inn (10.9 km) in Croughton (this may be closed looking for a new tenant) or The Rose & Crown (14.2 km, food to 15.30) in Charlton.

Tea: The White Horse or The Butchers Arms (Hook Norton brewery) in Kings Sutton.

For walk directions, map, height profile, some photos and gpx/kml files click here.

t=swc.176 #2026-05-17T11:04

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 - Borough Green to Sevenoaks

#2026-05-16T09:55

Length: 15.1km (9.4 miles) or 17.4km (10.8 miles) via Shipbourne

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Travel:  09.55 train from Victoria, calling at Bromley Sth (10.12) St Mary Cray (10.18) Swanley (10.23) arriving Borough Green at 10.41

Frequent return trains from Seven Oaks.

Ticket: Buy a day return to Borough Green, which usually seems to be accepted for return from Sevenoaks.  (If not, buy a single from Sevenoaks to Otford.)

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

As this is not a long walk,  a leisurely pace is recommended to experience the fresh green woods, apple orchards, fields with sheep and lambs (and hopefully buttercups) and the quiet village of Plaxtol.  This could possibly be the best time of year to enjoy this walk.    

Lunch: The lunch pub is the lovely Chaser Inn, with a large garden slightly off the route.  Tea or light lunches are available at Igtham Mote, a national trust property.  The café is accessible without paying an entrance charge. 

You eventually end up in Knole Park, with it’s sweet chestnut, oak and beech trees (and deer).  There is a National Trust tea room which is open till 5pm. Other tea options in Sevenoaks including Gails which is open till 6.30pm.

L=1.36

 

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)