Monday, 12 October 2026
Dartmouth 25 June 2027 to 28 June 2027
Barbican - Two giants of the concert hall, the Gewandhausorchester and Lang Lang performing Beethoven
Save the Date - 30-year anniversary of the SWC
A celebratory walk is planned to mark the club’s 30-year anniversary.
This is an advanced notice to help you plan your busy diary.
Details will be posted by a walk poster near the time.
We are celebrating
a very special milestone, the 30th anniversary of our walking club.
Over the years, our club has brought together people from all
walks of life, united by a simple pleasure: walking in the countryside. From peaceful paths and woodland
trails to challenging hills and action packed holidays,
we have explored many places together and created memories that will stay with
us for years to come.
But our club has always been about much more than just walking.
It is about friendship and community, the conversations along the way, the
laughter over a pint of beer or a cup of tea, and the welcome given to new members. Many friendships have been formed and in some cases blossomed into marriages through the
club. It is this wonderful sense of togetherness that has helped it
flourish for three decades.
As we celebrate
our 30th anniversary, we thank the club’s founding father, Nicholas Albery for
his ingenious idea, our webmaster Andrew and many walk posters for their dedication and hard work through the years. We also remember
with fondness those members who have been part of our journey over the years
and are no longer with us or have moved away.
This anniversary
is a chance to look back with pride at everything we have achieved, but also to
look forward with excitement to the years ahead. May the next chapter bring
many more enjoyable walks, new adventures, and lasting friendships.
Lastly, you are invited to share your stories and memories of the club by adding comments to this post.
Look forward to
seeing you at this event.
Scotland 2027: Back to Dornie!
Barbican Hall - Martha Argerich Playing Ravel and more
The Jungle Book at the National Theatre
Barbican - Vaughan Williams and Beethoven with Bruce Liu
- Programme
- Ralph Vaughan Williams A Pastoral Symphony (Symphony No 3)
- Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3
- Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphony No 8
With its expressive beauty and folksong-like melodies, Vaughan Williams’ 1922 A Pastoral Symphony was long thought to be an affectionate portrait of England’s rolling hills. But within those four slow movements lie an anguished, ultimately hopeful, response to World War I. Composed 34 years later, Symphony No 8 was premiered during the dawn of the new Elizabethan age. It’s a tauter, more rhythmic work, at times dance-like, yet still offering moments of deep introspection.
Mozartian elegance and grace surround Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3, a work that nevertheless includes moments of profound beauty, especially in the yearning second movement.
Inside Aardman: Wallace & Gromit and Friends at Young V&A
In Aardman’s 50th anniversary year, go behind the scenes of your favourite stop-motion animations and explore how Aardman’s iconic characters and worlds are brought to life.
A joyful, educational, and highly tactile experience and a
"must-see" expo that combines nostalgia with iconic sets, original
models, and interactive, hands-on activities.
Tickets £11 or £5.5 (Art Fund). To book your ticket, please click here. Book the 2:30pm slot.
The current plan is to link this exhibition in conjunction with a Sunday walk and lunch nearby.
A WhatsApp group will be set up for this event. Please email your mobile number to swcsocialATgmailDOTcom if you wish to be on it.
Saturday Walk - Welwyn Circular
"Once out of the Garden City and over the A1(M) you are in some attractive Hertfordshire countryside, including the landscaped parkland of Brocket Hall and Lamer House. In the afternoon you reach the picturesque village of Ayot St Lawrence, which has two unusual churches – one reminiscent of a Greek temple, the other an ivied Gothic ruin – and if you wish you can visit the home of George Bernard Shaw, Shaw's Corner, now owned by the National Trust. (Open to the public from 1300, garden 1200)"
Trains: Get the Great Northern 1006 Letchworth train from Kings Cross (Finsbury Park 1012) arriving Welwyn 1042 . Return fast trains at xx16 xx46 to Kings cross (36 minutes), with slow trains at xx02 & xx32 to Old Street (48 minutes).
Lunch: The recommended lunch pub for this walk is The Brocket Arms (01438 820250) (14th century) (food 12-2.30) in Ayot St Lawrence, 11km from the start. You pass a couple of benches just before the pub for a picnic.
Tea: a recent walk report now recommends the Two Willows pub, which is on the route to the station. The directions also have The Waggoners, 1km from the end or Simmons cafe, close to the railway station.
Wakes Colne to Bures
Evening Walk - Frieze Sculpture Park (Regent's Park and Primrose Hill)
#2026-10-12T18:20
Sunday, 11 October 2026
Sunday walk: Leytonstone to Loughton
Sunday Walk: Whyteleafe to Hayes
Saturday, 10 October 2026
Saunderton to Princes Risborough
Direct return trains from Princes Risborough xx:25 (50 mins) xx:51 (1hr 10 mins).
Buy a day return to Princes Risborough.
The Whip Inn at Lacey Green is long term closed.Tea / end of walk refreshments: The Bird in Hand
At crosspaths at SU815998 suggest taking the footpath east for a more direct route to The Black Horse PH and after lunch take the footpath west off Main road at SP822003 for 500m to rejoin the route.
#2026-10-10T10:52 T=2.2Saturday Walk: Mortimer to Aldermaston (or Theale)
Hollingbourne Circular via Thurnham
Thursday, 8 October 2026
One (or more) for the Road on a Historic Thames Journey (Cannon St. to Canary Wharf)
SWC Short 28: One (or more) for the Road on a Historic Thames Journey
Meet: The Banker Pub – 200 meters from Cannon St. Tube and Rail Station (on the Thames)
Time: 18:30
Distance: 5 miles or 8 km for those more metrically minded
Difficulty: 1 out of 10
This is a relaxed outing along the Thames that hardly requires any instructions, aside from, keep the river on your right. The route basically follows the Thames Path from Cannon St. Station to Canary Wharf Pier, passing through historic Wapping. Note, however, there may be some diversions away from the river here and there for various works..... I have lost track of the status of these.... but it is usually straight forward to regain the river route.....
Of particular interest, the route passes three historic hostelries – the Town of Ramsgate, the Prospect of Whitby and the Grapes. At Canary Wharf Pier, you can catch a Thames Clipper back to central London or meander through the buildings to the DLR/Jubilee/Elizabeth line Stations.
More information and the instructions can be found here.
Enjoy the walk!
#2026-10-08T18:30T=short.28
L=short.28
Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Wednesday walk: Surrey woods, lanes and a quaint village - Witley to Haslemere
Length: 14.5 km (9 miles) 3/10
A favourite Surrey walk with lots of woodland, history and the attractive village of Chiddingfold for lunch before a pleasant amble to Haslemere in the afternoon. Chiddingfold is less than half way (6.1 km) so I'm suggesting a late start.
Travel: 1045 from Waterloo (CJ 1052, Woking 1113) arriving at Witley 1142. Four trains an hour back from Haslemere. Get a return to Haslemere.
Lunch: A good choice in Chiddingfold: nice churchyard foa a pcinic, The 12th century Crown Inn in (tel 01428 682 255) serves lunch till 2.30. The Swan is a good alternative and Elliott's coffee shop has good sandwiches.
Tea: Hemingways (tel 01428 643 048) or Darnleys (tel 01428 643 048) on Haslemere High Street, and several nearby pubs.
Shortening the walk: You could get a bus from Chiddingfold to Haslemere - about once an hour. Otherwise you can only shorten the walk by missing out Chiddingfold - an obvious short cut from Langhurst House (head south on a footpath to rejoin the route at grid ref SU727343) cuts out two miles.
L=1.44
#2026-10-07T10:45
Sunday, 4 October 2026
Sunday Walk – A strenuous little hike around Box Hill and Headley Heath
Length: 13¼ km (8.2 miles), or 16¼ km (10.1 miles) with extension to Dorking. Toughness: 5/10
09:40 Dorking train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:47, etc), arriving Box Hill & Westhumble at 10:34. I suggest buying a return to Dorking – it's the same fare as Box Hill and there are ticket barriers at Dorking to negotiate if you choose to finish there. [Or buy two singles: this is one of those lines where off-peak singles are now half the return fare.]
Trains return from Box Hill & Westhumble at xx:08 to Waterloo, xx:16 and xx:46 to Victoria (4 minutes earlier from Dorking).
This is a fairly strenuous little walk taking in a succession of hills: up and down the southern slopes of Box Hill (though passing below the summit), across Headley Heath and then over Mickleham Downs. There's the option of an equally tough afternoon (back over the downs and up Juniper Top to the summit on Box Hill), but unless you're in training for something I suggest doing the simpler and much easier route around the bottom of Norbury Park, which you could extend through Denbies Vineyard to Dorking.
There are two nice but fairly expensive pubs in Mickleham, with the walk route passing the Running Horses by the churchyard. You'll almost certainly need to book in advance if you want a table for a pub lunch there (or at the King William Ⅳ). At the end the Stepping Stones pub is five minutes' walk beyond Box Hill station; there's lots of choice if you carry on to Dorking, including the informal Conservatory Restaurant in Denbies Visitor Centre.
Please bring the directions from the L=swc.450 page. #2026-10-04T10:35
Sunday Walk - Flitwick Circular (short walk option)
OR
After lunch it’s back on to the ridge for a long stretch through and along Maulden Wood, at times with far views south to the Chiltern Hills. The highlight of the return route from Maulden to Flitwick is the passage through Flitton and Flitwick Moors, including a stretch along a narrow path through the very heart of Flitwick Moor.
#2026-10-04T09:53 T=swc.231.a
Saturday, 3 October 2026
Saturday Walk - Tonbridge Circular
"This walk provides a link from a major town with a frequent rail service to the rolling countryside around the villages of Penshurst and Chiddingstone. You are soon out of Tonbridge town centre and heading for Haysden Country Park , a popular recreational area of lakes and water meadows alongside the River Medway . The area's industrial past can be glimpsed in the many abandoned waterways and reclaimed gravel pits, while the modern Leigh Flood Relief Barrier is a reminder that this low-lying area is prone to flooding.
The remainder of the morning section follows the Eden Valley Walk , reversing part of the Hever to Leigh walk (1–19) to a choice of lunch places in Penshurst . This attractive village is dominated by Penshurst Place , a well-preserved medieval manor house with an attractive formal garden, the home of the Sidney family since the 16 th C. It is open, admission is £15, or £13 for the gardens only (2024).
The Circular Walk back to Tonbridge, initially on a familiar path through Penshurst Park which reverses the start of the Leigh to Tunbridge Wells walk (1–15) and continues with a new route back to the town via the playing fields of Tonbridge School."
Trains: Get the 1004 Dover Priory train from Charing Cross (London Bridge 1013), arriving 1046. Frequent return trains. Buy a return to Tonbridge (or Penshurst if planning to end there).
Lunch: The suggested lunch place (after 8¼ km) is the refurbished Leicester Arms Hotel ( 01892-356141 ) in Penshurst . This up-market establishment has a large garden and serves good food until around 3pm. There is a churchyard nearby. On the way into the village the Porcupine Pantry ( 01892-871277 ) is just outside the main entrance to Penshurst Place. It serves light lunches but might struggle to cope with a large group.
Tea: the Fleur De Lis in Leigh is a possible mid-afternoon stop. T he suggested tea place, serving good home-made cakes Рthe Finch House Caf̩ & Bakery ( 01732-771775 ; open to 5pm at the front of the Pavilion Shopping Centre. Also The Humphrey Bean a Weatherspoons, which means walking down the High Street.
Tring to Wendover
Saturday Walk - Holmwood to Reigate Walk
An easy walk through Surrey's Low Weald and the Mole Valley.
‘This walk
in the Low Weald of Surrey follows broad paths through gently
undulating country with glimpses of the North Downs ridge to the north. The lunch stop is in the attractive village
of Leigh with its village green, pub and church. In the afternoon the walk
crosses the Mole at Flanchford Bridge and then rises on the Greensand ridge
near Reigate Priory to give extensive views of the North Downs and on a clear
day the South Downs near Devil's Dyke.’
Length: 16km
(10 miles)
Difficulty :
2 out of 10
Trains : 0
9.41 from London Victoria, 09.48 Clapham Junction; 09.53 Balham and stops at
multiple stations en route to Holmwood arriving 10.47.
Return
trains from Reigate: xx.02 and xx.32 go direct to London Victoria, xx.08 and
xx:38 go to Redhill where you can change for trains to London Bridge.
Ticket: Buy
a return to Holmwood which is valid from Reigate though it may not work at the
ticket barrier.
Lunch : The
Plough in Leigh 01306 611348
Tea : Monty
Bojangles and other options available in Reigate.
For more
detailed information follow the link L=swc.32
#2026-10-03T09:41