Book 1: Walk 16: Balcombe Circular
Travel: Take the 10:05AM Thameslink Brighton train from London Bridge (East Croydon 10:19) arriving 10:46. Return trains are xx25 xx55.
Length: 19km (11.8 miles)
Difficulty: 5 out of 10
This walk is full of small delights: a nature reserve and lake with Japanese pavilion down by the stream below the impressive gardens and park of Nymans (National Trust) with its part-ruined manor house; a churchyard in Slaugham (pronounced 'Slaffam') with a 600-year-old yew tree some 10 metres in circumference; the ruins of Slaugham Manor; then a walk down to the River Ouse. You should use the online directions in order to get the route to a tunnel under the A23 (motorway). More information and the instructions/gpx can be found here.
Lunch: Early in Handcross at the Red Lion, after 3.5 miles, 5.6km. After 7.6km there is the Heritage in Slaugham, an altogether more upmarket place which seems to require advanced booking. After 7.5 miles, 12km (3 hours) you get to Staplefield and The Victory Inn (tel 01444 400 463) all day at weekends for a late lunch or early tea. On the other side of Staplefield Green, some 300 metres north of the Victory Inn, The Jolly Tanners (tel 01444 400 335), a family run village pub with a pleasant beer garden. This gives you only 3 miles left to get to the station.
Tea: The Balcombe Tea Rooms which tends to close early or, for stronger stuff, The Half Moon, an excellent community pub.
#2026-10-17T10:05
T=1.16
L=1.16
4 comments:
Heritage The Chequers at Slaugham is permenantly closed, although there was a £40 three course menu reviewers reported £80 - £100 per head with wine. The Red Lion is a bit too soon so perhaps best to walk on to the Victory
I have booked a table for 4 at The Victory at 14:00 just me so far, first come first served, but we can adjust numbers at the station
#N=11, With sailors and Sicilians returned, ten on the platform plus one taking a later train and a short cut to join us for lunch. With The Victory being two thirds of the way round several stopped at the Red Lion in Handcross for a little refreshment to keep them going. The Heritage The Chequers at Slaugham is now two semi- detached houses, presumably more profitable than running a posh restaurant. The women of Slaugham have crocheted 8000 10 cm poppies on a black net that was being draped from the bell tower of St Mary's as we passed. We were enthusiastically me by three horses in a field, just before the A23 tunnel, who charged up to us and stopped almost touching us. We had two bookings at the Victory, 4 at 14:00 and 6 at 14:30. Ten off us arrived more or less together just before 14:00, it was not very busy, but kitchen capacity is the limiting factor. The web site says its an Italian menu and there are Italian dishes but they also do a good fish and chips. We all got served reasonably quickly. I understand that most went on to the Half Moon in Balcombe to test the patience of the bar staff with their tiny kettle by demanding teas. #W=Sunny_a_perfect_early_autumn_day for walking. No real autumn colour yet but all looking very pretty with the sun lower in the sky.
Several of us went to the Half Moon. Tea was off due to a broken kettle. It was super busy with screaming toddlers, barking dogs, a shooting party and dozens of young folk arriving in party hats. Some found the bar staff not particularly welcoming or friendly, in contrast to the lunchtime pub who were very accommodating. Most of our group departed after a swift drink to get the 17.25, with 3 of us lingering for a bit and getting the 17.55.
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