tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post4597855900044102126..comments2024-03-28T11:16:38.801+00:00Comments on SWC - This Week's Walks: Wednesday Walk - The North Downs: Wye CircularAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11395064086819994526noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13665817.post-59042822909203756012016-11-23T21:04:09.517+00:002016-11-23T21:04:09.517+00:0012 walkers off the HS1-train at Ashford, who decid...12 walkers off the HS1-train at Ashford, who decided to rather take an imminent (delayed) train than waiting for the posted train from Victoria, getting us to Wye 10 minutes earlier than expected. 1 then waited at Wye for possible walkers off that Victoria train (in vain), while all else sped off. <br />2 other walkers had indeed tried to catch that Victoria train, but missed, so we learned later. They were therefore an hour behind (and later skipped the lunch pub and the out-and-back to it, so were only caught by the main group a few minutes before Wye). <br />So n=14 in total in w=dry conditions. <br />Some of the many field crossings in the last quarter of the walk were a bit soggy after the recent rains, else a very fine walk, with plenty of quiet valleys and splendid views off the Downs. <br />75 minutes for lunch at the glorious Compasses Inn with its two fireplaces (some had 3 courses...) and a 10 minute delay in the afternoon caused by a very large herd of sheep being herded down the very lane we had to go up (let's just say they were not very co-operative), meant we only got to the Tickled Trout by the station at 16.35, to find it had winter opening hours (shut until 17.00)! <br />So 5 went back up into the village to the King's Head for a bevvie, which proved to be a very good choice. Do we have/can we concoct a walk that has this pub as a lunch destination? <br />A bottle of Rioja was purchased at the Co-Op by the SWC-Provisions Manager for the long journey back...Thomas Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01298846868417688062noreply@blogger.com