Fading Autumn Color Along the Greensand Ridge (Holmwood to Shamley Green, Shalford or Guildford)

SWC 287:  Holmwood to Shamley Green, Shalford or Guildford t=swc.287

Distance:  11.6 miles (18.7 km), 14.5ish miles (23ish km) or 17.4 miles (28 km), respectively

Difficulty:  8 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:25 AM Horsham-bound train from London Victoria arriving in Holmwood at 10:29. Unless walking on to Shalford or Guilford, the return journey requires a bus from Shamley Green to Guildford (bus number 53 or 63), each bus runs hourly and takes about 10 minutes, the 53 at 22 past the hour and the 63 at 52 past the hour with the bus stop located conveniently opposite the pub!  Plenty of trains in Guildford.....For those walking on to Shalford, trains run hourly at 31 past the hour (additionally the 53 and 63 buses both stop near the station). Buy a “any permitted” day return to Gomshall.

This walk provides a great late autumn outing with some invigorating hills to climb….Hopefully, there will also be some remaining flashes of color from the beech trees along the route….This is a largely map-led outing with a GPX file available for guidance. If you decide to walk to Shalford, you will need to consult the map and deviate from the GPX…it is a short diversion….With the short days upon us, the walk into Guildford would likely be in the dark, though it may be possible to make it to Shalford before darkness falls. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

The recommended lunch stop is the Royal Oak in Holmbury St. Mary (about 5 miles/9 km into the walk). Tea or afternoon refreshments can be enjoyed at the Red Lion in Shamley Green while waiting for the bus or at the Queen Victoria in Shalford also while waiting for the bus or train.

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday Walk Bow Brickhill to Leighton Buzzard - Three woods in the morning, Great Brickhill, Rushmere Park, the River Ouzel - then along the Grand Union canal to Leighton Buzzard

Book 1 Walk 41 - Bow Brickhill to Leighton Buzzard

Length: 14.7 km (9.1 miles)

Toughness: 2 out of 10     Mostly level walking today

London Euston: 09-24 hrs     West Midlands service to Northampton     Watford Junction: 09-39 hrs

Arrive Bletchley: 10-12 hrs   Change trains

Leave Bletchley: 10-20 hrs    West Midlands service to Bedford

Arrive Bow Brickhill:   10-27 hrs 

Return:   Leighton Buzzard to Euston: 15-54, 16-09, 16-34, 16-54. 17-08, 17-34, 17-54, 18-08 hrs and later 

Rail ticket: Buy a day return to Bow Brickhill 

With a bit of luck we should catch the last of the leaf colour from the oaks and beeches in Rushmere Park, after lunch in Great Brickhill.

Leaving Bow Brickhill railway station we soon find ourselves in Back Wood, where many a SWC walker has got lost. It can also be muddy at this time of year, but no matter, if we can extricate ourselves from this maze we soon find ourselves heading through Buttermilk and Duncombe Woods, where the going is much easier.  Lunch is taken in the village of Great Brickhill at the Old Red Lion pub, which serves good quality, honest pub grub in a comfortable setting.

After lunch we enjoy a leg through Rushmere Park, with its oak and beech trees, then we walk above the River Ouzel before crossing water meadows (hopefully not waterlogged today - if they are there is another route described in the Directions) to come out beside the Grand Union canal. An early tea can be taken here (the offerings in Leighton Buzzard are poor) at the Globe Inn. Then we conclude today's walk by walking along the tow path next to the canal all the way to Leighton Buzzard. The walk through town to the railway station is grim but fortunately it does not last long.

T=1.41

Walk Directions are here: L=1.41

Evening Walk: Cruising the Canal from Angel to Limehouse (without Victoria Park)

Evening Walk: Angel to Limehouse (without Victoria Park) T=Short.29

Distance:          Approximately 4.8 miles/7.7 km

Difficulty:         1 out of 10

Meet:                18:30 at Angel Underground Station

Finish:               Limehouse -- DLR or Canary Wharf – Jubilee Line

First off, apologies for the late post. I have been studying the forecast in the hopes of offering a real treat under a bright full super micro beaver moon…..however, the forecast continues to show cloudy conditions for both Thursday and Friday evenings…so have opted for a more “local” outing…..who knows, we may still get some nice views of the moon….

This variation of the Angel to Limehouse walk made for a nice winter evening walk last year, along the Regent canal with less traffic than usual. There was plenty of light to see the way forward….Refreshments can be had at the Grapes, the Narrow or further along into Canary Wharf where there are a number of chain establishments….

More information about the route can be found here.

Enjoy the walk!

Wednesday Walk Marlow to Henley - Thameside meadows and wooded hills

Book 2 Walk 8a - Marlow to Henley

Length: 13.5 km (8.4 miles) or 15.2 km (9.4 miles)

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Either

London Paddington: 09-56 hrs   Great Western service to Reading    Ealing Broadway: 10-05 hrs

Arrive Maidenhead: 10-30 hrs   Change trains

Leave Maidenhead: 10-34 hrs    Great Western service from Maidenhead to Marlow

Arrive Marlow: 10-57 hrs

Or

London Paddington: 09-43 hrs    TFL Rail service to Reading      Ealing Broadway:  09-51 hrs

Arrive Maidenhead:  10-24 hrs    Change trains

Leave Maidenhead:  10-34 hrs    Great Western service from Maidenhead to Marlow (as above)

Arrive Marlow:   10-57 hrs 

Return:  Henley-on-Thames to Paddington - changing at Twyford: 15-57, 16-27, 16-59, 17-36 and 18-07

Rail ticket: Seniors possessing London Councils Freedom Passes can travel on TFL Rail trains to Maidenhead using their "free" travel passes. You will then just require a day return from Maidenhead to - suggest - Henley-on-Thames (being the further of the two destination railway stations).  For the rest of you, try a day return from London (or the edge of your travel card) to Henley-on-Thames - although if you are very unlucky and encounter and over zealous ticket inspector, you might be asked to purchase a single ticket from Maidenhead to Marlow.

Today's walk starts with a 2.3 km relaxing walk along the River Thames riverside path once we have left the centre of Marlow. At Temple lock we cross the river to continue along its southern side, in a westerly direction, to Hurley lock before heading inland to Hurley. We continue over a series of fields and water meadows to the village of Aston where we stop for lunch at the Flower Pot Hotel a homely pub. 

After lunch we have a choice of routes from Aston to take us to Henley: either via Remenham Hill  or via the river path (1 mile longer). We can decide which to take on the day.

T=2.8.a

Walk Directions are here: L=2.8.a

Sunday Walk: Saunderton to Princes Risborough

13km 8.1miles Toughness 3/10
This Chilterns walk starts along the east side of the Saunderton valley, goes through Lacey Green, then crosses the valley to Bledlow. After lunch there, in the 16th C pub, you continue with the alternative directions to finish in  Princes Risborough. 

Trains:
Get the 9:53 Aylesbury train from Marylebone arriving Saunderton at 10:51.
Return from Princes Risborough at xx:22 or (the slower) xx:56. Also 15:11,16:14, 17:11,18:14.
Get a return to Princes Risborough.

Lunch: You’ll  probably reach The Whip in Lacey Green (01844 344060) a little too early for lunch. 
The later Lions of Bledlow (01844 343345) is one of Mr Tiger's favourites 😺. The nearby Lyde Garden would make a good picnic stop, as would the churchyard.
Tea:
Your stop in Princes Risborough is the re-vamped Bird in Hand on Station Road (01844 345602). Best found by following the direction “(i) continue into Princes Risborough for a pub” (it is nearer the station than the town centre).
Directions: available on the “download walk” button. Right from the start, follow option b "Alternative ending at Princes Risborough" (As the mid-section follows the main walk, you'll need the whole document). t=2.2.b

Sunday Walk: Woldingham to Oxted

Short walk: 11½ km (7.1 miles), difficulty 3/10 Main walk: 16¾ km (10.4 miles), difficulty 5/10

A Surrey walk, not far out of London. The main 10.4 ml walk, option M, might be a bit long for the available daylight, so the shorter walk, option a, is recommended. But the choice is yours. Both variants visit Tandridge, famous for its ancient yew.
Trains
Get the 9:51 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham Junction 9:58, East Croydon 10:09) arriving Woldingham at 10:25.
Return from Oxted at xx:29 and xx:59.
Get a return to Oxted.
Lunch
The recommended pub for the short walk is The Haycutter (01883-776955) in Broadham Green. Another option is the Barley Mow (01883-713770) in Tandridge, a short detour away. There are more pubs in Old Oxted.
If you do opt for the main walk, Godstone has several pubs and two tea rooms The pubs are the White Hart (01883-742521), the Hare & Hounds (01883-742296), and the more up-market Bell Inn (01883-741877).
The Green Rooms of Godstone (01883-740407) and the Old Forge Deli Café (01883-743230) serve light lunches. 
Tea
The Oxted Inn (01883-723440), a Wetherspoon's, is right next to the station.
There are several cafés in central Oxted. Robertson's in Station Road West (01883-712777) is open to 4pm. On the other side of the station, in Station Road East, you will find Caffè Nero at 139 (01883-730220) open to 5pm, and Costa Coffee at 62 (01883-723149) open to 5.30.
Walk Directions: here. Note that the short option misses out Godstone. 

For the short option click on a. 

For the main option, click on M,

or for the whole document, don't click on nothing. T=swc.2

Saturday Walk: Hever to Leigh

8.8 miles / 14.2 km

A country walk in Kent past a couple of castles (Hever Castle, Chiddingstone Castle), a very grand stately home (Penshurst Place) and through some attractive villages. 

Hever Castle is open for business.  Chiddingstone Castle is closed, but the grounds are open (£3 honesty box donation).  Penshurst Place is shut, however the cafe is open. 

Trains

London Bridge 10:07, East Croydon 10:22, Hever 10:49.  Return trains from Leigh at xx:26, change at Tonbridge.  A day return to Leigh (Kent) seems like the best choice of ticket.

Lunch/Tea

Chiddingstone:  Castle Inn (01892 870371) - currently serving a limited menu from 12 to 3.  Tulip Tree Tea Rooms - sandwiches, salads, all day breakfast.

Penshurst:  Leicester Arms, (01892 871617).  Porcupine Pantry at Penshurst Place.  The Fir Tree House Tea Rooms are shut.

Leigh: Fleur-de-Lis pub near the station.  There's also a village shop.

Full walk details here

T=1.19

Saturday Walk Tring to Berkhamsted via Tom's Hill - the Grand Union Canal, Ashridge Estate, Berkhamsted Common and World War One trenches

SWC 366 - Tring to Berkhamsted via Tom's Hill

Length: 15.5 km (9.6 miles)

Toughness: 4 out of 10

London Euston: 10-24 hrs    West Midlands service to Northampton   Watford Junction: 10-39 hrs

Arrive Tring: 10-57 hrs

Return   Berkhamsted to Euston:  16-01, 16-23, 16-30, 16-46, 17-01, 17-24, 17-30, 17-46, 18-01, 18-24, 18-30 and later

Rail ticket   Buy a day return to Tring

This lovely walk is especially enjoyable in late autumn when the beech trees in the Ashridge Estate display lovely leaf colour. Let's hope we have better luck with the weather than this time last year, when it poured with rain for most of the day.

The walk starts with a leg along the Grand Union Canal, before we head inland over fields and through a farm to Tom's Hill, for the short ascent through its woods before we enter the National Trust's Ashridge Estate. We cross a golf course and head up to the village of Little Gaddesden where we stop for lunch at the Bridgewater Arms.

After lunch we head down a country lane to the Golden Valley which we walk through before its uphill to Ashridge House, now an international business school. Having walked past the House we walk down through woodland then up a grassy field and through more woods to Berkhamsted Common, where we enjoy some fine views. As we head towards the town of Berkhamsted we pass some World War One Trenches of historic interest  (fully explained in the Directions). The walk concludes in town, back along the canal, where two excellent canal-side pubs await our custom.

Enjoy !

T=swc.366

Walk Directions are here: L=swc.366

Saturday Walk - North Downs Way in Oyster Zone 6: Caterham to Knockholt

DAC is away...

 

Length: 26.2 km (16.3 mi)

Ascent/Descent: 580/587m

Net Walking Time: 6 hours

Toughness: 7/10

[shorter versions possible (see the webpage), but mostly depending on buses]

 

Take the 09.17 Caterham and Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge (East Croydon 09.32), arrives Caterham 09.58. 

From Victoria take the 09.09 Reigate train (Clapham J 09.16) and change at East Croydon (09.26/09.32). 

Return to Charing X (via Orpington, LBG and W’loo East) on xx.13 or xx.43, journey time 44 mins. 

Caterham and Knockholt are within the Oyster Zones 1-6. 

 

Tired of reading pages of detailed walk directions? Here is your solution: just follow the well waymarked North Downs Way along one of its better stretches (but do expect some road noise in the early stages), with just minimal directions to hand, found here. 

 

Lunch: Botley Hill Farmhouse in Botley Hill (10.2 km/6.3 mi, food to 15.00). A small table has been booked for 12.45 (12.30 wasn’t available anymore). 

Tea: a couple of pubs in Knockholt Pound about 4 km from the end and another one, a little closer and a little off-route, in Halstead.

 

For summary, map, height profile, some photos, walk directions and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.111

Evening Walk - Sculpture in the City: A short art trail in the City of London

Length: 2.9 km 

Net Walking Time: 1 hour

 

Meet: Liverpool Street Mainline Station, Liverpool Street Exit, Street Level, Kindertransport Memorial at 18.45 hours. (i.e.: NOT at the other Kindertransport Memorial on the concourse!)

Finish is at Leadenhall Market. Liverpool Street, Bank/Monument, Aldgate/Aldgate East, Tower Hill and London Bridge tube stations are just a short walk away, as are Fenchurch Street, Liverpool Street and London Bridge mainline stations. All are in Zone 1. 

 

The critically acclaimed Sculpture in the City is an annual exhibition showcasing contemporary works by internationally renowned artists in the confines of the City of London, on streets, in squares or on buildings. The exhibition usually opens around end June, and most sculptures are displayed until the following May. But in the current Covid pandemic, the exhibition has been extended to the autumn.

 

2021/22 sees the tenth incarnation of this popular attraction, displaying 25 artworks by 18 artists ranging considerably in scale – from large steel-, video- or fabric-works to small bronze plaques, thoughtfully placed between iconic architectural landmarks such as the Gherkin (30 St. Mary Axe), the Walkie-Talkie (20 Fenchurch Street), the Lloyd’s-Building (aka the Inside-Out Building, at 12 Leadenhall Street), the Scalpel (Lime Street) and the Cheesegrater (the Leadenhall Building). Wander the City's public spaces and stumble upon world-class public art, on an urban canvas recognised across the globe.

 

For more information on the exhibition, individual artworks and a map click here.
A printed booklet with a map, photos of – and information on – the art works can be picked up at the City Information Centre, located between St Paul's Cathedral and Millennium Bridge.

 

Eat/Drink: Leadenhall Market features more than 20 pubs, delis, bars, brasseries and restaurants. Some of whom may sell takeout drinks and snacks. For more details click here.

 

For walk directions, map, photos, and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.24