Friday Walk - Sheffield to Bamford via Burbage Rocks and Stanage Edge [Sheffield/Hope Valley Trip]

Length: 25.5 km (15.9 mi) [shorter or longer walk possible, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 645/548 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ¾ hours

Toughness: 7 out of 10 

 

Meet at Sheffield Train Station (City Centre Exit) at 10.10. 

From the Hope Valley stations, the train arrives at 10.05. 

From London, take the 08.03 Sheffield train from St. Pancras International, arriving Sheffield at 10.01. [Or take a later train and play catch-up, tickets will be cheaper.] 

Return trains up the Hope Valley depart on xx.36/(.35).

Return trains down the Hope Valley to Sheffield: xx.42 to 19.42, then 21.41, 22.28, 23.12. The last one with a connection to London is the 19.42! 

 

This walk leads from the centre of one of the most populous British cities through gradually less urban areas into excellent wild walking country (think ancient woodlands, tumbling streams and panoramic views) on to the rugged moorlands and dramatically sculpted gritstone outcrops (or ‘edges’) of the Peak District’s iconic Dark Peak area. All in the one day, on the same walk, just two hours from London.

Escape from Sheffield’s City Centre, first along streets and through the atmospheric landscaped Victorian General Cemetery, then the woodlands of the municipal Endcliffe Park and the narrow wooded Porter Valley to moorlands at the edge of the Peak District for lunch at one of two pubs.
Continue through the Dark Peak area along the Yorkshire/Derbyshire boundary, characterised by rugged, desolate moorland, and the otherworldly gritstone ‘edges’, once extensively quarried for their rough, coarse stone. From Burbage Rocks to the famous Stanage Edge, the route covers a unique landscape, the greatest possible contrast to the start of the walk, before a scenic descent through lush scenery into the Hope Valley to Bamford Station.

Walk Options (see the webpage or the pdf for details):

An Alternative Start from Grindleford (up Padley Gorge to The Fox House Inn) cuts 10.1 km/6.3 mi.

A Shortcut on the moors is possible, and there are also plenty of bus routes that can cut off bits of the walk.

An Alternative Route from the Fox House Inn to Burbage Bridge leads over Carl Wark and Higger Tor. 

An Alternative Ending at Moscar Lodge (bus stop) on the A57 Manchester Road follows Stanage Edge to its end for a bus back to Sheffield (Line 257 at 16.13/17.13/18.13).

 

Elenvenses and Lunch: Forge Dam Café at the Carr Forge Dam (7.0 km/4.4 mi into the walk); The Norfolk Arms in Ringinglow (9.2 km/5.7 mi into the walk, food all day); The Fox House Inn at Longshaw (13.7 km/8.5 mi into the walk, food all day). 

Tea: The Anglers Rest in Bamford (1.1 km off-route, 1.2 km from the end of the walk). 

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.266

Evening Walk - City of Sheffield [Sheffield/Hope Valley Trip]

Sheffield Midland Station to Shalesmoor Tram Stop

 

Length: 8.0 km/5.0 mi 

Ascent/Descent: 144/146m 

Net Walking Time: ca. 1 ¾ hours 

Toughness: 2 out of 10

 

Meet at 18.30 on the indoor concourse of Sheffield Midland Station (City Centre Exit).  

Return trams from Shalesmoor to the City Centre: xx.00, xx.14, xx.30, xx.44; to 00.30 hours, the only exception being the 23.24, which is also the last one continuing on to the train station.

 

This route leads through the centre of Sheffield – the self-proclaimed ‘Steel City’. It is the largest city in South Yorkshire, known both for its history at the heart of a steel and cutlery-based industrialisation and for being one of the greenest cities in the country, right on the fringes of – and partly in – the Peak District. 

From the train station, you explore the civic centre with its historic buildings, two cathedrals and several new developments, part of the ongoing reinvention of this former industrial heavyweight. 

Following, a short loop leads through the Cultural Industries Quarter, where former industrial buildings have been requisitioned for galleries, studios, colleges, apartments or student accommodation. 

Through the railway station, you walk up Park Hill, one of the seven hills of Sheffield, to some splendid viewpoints overlooking Sheaf Valley and City Centre, before a short diversion through the controversial Park Hill Flats, towering over the city centre. 

Pass a canal terminus and then the meeting of the Sheaf and Don rivers – the two most significant of the five rivers of Sheffield – and finish with a short exploration of the quickly gentrifying Kelham Island Quarter, formerly dominated by heavy industry, now filling up with new housing and atmospheric pubs and eateries.

 

Walk Options:

Bus and Tram stops are never far from the route to enable shorter walks. 

A couple of Short Extensions in the Cultural Industries Quarter lead to or past several more galleries and artists’ studios, they are shown on the route map but not described in the directions. 

An Extension from Clay Wood and the Cholera Monument up to and through the Norfolk Heritage Park and higher still to the Manor Fields Park leads to more elevated viewpoints. Return to the City Centre from the Spring Lane tram stop by Manor Fields Park. [to be researched and written] 

 

Food and Drink: Numerous options are passed on or just off the route. They are highlighted in the text. 

 

For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=city.6

Long Weekend up North - Sheffield and Hope Valley

The Trip: 

4 scheduled daywalks (with one easier alternative on the Sunday), plus a short warm-up walk on the first evening, finishing with a drink or two and a meal, if you fancy. All are optional, of course, and all but the Sunday walk can be done as day walks from London, returning the same day. 

All can be done based in either Sheffield or along any of the stops along the Hope Valley line. Transport options for both these bases are mentioned in the walk posts. 

You can also easily make a longer holiday of it in this prime walking country. The SWC site alone has 13 fully written-up walks to choose from, and every shop up there will offer you guide books and maps for even more options.

 

 

The train times shown in the walk posts should be final as they are already on the Nat Rail Journey Planner.

The bus times though are prone to changes from the quoted times. I will check and amend them a few weeks before the walks. 

Wednesday Walk Holmwood to Reigate - a gently undulating walk in the Mole Valley - with (hopefully) some bluebells

SWC 32 - Holmwood to Reigate

Length: 16 km  (10 miles) 

Toughness: 2 out of 10       the one short, steep ascent up to the ridge above Reigate can be avoided 

London Victoria:  10-25 hrs  Southern service to Horsham   CJ 10-32, Sutton 10-54, Dorking 11-22 hrs

Arrive Holmwood:  11-29 hrs

Return

Reigate to Victoria: 00 and 30 mins past the hour

Rail ticket: buy a day return to Holmwood. This should get you through the station barriers at Reigate.

 

This pleasant walk takes you through gentle countryside to some attractive Surrey villages, passing through some woods along the way where bluebells should be starting to flower. 

We stop for lunch in the pretty village of Leigh (Surrey) where those seeking a pub lunch should not be disappointed with the pub on the village green, The Plough, with indoor and outdoor seating. Booking ahead advisable 01306-611348  your e.t.a is 13-30 hrs.   There are pleasant spots for picnickers near the village green.

After lunch the walk continues over fields towards a crossing of the River Mole before rising on the Greensand Ridge near Reigate Priory where you enjoy some fine views. Down then through Reigate Park and into the town. Please refer to the directions for the tea stops.  

T=swc.32

Walk Directions are here:  L=swc.32

Monday Walk - Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington Reservoirs) - a glorious cafe and pub crawl

Length: 6.8 km (4.2 mi) [or 5.0 km/3.1 mi with the Manor House ending] 

Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hours

Meet at 11.00 outside Finsbury Park Station (Main Line Services from Kings Cross or St. Pancras I'nal, and Victoria and Piccadilly Lines).

Return trains from Stoke Newington Overground go to Liverpool Street or to Enfield Town or Cheshunt (in case of track work-related closures on the day: buses will take you to L’pool St as well). Manor House is served by the Piccadilly Line.

Woodberry Wetlands is a Thames Water-owned and London Wildlife Trust-run urban nature reserve on East Reservoir, one of the two Stoke Newington reservoirs on the New River (which – famously – is “neither new nor a river”). The reservoirs were built in 1833 to hold water from the New River, a man-made canal supplying drinking water to London from springs near Ware in Hertfordshire. The reservoir had been off-limits to the public for more than 180 years until 2016, when Woodberry Wetlands and its fantastic café in the former coal house opened. 

The route starts with a meander through Finsbury Park before entering the Wetlands and then continues along the New River past the West Reservoir to Green Lanes, to then lead south, then east through Clissold Park (and its café in Clissold House) and along the very charming Stoke Newington Church Street to Abney Park cemetery (one of the most splendid and enlightened of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ London garden cemeteries) and from there to Stoke Newington Overground.

An Alternative Finish goes north from the West Reservoir along Green Lanes back to Manor House Underground (or even back to Finsbury Park Station, this adds 1.4 km)

Please note: Dogs are not allowed in the Nature Reserve.

Lunch/Tea: umpteen cafés and 3 pubs en route (see webpage or pdf for details).

For summary, map, photos, walk directions and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.26

Sunday Walk: Hever to Dormans

Length 16.1 km (10.0 miles).
Difficulty 4 / 10. .
The walk covers a fairly remote area of the borders of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. It passes 3 historic manor houses, one dating from the 13th C, and climbs to an iron-age hillfort.
Trains From London Bridge, take the 9:58 East Grinstead train (E Croydon 10:15) to Oxted and change there onto the Uckfield train (arr 1039 plat 2 ,dep 1042 plat 3) arriving Hever at 1054.
Return from Dormans to London Bridge at xx:16 and xx:46
Buy a day return to Hever and a single from Dormans to Hurst Green.
Lunch the Fountain, Cowden 01342 850528.. An 18th C community pub owned by Harvey's.
Tea The Old House at Home pub on the western side of Dormansland just off the route. It is 0.8km (0.5m) from the station.
Directions here    The comments page has some clarifications.
It’s possible to shorten the walk by starting at Cowden station, reducing the distance by 1.9 miles. (Directions included). It's one stop further on the Uckfield train. (If doing so, starting an hour later would give you more chance of joining the others).
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Pulborough to Petworth or Pulborough Circular via Petworth

SWC Walk 128:  Pulborough to Petworth or back to Pulborough t=swc.128

Distance:  Various options available:

Pulborough to Petworth (bus return):  9.6 – 11.8 miles/15.5 – 19km

Pulborough Circular via Petworth: 14.8 – 16.3 miles/ 24 – 26 km

Difficulty:  6 out of 10 for Pulborough to Petworth; 7 or 8 out of 10 for Pulborough Circular

Train:  Take the 9:35 AM Portsmouth Harbour train from London Bridge (YES, London Bridge) (stopping at East Croydon at 9:53), arriving at Pulborough at 10:51.  If returning from Petworth, you will need to take Stagecoach bus number 1 – it departs Petworth at 14:44; 16:44 and 18:44 and arrives at Pulborough Station at 57 past the hour. Return trains from Pulborough are at 04 past the hour until 22:04. Buy a day return to Pulborough. 

This walk is a varied and interesting excursion from Pulborough to Petworth House, one of the National Trust’s most impressive properties. The outbound route takes you through some woods which are rumored to have bluebells. Once in Petworth, you can optionally explore Petworth Park. For those doing the circular route, the return route is more open with good views of the South Downs before eventually arriving on the outskirts of Pulborough at the lovely ancient bridge in Stopham. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

There are two pubs and some other options in Petworth for lunch 7.5 miles/12 km into the walk (see walk notes for details). However, being Easter Sunday, I would recommend bringing some provisions as these venues may be fully booked. 

For those doing the circular route, tea and other late afternoon refreshments can be had at the White Hart in Stopham (1.4 miles/2.3 km before the end) which is open until 18:00 on Sundays.    

Happy Easter!

 

Cowden to Hever - a little slice of springtime heaven

Length: 16.2km (10.3 miles) or 19.8km (12.3 miles) T=swc.78

10.22 train from East Croydon * to Cowden, arriving 10.53. 

* This train actually starts from East Croydon today. The railway planner suggests a connecting Thameslink train calling at Finsbury Park at 9.38, St Pancras Thameslink at 9.45 and London Bridge at 10.00, arriving East Croydon at 10.14. But Thameslink trains can be a tad unreliable and the Cowden train is only hourly, so you might want to leave a bigger margin of error to make the connection.

London Bridge may be rather busy today, since engineering works mean all Southern trains that normally start from Victoria are starting from there: so if you can buy your ticket elsewhere or in advance, do. The same engineering works mean there are NO direct trains from Clapham Junction to East Croydon.

Buy a day return to Cowden

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

What with rail engineering works, it has been a challenge picking a walk this week, so bear with me. Not that I think this walk is a substandard choice. Where better to be in the early springtime than the Weald? You are in delightful territory from the moment you step off the train at the completely remote rural Cowden station (not a house in sight...). I have no record of early bluebells or late wood anemones on this walk, but there may be some. There will be lots of little climbs and hidden woods, alive with the bright green of new foliage. Birds will sing. The mud will have dried (in case any have bad memories of doing this walk in winter).

It is Easter Saturday, and pubs may be busy/booked. Bring emergency provisions just in case, says I. There is a possible early stop at the Rock Inn in Hill Hoath, but the best placed lunch pub is the Leicester Arms in Penshurst. The cafe at the nearby Penshurst Place (not on the walk, but a short walk from the village) should be open. The Fir Tree House in the village may or may not be still in business: if so, it opens at 2.30pm. 

Later tea and pub options are in Chiddingstone (particularly the scrumptious Tulip Tea Room) and there is even a shortcut route if you want to get there earlier (see walk directions). There is a pub in Hever village (a short way from the station). In fact, study the walk directions for all sorts of possible variants on this walk.

The longer 12.3 mile option is a circular route back to Cowden, which has at least one pub - the Kentish Horse - which is open all afternoon for drinks (and from 6pm for food).

Trains back from Cowden are at 00 past the hour, and from Hever at 05 past