T=2.28 Book 2, Walk 28, Seaford to Eastbourne
Length: 13.8 miles
( with drop out points at Exceat 3.9 miles, Birling Gap 8 miles, and Beachy Head 10.7 miles, buses will come along every 10 minutes or so to pick you up at each drop out point.) [The bus from Burling Gap goes at 16 and 46 past the hour until 6pm.]
9.46 train from Victoria, calling at Clapham Junction 9.51, and East Croydon 10.01, to Seaford, changing at Lewes 10.50/10.58, arrive Seaford 11.14.
Trains back from Eastbourne, are direct at X31, or X47, X58, or X04 with a change.
Train tickets? Walk notes don't seem to say. I know Eastbourne has a barrier so possibly a via all routes return to there.
For walk directions (if you need them: it is a straightforward walk along the coast) click here
The second of our two "pick your own" bank holiday walks: Anonymous, who has picked this walk, says: Two of us are doing the Seven Sisters on Monday so it would be great if some other SWCers could be tempted out for a dramatic coastal walk after a week of rain and while the Birling Gap bus is still running.
Lunch is at the Cuckmere Inn (formerly the Golden Galleon) at Exceat or the Saltmarsh Cafe at the Exceat visitor centre. Tea at Birling Gap NT cafe.
Monday, 31 August 2015
Bank Holiday Monday walk - North Downs
T=2.13 Book 2, Walk 13 Guildford to Gomshall
Length: 17.1 Km, 10.7 miles (with shorter and longer options - see walk description)
Toughness: 5/10
Outbound train: 09:45 Waterloo, 9.52 Clapham Junction arriving at Guildford 10:23
Return trains: 17.53, 19.53 via Guildford or 18.04, 20.04 via Redhill
Buy a day return to Gomshall (any permitted).
For walk directions click here
We asked for request from walkers for our bank holiday walks, and this North Downs outing was the first one that was picked.
Its anonymous proposer says: "I recall this as a really nice walk. It's not too far from London and has shorter and longer options. I especially like the afternoon extension into the valley after Colekitchen Farm."
Length: 17.1 Km, 10.7 miles (with shorter and longer options - see walk description)
Toughness: 5/10
Outbound train: 09:45 Waterloo, 9.52 Clapham Junction arriving at Guildford 10:23
Return trains: 17.53, 19.53 via Guildford or 18.04, 20.04 via Redhill
For walk directions click here
We asked for request from walkers for our bank holiday walks, and this North Downs outing was the first one that was picked.
Its anonymous proposer says: "I recall this as a really nice walk. It's not too far from London and has shorter and longer options. I especially like the afternoon extension into the valley after Colekitchen Farm."
Sunday, 30 August 2015
Sunday walk 2
Hollingbourne Circular via Thurnham, SWC Walk 253
13 miles (21 km) including Leeds Castle loop or 10.4 miles (16.75) km without loop
Theres another short (10.3 ml) option that misses out the lunch pub but does the Leeds loop.
Toughness 7/10
Up the North Downs and along the North Downs Way. Through open downland and woods, undulating across sunken lanes and hollows. Past a ruined medieval castle then down to lunch in Thurnham. The return route through fields below the downs is easier, assuming the ground is firm. At Eyhorne Street, the tea stop, you have a choice.
The Main walk (M) continues on a loop that takes you through the grounds of Leeds Castle on a public footpath. Although the castle itself is spectacular, this section also has stretches the author describes as "dreary".
The Curtailed walk (b) cuts out Leeds Castle and makes a bee-line for Hollingbourne Station.
Trains
Get the 9:36 from Victoria to Canterbury West, arriving Hollingbourne at 10:49
Return trains to Victoria at xx:07. Get a return to Hollingbourne.
Lunch
The suggested stop is the Black Horse in Thurnham 01622 737185.
Tea There are two pubs in Eyhorne Street
The upmarket Windmill 01622 889000
The more traditional Sugar Loaves 01622 880220
These would also be your lunch choices if you were to do the short walk (a) omitting Thurnham.
Leeds Castle
Describes itself as " the loveliest castle in the world". Very old, built by someone called Norman. Keep to the public footpath through the grounds.
A proper visit to Leeds Castle will knock you back £24 but the ticket is valid for a year..... and where else can you visit a dog collar museum?
13 miles (21 km) including Leeds Castle loop or 10.4 miles (16.75) km without loop
Theres another short (10.3 ml) option that misses out the lunch pub but does the Leeds loop.
Toughness 7/10
Up the North Downs and along the North Downs Way. Through open downland and woods, undulating across sunken lanes and hollows. Past a ruined medieval castle then down to lunch in Thurnham. The return route through fields below the downs is easier, assuming the ground is firm. At Eyhorne Street, the tea stop, you have a choice.
The Main walk (M) continues on a loop that takes you through the grounds of Leeds Castle on a public footpath. Although the castle itself is spectacular, this section also has stretches the author describes as "dreary".
The Curtailed walk (b) cuts out Leeds Castle and makes a bee-line for Hollingbourne Station.
Trains
Get the 9:36 from Victoria to Canterbury West, arriving Hollingbourne at 10:49
Return trains to Victoria at xx:07. Get a return to Hollingbourne.
Lunch
The suggested stop is the Black Horse in Thurnham 01622 737185.
Tea There are two pubs in Eyhorne Street
The upmarket Windmill 01622 889000
The more traditional Sugar Loaves 01622 880220
These would also be your lunch choices if you were to do the short walk (a) omitting Thurnham.
Leeds Castle
Describes itself as " the loveliest castle in the world". Very old, built by someone called Norman. Keep to the public footpath through the grounds.
A proper visit to Leeds Castle will knock you back £24 but the ticket is valid for a year..... and where else can you visit a dog collar museum?
Walk Directions here
Print the whole document to keep your options open
Click the option you prefer if you've decided on one route.
Main Walk (M) all the way round including the castle.
Short walk (a) misses Thurnham, has lunch at the tea stop, then goes on to the castle.
Curtailed Walk (b) goes all the way round except the the castle bit.
Sunday Walk 1
Roydon to Sawbridgeworth SWC walk 164
22.9 km (14.2 mi), shortenable to 11.75 mi
Toughness: 4 out of 10
A stile-free walk through fields and woods, along tracks, green lanes and quiet country roads. You got stretches of the River Ash in the morning and the Stort Navigation near the end. The walk visits Perry Green, home to The Henry Moore Foundation’s sculpture park, and once home to the man himself..Lunch is at a Foundation-run pub in the village.
Trains
Take the 09:57 Cambridge train from Liverpool St (Tottenham Hale 10:10) arriving at Roydon 10:27
Trains return from Sawbridgeworth at xx:05 and xx:32
Get a return to Sawbridgeworth.
Lunch:
The Hoops Inn, Perry Green (01279 843 568, ).
Open 12.00-18.00. Food served all day. Tea served 15.00-17.00.
Tea
Plenty of pub choices in Sawbridgeworth – see notes
The Henry Moore Foundation
Outdoor sculpture grounds with many monumental works by Henry Moore in 70 acres of Hertfordshire countryside. Some are visible from the walk, but, for a proper look round you need to pay admission. Details here. Note that due to development work, the Aisled Barn and Sheep Field Barn Gallery are not open this year. There’s a reduced entry fee to compensate.
Directions available here
22.9 km (14.2 mi), shortenable to 11.75 mi
Toughness: 4 out of 10
A stile-free walk through fields and woods, along tracks, green lanes and quiet country roads. You got stretches of the River Ash in the morning and the Stort Navigation near the end. The walk visits Perry Green, home to The Henry Moore Foundation’s sculpture park, and once home to the man himself..Lunch is at a Foundation-run pub in the village.
Trains
Take the 09:57 Cambridge train from Liverpool St (Tottenham Hale 10:10) arriving at Roydon 10:27
Trains return from Sawbridgeworth at xx:05 and xx:32
Get a return to Sawbridgeworth.
Lunch:
The Hoops Inn, Perry Green (01279 843 568, ).
Open 12.00-18.00. Food served all day. Tea served 15.00-17.00.
Tea
Plenty of pub choices in Sawbridgeworth – see notes
The Henry Moore Foundation
Outdoor sculpture grounds with many monumental works by Henry Moore in 70 acres of Hertfordshire countryside. Some are visible from the walk, but, for a proper look round you need to pay admission. Details here. Note that due to development work, the Aisled Barn and Sheep Field Barn Gallery are not open this year. There’s a reduced entry fee to compensate.
Directions available here
Saturday, 29 August 2015
Third walk
Lewes to Eastbourne
Length: 36.5 km (22.7 miles). Toughness: 8/10
Catch the 8:46 from London Victoria arrives Lewes 9:50. (Starting at Glynde, change at Lewes for 10:09 train, arrives Glynde 10:14). Buy a day return to Eastbourne. With the days slowly starting to draw in - a chance to fit in a longer South Downs walk with lunch at Alfriston after 16km. The main walk makes use of CW2 Walk 25 pages 2 - 3, CW1 walk 31,CW2 walk 28 pages 3 - 5.
Frequent return trains from Eastbourne. Return trains from Seaford: xx:25, xx:58, 20:28, 20:58, 21:28, 22:20.
Length: 36.5 km (22.7 miles). Toughness: 8/10
Catch the 8:46 from London Victoria arrives Lewes 9:50. (Starting at Glynde, change at Lewes for 10:09 train, arrives Glynde 10:14). Buy a day return to Eastbourne. With the days slowly starting to draw in - a chance to fit in a longer South Downs walk with lunch at Alfriston after 16km. The main walk makes use of CW2 Walk 25 pages 2 - 3, CW1 walk 31,CW2 walk 28 pages 3 - 5.
| There are various shorter options detailed below | ||
|---|---|---|
| Walk | Directions required | Distance km |
| Glynde to Seaford | CW1 walk 31 | 23 |
| Lewes to Seaford | CW2 Walk 25 pages 2 - 3 + CW1 walk 31 | 28 |
| Glynde to Eastbourne | CW1 walk 31 + CW2 walk 28 pages 3 - 5 | 31.5 |
| Distances | |
|---|---|
| Route | Distance km |
| Lewes to Glynde | 5 |
| Glynde to Alfriston | 11 |
| Alfriston to Exceat | 4.5 |
| Exceat to Eastbourne | 16 |
Frequent return trains from Eastbourne. Return trains from Seaford: xx:25, xx:58, 20:28, 20:58, 21:28, 22:20.
A new walk on the Greensand Way
SWC walk 148 - Earlswood or Nutfield to Oxted
Length: 16.8km (10.4 miles) from Earlswood, 14km (8.7 miles) from Nutfield
Toughness: 4 out of 10: gentle gradients
9.33 train from London Bridge to Redhill, changing there (arrive 10.08, depart 10.13) for a short hop to Earlswood, arriving 10.16: this connecting train starts at East Croydon at 9.54 (Trains are normally direct, so the need for change is obviously due to engineering works, but the extra change does not affect journey times materially)
Later start option - 10.45 train from London Bridge (11.00 East Croydon) to Nutfield, arriving 11.22
Buy a day return to Edenbridge Stations. This covers you for Redhill, Nutfield and Oxted. Earlswood is one stop off this route, but it would be a stony-hearted ticket inspector who makes a fuss about this, since Edenbridge is further from London by rail than Earlswood.
For walk directions click here
This entirely new walk has been waiting for an outing since it was researched in June (see photos for how it looks then). It covers a pleasant section of the Greensand Way, sticking almost entirely to that route, but with one or two improvements. Being a long distance path there is waymarking but often not when you want it, so the directions have been created to guide you.
There are two possible starting stations. The immediate vicinity of Earlswood station is a bit grotty, but things soon improve. Nutfield is prettier and allows for a later start. The two routes come together before lunch in Bletchingley, where the Red Lion looks like a very nice pub, though the Whyte Hart down the road is an acceptable alternative. Neither have yet been tried by the SWC, so be nice to them.
Note that during the morning you cross (in tunnels) under the M23. If the wind is westerly there is noise for a mile or two afterwards (an otherwise very beautiful section of the walk). Presumably if the wind is easterly the noise is before the motorway. (I have never had to deal with northerly winds…) Otherwise this is a gentle, pleasant walks - woods and fields and some fine views.
There are two rural pubs before the end of the walk, if you fancy sitting with a summer afternoon drink or if you want to put off entering the rather suburban environs of Oxted. The latter does have some tearooms if you can get to them in time.
Trains back are at 20 past to London Bridge and 24 and 52 past to Victoria, the former taking 33 minutes, the later 40 minutes.
Length: 16.8km (10.4 miles) from Earlswood, 14km (8.7 miles) from Nutfield
Toughness: 4 out of 10: gentle gradients
9.33 train from London Bridge to Redhill, changing there (arrive 10.08, depart 10.13) for a short hop to Earlswood, arriving 10.16: this connecting train starts at East Croydon at 9.54 (Trains are normally direct, so the need for change is obviously due to engineering works, but the extra change does not affect journey times materially)
Later start option - 10.45 train from London Bridge (11.00 East Croydon) to Nutfield, arriving 11.22
Buy a day return to Edenbridge Stations. This covers you for Redhill, Nutfield and Oxted. Earlswood is one stop off this route, but it would be a stony-hearted ticket inspector who makes a fuss about this, since Edenbridge is further from London by rail than Earlswood.
For walk directions click here
This entirely new walk has been waiting for an outing since it was researched in June (see photos for how it looks then). It covers a pleasant section of the Greensand Way, sticking almost entirely to that route, but with one or two improvements. Being a long distance path there is waymarking but often not when you want it, so the directions have been created to guide you.
There are two possible starting stations. The immediate vicinity of Earlswood station is a bit grotty, but things soon improve. Nutfield is prettier and allows for a later start. The two routes come together before lunch in Bletchingley, where the Red Lion looks like a very nice pub, though the Whyte Hart down the road is an acceptable alternative. Neither have yet been tried by the SWC, so be nice to them.
Note that during the morning you cross (in tunnels) under the M23. If the wind is westerly there is noise for a mile or two afterwards (an otherwise very beautiful section of the walk). Presumably if the wind is easterly the noise is before the motorway. (I have never had to deal with northerly winds…) Otherwise this is a gentle, pleasant walks - woods and fields and some fine views.
There are two rural pubs before the end of the walk, if you fancy sitting with a summer afternoon drink or if you want to put off entering the rather suburban environs of Oxted. The latter does have some tearooms if you can get to them in time.
Trains back are at 20 past to London Bridge and 24 and 52 past to Victoria, the former taking 33 minutes, the later 40 minutes.
Saturday First Walk Book 1 Walk 44: Witley to Haslemere
Saturday First Walk Book 1 44 Witley to Haslemere
14.2km (8.8 miles)
2 out of 10
Explorer 133 or Landranger 186
Take the 10.15am from London Waterloo ( Clapham Junction 10.22 ) to Witley arriving 11.09 .
There are four trains an hour back from Haslemere.
Journey time 50-60 minutes. Buy a day return to Haslemere.
This is an easy but interesting walk from Witley (where walking sticks used to be made - hence the local copses of ash and sweet chestnut), passing Lockwood Donkey Sanctuary, unlikley to be open, and Combe Court manor house and its fifteenth century farmhouse, through the churchyard of St Mary's Church to the medieval village of Chiddingfold, with the Crown Inn as the suggested lunch stop. After lunch the walk is through Frillinghurst Wood and various National Trust estates, coming out into Haslemere High Street near tearooms.
Chiddingfold's main splendour is the suggested lunchtime stop the twelfth century Crown Inn (tel 01428 682 255) some 6km into the walk. Serving lunch midday to 2.30pm. In the late fourteenth century, the publican was convicted of selling ale 'contrary to the assize' (courts tested ale by pouring some on to a wooden bench, then sitting on it - if it had a sticky quality, it was pronounced good). In 1552, Edward VI stayed at this inn, while his 4,000-strong retinue camped on the green.
The Swan pub and the Old Bakery also both serve food at lunchtime.
The suggested tea place is Darnleys tearoom (tel 01428 643 048) on Haslemere High Street, which closes at 5.00 pm. Opposite is Hemingway's which has had good reports from walkers.
Alternatives are the Swan Hotel (a Wetherspoons) or the White Horse Hotel (food: midday-3.00pm and 6.00pm-9.30pm Monday to Friday; midday-9.30pm Saturday; midday-9.00 pm Sunday), both in the High Street. The station is a ten minute walk from the town centre.
There is a bar at the Inn on the Hill opposite the station (though it can be walker unfriendly) and Metro Café (tel 01428 651 535) is just before the station open till 5.00pm Saturdays
Alternatives are the Swan Hotel (a Wetherspoons) or the White Horse Hotel (food: midday-3.00pm and 6.00pm-9.30pm Monday to Friday; midday-9.30pm Saturday; midday-9.00 pm Sunday), both in the High Street. The station is a ten minute walk from the town centre.
There is a bar at the Inn on the Hill opposite the station (though it can be walker unfriendly) and Metro Café (tel 01428 651 535) is just before the station open till 5.00pm Saturdays
Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Midweek Day Walk - Berkhamsted circular
A Chilterns strike buster - Berkhamsted circular
Ashridge, it's woods and college, the Bridgewater Monument and Arms and Golden Valley
A map led walk (A paper map of the route will be provided for all at the start of the walk)
Length : 16 km or 10 miles
Toughness : 3 out of 10
Getting there : Catch the 11:04 am train from London Euston to Berkhamsted
Arrives Departs
Wembley Central 11:13 11:14
Harrow & Wealdstone 11:18 11:19
Bushey 11:24 11:24
Watford Junction 11:26 11:27
Kings Langley 11:31 11:31
Apsley 11:35 11:35
Hemel Hempstead 11:38 11:38
If none of these suit, then either,
Catch your nearest overground train to get to Watford Junction for say 11:15 and join the Euston train there.
Catch the 10:39 from Clapham Junction to arrive at Berkhamsted 11:32
Calling stations are:
Imperial Wharf 10:43 10:44
West Brompton 10:46 10:47
Kensington Olympia 10:50 10:50
Shepherd's Bush 10:53 10:53
Wembley Central 11:08 11:08
Harrow & Wealdstone 11:13 11:13
Watford Junction 11:20 11:20
Hemel Hempstead 11:28 11:28
The poster realises that if the strike goes ahead, some folks simply won't be able to make this walk. However this weeks choice will allow those near an overground station or the train stations above, the best chance of joining.
Meeting point : Berkhamsted Station at 11:42
Tickets : Buy a cheap day return to Berkhamsted
Brief Description
This will be a map lead walk though Ashridge forest and the meadowland surrounding it.
Suggested Lunch stops
Suggested Tea stop
Here t: 01442 300870 28/30 Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted
Map
OS Explorer : 181
Return train times
Trains return from Berkhamsted to Euston at 15 minutes intervals or thereabouts.
Trains to Clapham Junction are hourly at 39 minutes past the hour.
Trains to Clapham Junction are hourly at 39 minutes past the hour.
Sunday, 23 August 2015
Sunday Walk 2 – A gentle Oxfordshire ramble
Extra Walk 190 – Thame Circular
Length: 21 km (13 miles), with shorter options. Toughness: 3/10
09:49 Banbury train from Marylebone, arriving Haddenham and Thame Parkway at 10:38. Outside the station catch an Arriva 280 bus due at 10:53 for the short journey to Thame High Street, arriving at 11:03.
Return buses from Thame to the Parkway station are half-hourly at 23 & 53 minutes past the hour to 17:23, then 18:07, 18:51 and hourly at around xx:45 through the evening. The trains back to Marylebone are also half-hourly (at xx:14 & xx:47), so you shouldn't have too long to wait.
This “scenic and gentle ramble” from a historic market town seems to have been unfairly neglected since its début two years ago. The bus connections are a minor nuisance but the service is half-hourly and it's a short journey to and from the start; in fact the OS Map page on the SWC site shows a possible walking route.
I suggest you use the 15 minute wait for the bus to choose one of the three lunch pubs and call ahead to check it's not fully booked. The author's recommendation is the Clifden Arms in Wormingshall, which essentially commits you to the full 21 km as it's the furthest out. A more flexible option is the Rising Sun in Ickford, which would let you take a short cut bypassing Wormingshall (not mentioned in the Introduction but described in the directions). If you decide to do a significantly shorter walk of about 15 km (Shortcut I) your lunch stop would be the Old Fisherman in Shabbington.
An advantage of taking one of these short cuts is that you're certain to be in time for tea at Rumsey's Chocolaterie in Thame, a name familiar from its much-praised outlet in Wendover. The other tea rooms (including the appropriately-named Timeout Café) are closed on Sundays but the walk document lists a faintly alarming number of pubs so you won't leave Thame thirsty.
You'll need to print the directions from this pdf document. T=SWC.190
Length: 21 km (13 miles), with shorter options. Toughness: 3/10
09:49 Banbury train from Marylebone, arriving Haddenham and Thame Parkway at 10:38. Outside the station catch an Arriva 280 bus due at 10:53 for the short journey to Thame High Street, arriving at 11:03.
Return buses from Thame to the Parkway station are half-hourly at 23 & 53 minutes past the hour to 17:23, then 18:07, 18:51 and hourly at around xx:45 through the evening. The trains back to Marylebone are also half-hourly (at xx:14 & xx:47), so you shouldn't have too long to wait.
This “scenic and gentle ramble” from a historic market town seems to have been unfairly neglected since its début two years ago. The bus connections are a minor nuisance but the service is half-hourly and it's a short journey to and from the start; in fact the OS Map page on the SWC site shows a possible walking route.
I suggest you use the 15 minute wait for the bus to choose one of the three lunch pubs and call ahead to check it's not fully booked. The author's recommendation is the Clifden Arms in Wormingshall, which essentially commits you to the full 21 km as it's the furthest out. A more flexible option is the Rising Sun in Ickford, which would let you take a short cut bypassing Wormingshall (not mentioned in the Introduction but described in the directions). If you decide to do a significantly shorter walk of about 15 km (Shortcut I) your lunch stop would be the Old Fisherman in Shabbington.
An advantage of taking one of these short cuts is that you're certain to be in time for tea at Rumsey's Chocolaterie in Thame, a name familiar from its much-praised outlet in Wendover. The other tea rooms (including the appropriately-named Timeout Café) are closed on Sundays but the walk document lists a faintly alarming number of pubs so you won't leave Thame thirsty.
You'll need to print the directions from this pdf document. T=SWC.190
Sunday Walk 1 – A flying display over the South Downs
Book 2 Walk 23 (variation) – Hassocks to Fishersgate
Length: 18.8 km (11.7 miles); shorter if ending at Mile Oak (see below). Toughness: 7/10
09:22 Brighton train from Blackfriars (East Croydon 09:56), arriving Hassocks at 10:37.
This is the direct Thameslink train (the one which lets you do this walk very cheaply: see Tickets), but in the time it takes to crawl through south London you might wish you'd taken the 09:27 (stopping) Brighton train from Victoria, which gets to Hassocks 5 minutes earlier, or the 09:34 Horsham train from London Bridge, with a 6 minute connection at East Croydon for the Thameslink train.
Tickets: A standard off-peak day return to Fishersgate (or Shoreham-by-Sea) is £18.10 with a railcard. However, if you travel out and back on Thameslink trains you can get a super off-peak return from London stations to Brighton for just £6.95. If you walk all the way to Fishersgate station a single to Brighton would be an extra £1.70, but as the walk notes give a very downbeat description of the last 2-3 km I'd be tempted to veer left at Southwick Hill into the suburb of Mile Oak, where 1/1A buses run every 10-15 minutes (even on Sundays) into the centre of Brighton. The £2.40 fare is about the same as a PlusBus add-on to your rail ticket, although PlusBus would let you hop on and off other buses if you wanted.
If you do make it to Fishersgate there's a half-hourly service for the 12-minute leg to Brighton at 08 & 38 minutes past (with the odd one a few minutes later). They don't connect well with the London trains – the fast ones to Victoria are at 10 & 35 minutes past, a few minutes before the slower Thameslink ones at 14 & 44 past – but that would give you time to grab some refreshment for the journey.
I won't confuse you by giving the bus and train times for the standard Upper Beeding / Shoreham ending for this walk: look these up yourself if you want to do this.
My comprehensive Walks database doesn't record a single posting of the “Ending at Fishersgate or Shoreham Option” for this Book 2 walk. That seems a shame, since the notes describe the first 2.8 km of this option as “a place of sweeping hillsides and fine panoramic views of the sea”. From the map it looks like Thundersbarrow Hill will provide a great place to see some of the afternoon flying display at the Shoreham Air Show, which continues until 5pm.
Most of you will be familiar with the first part of the walk, with its three steep hills before you reach the large and busy lunch pub on the top of Devil's Dyke. The turning for the Fishersgate ending is after an hour's walking in the afternoon, just past the radio masts on Truleigh Hill. You'll need to print those directions from this page (they're not in the latest edition of Vol 2); the instructions for the main walk can be found in this pdf document.T=2.23.b
Length: 18.8 km (11.7 miles); shorter if ending at Mile Oak (see below). Toughness: 7/10
09:22 Brighton train from Blackfriars (East Croydon 09:56), arriving Hassocks at 10:37.
This is the direct Thameslink train (the one which lets you do this walk very cheaply: see Tickets), but in the time it takes to crawl through south London you might wish you'd taken the 09:27 (stopping) Brighton train from Victoria, which gets to Hassocks 5 minutes earlier, or the 09:34 Horsham train from London Bridge, with a 6 minute connection at East Croydon for the Thameslink train.
Tickets: A standard off-peak day return to Fishersgate (or Shoreham-by-Sea) is £18.10 with a railcard. However, if you travel out and back on Thameslink trains you can get a super off-peak return from London stations to Brighton for just £6.95. If you walk all the way to Fishersgate station a single to Brighton would be an extra £1.70, but as the walk notes give a very downbeat description of the last 2-3 km I'd be tempted to veer left at Southwick Hill into the suburb of Mile Oak, where 1/1A buses run every 10-15 minutes (even on Sundays) into the centre of Brighton. The £2.40 fare is about the same as a PlusBus add-on to your rail ticket, although PlusBus would let you hop on and off other buses if you wanted.
If you do make it to Fishersgate there's a half-hourly service for the 12-minute leg to Brighton at 08 & 38 minutes past (with the odd one a few minutes later). They don't connect well with the London trains – the fast ones to Victoria are at 10 & 35 minutes past, a few minutes before the slower Thameslink ones at 14 & 44 past – but that would give you time to grab some refreshment for the journey.
I won't confuse you by giving the bus and train times for the standard Upper Beeding / Shoreham ending for this walk: look these up yourself if you want to do this.
My comprehensive Walks database doesn't record a single posting of the “Ending at Fishersgate or Shoreham Option” for this Book 2 walk. That seems a shame, since the notes describe the first 2.8 km of this option as “a place of sweeping hillsides and fine panoramic views of the sea”. From the map it looks like Thundersbarrow Hill will provide a great place to see some of the afternoon flying display at the Shoreham Air Show, which continues until 5pm.
Most of you will be familiar with the first part of the walk, with its three steep hills before you reach the large and busy lunch pub on the top of Devil's Dyke. The turning for the Fishersgate ending is after an hour's walking in the afternoon, just past the radio masts on Truleigh Hill. You'll need to print those directions from this page (they're not in the latest edition of Vol 2); the instructions for the main walk can be found in this pdf document.T=2.23.b
Saturday, 22 August 2015
Third Saturday Walk
SWC Walk 163: Brockenhurst Circular – The New Forest – a mix
of dense and more open woods with ponies and dashes of heather
Length: 10.5 miles
Difficulty: 3 out of
10
Train: Take the 9:35 South West Weymouth Train from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst, arriving at 11:04. Return
trains from Brockenhurst are 17:16; 17:45; and then 15 and 45 minutes past the
hour until 20:45. Buy a day return to Brockenhurst. You
should buy a South West trains “summer promotion” day return ticket for
£20. These are available on-line and
from ticket machines and ticket offices.
I don’t believe that this walk has been done for awhile and
late August should be a nice time for it given that the heather in and around the
New Forest should be in full color. For
those preferring a longer walk, it should be possible to craft an extension on
the many routes available through the New Forest – though it would be useful to
bring or print out a map if planning on this sort of “off-piste” exploration. More information and the instructions for
the walk can be found here.
The suggested lunch stop is at the Oak Inn (tel
023 8028 2350) in Bank, about 5.5 miles into the walk, which serves food midday
to 4:00pm; booking ahead is recommended for indoor seating. Tea and/or
other post walk refreshments can be had a variety places in charming
Brockenhurst – the Thatched Cottage is noted in the instructions as a suggested
option.
Enjoy the walk!
Saturday Second Walk - a new Thames walk
SWC walk 242 - Cholsey to Goring via Wallingford
Length: 20.5km (12.8 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10: "This walk is stile-free"
9.27 train from Paddington (9.35 Ealing Broadway) to Cholsey, arriving 10.39
or
9.45 Swansea train from Paddington to Reading, arriving 10.10, to connect to the above train at 10.21 - But be aware that a First Great Western strike is due to start tomorrow which will affect long distance trains and the Swansea train could be very busy with people trying to travel before it starts. This should not affect the direct local train above: see ** below
For walk directions click here.
This is an entirely new walk - and so is not not not any previous Cholsey or Goring walk that you might have gone on. It has been sat on the website all summer without having an outing, as far as I know, so I hope its author will forgive me for giving it an airing now.
The route goes from Cholsey down to the Thames Path and follows it (a very pretty stretch) to the very attractive town of Wallingford which has lots of options for your lunch stop, relatively early in the walk. In the afternoon you cross rolling countryside with extensive views, passing through the village of South Stoke which has a pub as a refreshment stop.
The walk finishes along the Thames Path to Goring, though only faster walkers are likely to get to Pierrepoints, the tea room there, before it closes at 5pm. However, I have put up a slightly earlier train thant the author suggests to give you a fighting chance of making it in time.
Trains back from Goring are at 12 and 42 past till 21.12, and then at 22.16. Changing at Reading may save you 20 minutes off a 1hr 12 minute journey, but you may find the fast trains from Reading into London very very crowded due to the imminent strike, so personally I would not bother.
** Looking at the details of this strike, it does not look as if local services into London from the Thames Valley will be much affected in any case: The First Great Western website says that London Thames Valley trains will operate as normal with minor alternations to Gatwick services: so I conclude that it is safe to post a walk there today, which is the day before the strike starts anyway.
Length: 20.5km (12.8 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10: "This walk is stile-free"
9.27 train from Paddington (9.35 Ealing Broadway) to Cholsey, arriving 10.39
or
9.45 Swansea train from Paddington to Reading, arriving 10.10, to connect to the above train at 10.21 - But be aware that a First Great Western strike is due to start tomorrow which will affect long distance trains and the Swansea train could be very busy with people trying to travel before it starts. This should not affect the direct local train above: see ** below
For walk directions click here.
This is an entirely new walk - and so is not not not any previous Cholsey or Goring walk that you might have gone on. It has been sat on the website all summer without having an outing, as far as I know, so I hope its author will forgive me for giving it an airing now.
The route goes from Cholsey down to the Thames Path and follows it (a very pretty stretch) to the very attractive town of Wallingford which has lots of options for your lunch stop, relatively early in the walk. In the afternoon you cross rolling countryside with extensive views, passing through the village of South Stoke which has a pub as a refreshment stop.
The walk finishes along the Thames Path to Goring, though only faster walkers are likely to get to Pierrepoints, the tea room there, before it closes at 5pm. However, I have put up a slightly earlier train thant the author suggests to give you a fighting chance of making it in time.
Trains back from Goring are at 12 and 42 past till 21.12, and then at 22.16. Changing at Reading may save you 20 minutes off a 1hr 12 minute journey, but you may find the fast trains from Reading into London very very crowded due to the imminent strike, so personally I would not bother.
** Looking at the details of this strike, it does not look as if local services into London from the Thames Valley will be much affected in any case: The First Great Western website says that London Thames Valley trains will operate as normal with minor alternations to Gatwick services: so I conclude that it is safe to post a walk there today, which is the day before the strike starts anyway.
Saturday First Walk Walk requested
Book 1 Walk 25 : Winchelsea to Hastings
Length: 20.3km (12.6 miles)
Toughness: 9 out of 10
Explorer 124 or Landrangers 189 & 199
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_25/map.shtml
Train from Cannon Street 09:48 (London Bridge 09.53) (changing at St Leonards Warrior Sq arrive 11.14 depart at 11.31 ) arriving at 11:50 Winchelsea and please wait for the St Pancrass crowd who should arrive 9 minutes later
OR
London St Pancrass Int 10.37 (Stratford Int 10.44) – 11:59 Winchelsea
Buy a day return to Winchelsea
Frequent return trains
There was a large landslip at Ecclesbourne Glen (between Hastings and Fairlight Glen) on the Hastings to Winchelsea/Rye walks. The coast path may still be closed, there is a detour if need be.
An excellent walk - the hardest and possibly the best in book 1.
Lovely coastal views, but be sure to take sufficient water and a hat if it is sunny as there is little shade.
You may wish to take your swimming togs if the weather is good.
The recommended lunch place is the Queens Head (tel 01424 814 552 01424 814 552 http://www.queenshead.com/), Parsonage Lane, Icklesham, which serves good food from midday to 9.30pm, but tends to become rather crowded.
5km further on and a 350 metre detour from the route there is the Smuggler Inn at Pett Level (tel 01424 813 491 ) which serves food midday to 2pm daily but on your toes to get here in time.
As always if more than 6 wish to lunch at the pub then please phone ahead as a courtesy and possibly a necessity and even to check if they are still trading.
You go past numerous tea places on the route through Hastings
You will also find more details on the lunch and tea options and background to the walk here http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_25/index.shtml
Length: 20.3km (12.6 miles)
Toughness: 9 out of 10
Explorer 124 or Landrangers 189 & 199
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_25/map.shtml
Train from Cannon Street 09:48 (London Bridge 09.53) (changing at St Leonards Warrior Sq arrive 11.14 depart at 11.31 ) arriving at 11:50 Winchelsea and please wait for the St Pancrass crowd who should arrive 9 minutes later
OR
London St Pancrass Int 10.37 (Stratford Int 10.44) – 11:59 Winchelsea
Buy a day return to Winchelsea
Frequent return trains
There was a large landslip at Ecclesbourne Glen (between Hastings and Fairlight Glen) on the Hastings to Winchelsea/Rye walks. The coast path may still be closed, there is a detour if need be.
An excellent walk - the hardest and possibly the best in book 1.
Lovely coastal views, but be sure to take sufficient water and a hat if it is sunny as there is little shade.
You may wish to take your swimming togs if the weather is good.
The recommended lunch place is the Queens Head (tel 01424 814 552 01424 814 552 http://www.queenshead.com/), Parsonage Lane, Icklesham, which serves good food from midday to 9.30pm, but tends to become rather crowded.
5km further on and a 350 metre detour from the route there is the Smuggler Inn at Pett Level (tel 01424 813 491 ) which serves food midday to 2pm daily but on your toes to get here in time.
As always if more than 6 wish to lunch at the pub then please phone ahead as a courtesy and possibly a necessity and even to check if they are still trading.
You go past numerous tea places on the route through Hastings
You will also find more details on the lunch and tea options and background to the walk here http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_25/index.shtml
Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Midweek day walk Ham - Street to Appledore
Ham Street to Appledore
A walk full of historical interest in the low hills around Romney Marsh
Book 3* Walk 106
* Online only
Length : 18 km or 11 miles
Length : 18 km or 11 miles
Toughness : 3 out of 10
Getting there : Catch the 10:37 am train from London St. Pancras (10:44 Stratford) to Ham Street changing at Ashford to Platform 1 to catch the 11:33 to Ham Street.
The HST train fares are now just shy of £20, but those of you with suitable rail cards may get a better deal on the 9:52 from Victoria.
The HST train fares are now just shy of £20, but those of you with suitable rail cards may get a better deal on the 9:52 from Victoria.
Meeting point : Ham Street Station at 11:41
Tickets : Buy a day return to Appledore
Brief Description
With the re-opening of the Woolpack Inn, I thought it would be a good opportunity to visit there for lunch and also enjoy a fairly flat walk to complement the Hangers romp last week.
You may find full details of the walk here and kindlers may download a mobi here
You may find full details of the walk here and kindlers may download a mobi here
Suggested Lunch stops
The Woolpack Inn t: 01233 732900
Suggested Tea stops
Miss Mollett's High Class Tea Room, a quintessential English tea room where, I seem to remember, not a single piece of bone china matches - open to five.
(Do allow 35-40 mins to get to Appledore station from here)
(Do allow 35-40 mins to get to Appledore station from here)
Maps
OS Explorer : 125
Return train times
Trains return from Appledore to London St. Pancras and depart at the following times :
16:05 | 17:05 | 17:40 | 18:05 | 18:40 | 19:05
Change at Ashford (20-25 min wait) - Journey time about an hour and a quarter.
16:05 | 17:05 | 17:40 | 18:05 | 18:40 | 19:05
Change at Ashford (20-25 min wait) - Journey time about an hour and a quarter.
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Prom (#44) - West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and Daniel Barenboim
Come to this summer's prom at Royal Albert Hall with Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, we will hear Schoenberg Chamber Symphony No. 1, Beethoven Concerto in C major for violin, cello and piano (Triple Concerto) and Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor. You can book in advance (expect to sell out soon) or just prom on the day. Meet for pre-prom picnic at the steps of Albert Memorial opposite Royal Albert Hall from 6pm.
Sunday, 16 August 2015
Classic Weald walk
Free walk 40a East
Grinstead circular via Weir Wood reservoir
18.1km (11.2m);
toughness 4/10
Trains: London Victoria East Croydon 10.09)
arrives East
Grinstead 10.47. Return trains at xx:12 and xx:42 to London Victoria
A walk in classic Weald
countryside of woods, hills, and open fields. Your recommended lunch time
hostelry is the Chequers Inn in Forest Row, 6.1km
into the walk.
See here
for the pdf walk instructions and further details about the walk.
The Western South Downs
Free walk 18 Petersfield to Rowlands Castle
Distance16km (9.9m);
toughness 3/10.
Trains: London
Waterloo 09.30 (Clapham Junction 09.39) arrives Petersfield 10.39. Return trains from Rowlands Castle Waterloo . Buy a day return to Rowlands Castle
A lovely undulating
ramble through the little known western reaches of the South Downs . Hopefully in high summer it will be
mud-free (see walk comments)
Have an early lunch
or drink at the Five Bells 4km into
the walk or continue to the Red Lion
9.5km into the walk which is probably the best option
PDF walk
instructions and further details about
the walk are here
Option to extend the walk to Cocking if you have a map. See end of walk instructions.
Saturday, 15 August 2015
Walk 3-173a: Cuxton to Snodland
Length: 19.5km (12.1 miles), Toughness: 6/10
Features: Cobham Park, Luddesdown
Trains: 9:39 from Charing Cross changing at Strood (arr. 10:49, dep. 11:04) to Cuxton arriving at 11:08. Buy a day return to Snodland. Alternatively, 10:22 from St. Pancras changing at Strood (arr. 10:57, dep. 11:04). Return trains from Snodland are at xx:22, xx:52. Change at Strood for Charing Cross or St. Pancras.
Options: Walk length can be reduced by 1.5km by finishing at Halling; or reduced by 2km by finishing at Cuxton.
Lunch: The suggested lunch stop is The Leather Bottle (01474 814 327) in Cobham about 7.5km into the walk - it has a pleasant garden. There are two other pubs in Cobham.
Tea: There are a couple of pubs in Snodland.
Directions: For more information including directions, maps, GPS etc. see SWC.173
Saturday Second Walk - Riverside, downland, seaside (swim?)
T=3.65 SWC Walk 65 - Southease to Rottingdean
Length: 14.5km (9 miles) - with longer options: see ** below
Toughness: 4 out of 10: one steep climb, basically
9.16 train from Victoria (9.22 Clapham Junction, 9.32 East Croydon), changing at Lewes (be quick! arrive 10.28, depart 10.34), for Southease, arriving 10.34.
Buy a day return to Southease, which will be valid for return from Brighton.
For walk directions click here.
This walk combines familiar elements - the lovely start along the River Ouse at Southease, a walk over the downs to Rottingdean - but combines them with a gentle walk across fields late morning and lunch at the very pleasant Juggs Inn in Kingston (pleasant and also popular, which is why I have chosen an earlier train). Don't overdo the puddings at lunch, however, because just after it you have the only real exertion of the day - a steep, but very exhilarating and scenic, climb up onto the crest of the South Downs. There is then a relatively easy walk across the lonely heart of the downs to the sea at Rottingdean, which has oodles of tea options.
Rottingdean also provides a reliable low tide sea swimming spot, which is another reason for picking this walk today, as low tide is at 6.45pm. The central beach at Rottingdean (the one with the strange jetty-like structure sticking out on its right-hand side) is the only one on this stretch of coast that has decent depths of water in such conditions. (If you do swim out, look out for an underwater reef about 100 metres out on which one can stand in mid ocean - an odd feeling).
Regular coastal buses (every few mins) go from Rottingdean to Brighton pier and station. If you decide to get off at the pier, note that there are directions from there to the station on the penultimate page of the walk directions. The beach by the pier is another possible swimming spot, but watch your bags here.
Trains back from Brighton are very frequent. The fast Victoria service is at 19 and 49 till 22.19 and there are direct London Bridge services at 28 and 56 past to 18.56: outside these times you can connect at East Croydon. Thameslink services (30 and 57 past) are slow stopping services.
** For a longer walk:
- Walk some or all of the cliff bottom path from Rottingdean into Brighton. Ovingdean, about 1km along, is one possible target: it has a very nice tea kiosk (china mugs and home made cakes) and then steps up to the road. Or stay on the promenade another 1.5km to the start of Brighton Marina and then take the ramp up the cliffs there. In both cases there is a handy bus stop once you get on the cliff. Walking all the way from Rottingdean to Brighton station adds 7.2km (4.5 miles) to the walk.
- Walk back to Southease after tea in Rottingdean. Ignore the Southease Circular directions in the text here, but instead see the Alternative ending at Southease directions on the last page of this document. This takes you back over the downs (the afternoon of the Lewes to Saltdean walk in reverse) and adds 8.9km (5.5 miles) to the walk length, making a total walk of 23.4km (14.5 miles). Trains from Southease are at 36 past, with the last train at 19.36, so make sure you time this walk correctly. If you arrive a bit early for the train, the reception of the YHA just beyond the station might serve you a cup of tea. Only very fast walkers will have time to divert to the Abergavenny Arms for a drink.
Length: 14.5km (9 miles) - with longer options: see ** below
Toughness: 4 out of 10: one steep climb, basically
9.16 train from Victoria (9.22 Clapham Junction, 9.32 East Croydon), changing at Lewes (be quick! arrive 10.28, depart 10.34), for Southease, arriving 10.34.
Buy a day return to Southease, which will be valid for return from Brighton.
For walk directions click here.
This walk combines familiar elements - the lovely start along the River Ouse at Southease, a walk over the downs to Rottingdean - but combines them with a gentle walk across fields late morning and lunch at the very pleasant Juggs Inn in Kingston (pleasant and also popular, which is why I have chosen an earlier train). Don't overdo the puddings at lunch, however, because just after it you have the only real exertion of the day - a steep, but very exhilarating and scenic, climb up onto the crest of the South Downs. There is then a relatively easy walk across the lonely heart of the downs to the sea at Rottingdean, which has oodles of tea options.
Rottingdean also provides a reliable low tide sea swimming spot, which is another reason for picking this walk today, as low tide is at 6.45pm. The central beach at Rottingdean (the one with the strange jetty-like structure sticking out on its right-hand side) is the only one on this stretch of coast that has decent depths of water in such conditions. (If you do swim out, look out for an underwater reef about 100 metres out on which one can stand in mid ocean - an odd feeling).
Regular coastal buses (every few mins) go from Rottingdean to Brighton pier and station. If you decide to get off at the pier, note that there are directions from there to the station on the penultimate page of the walk directions. The beach by the pier is another possible swimming spot, but watch your bags here.
Trains back from Brighton are very frequent. The fast Victoria service is at 19 and 49 till 22.19 and there are direct London Bridge services at 28 and 56 past to 18.56: outside these times you can connect at East Croydon. Thameslink services (30 and 57 past) are slow stopping services.
** For a longer walk:
- Walk some or all of the cliff bottom path from Rottingdean into Brighton. Ovingdean, about 1km along, is one possible target: it has a very nice tea kiosk (china mugs and home made cakes) and then steps up to the road. Or stay on the promenade another 1.5km to the start of Brighton Marina and then take the ramp up the cliffs there. In both cases there is a handy bus stop once you get on the cliff. Walking all the way from Rottingdean to Brighton station adds 7.2km (4.5 miles) to the walk.
- Walk back to Southease after tea in Rottingdean. Ignore the Southease Circular directions in the text here, but instead see the Alternative ending at Southease directions on the last page of this document. This takes you back over the downs (the afternoon of the Lewes to Saltdean walk in reverse) and adds 8.9km (5.5 miles) to the walk length, making a total walk of 23.4km (14.5 miles). Trains from Southease are at 36 past, with the last train at 19.36, so make sure you time this walk correctly. If you arrive a bit early for the train, the reception of the YHA just beyond the station might serve you a cup of tea. Only very fast walkers will have time to divert to the Abergavenny Arms for a drink.
Saturday First Walk Book 1 Walk 15 Leigh to Tunbridge Wells
Book 1 Walk 15 : Leigh to Tunbridge Wells
18.9km (11.7 miles) or 15km
5 out of 10.
Explorer 147 or Landranger 188
OS map here
Take the 9.45am from London Bridge Station to Leigh (Kent), going via East Croydon at 10.00 and Redhill at 10.18 arriving at 10.43
4 trains per hour back direct to London
Buy a day return to Tunbridge Wells.
The route of this walk is through a landscape of great beauty, confirming the description of Kent as the Garden of England. It proceeds through the grounds of Penshurst Place, with fine views of the house, taking in a truly pastoral landscape of rivers, lakes, woods and rolling hills; and passes through the lovely village of Penshurst. The walk then makes its way along the River Medway and into historic Royal Tunbridge Wells, through woods and parks which extend right into the heart of the town. The suggested tea place is in the colonnaded Pantiles about 15 minutes walk from the station..
The suggested lunchtime stop is the Spotted Dog ( http://www.spotteddogpub.co.uk/ tel 01892 870 253) at Smart's Hill, after a third of the walk. This is a large and very popular pub with good food, log fires for the winter and a superb view across the Medway Valley to Swaylands and Penshurst. You will arrive here about 90 minutes after leaving the station.
Food is served from midday to 3pm
Nearby is another large and popular pub, the Bottle House Inn ( http://www.thebottlehouseinnpenshurst.co.uk/ tel 01892 870 306).
Alternatively, for late starters, the Leicester Arms ( http://www.theleicesterarmshotel.com/ tel 01892 870 551) in Penshurst serves à la carte and bar meals all day.
There are several tearooms in the Pantiles, some with outdoor seating. Some of the restaurants and wine bars here also serve excellent cream teas in the afternoon, such as Woods Restaurant & Wine bar at no.62 (tel 01892 614 411). Cafés include Just for You at no.42 (tel 01892 539 652), The Picnic Basket at 26-28 (tel 01892 527 690) and Gastronomia G. at no 7 (tel 01892 618 281). Alternatively, there are several pubs and snack bars near the station. A five-minute walk past the station up Mount Pleasant Road will bring you to The Opera House, a splendid building which more recently was a cinema and bingo hall, and is now a JD Wetherspoon pub.
Lots more info here
http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_15/index.shtml
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