Saturday Walk Tunbridge Wells to Tonbridge

Tunbridge Wells to Tonbridge (or Hildenborough)  T=swc.238

Length: 8.9 miles (14.3km)

The turn off for the Tonbridge finish is near the end of the walk, and starts at para 23 in the directions. Anyone wanting a bit more walking can carry on to Hildenborough (17.7 km)

The walk follows a familiar SWC route out of Tunbridge Wells via the town commons and Hurst Wood, mainly uphill but nothing too strenuous. It joins the Wealdway shortly before the hamlet of Modest Corner. A delightful section follows, through Brookhurst Field and Birch Wood on the outskirts of Bidborough, where you can stop for lunch. You then cut across Haysden Country Park, following a section of the River Medway. 

Trains: 
Southeastern are running a Winter Timetable on Friday. I'll check on Friday for any changes on Saturday.

Get the 0945 Hastings train from Charing Cross (London Bridge 0952) arriving 1052. Buy return to Tunbridge Wells. Return trains from Tonbridge xx06, xx22, xx36, xx53 to Charing Cross, from Hildenbouroug xx27 xx57.

Lunch: The Kentish Hare Bidborough, TN3 0XB after 4.5 Miles (7.3km.) The pub incorporates two bar areas though seating is limited. The public bar serves bar meals. The second bar, with dining tables, has an open fire and a small private dining area. Food 12 to 2.30 pm. It would be prudent to book a table. Tel: 01892 525709, http://www.thekentishhare.com/

There is a churchyard with fine views for picnics.

Saturday Walk - Hertfordshire Downlands (the easterly end of The Chilterns): Hitchin Circular

Length: 25.6 km (15.9 mi), Ascent/Descent: 348 m

[with shortcuts down to 20.8 km/12.9 mi, also has one bus dropout]

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 hours, Toughness: 7 out of 10

Take the 09.35 Ely train from King’s Cross (Finsbury Park [Piccadilly and Victoria Lines] 09.42, Stevenage 10.03), arrives Hitchin 10.08.

Return trains: xx.11, xx.41, xx.55.

This Hertfordshire walk covers the hilly area west of Hitchin. The morning route leads along farm tracks, field boundaries, shaded grassy lanes and through a few woods across the most north easterly ridge of The Chilterns, in Great Offley, to the steep chalk downlands of  Pegsdon Hills and Knocking Hoe, dissected by quiet flat-bottomed valleys, which form the scenery around the lunch stop in Pegsdon, where the terraced pub garden provides stunning views overlooking the hills.

From Knocking Hoe the ancient Icknield Way leads to the pretty village of Pirton, with its impressive remains of a motte-and-double bailey and traces of an abandoned medieval village.

On the outskirts of Hitchin, Oughtonhead Common Local Nature Reserve is a mature alder and willow fen woodland, whose diversity of habitats is surprisingly large. From there the route follows the high-quality chalk river Oughton all the way to its wellhead. The final stretch leads past a very charming farm gate café to Hitchin’s old town, which has kept its medieval market town feel and has many fine Tudor and Georgian buildings.

Pass St. Mary’s Church, the largest parish church in Hertfordshire and evidence of how Hitchin prospered from the wool trade, and brave a final steep ascent through a park to then re-trace part of the morning route back to the train station at the easterly end of town.

This is a stile-free walk.

Lunch: The Live and Let Live in Pegsdon (13.7 km/8.5 mi, food all day);

or The Motte & Bailey  in Pirton on the short walk (14.4 km/8.9 mi, food to 15.00).

Tea: plenty of options, see the pdf.

For walk directions, map, photos, height profile and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.234

Saturday walk - Ash Vale to Worplesdon - Canals, Heathland and three pubs

Length: 19.8km (12.3 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

Catch the 9.23 train from Waterloo to Ash Vale, arriving 10.14.

If you miss this, catch the 9.28 Weymouth train and change at Woking, arriving 9.54, departing 10.00. This is also the Clapham Junction option, departing at 9.35.

Buy a day return to Ash Vale. You also technically need a single from Worplesdon to Woking (one stop) on the return leg.

For walk directions click here. For GPX click here (and you also might find the walk's home page useful too). T=3.136

I apologise if the train journey to this walk seems like "deja vue all over again" for those who were on the Farnham to Godalming walk last week: you are indeed taking the same train from Waterloo. But you are getting off a stop earlier and the walk has quite a different character.

You start off along the Basingstoke Canal and then are out on heathland that is used as an army range - but not, the walk notes insist, having any restricted access if you follow the main walk route. On past outings of the walk there have been some issues following the directions on this section, but in this GPX era maybe that will be less of a problem. Stick to someone with a gizmo, is my advice.

If there is no firing at all on the army ranges, a shortcut across them is possible: how much this saves is not specified.

Otherwise, it is back to the canal and then into more normal rural territory to arrive at the lunch pub, the Royal Oak in Purbright. This is 7.2 miles into the walk, but it seems to do food all afternoon.

There is also a later lunch option in another 2.4 miles, the White Lyon and Dragon, which does Thai food. Alternatively this could act as your tea stop (it is open all afternoon), allowing you to go straight to Worplesdon station in another 2.7 miles. For a later tea stop there is the Jolly Farmer in Whitmoor Common: there is a 500 metre diversion to reach this.

At Worplesdon station itself there are no refreshments and trains are only hourly at 14 minutes past the hour. It is a lonely spot, so time your arrival there carefully.

Wednesday Walk - Petersfield – Rowlands Castle

Length: 17.4 km (10.8 mi), Ascent/Descent: 327/355 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours, Toughness: 4 out of 10

Take the 10.00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Woking 10.25, G’ford 10.34), arrives Petersfield 11.00. From Clapham take the 09.52 stopping service to Portsmouth & Southsea and change at Woking (10.12/10.25).

Return trains: xx.46 (from 87 mins). Buy a Rowlands Castle return.

An undulating ramble through the little-known western reaches of the South Downs. Though there are a couple of steep climbs, the overall gradients are not too arduous, and your reward is some fine hilltop views in the second half of the walk.

Lunch: The Five Bells in Buriton (4.2 km/2.6 mi, food to 14.00) or The Red Lion  in Chalton (10.5 km/6.5 mi, food all day; sign up online for a 20% off food voucher!).

Tea: For details of the tea shop and the three pubs in Rowlands Castle check the walk directions pdf.

For walk directions, map, height profile and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.18

Sunday Walk: Chipstead Circular

14 km (8.7 miles).
Difficulty 4/10
An undulating walk through a varied landscape of ancient woodland, open downs and farmland, just outside London.
Transport:
The simplest journey is the 9.54 Tattenham Corner train from London Bridge, arriving Chipstead 10:53.
Or ... get  the  Thameslink Redhill train (St Pancras 9:56, London Bridge 10:11) and change onto the above train at Purley (arr 10:34, dep 10:42).
You could also get the 9:51 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 9:57) and change at East Croydon onto the Tattenham Corner train (platform 6, 10:27).
Return  from Chipstead to London Bridge at xx:33 and xx:03.
Lunch:  The Well House Inn (01737-830640) in Mugswell.
Tea:  The Ramblers Rest (01737-552661) on Outwood Lane. It is 1 km from Chipstead station so allow 15-20 minutes. 

Directions here. We are doing option (a). 

t=swc.177.a

A Sunday Saunter around Canvey Island

SWC Walk 258:  Benfleet Circular via Canvey Island T=SWC.258

Distance:  14.5 Miles or 23.2 km for those more metrically minded (shorter options available)

Difficulty:  3 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:55 AM Shoeburyness train from London Fenchurch Street (10:05 West Ham), arriving at Benfleet at 10:39. Return trains from Benfleet run 4 times an hour – but the fastest are at XX:01 and 31 past the hour. Buy a day return to Benfleet.  

A walk like no other? Most certainly…This walk explores varied terrain in the Thames Estuary, including tidal creeks and countryside, industrial operations (past and present) and iconic musical and TV associations. There are frequent buses (and stops) along the route – so drop-off points are possible (check the walk instructions for details).  You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

The recommended lunch stop is the Lobster Smack (01268 514 297) on Haven Road (8.2 miles/13.2 km into the walk). For post walk refreshies, the Hoy & Helmut just up the hill from Benfleet Station is suggested……however, loads of options abound...

Enjoy the walk!

Saturday Walk - The Thame Valley (Aylesbury Vale), Rolling Buckinghamshire Landscape, 4 Pubs, Variable Length

This walk passes four pubs during opening hours (plus a 5^th one a little off-route in Stone), while offering flexible lengths as the route crosses the A 418 several times, where the 200/280 Oxford to Aylesbury Bus runs frequently to get you back to Haddenham or on to Aylesbury.

Length:  from 10.3 km (6.4 mi) to 23.3 km (14.5 mi)

Ascent/Descent: up to 180 m; Net Walking Time: from ca. 2 hours to 5 hours

Toughness:  from 1/10 to 4/10 

This pleasant walk through the scenic heart of Aylesbury Vale passes through the tranquil Thame Valley in the morning, linking up several unspoilt and picturesque hamlets with gentle views to the surrounding hills, while passing three good village pubs en-route. After lunch several grassy fields and a substantial, newly planted community woodland are passed through. Later the stately mansion of Hartwell House is rounded, before the route heads into Aylesbury for tea.

The regular Oxford to Aylesbury bus service is never far away from the route, making it easy to choose a shorter option.

Take the 10.00 Oxford train from Marylebone (High Wycombe 10.25), arrives Haddenham & Thame Parkway at 10.42.

Return trains from Haddenham: xx.14 and xx.38 hours (55 mins and 43 minutes journey time resp.).

Return trains from Aylesbury: xx.18 and xx.48 hours (61 mins journey time) via Amersham, your ticket is not technically valid, but there are usually no ticket inspectors on that line; and xx.34 via Princes Risborough (87 mins journey time, your ticket is valid from Princes Risborough onwards).

Buy a Haddenham & Thame return, this covers the return journey to London from Princes Risborough. You then need to buy an Aylesbury to Risborough single at Aylesbury station and travel via Princes Risborough, or argue with the ticket inspector…

Befuddled by the ticket arrangements? (As Anonymous says:) Take the 09.43 Warwick Parkway train (stops Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Princes Risborough), arriving Haddenham & Thame Parkway at 10.36. Buy an Aylesbury (Any Route) Return, you then have to buy a one-stop Princes Risborough – Haddenham single on the train (if you can find a ticket inspector).

Lunch: The Bottle and Glass in Gibraltar  (10.3 km/6.4 mi, food to 15.00) or the The Seven Stars in Dinton  (10.9 km/6.8 mi). There’s also The Crown at Cuddington early on (7.1 km/4.4 mi, from 11.30).  

Tea: The Bugle Horn  (open all day) and Hartwell House Spa Cafe and Bar (open to 19.00), both in Hartwell (3.5 km from the end); and numerous options in Aylesbury (check page 2 of the pdf).

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.

T=swc.193