Box Hill Circular, via Betchworth [New]

SWC Walk 396 – Box Hill Circular, via Betchworth

Length: 16¾ km (10.4 miles). Toughness: 5/10

09:55 Dorking train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 10:02), arriving Box Hill & Westhumble at 10:47. If you might want to switch to one of the alternative endings (see the walk document for details), a return to Dorking is the same fare as Box Hill.

Trains back to Victoria are half-hourly, at xx:02 & xx:32 from Dorking and three minutes later at Box Hill (the additional hourly service to Waterloo isn't running this weekend).

There's not much scope for a completely ‘new’ walk around Box Hill: you'll all be familiar with the famous viewpoint and most of you will recognise the villages of Betchworth and Brockham from the Dorking–Reigate walk, but there is some novelty. You'll get to see the inside of a large chalk quarry – and its pair of peregrine falcons, if you're patient. On the low hill between the two villages there are fine views across parkland towards the North Downs, and a wood carpeted with bluebells. And if you didn't get to see it on last month's Dorking walk, there's another chance to visit the ruins of Betchworth Castle.

Those wanting a pub lunch should be able to get fed and watered at the Red Lion in Betchworth, since it makes the bold claim on its website that “we are pleased to accept walk-ins with no booking…we will look after you!”. Fifteen minutes further on the walk route also passes the Dolphin, but in this case booking ahead would be advisable.

There are some mid-afternoon refreshment possibilities around Brockham's large village green, plus the Stepping Stones pub on the road to Box Hill station.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.396 page.

Sunday Walk - On the 90th anniversary of the mass trespass: Kinder Scout Circuit from Edale [Sheffield/Hope Valley Trip]

Length: 26.8 km (16.7 mi) [shorter or longer walk possible, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 969 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 7–9 hours

Toughness: 9 out of 10 

 

If you find this walk too hard on the day, try SWC 303 instead, which also has shorter options: Edale Circular via Kinder Scout and Mam Tor.

 

Take the 09.14 Manchester Piccadilly train from Sheffield (stopping service down the Hope Valley via Dore, Grindleford, Hathersage etc), arrives Edale 09.46.

From London, due to track works, participation in this walk is not realistic w/o a car. 

Return trains down the Hope Valley to Sheffield: xx.29 to 20.29, then 21.27, 22.54. 

 

The Kinder Scout Mass Trespass on 24/04/1932 was neither the first nor even the largest mass trespass in the early decades of the 20^th Century, and it wasn’t even supported at the time by the established representatives of the Ramblers movement, as its driving force were organised left-wing urban activists from the large conurbations to the west and east of the Peak District that were fed up with the lack of progress in the fight for a Right to Roam on (formerly) Common Land, especially the high mountainous areas and the upland moorlands. They were willing to take a more direct approach against the forces holding them back (landowners’ game keepers and hired muscle, as well as law enforcement). 

It wasn’t much of a walk either, as the two groups (Manchester folk from Hayfield, Sheffield folk from Edale) were just walking up to the rim of the plateau at Ashop Head for a short meet and then back down (into the waiting arms of the Derbyshire Constabulary in the case of Hayfield), but it was certainly very well-organised and – combined with an efficient public relations campaign – it became an important stepping stone in the (still continuing) fight for more public access to the countryside, subsequently leading to the establishment of National Parks and the creation of ‘Access Land’ in the 2000 Countryside Right of Way Act, finally enshrining access rights to those disputed high mountain areas and upland moorland tracts.  

For a more detailed account, read here (Peak District National Park), here (Hayfield Kinder Trespass Group) or here (Wikipedia).  

 

As for today’s walk: 

This is a circuit of the Kinder Scout moorland plateau in the Dark Peak area of the Peak District with minimal directions.

The route described is not a true circuit, as it takes a different route up from Edale than it takes down from the plateau back to Edale. Completists can either continue along the edge from Ringing Roger to the point where the morning ascent over Grindslow Knoll joins the edge and re-trace the route from there (adds 3.4 km), or they can ascend and descend along the Grindsbrook Clough to/from the same point on the edge, this involves light but prolonged scrambling and adds 5.1 km.
In the easterly part of Kinder Scout, the plateau’s width is only about 500m, so – even without a clear path – a shortcut across it is not too arduous a prospect in the right conditions and if a confident map and compass user. The only route with a clear and firm through path is shown on the route map (cuts 1.3 km).

 

Lunch: Picnic. 

Tea: The Old Nags Head or The Rambler Inn. 

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.304

Saturday Walk - Knockholt Circular

Knockholt Circular

Length: 18.5km (11.5 miles)  5 out of 10

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I'm reliably informed (from a previous posting), that this walk has bluebells. It is also in Zone 6, so makes for an easy journey.

Trains: Get the 1004 Sevenoaks train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 1007, London Bridge 1013) arriving 1049. Return trains at xx13 and xx43.

Lunch: In Downe (7.7km from the start) The Queens Head (01689 852145). Food served all day is the suggested lunch stop. Also The George & Dragon  (01689 889030). Food served noon-8.30pm 

Tea: Arthur's Coffee Shop Coolings Nurseries, closes 4.30pm Located 2.6km from the end of the walk.

The Cock Inn Shoreham Lane, Halstead, Located 2km from the end of the walk 600 metres off route. The Rose and Crown Otford Lane, Halstead,  600 metres off route

Saturday Walk Billingshurst to Amberley - a South Downs adventure - and tease - with an excellent lunch pub in the village of Nutbourne

SWC 8 - Billingshurst to Amberley

Length: 22.4 km (14.5 miles)

Toughness: 6 plus out of 10    mostly flat in the morning, with one steep ascent in the afternoon up onto the South Downs 

London Victoria: 09-35 hrs   Southern service to Southampton Central and Bognor Regis  CJ 09-42,  EC 09-53 hrs

Arrive Billingshurst: 10-45 hrs

Return

Amberley to Victoria :  18 mins past the hour, plus 16-50 hrs

Rail ticket: buy a day return to Amberley

Shortly after the start of today's walk you find yourself in a bluebell wood which should be in flower even though its full carpet effect might not be for a further week or two - but it should still be nice. After this wood the walk continues over fields and through farms and a vineyard to the hamlet of Nutbourne, where you find the excellent Rising Sun pub, a favourite of mine. Booking ahead is recommended for an indoor table, although its outdoor seating in its rear pub garden is very pleasant. Your e.t.a is 1 pm  01798-81219.  

Leaving Nutbourne the walk's tease soon begins. Directly ahead of you, you have the South Downs. They don't seem to get any nearer as you plod on, skirting a golf course then an airfield (glider flying) until you  reach the outskirts of the village of Cootham. You then walk due south along Clay Lane which takes you - eventually ! - to the foot of the South Downs. You now have a steep ascent - today's hard work - but take it steadily and you will get to the top. From here you enjoy lovely panoramic views as you continue along the South Downs Way ridge path. For a softer tread you can take the permissive way over grass through the Springhead Estate. You drop down to pass a farm before taking a path downhill through light woodland to a road above Amberley.  You can if you wish take the road down to Amberley village, with its tea options, but most tend to head down High Titten (road), which takes you out onto the main road to turn left to Amberley railway station and Houghton Bridge. What should be a pleasant tea stop at the Riverside Tea Gardens is spoilt by the managers closing - at tea time - darn annoying or what ? !  So it's the Bridge Inn,  just below the railway station, if open.  

This is a long but rewarding walk. 

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Walk Directions are here: L=swc.8

Saturday Walk - Ladybower Inn Circular via Alport Castles and Derwent Reservoirs [Swimming Walk] [Sheffield/Hope Valley Trip]

Length: 26.9 km (16.7 mi) [shorter or longer walk possible, see below]

Ascent/Descent: 715 m

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours

Toughness: 8 out of 10 

 

Take bus line 257 (direction Bakewell) from Sheffield Interchange (Stand D3) at 08.55, arrives Ashopton, Ladybower Inn at 09.23. 

The 257 from the other direction (Grindleford/Hathersage/Bradwell/Hope/Bamford Bus Turnaround 08.44) arrives 08.52.

From London, take the 06.30 Sheffield train from St. Pancras International, arriving Sheffield at 08.44. [Or take a later train and later bus (runs hourly) and play catch-up.] 

Return buses to Sheffield: 16.52 or 18.17. 

Return buses to Bamford/Hathersage/Grindleford: 16.58 or 17.58.

 

You cross Ladybower Reservoir and rise through pastures to Crook Hill to follow a grassy ridge with fine views to Win Hill and the Great Ridge, out towards the Kinder Scout and Bleaklow upland peat bog plateaus and across the Derwent Valley to Derwent Edge. At Alport Castles, the fascinating site of Britain’s longest inland landslip with its rocky pinnacles and debris, you turn down from the ridge along a good track through grouse moors into the wooded Derwent Valley and follow Howden Reservoir’s shore to cross Slippery Stones packhorse bridge into the open wild countryside of the Upper Derwent Valley.
From there, the return route follows the famous Derwent Reservoirs (Howden, Derwent and Ladybower) back towards the start with ever-changing views across the large bodies of water, partly in open country, at other times flanked by enchanting woods. 

The Derwent River near Slippery Stones bridge, with its deep rockpools, is a famous Wild Swimming spot.

 

Three variations of the return route break the long, nearly flat reservoir-side walk by climbing up a hill or ridge with fantastic views and descending back to the reservoirs further along.

An Alternative Ending from Alport Castles descends through the tranquil Alport Dale and crosses the Woodlands Valley to ascend Win Hill’s ridge with a choice of finishes, back at the Ladybower Inn or at Bamford Station.

Lunch: Picnic.

Tea: The Ladybower Inn or The Yorkshire Bridge Inn (on the Win Hill ending). 

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.349