Prom 59 - at Royal Albert Hall

Bookings for the BBC Proms 2023 have started.  We will be doing a few Proms this year.  If you wish to come,  you can book a ticket in advance or get a promming ticket on the day.  To book a ticket in advance,  please click here.  For information how to get a promming ticket, please click here 

PROGRAMME

Beethoven Overture ‘The Consecration of the House’ 12’
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major 33’

Interval

Dvořák Symphony No. 9 in E minor, ‘From the New World’ 40’

Augustin Hadelich violin
Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich
Paavo Järvi conductor

Pre-concert meeting place:  Weather permitting,  we will meet at the steps of Albert Memorial for a picnic from 6pm.  

There will be a Whatsapp group set up for participants near the time so we can arrange to meet at the interval and post-prom for a drink or so.   If you wish to be in the Whatsapp group,  please send your name and mobile number at least a few days in advance to SWCsocialATgmailDOTcom. 

Please do not put a comment on the website or send emails after 6pm on the day of the event (i.e. after the event has started), as it is unlikley someone will check them.  

Several have booked in Upper Choir West 

Roman Berkshire: Mortimer to Aldermaston

 

Length: 15.9 km (9.9 miles) 3/10

This walk seems to be a bit neglected but undeservedly so, as it includes remains of a Roman town, a 12th century church, a pub by a village green, beautiful pine forest and a nice canal-side tearoom finish.

Travel: 1107 from Reading to Mortimer arriving 1120. The 1028 from Paddington gives 15 minutes for the change at Reading, or if you want to get the Elizabeth line you'll have to leave Paddington at 0948 (Ealing Broadway 0956). Return trains from Aldermaston are hourly at about 17 past.

Buy a day return to Mortimer. In practice this is usually accepted on the return journey, but you might be required to buy a single from Aldermaston (or Theale) to Reading. Freedom Pass holders will know you can use your pass to Reading on the Elizabeth line - then you will just need singles to Mortimer and from Aldermaston.

Lunch: The suggested lunch stop is the Calleva Arms (tel. 0118 970 0305) on Silchester Common, some 6.5 km into the walk. Food is served 12noon–2.30pm, Monday to Friday, 12noon-8pm on Saturday, and 12noon to 4pm on Sunday. Staff appreciate having advance warning of groups.

Tea: The suggested tea place is the tea room at the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust Information Centre (tel. 0118 971 2868) at Aldermaston Wharf; it is usually open until 6pm. It serves a good selection of cakes and snacks.

Longer walk options: Sorry there is no shortcut on this walk! You can extend it by carrying on along the canal to Woolhampton Bridge, near Midgham station (2 miles) or Theale (nearly 4 miles). The walk page mentions possible pub stops at both these stations.

For walk directions, map and GPX click here

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Evening Walk - Sculpture in the City 2023/24

Length: 2.8 km

Net Walking Time: 1 -1 ½ hours

 

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.

 

2023/24 sees the twelfth incarnation of this popular attraction, displaying 24 artworks by 17 artists ranging considerably in scale – from large steel-, neon- 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.  

 

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

Knockholt Circular (via Downe)

Walk SWC.7 – Knockholt Circular

Length: 18.5km 11.5 miles Toughness 7/10

10:00 Sevenoaks service from London Vivtoria arriving at Knockholt 10:58

Knockholt station is in London Travelcard Zone 6

Return trains xx.11 and xx.41

An easy journey from London, this is a pretty and completely rural walk through a mixture of woodlands and open stetches. There are some lovely views and wildflowers. Shortly after lunch, you pass Down House, once home to Charles Darwin and now open to visitors.

There are two pubs to choose from for lunch in Downe:

The Queen’s Head, High Street, Downe, BR6 7UT (01689 852145)

The George and Dragon, High Street, Downe, BR6 7UT (01689 889030)

Or, a little further along in Cudham, The Blacksmith's Arms, Cudham Lane South TN14 7QB (01959 572678)

For tea, I'd suggest making the short 600m detour to visit the Rose and Crown in Halstead, which is 2km from the end of the walk: The Rose and Crown, Otford Lane, Halstead, TN14 7EA (01959 533120)

Alternatively, the tea shop 2.6km from the end of the walk is open until 16.30: Arthur’s Coffee Shop and Restaurant, Cooling's Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill, TN14 7NN (01959 532269 )

Remember, these walks don't have a leader so you'll need to download your own copy of the directions from the L=swc.7 web page.

Sunday walk - Guildford to Shalford

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This is option C of the Guildford circular via Chantries walk which goes via Chantries Hill and the North Downs Way to St Martha's Church. Albury for lunch and through mixed woods to Shalford.

Length: 17.5 km (10.9 miles)

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Trains: London Waterloo 10.00, Clapham Junction 10.09, Woking 10.33, arriving Guildford 10:40

Return trains from Shalford run hourly at xx.15. Buy a return to Shalford (or Chilworth if you want an even shorter walk). The train fares for both are the same as for Guildford.

Lunch: The Drummond at Albury (01483 202 039). Best to book if you want to eat here.

Tea: Shalford has a tea room, the Snooty Fox, which closes at 4pm on Sundays. It also has two pubs, the Queen Victoria and  Seahorse pubs, the former a more traditional pub and the latter a more stylish modern one.

Directions, map and GPS here.

Saturday Walk: Leytonstone to Loughton

12.8km (8.0m) Difficulty 1/10. 
Explore the southern part of Epping Forest’s ancient woodlands, mostly a site of special scientific interest. The walk takes you past Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, a unique timber-framed survivor from Tudor times  (free entry).  
Travel  Start and finish on the Central Line (Zone 6). Meet outside  Leytonstone Central Line station at 10.30
It takes about 30 mins to travel from Central London to Leytonstone. Plan your journey here
Walk directions here 
A shorter 5.8 mile option would involve ducking out at Chingford rail station just 10 mins from the Hunting Lodge (if trains are running). Otherwise, there's a half-hourly 397 bus from there to Loughton at xx:11 and 41.
Longer option: for a 14.4 mile walk  combine these directions with Loughton to Epping walk 197 and finish at Epping (also on the Central line). Link-up details in the directions.
Lunch: there are two establishments near the Hunting Lodge
The Royal Forest (a Brewers Fayre pub) 4 Rangers Road, Tel 020 8523 7246. Open throughout the day at weekends.
And, (recommended) the Larder at Butlers Retreat 12 Rangers Road , Tel 020 7998 7858. Originally a 19th century barn, it is now an up-market café.
Tea: There are places in Loughton High Road: The Wagon Boulangerie  at 174, Costa Coffee 230, and a Wetherspoons, the Last Post, at 227.
There are toilets at Loughton station before the ticket barrier.  t=swc.241

Merstham to Tattenham Corner or Tadworth - AGAIN!!!

Length: 17.3 km (10.7 miles), with shorter option of 11.8 km (7.3 miles) to Tadworth. T=swc.4

10.00 train from London Bridge (10.16 from East Croydon) to Merstham, arriving 10.29 

Best ticket: Merstham is annoyingly one stop outside zone 6. You can use Oyster (and contactless) but you get charged full fare with no railcard discounts. Best buy a one stop extension from Coulsdon South. 

At the end of the walk, Tattenham Corner and Tadworth are in zone six

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

Acting in loco stargazerensis, I have been asked to post a walk to coincide with [a certain social event] this evening, which, combined with the RMT strike, somewhat constrains my choices. So apologies for a repeat post for this walk which last had an outing in June.

It is not a second best option, however, as in its early stages it climbs to a beautiful downland escarpment with wonderful views - possibly the best North Downs view of all - which should also still have some good wildflowers and few remaining butterflies. The less scenic part after lunch crosses green fields and woods to Epsom Racecourse, which out of season looks like some great ruin of a former civilisation. 

Lunch is available after 5 miles or so at the Sportsman in Mogador or there are further options a bit later in Walton. Quite early in the walk there is also a charming tea kiosk on Reigate Hill, worth a stop for a coffee. At the end of the walk you will probably be rushing to get the last train, but there is a pub and a tea kiosk if you have time for refreshments.

A shorter option, if you are in even more of a rush, ends at Tadworth (7.3 miles)

Trains back from Tattenham Corner are at 01 and 31 past the hour and from Tadworth at 05 and 35 past. Due to strike action, the last train is at 18.01 from Tattenham Corner, 18.05 from Tadworth.

All these trains stop at Coulsdon Town - *** except the last one ***: ie the last one to Coulsdon Town is 17.31 from Tattenham Corner and 17.35 from Tadworth

** Return train information is correct as of 22/8/23: I advise you to double check on the day **

Saturday Walk - Hurst Green to Riddlesdown

Length: 21.6 km (13.4 miles), 5.5 hours walking, 5 out of 10. 

After 10 miles, at Warlingham Green, you can take a bus to East Croydon or take a shorter route to Upper Warlingham. 

This is a new walk for Saturday's and got a favourable review on it's first Sunday outing. It seems prudent not to travel to far on strike days. 

After crossing Limpsfield Common a climb up the escarpment of the North Downs provides fine views with two historic churches passed, Titsey at the bottom and Tatsfield at the top. After some undulating pasture the route passes the enclosure of a medieval manor before more fine views near the end.

Trains: Get the 0944 from Victoria (Clapham 0953, East Croydon  1009), arriving Hurst Green at 10.36. Buy a return to Hurst Green. Trains from Riddlesdown 1644, 1714, 1744, 1812, 1912, 1942, 2012 to Victoria via East Croydon. 

(The 1644 & 1714 give a connection to Coulsdon South at East Croydon)

Lunch: Old Ship, Tatsfield 01959 577311 after 8.6km (5.4m) having completed most of the climbing. The Old Ship is a village pub which generally offers a reasonably priced tradional pub menu aiming to be attractive to walkers.

Tea: There is just a shop at Riddesdown, so you might want to take a break at Warlingham Green, or go for the Upper Warlingham ending, where there is tea or pubs. 

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Evening Walk - Horton Park, Epsom and Ashtead Commons, Winey Hill: Chessington South Circular

Length: 8.4 km (5.2 mi)

Ascent/descent: 100m

Net Walking Time: ca. 2 hours

 

Take the 17.47 Chessington South train from Waterloo, calls Vauxhall and Clapham J then all stations via Wimbledon, arrives Chessington South at 18.23. Chessington South is in Zone 6. 

Return trains: 20.34, 21.04, 21.34, 22.04, 22.38… 

Sunset will be at 20.05, with light for walking until 20.45.

 

The "Chessington Countryside Walk" is a local authority promoted walk which loops around Horton Country Park, Epsom and Ashtead Commons, and Winey Hill (viewpoint). A lovely summer walk close to London, it’s very muddy in winter.

Anti-clockwise from Chessington station:  

• The walk quickly leaves Chessington along a lane and ascends through a small wood to the open top of Winey Hill (viewpoint, 75m, picnic spot, some road noise from the A3).
• Then down into woods (very muddy in winter), passing the Zoo's hedge-fence, then car park (use the car park to bypass a particularly muddy path) and entrance.
• The next stage is a path between hedges (muddy in winter), and a farmer's field (waterlogged in winter)
• You enter the north edge of Ashtead and Epsom Commons (all weather forest paths). You could extend the walk further into the Commons.
• You cross a road, passing a health centre, and another muddy stretch to Horton Country Park (all weather paths), a mix of open grassland and woods.
• Veer left across a field, then along a pretty raised path with nice views (picnic spot, muddy in winter) back to Chessington

The first third of the walk is almost impassable after wet weather in winter, with lots of muddy ground water. The remainder of the walk is mainly on all-weather paths. The walk passes a major attraction, Chessington World of Adventures.

Refreshments: 

En route: The Shy Horse in Maldon Rushett is a little off route.  

At the end: nothing. The pubs in Chessington are nearer North Station.

 

For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.48