16 km (10 miles) or 22.7 km (14 miles) 7/10, maybe 5/10 for the 10 mile version
It's not as complicated as it sounds! (and has been tested). Most of the walk follows quieter trails than the main south downs route on other SWC walks, with fine views. It should work well clockwise with a Bishopstone start cutting out nearly two miles of seafront walking. The instructions are pretty sketchy so you really need a map or GPX to do this walk anyhow.
A 10 mile version is available if you end the walk at Eastbourne Road, Seaford (bus stop for 12A, 12X, 701 etc. to Seaford station and onward to Brighton, marked on the map here), or take the last chance for a longer Wednesday walk before the clocks go back, with a spectacular finish over Seaford Head.
Trains: 0954 from Victoria (Clapham Junction 1001 East Croydon 1010) changing at Lewes on to the 1100 arriving Bishopstone 1116. There is only a 4 minute connection time which normally involves a dash across the station – quickest if you are in the middle of the train from London. Returns from Seaford via Lewes at 24 and 53. If you book now (1 Oct) you can get advance tickets for £10.65 out and £4.65 back (with railcard).
Lunch and tea: numerous options in Alfriston and Seaford respectively, all set out on the Glynde to Seaford walk pages.
Short walk option: as well as the shorter starts and finishes proposed above, you could take a big short cut 3.6 km after Bishopstone which misses out Alfriston and reduces the walk length by a further 10 km.
For walk directions, map and GPX click here.
T=swc.314
Length: 16 km (9.9 miles). Toughness: 3/10
10:35 Bognor Regis train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 10:42, East Croydon 10:54), arriving Redhill at 11:07. Alternatively the 10:24 Three Bridges train from London Bridge arrives a few minutes earlier at 11:00. [If you take this, wait for the Victoria train near the front of Platform 3 because the walk notes suggest exiting there, not via the main exit in the ticket hall.]
If you miss both of these you could get off the next train at the stop before Redhill and do the walk's alternative start from Merstham. You should connect with the main group where the two routes join at Spynes Mere.
Trains return from Redhill at xx:22 & xx:53 to London Bridge and xx:58 to Victoria. You can use Oyster or contactless at Redhill but you might find that buying a day return paper ticket is cheaper, especially with a railcard discount.
If you want to cut the walk short two buses an hour go through Nutfield to Redhill. Alternatively you could divert to its station for the hourly train to Redhill at xx:49, which connects with the Victoria train. However, rail replacement buses are running from Earlswood, the other possible short ending mentioned in the directions.
This new outing should boost its author's well-deserved reputation for motorway walks. It heads unerringly towards the M23/M25 junction and although it's well screened by trees you won't be able to avoid some traffic noise. The feeble justification for this close encounter was to take in a series of lakes created from the worked-out sand quarries in the area, now transformed into nature reserves or (in one case) used for water sports. There's another lakeside stretch in the second half of the walk but it's not a complete doddle as you have to climb over the Greensand Ridge twice.
For this Sunday I'm proposing the walk's shorter version, via Nutfield. If you want a pub lunch you'll reach the Inn on the Pond in the rural location of Nutfield Marsh at around 12:20~30pm, and the Queens Head on Nutfield's High Street half an hour later. As usual, call one of them if you want to be sure of a table. There are several refreshment places in Redhill's pedestrianised town centre at the end of the walk.
You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.425.a page.
Length: 19.8km (12.2 miles). A shorter morning route across the Ash Ranges is given in the directions but how much this saves is not specified.
9.30 Guildford service from Waterloo change at Woking for the 10.02 Alton service arriving at Ash Vale at 10.15.
Return trains from Woplesdon to Waterloo are at xx:06Buy a day return to Ash Vale.
This classic Surrey walk has good reviews from prevous postings. The route in the morning follows some very picturesque sections of the Basingstoke Canal, then skirts through unrestricted Ash Ranges and lightly forested sandy heathlands. After lunch there's a nice variety of scenery - fungi and fern-filled woods, some fields (you *might* see Alpaca, Ostrich and Lama) and Whitmoor Common (a Surrey Wildlife Trust nature reserve with heathland and mature woodland).
Lunch is at The Royal Oak (Aldershot Road GU24 0DQ, 01483 232 466), a Greene King pub in Pirbright after 7.2 miles. It does food all afternoon but I'd suggest calling to book before setting off from the station as they have been fully booked in the past.
For tea, the recommendaton is to follow the short (0.5km) diversion in the written walk directions (this is not included on the GPX but it's easy to see on the map) to the Jolly Farmer, a Fuller's pub nestled on the edge of Whitmoor Common (Burdenshot Road GU3 3RN, 01483 976048). ‘This pretty village pub is set in a beautiful countryside location. In the heart of some of the most stunning National Trust territory, it is a popular retreat for walkers, ramblers and people who just like being outdoors. Inside, the real fires and low beams create a cosy and intimate atmosphere. Outside there is a lovely garden with a covered seating area.’
From the Jolly Farmer, allow 25 minutes to get to the station to be on the safe side (it includes a stretch along a modestly busy road).
If you don't want to do the diversion to the Jolly Farmer, you could stop mid-afternoon at The Worplesdon Place Hotel about 9.6 miles into the walk at (Perry Hill GU3 3RY, 01483 232 407). From there it's about 2.6 miles to Worplesdon station.
There isn't a walk leader so remember to bring your own directions L=SWC.136
SWC Walk 260: Aldermaston to Woolhampton (via Frilsham) t=swc.260
Distance: 14.1 miles or 22.7 km for those more metrically minded (with longer (16.7 miles/26.9 km) and shorter (bus or SWC 117 which shares start and finish) options available)
Difficulty: 7 out of 10 (8 out of 10 for the longer option)
Train: Take the 9:32 AM Great Western train from London Paddington, changing at Reading (arrive 9:55; depart 10:12), arriving at Aldermaston at 10:25. Return trains (all requiring a change at Reading) from Midgham (Woolhampton) are at 22 past the hour. Buy a day return to Midgham.
Traditionally, one of the highlights of this lovely walk was a fabulous lunch at the very remote Pot Kiln which specialised in local game. The pub has sadly changed hands/management and has been reincarnated as a Basque-themed destination. I thought this worth an exploration!
In addition to a good lunch (hopefully), the walk explores the undulating territory of the West Berkshire Downs, part of the Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It includes ancient woodland, commons, including Bucklebury Common (the largest in SE England) and pretty villages. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here. For those preferring something shorter, SWC 117 shares the same start and finish – but has a completely different (and shorter) middle section.
The recommended lunch pub on the main walk is the Pot Kiln Inn (01635 201 366) in Frilsham (5.5 miles/9.6 km into the walk). Note that this is an upmarket Basque-themed foodie pub. I have booked a table (for six) at 1pm in their outside area. There are some earlier and later lunch options mentioned in the walk instructions if this does not appeal.
Tea can be had at the very pleasant Rowbarge Inn near Midgham Station or if pressed for time the Angel pub passed in the village.
Enjoy the walk (and lunch)!
