Evening Walk: A Wandle Wander through Beddington Farmlands, Beddington Park, Carshalton Ponds and Village

Extra Walk 273 Mitcham Junction to Carshalton

Length: ~5.75 km (3.5 miles). Toughness 1/10.

18:06 Thameslink Sutton service from London Blackfriars, arriving Mitcham Junction at 18:37 or you could arrive a few minutes earlier on one of the trains below:

18:11 Southern Dorking service from London Victoria (Clapham Junction 18:18, Balham 18:23), arriving Mitcham Junction at 18:33

17:52 Southern Sutton service from London Bridge, arriving Mitcham Junction at 18:27

You can also arrive by tram (frequent services from Wimbledon or East Croydon), but be aware that tram and train journeys are charged separately.

Return trains from Carshalton are at xx:45 and xx:15 to London Victoria, xx:49 and xx:19 to Blackfriars until 21:19 then at xx:51 and xx:21. All stations are in London travelcard zones 1-6 so you can use Oyster or Contactless.

This is a short section of the Mitcham Junction to Colliers Wood walk. It starts at Mitcham Junction and follows the published route through part of Mitcham Common and across Beddington Farmlands - a large area being transformed into a new wetlands nature reserve. The route leads you through the attractive Beddington Park with its historic buildings then on to Carshalton Ponds and Carshalton Village, which offers a choice of post walk refreshment places. The Hope (020 8240 1255) 48 West Street SM5 2PR, a community run pub, has been popular in the past. It serves home cooked one-pot meals (until 10pm) and real ales.

You'll need to print the directions from the L=swc.273 page.

Wednesday Walk - Lewes to Glynde via Southease (or circular)

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This is the anti-clockwise version of the Lewes circular walk with options to shorten by finishing in Glynde or Southease or carry on from Glynde to Lewes for a longer walk.

Length: Lewes to Southease 11.1 km (6.9 miles), Southease to Glynde 6.3km (3.9 mi!es)

Glynde to Lewes: 6.2km (3.8 miles).

Difficulty: 5 or 6 out of 10 (7 for the complete circuit).

Trains: 9.54 from London Victoria (10.01 Clapham Junction, 10.15 East Croydon) arriving in Lewes 10.56.

Return trains from Lewes xx.25 and xx55.

From Glynde trains run hourly at xx.14. 

Trains from Southease are also hourly at xx.05.

Buy a return ticket to Lewes and a single from Southease or Glynde to Lewes depending on where you decide to finish..

Lunch:  The Abergavenny Arms, Rodmell, 01273 472416, is a popular pub with a pleasant outdoor terrace and is now the only possible lunch pub on this walk. It is open 12pm to 10pm daily and serves food all afternoon until 8.30pm (8pm Sunday). 

The Courtyard cafe at the YHA in Southease is an option for hot drinks and snacks. 

Tea: 

Lots of options in Lewes if you finish the walk there or if changing trains there, The Runaway cafe situated at platform level in Lewes station is an option. They have hot drinks, cakes and some savoury snacks.

L=swc.47 (look for the anti-clockwise directions)

Sunday Walk – Wateringbury Circular

Extra Walk 336 – Wateringbury Circular

Length: 14 km (8.7 miles), or 16¾ km (10.4 miles) if you finish at Yalding. Toughness: 3/10

09:34 Ramsgate train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 09:37, London Bridge 09:43, Sevenoaks 10:08), changing at Paddock Wood (arr 10:23, dep 10:33) for the Strood train which arrives Wateringbury at 10:44. Buy a return to Wateringbury.

Trains back are hourly, at xx:09 from Wateringbury and xx:12 from Yalding, again changing at Paddock Wood. In theory you could get a train in the other direction at xx:41/44 and change at Strood for the High Speed Train to St Pancras, but the fare on this route is much more expensive.

There are plenty of orchards along the Medway Valley and this should be a good time for apple blossom. There might still be patches of bluebells and wild garlic to be seen, but the predominant colour in the fields will be a bright yellow from swathes of buttercups.

The walk document lists a lot of options but to simplify matters I suggest sticking to the Main Walk. I was going to specify the extra loop out to the Horseshoes Inn on Dean Street, but there was a positive review of the Bull Inn at East Farleigh by the pair who braved a dire weather forecast last time out so it would be nice to give them another try. You should reach this pub at around 12.15–12:30pm, and there's a churchyard across the road for picnickers.

At the end of the afternoon leg tea'n'cake should be available at the Ramblers Rest Café, just across the river from Wateringbury station. If that revives you there's a optional riverside extension to the next station on the line, Yalding. That will take around 40 minutes; it's worth timing your departure carefully since there'll be nothing to entertain you if you have a long wait for the hourly train.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.336 page. If you're printing them off from the web page (ie. not the pdf download) you can save several sheets of paper by clicking the Main Walk option line first. If you're relying on your GPS device a short study of the route beforehand might help you avoid heading down some of the other walk options.

Sunday Walk: Ashwell at Home - Baldock Circular

19.5km. (12.1 miles) Circular.

Or 9.1 miles to Ashwell-and-Morden station.

Difficulty 2/10

An amble through Hertfordshire countryside to the ancient settlement of Ashwell. Today is “Ashwell at Home” day, a village-wide event that raises funds for local groups. To visit the event proper, you should buy a £10 ticket, but you'll still catch glimpses if you’re just passing through.

The 14th C church contains medieval graffiti, some referring to the Great Plague. It should be free to visit.  

Trains: 09:41 train from St Pancras Platform B, arriving Baldock at 10:23.

Trains back from Baldock at xx:25 (to Kings Cross) and xx:52 (to St Pancras)

Trains from Ashwell-and-Morden at xx:20 and xx:47.

(A return to Ashwell-and-Morden, one stop further, is the same price as one to Baldock).

Lunch: There are three pubs in Ashwell: the Rose and Crown (01462 742420), the Bushel and Strike (01462742394), and the Three Tuns (01462 742107). The last is probably best suited.

Tea – The George and the The Old White Horse are both near Baldock station. 

Walk directions here 

! Note that at point 26, the full walk, back to Baldock, uses a path that is not an official right of way. We have used it for many years, but if you’d rather not chance it, take the shorter ending from Ashwell to Ashwell-and-Morden station. 

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Saturday Walk - Grassy fields, quiet lanes, a smattering of woods, Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve and the tidal River Crouch: Wickford to Battlesbridge or South Woodham Ferrers

Length: 21.0 km (13.1 mi) [shorter or longer options] 

Ascent/Descent: 205/209m

Net Walking Time: ca. 4 ¾ hours 

Toughness: 3 out of 10

Take the 10.13 Southend Victoria train from Liverpool Street (Stratford 10.20, Shenfield (Crossrail) 10.28), arrives Wickford 10.51. 

Return trains are every 40 minutes, i.e. Battlesbridge 15.58, 16.38, 17.18, 17.58 etc (change at Wickford). SWF: 4 mins earlier (change at Wickford).  

Buy a South Woodham Ferrers return (same price as a Battlesbridge return).

 

This surprisingly diverse and rural walk avoids industrial and suburban features often associated with walking in Essex, but instead leads through plenty of rolling grassy fields, along quiet lanes and through a smattering of woods, before heading through the enchanting – Essex Wildlife Trust run – Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve. After a short stretch along the reservoir itself it then heads for the lunch Café on the Water or The Old Windmill, both in South Hanningfield.

The afternoon route leads through more pastures, valleys and wooded strips, before descending into the Crouch Valley and following the tidal River Crouch for a short stretch into Battlesbridge past its famous Antiques Centre.

 

Walk Options

Bus Line 13 (Chelmsford – Wickford) gets you to or from the lunch options in South Hanningfield: 12.16-->12.27 Wickford to The Old Windmill; 14.39-->14.51 The Old Windmill to Wickford. 

An Alternative Finish in South Woodham Ferrers loops around the town through a fenland nature reserve, some saltmarshes and along the tidal River Crouch with its mudflats, sailing boats and plenty of birdlife. It is especially attractive at low tide. From 20.0 km (12.4 mi) to 29.7 km (18.5 mi).

 

Lunch: Café on the Water at the Hanningfield Reservoir Nature Reserve (8.3 km into the walk, open to 16.00) or The Old Windmill in South Hanningfield (8.8 km into the walk, food all day).

 

Tea

Battlesbridge – There are several cafés and tea rooms in and around the Antiques Centre (for details check the pdf) plus The Barge Inn (a little off route away from the station, food to 17.00) and The Hawk Country Pub & Restaurant (by the station, open all day). 

South Woodham Ferrers – A couple of options are passed on the various shortcuts into town (check the pdf for details) plus The Railway is right by the station (open all day, Wild Thyme Street Food served).

 

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. t=swc.157

Scottish Warm-up: Rowlands Castle Combination Circular

SWC Walk 313 and 68: Rowlands Castle Combination Circular t=swc.313

Distance: Something for everyone – 

The suggested option is for a Combination Circular of 21 miles/33.7 km starting with SWC 313 and switching to SWC 68 in the afternoon.  However, it is also possible to start an hour later and do one of the 3 circulars of SWC 68, these range between 10 miles/15 km and 18 miles/29km. All walk options share a lunch pub (except the shortest SWC 68 option) – so it is possible to mix and match the routes to create a walk of desired length.

Difficulty: 10 out of 10 for the suggested Combination Circular; 7 out of 10 for the main SWC 68 walk (3 out of 10 for the shorter walk and 8 out of 10 for the extended walk)

Train: For those aiming for the Combination Circular, take the 8:00 AM Portsmouth Harbor train from London Waterloo, changing at Haslemere (arriving 8:53 and departing 8:57) to arrive at Rowlands Castle at 9:23. All others can take the 9:00 AM Portsmouth Harbor train from London Waterloo, changing at Haslemere (arriving 9:53 and departing 9:57) to arrive at Rowlands Castle at 10:23.

Return trains from Rowlands Castle are hourly at 58 past the hour until 22:58. Buy a day return to Rowlands Castle.

There are very few walks in the SWC SE repertoire that have over 1000 meters of ascent and the RC Grand Circular is one of them – so even this more modest version is perfect for those aspiring to reach the summit of Munros on the upcoming Scottish trip. However, others should not despair, as SWC 68 offers plenty of other options for a fine undulating walk. 

All the routes cover a lovely section of the western part of the South Downs with undulating hills and great views far and wide. You can find more information about the walks and download the walk instructions here (SWC 68) and here (SWC 313).

The recommended lunch spot is the Royal Oak (01243 535 257) in Hooksway (8 miles/13 km into the SWC 68 walk and 11 miles/18km into the SWC 313 walk) which serves food until 2:00pm – so do keep an eye on the time. The early and late starters should both arrive at the pub about the same time.

Tea and other post walk refreshments can be had at the Castle Inn -- a stone’s throw from the train station.

Saturday Walk - Alton Circular

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Length: 20.4km (12.7m)
Toughness: 4 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:24 London Waterloo Train arriving in Alton at 10:37. Return trains from Alton at xx:15 and xx:44.

This is a lovely walk through rural Hampshire visiting Gilbert White's home in Selborne with the lunch pub the Selborne Arms and Jane Austen's home for the last 8 years of her life in Chawton.

Giant - at Harold Pinter Theatre

Following a sold-out run at the Royal Court Theatre last year, Mark Rosenblatt’s acclaimed play Giant will transfer to the Harold Pinter  Theatre for a limited time, with John Lithgow as Roald Dahl.  It had very good reviews. 

Tickets from £25,  to book, please click here.  Some walkers have booked in Balcony, row C.  There are still some £25 tickets available at the moment.  

A world-famous children’s author under threat. A battle of wills in the wake of scandal. And one chance to make amends…  

It’s the summer of 1983, The Witches is about to hit the shelves and Roald Dahl is making last-minute edits.  But the outcry at his recent, explicitly antisemitic article won’t die down. 

Across a single afternoon at his family home, and rocked by an unexpectedly explosive confrontation, Dahl is forced to choose: make a public apology or risk his name and reputation. 

Pre-Theatre F&B:  we will meet at the pub Silver Cross at 33  Whitehall at 5:45pm.  Plan to leave here 7:10pm latest.  

There will be a Whatsapp Group setup for this event.  If you wish to be on it,  please email your mobile number to swcsocialATgmailDOTcom. 

Bluebells in the Evening - Otford to Shoreham

Length: 7.0 km with 250m ascent/descent! 

Net Walking Time: 1 ¾ hrs  

 

From Charing Cross, take the 17.59 Maidstone East train (18.02 W’loo East, 18.08 London Bridge, 18.29 Swanley), arrives Otford 18.37.  

From Victoria, take the 17.55 Ashford train (18.12 Bromley South, 18.18 St. Mary Cray, 18.23 Swanley), arrives Otford 18.31. 

Return trains: xx.02 and xx.32 (to Blackfriars, change Swanley for London Bridge or Bromley South for Victoria), xx.15 and xx.45 (London Bridge, change Sevenoaks).

 

This is the reverse of the second half of SWC 37 Knockholt to Otford, whose author promises “several nice bluebell woods, particularly (but not exclusively) in the latter part of the walk”, so we are walking part of the route backwards for that reason, and because Shoreham has several tea options to choose from.

 

Eat/Drink: there are three pubs in Shoreham (downhill, beyond the station), none of those are serving food beyond 20.00 hours though, so it’ll be nuts and crisps time… Ranked by being closest to the station, these are: The Samuel Palmer, The King’s Arms, The Crown.

 

For walk directions, map, photos, and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.37