Sunday Walk - Gentle Essex walk through the quiet Blackwater Valley to historic Coggeshall, with 300 listed buildings, for lunch: Kelvedon Circular

Length: 23.2 km (14.4 mi) [much shorter options available] 

Ascent/Descent: 154m 

Net Walking Time: 5 hours 

Toughness: 4 out of 10

 

Take the 10.08 Ipswich train from Liverpool Street (10.15 Stratford), arrives Kelvedon 10.59.  

Return trains: xx.41.

 

This walk is centred on the gentle landscape of the Blackwater Valley, close to Constable Country, and includes some very tranquil and scenic stretches along the river itself, interspersed with long stretches along country lanes, green lanes or field boundaries with wide and extensive views across the rolling Essex countryside of fields and woods.

A pre-lunch north westerly loop explores the valley cut by Robin’s Brook, leading to Marks Hall Gardens and Arboretum, with its atmospheric early lunch stop in a converted barn.

There are a several other recommended lunch stops in Coggeshall itself.

Coggeshall is one of Britain’s most historic market towns. It has 300 listed buildings, amongst the ones passed on the walk are Britain’s oldest barn and one its finest medieval buildings, built on the remnants of a 12th century abbey, an impressive carved timber-framed Wool Merchant’s house as well as a couple of photogenic watermills and an outsized church.

Walk Options: 

On Sundays, just bus line X20 to Marks Tey and Colchester links Coggeshall to a train station (further from London than Kelvedon but on the same line).

Two shortcuts - cutting out all or parts of an outer loop just before lunch - reduce the length of the walk by 6.9 km and 84m ascent/descent or by 3.9 km and 49m ascent/descent respectively. They are rated 2/10 and 3/10 respectively.

A scenic extension in Coggeshall leads west from Grange Barn along the Essex Way, across the Blackwater over the listed Nunn’s Bridge and back along the wooded valley, closely following the river. This adds 2.5 km.

Lunch:  

Mrs Salisbury's Famous Tea Rooms Bouchier's Barn, Marks Hall (11.1 km (6.9 mi) into the walk in a beautifully restored 15^th Century barn, which was moved to its current spot timber by timber from a site close by. Cooked food served 12.00-14.30. 

Plenty of options in Coggeshall (see the webpage or the pdf). 

Tea: The Bell Inn, The Sun Inn, The Tavern on the River, or Kelvedon King Fish Bar.

 

For summary, map, height profile, photos, walk directions and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.216 #2026-06-14T10:59

Sunday Walk – Wadhurst to Tunbridge Wells

SWC Walk 196 – Wadhurst to Tunbridge Wells

Length: 13¼ km (8.3 miles), or 16 km (9.9 miles) with longer ending. Toughness: 4 or 5/10

09:45 Hastings train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 09:48, London Bridge 09:54, Orpington 10:09, etc), arriving Wadhurst at 10:50. Buy a return to Wadhurst.

Trains back from Tunbridge Wells are half-hourly at xx:08 & xx:39 until 20:39, then hourly.

This undulating Wealden walk starts along the Sussex Border Path and then takes a permissive path^† along the eastern boundary of Eridge Old Park to Frant. You should reach this elegant hill-top village by 1pm and its large triangular green makes a good picnic spot; if you want to be sure of a pub lunch, call either the George Inn (01892-750350, near the church at the top of the village) or the Abergavenny Arms (01892-750233, on the main road).

The fairly short afternoon leg soon reaches the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells, with the choice of a direct route to the town centre or a longer ending through the landscaped grounds of Dunorlan Park. There are a couple of park cafés on this extension, plus plenty of other tea places in the town centre.

† The permissive path was established under an Environmental Stewardship Scheme which has now ended, but the Eridge Park Estate Office has put up notices confirming that access is still permitted.

Please bring the directions from the L=swc.196 page. #2026-06-14T10:50

Saturday Walk - Cowden to Eridge

Length: 13 miles (21km) or 11 miles (18km) 4 out of 10

"This is a beautiful walk in classic Weald territory of pasture, woods and hills."

In the lunchtime village of Hartfield you will find Pooh Corner, selling all kinds of paraphernalia relating to AA Milne's famous creation (including the Official Rules for Poohsticks).

Withyham has several interesting buildings. The path into the village goes through the grounds of Old Buckhurst, in its time one of the largest houses in England but with only a stone gatehouse standing today. Next to the impressive Rectory, a corner of the adjacent Monk's House has been cut off, supposedly because one 19thC Rector wanted to be able to see Old Buckhurst, the home of his ancestors. The Church of St Michael and All Angels contains full-size reproductions of four 14thC Italian paintings and some impressive monuments.

Trains: Take the 1007 Uckfield train from London Bridge (East Croydon 1022) arriving 1053. Return trains from Eridge are hourly at xx50. Buy an Eridge return.

Lunch: The Bear Inn Hartfield after 11km, food to 2.45pm. There is a churchyard nearby for picnics. Note that the Dorset Arms, Wythyham (the pub on the shortcut), is temporarily closed due to fire damage. 

Tea: The recommended Huntsman pub close to the station in Eridge.

#2026-06-13T10:07

T=swc.3

Saturday Walk - Deal to Dover

DEAL TO DOVER

I know the Dover to Deal walk was posted last Sunday, but I think it is definitely worth re-posting (in reverse) for Saturday, as the weather promises to behave itself; the flowers on Deal beach should still be out on display, in addition to which the scenery improves as you walk along the coast, and you should get stunning views of the cliffs of Dover as you approach it.

Length: 17.2 km 10.7miles.

Difficulty: 3/10

Travel: Take the 10.04 direct train from London St Pancras arriving at Deal 11.31.

Return Trains from Dover Priory:

16.18 to Victoria;16.28 to Charing X; 16.45 to St Pancras; 17.28 to Charing X; 17.45 to St Pancras; 18.28 to Charing X; 18.48 to St Pancras; 19.28 to Charing X.

Ticket type: Buy a day return to Deal (please check whether you need to pay the high speed supplement)

Lunch: Zetland Arms after 4.6km/2.9 miles; or carry on for another 4.7km/2.9 miles to the Coastguards pub in St Margarets Bay, with its pleasant terrace overlooking the sea.

Tea:  Many stops for tea and cakes along this route.

Swimming:  Best places to swim is St Margaret’s bay.  Walmer and Deal have swimming spots, but very strong currents at these beaches.

Full details of walk including lunch and tea stops, shorter options, map and GPX can be found here: L=cw2.30

#2026-06-13T10:04

Saturday Walk - South Downs Way Final Stage: Southease to Eastbourne (alt. starts from Glynde or Berwick)

Length: 27.3 km (17.0 mi) [shorter walk possible, see below] 

Ascent/Descent: 629/624m 

Net Walking Time: ca. 6 ½ hours

Toughness: 8 out of 10

Take the 09.54 Ore train from Victoria (CJ 10.01, EC 10.10), change at Lewes (10.56/11.00) onto the Seaford train, arrives Southease 11.06. 

Should the Ore train miss the connection at Lewes, take the 11.14 Eastbourne stopping service, arrives Glynde 11.19 and Berwick 11.25, and walk the alternative start routes from Glynde or Berwick. 

Return trains from Eastbourne: xx.05 and xx.33. 

Buy an Eastbourne Return.

 

This walk along the South Downs Way (SDW) consists of spectacular ridge walks with three steep ascents and a picturesque village in the middle for lunch and another one for tea, and with Beachy Head, Eastbourne promenade, beach and pier at the finish. It is a long but very rewarding walk. The route is well waymarked, the paths are easy walking, and the route is easy to follow. The South Downs are treeless and open, so there are good views throughout (weather permitting).

The walk starts at Southease Station, right on the SDW, and climbs the first ridge straight away, up to Itford Hill and then along the ridge to Firle Beacon, the highest point of the walk. There is an alternative start in Glynde in case the train misses the connection at Lewes for Southease.

At the end of the ridge, you descend into Alfriston, a pretty village in the scenic Cuckmere Valley, with a village green dominated by a large church. Several good pubs and tea rooms and a village shop vie for your lunch business. After lunch, follow the northern leg of the SDW up and over Windover Hill and down to Jevington (tea room and pub) before a final climb to head south along another ridge towards the coast.

There is an inland shortcut into Eastbourne if you are tired, but the suggested route is to continue along the ridge to the coast, to join up with the SDW's Coastal Route near Beachy Head. From here, head downhill into Eastbourne, where you follow the promenade along the beach into town towards the pier.

Walk Options:

Start at Glynde Station: similar distance, but connection at Lewes not so tight. 

Start at Berwick Station: follow the waymarked Vanguard Way to Alfriston. 

Shortcut into Eastbourne: descend earlier into Eastbourne and follow roads to the station rather than the seaside promenade (cut 2.5 km). 

Lunch: plenty options in Alfriston. 

Tea: tea room and pub in Jevington; plenty options in Eastbourne.

 

For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.25

#2026-06-13T09:54

Evening Walk - Lower Colne Valley: Staines to Heathrow Terminal 5

Length: 10.2 km (6.3 mi) 

Ascent/Descent: 43m 

Net Walking Time: 2 hours

 

Take the 17.48 Reading train from Waterloo (via Clapham J, Richmond and Twickenham), arrives 18.22. 

Returns: frequent (Elizabeth Line, Piccadilly Line and the Heathrow Express to connect at Terminal 2&3). 

Staines is outside the London Travel Zones! You will need an extension to any Travelcard you have!

 

This route covers in a meandering fashion the Lower Colne Valley, from the Colne’s meeting with the Thames upstream through Staines Moor and Stanwell Moor to Heathrow Airport, east of Longfordmoor.

From the station, you make your way to the Thames and turn upstream past the mouth of the Colne and under Staines Bridge, site of the only Roman bridge across the Thames outside of London, before turning through old Staines and under one of many busy roads into Staines Moor. The moor is dominated by the meandering Colne, many low-lying flooded areas, bulrushes and reeds, scattered trees, imposing bramble bushes and myriads of very old anthills, as well as a varied birdlife all year round.

Apart from the Thames and the Colne, several other rivers (the Wraybury River, an anabranch of the Colne, and three distributaries of it: the Sweeps Ditch and the Longford and Duke of Cumberland Rivers), plenty of drainage ditches and some reservoirs and ponds make this a very ‘watery’ walk. Combined with a high watertable, some areas can be water-soaked, muddy or even impassable after heavy rain.

 

Note 1: Outside of Staines, the route is affected by noise from the M25 and/or the airport runways.  

Note 2: Some parts of the route through Staines Moor can be impassable after prolonged heavy rain.  

Note 3: During ground nesting season (01/03-31/07), dogs must be kept on a lead on Staines Moor.  

Note 4: The final stretch into Heathrow Airport (which is private ground) leads along road pavements that are signed as ‘Cyclists Only’. This is not adhered to by locals, including some Heathrow employees, but – technically – walking along them is trespassing. If you are uncomfortable with this, the alternative are frequent buses from the Moor Bridge stop, either to T5 (not TfL) or to Hounslow West Underground (TfL).

 

Refreshments: The Globe Pub & Kitchen Landside, Terminal 5, open to 21.30.

 

For detailed route maps, gpx/kml files, photos and walk directions click here. T=short.72 #2026-06-11T17:48

Wednesday walk - Hever to Ashurst

Length: Main Walk: 16¼ km (10.1 miles). Shorter options are detailed in the directions.

Difficulty: 4 out of 10 for the main walk, 2 and 3 out of 10 for the shorter options.

Trains: Catch the 10.07 Uckfield train from London Bridge (East Croydon 10.22) arriving Hever 10.49.

Return trains from Ashurst run hourly at xx.56

Buy a return to Ashurst.

If you plan to start the walk in Cowden, it is one stop beyond Hever. A later train could be taken.

This walk takes in a quiet part of the High Weald on the border of Kent and East Sussex. The route passes several attractive old manor houses. This is a surprisingly remote area of low hills and wooded valleys.

Lunch: The only pub on the walk route is The Fountain (01342-850528) in Cowden village, 7¾ km from Hever (4 km from Cowden station). This is an attractive village pub with a new conservatory and a secluded beer garden. It serves good home-made food up to 2.30pm (later on Sundays).

Tea: There are few refreshment places in this remote countryside, but the route to Ashurst passes the Perryhill Orchard Farm Shop & Tea Rooms (01892-770595) in mid-afternoon. The Farm Shop is open daily to 5pm and sells a tempting range of local ciders. The tearoom closes at 4.30pm. Allow at least an hour to reach Ashurst station, 4 km away. There are no refreshment options after this.

For walk directions, map and GPS click L=swc.175

#2026-06-10T10:00

Sunday walk - Woldingham to Oxted

Close to London, this walk combines stretches of both The North Downs Way, and the Greensand Way.

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

Shorter option (missing out Godstone): 11.5km (7.1 miles)

Toughness: 3/10

Trains: Get the 10.21 train from London Victoria (Clapham Junction 10.27, East Croydon 10.38) arriving Woldingham at 10.55.

Return trains from Oxted run twice an hour at xx.31 & xx.59 to Victoria. All trains go through East Croydon where you can change for London Bridge.

Buy a return to Oxted.

Lunch: Godstone, 9½ km along the main route. The Hare & Hounds (01883-742296) serves typical pub food; the more up-market alternatives are the White Hart (01883-742521) and the Bell Inn (01883-743216). Light lunches are available at the Green Rooms of Godstone.

The Short Walk goes through Old Oxted after 5½ km, with three pubs close together on its short High Street. A little further on, however, the suggested lunch place on this variation is The Haycutter (01883-776955) in Broadham Green.

Tea: Various options in Oxted, including a Wetherspoons pub by the station.

For more details click L=swc.2

#2026-06-07T10:00

Sunday Walk: Dover to Deal

17.2 km 10.7miles. Difficulty: 3/10

One of the finest coastal walks in England, taking you along the top of the famous White Cliffs of Dover. On a clear day, you get stunning views of the English Channel and the French coast from Boulogne to Dunkerque. Apart from two climbs, the terrain is level or gently undulating. Later you descend alongside  a shingle beach with unusual flora that should be in flower round abouts now. 

Trains:

Get the 9:40 Hi Speed from St Pancras International platform 13 (Stratford Int 09:48), (destination Ashford Int).  Change at Ashford International to the Dover Priory train (arrive 10:18 platform 6, dep 10:25 from platform 2). Arrive Dover Priory 10:55.

Trains return from Deal at xx:27  Get a Hi Speed return to Deal.

Lunch: Just before St Margaret's Bay, you’ll find the Pines Garden Tea Room and Museum (4.3 miles) into the walk, It serves light lunches and cakes from 10am to 4pm. On the bay, itself, you’ll find the Coastguard pub (01304 853 051). There's also a tea kiosk down there sells food.

Tea: 3 miles before Deal, you’ll find The Zetland Arms, 01304 370114 a pub on the beach, Why not stop there for afternoon ‘elevenses’?

An optional detour through old Deal would take you to a traditional back street pub, the Ship Inn (141 Middle Street). Nearer the station you got the Sir Norman Wisdom, a Wetherspoons (18–20 Queens Street).

Directions  here. 

The walk is so close to France that your phone can switch to a French network and start telling French time. You may even find yourself speaking French.

t=2.30  #2026-06-07T09:07

Saturday Walk - Meopham Circular (or to Sole Street or Rochester) - Poppies and flowery meadows

Length: 19.1km (12.1 miles), or 17.3km (10.7 miles) if ending at Sole Street. Extensions of 1.2 to 2.4 miles available on Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve mid pm

9.42 train from Victoria (9.52 Denmark Hill, 10.05 Bromley South) to Meopham, arriving 10.29. If you miss this, the 10.10 from Victoria gets to Meopham at 10.43, so only 14 minutes later.

Buy a day return to Sole Street to give you the option of finishing there, or to Meopham if you definitely intend to finish at that station. If you want to walk into Rochester, buy a day return to there. 

L=swc.173

I was looking for a walk that might feature some poppies and flowery meadows. Luddesdown Vineyard, passed towards the end of this walk, has often been good for the latter (though obviously I can't guarantee there will be some this year...), while Ranscombe Farm, which is partly traversed during the afternoon of this walk, is the flagship reserve of the charity Plantlife and usually good for wildflower displays. There are two optional extensions of 1.2 and 2.4 miles to take in more of the reserve. It also has good downland views.

Another option is to finish the walk by walking the Medway (motorway) bridge into Rochester. This was the original ending of this walk but no one ever seemed to do it, so it is now an option. If you are lucky a Eurostar train might whizz by at 186mph across the adjacent rail bridge. Once in Rochester you can enjoy lots of history and Dickensian vibes.

Lunch is one of three pubs in Cobham. For end of walk drinks, the quirky Cock Inn in Henley Street is a popular option (they have in the past refused to do tea, however). Otherwise both Meopham and Sole Street have pubs by the station. Sole Street gives you a shorter ending and is a slightly more romantic place to finish than Meopham, but trains from there are only hourly.

Trains back are at 16 and 35 past from Meopham, 32 past from Sole Street. Multiple trains per hour back from Rochester, but note that the ones to St Pancras require a supplement.

#2026-06-06T09:42 

Saturday Walk - Amberley Circular via Arundel Park

t=SWC.361 #2026-06-06T09:35

Length: 18.5km (11m)
Toughness: 5 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:35 train from London Victoria (9:42 Clapham Junction, 9:53 East Croydon) to Amberley, arriving at 10:58. Return trains from Amberley at xx:18 and xx:48.

A beautiful walk in spectacular scenery: After a short stretch along the river Arun you climb up to Arundel Park, then descend back to the Arun past Swanbourne Lake and follow the grand loop along the Arun into Arundel for lunch. Afterwards, you climb back up to Arundel Park again, descend again along Swanbourne Lake, this time on the other side and finally walk past the wonderfully situated Black Rabbit and the old and sparsely decorated churches of South and North Stokes back to Amberley, where, conveniently, the Bridge Inn is right next to the station.

Going by past experience, secateurs might be useful.

Saturday Walk - Scenic steep chalk downlands around the Upper Lavant Valley, the Goodwood Estate, and unrivalled views from St. Roche's Hill, now again with a sculpture park option: Halnaker to Chichester

The Roche Sculpture Park has come back in much improved form as the Goodwood Art Foundation's Sculpture Park 

 

Length: 22.9 km (14.2 mi) [shorter and longer options available, see below] 

Ascent/Descent: 475/501m 

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ½ hours 

Toughness: 6 out of 10 (with several steep ascents around lunch, so may feel tougher than that)

 

09.05 Portsmouth Harbour train from Victoria (CJ 09.12, EC 09.23), arrives Chichester 10.37 [train splits at Horsham]. Then take the Number 55 bus at 10.50 at the Bus Station (direction Tangmere, usually from Stand 6), arrives Halnaker Crossroads 11.10.

Return trains are on xx.09 and xx.39 (96 minutes journey time). Buy a Chichester return.

This West Sussex walk involves a bus connection on the way out. Its purpose is to explore the scenic steep chalk downlands well north of Chichester around the Upper Lavant Valley, between St. Roche’s Hill and the South Downs chain, while passing through the Goodwood estate as well as through Chichester’s Old Town at the end.

The lonely grassy or wooded hillsides of the beautiful Lavant Valley are dissected by quiet flat-bottomed valleys, and feature several pretty villages, as well as providing for stunning views. Most of the climbing is done between the lunch pubs, but the longest ascent comes straight after the late lunch option, up to St. Roche’s Hill, from whose treeless summit you have some of the best views in the southeast.

 

Walk Options:

Out-and-backs at the start to Halnaker Hill (and its windmill) or Boxgrove Priory add 5.1 and 2.6 km respectively. 

An Extension Loop to the Goodwood Art Foundation’s sculpture park (and galleries and café/restaurant) near the start adds up to 4.7 km. Ticketed entry, with walkers paying a discounted price. A suggested route through the grounds, passing all of the (2025) sculptures is shown on the route map.

A shortcut around lunch reduces the length of the walk by 3.6 km and the ascent by 167m (rated 4/10).

Another shortcut around lunch reduces the length of the walk by 800m and the ascent by 93m (rated 5/10).

An Alternative Ending in West Dean cuts out 6.5 km (rated 6/10). Connect to bus line 60 (see below).

An infrequent bus service (line 99 Flex) runs past the early lunch stops in East Dean and Charlton (at about 13.30 and 15.00 hours). You need to phone ahead to book a stop though (01243-858 854)! 

A half-hourly bus service (line 60) runs from Singleton, West Dean and Lavant to Chichester.

An hourly bus service (line 50) from the fringes of Chichester cuts 2.5 km at the end.

 

Lunch:  

On the full walk the scheduled lunch stop is The Partridge Inn in Singleton (11.4 km/7.1 mi, food to 15.00), just before the ascent to the highest point of the walk: St. Roche’s Hill. There’s also the Star and Garter in East Dean, but that comes a bit early (5.6 km/3.6 mi, food to 14.30).

On the short walks the lunch stops are the Star and Garter in East Dean or The Fox Goes Free in Charlton (9.4 km/5.9 mi) [Shortcut II only].

On the Goodwood Art Foundation loop, there is the very commendable Restaurant 24. 

 

Tea: Chichester has lots of commendable drinkeries and eateries. For details check page 2 of the pdf.

 

For summary, route map, height profile, walk directions, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.239 #2026-06-06T09:05

Evening Walk - Parks, Cemeteries and hills with views, a rooftop bar and plenty of modern art: Nunhead, Honor Oak & Peckham Rye

Length: 8.0 km (5.0 mi)

Ascent: 170m 

Net Walking Time: 2 hours

 

Meet at Nunhead Station at street level by the exit down from the platforms at 18.35.

 

Take the Thameslink service to Sevenoaks (18.07 St. Pancras via all stations to Blackfriars (18.16) then Elephant & Castle, Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye), arriving 18.33.

From Victoria, either take the 18.03 Dartford train from Victoria (18.13 Denmark Hill, 18.16 Peckham Rye), arriving Nunhead at 18.19, or the 18.12 Gillingham train and connect at Denmark Hill to the Thameslink train above.

From Outer London: take either the 18.00 London Blackfriars train from Orpington (arrives 18.30) or the 18.01 Victoria train from Dartford (arrives 18.38).

 

Return trains from Peckham Rye: plenty in every direction (Victoria, LBG, Thameslink, Clapham J, Overground to Canada Water and all places North…).

This south east London route links up several noteworthy green open spaces. It starts by meandering through the atmospheric Nunhead Cemetery, one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of Victorian London and now, after having been resurrected from decades of neglect, a Local Nature Reserve. You then walk along residential streets to Camberwell New Cemetery and the Honor Oak Crematorium in Honor Oak, and on up to One Tree Hill, the most northerly part of what was the Great North Wood and is now a wooded Local Nature Reserve with a magnificent viewpoint.

Walk through the linear Brenchley Gardens Park and past Camberwell Old Cemetery and on to the large green spaces of Peckham Rye Park and Common. From there it is just a short walk past a cluster of cafés and modish restaurants and then along Rye Lane, one of the most aesthetically varied, culturally mixed and unique streets in London, to Peckham Rye station, with a plethora of food and drink options nearby, some of them on roof tops of high buildings...

Bold Tendencies have this year commissioned a few temporary artworks on the rooftop at Peckham Levels: https://boldtendencies.com/programme/ And there will also be the permanent ones: https://boldtendencies.com/permanent-artworks/

Tea: Plenty options en route and near Peckham Rye station, see the webpage or the pdf for details.

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.41

#2026-06-05T18:16

Friday Walk - The Oaks

SWC Walk #4 - Merstham to Tattenham Corner Walk 

Length: 17.25km (10.7 miles). Toughness: 4/10 

Catch the 10:00 train from London Bridge, arrives Merstham 10:31. It is advised to try and set off after lunch by 14:00 so as to allow adequate time to reach Epsom Downs Racecourse before The Oaks at 16:00. 

The racecourse is in a public area, so you may watch The Oaks for free. (Ref. Walk notes "The public footpaths across Epsom Downs Racecourse are kept open on some race days, but since 2016 they have been closed during major events (and for several hours before and after). " -

L=swc.4

#2026-06-05T10:00 

Wednesday walk: Otford to Eynsford: orchids, two castles, birds of prey and a Roman villa

Length: 8.8 miles (14.1 km) 5/10

I've posted an Eynsford circular this week in the last couple of years but let's do this short but packed version with an Otford start for a change, with more time to see the sights. In particular, after being closed for a long time, Lullingstone Roman Villa seems to have reopened and is open till five. We also pass Eynsford Castle (also open till five) which we usually skip in winter and deserves a look.

Travel: 1025 from Victoria arriving at Otford at 1102 OR 1029 from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 1032, London Bridge 1038) gets to Otford at 1107 which should fit well with lunch in Shoreham. You could get the 1016 from Blackfriars (slow but stops at lots of places in south London and Bromley South 1053) and catch us up. Returns from Eynsford are at 05 and 35 – change at Swanley or Bromley South for faster trains into central London. Buy a return to Otford.

Lunch: plenty of choice in Shoreham – the options are described in detail on the main walk page.

Tea: there's the Lullingstone Café in the Country Park Visitor Centre (01322-865995; open to 5pm for a tea stop. Otherwise, there are four pubs in Eynsford. One of the pnes opposite the castle looked like it had a nice garden on recent inspection, I think it was the Five Bells (tel 01322 863 135). The Malt Shovel is nearer the station.

Shortening the walk: You could finish the walk in Shoreham, and you can cut 1.2km off the end of the walk by following the short cut at [*] in the Walk Directions, missing out Eynsford Castle.

L=1.23

#2026-06-03T10:25

Visit to Farleys House (“home of the surrealists” Lee Miller and Roland Penrose) and walk to Berwick

After our outing to the Tate Britain Lee Miller exhibition in February, interest was expressed in a visit to her home on Sussex, which is open over the summer for garden and gallery visits (£10) and pre-booked guided tours (£26 including garden and gallery entry).

This posting is to enable people to do that and follow it up with an afternoon walk along the Vanguard Way to Berwick.

Length: 10.5 km /6.6 miles (plus 1.5 km /0.9 miles walk to Farleys House for the visit); 1/10

Travel: To get to the house, take a train to Lewes, bus to Golden Cross and 20 minute walk to Farleys House. Get the 0946 from Victoria, arriving in Lewes at 1050. Then walk to Lewes High Street to pick up the 28 bus to Eastbourne via Hailsham, scheduled to leave at 1104. Get off at Golden Cross and walk up Burgh Hill Road for 1.5 km to Muddles Green. The house and gallery are on the right. IF YOU WANT MORE TIME AT THE HOUSE, GET THE TRAIN AND BUS AN HOUR EARLIER.

Train back from Berwick at 57 past the hour, changing in Lewes for London. Buy a return to Berwick.

If you don't want to do the walk but just do the visit, buses back from Golden Cross are at approx half past the hour, or on to Eastbourne at about 45 past. These times are approximate and you need to allow at least 20 minutes to walk back to the bus stop.

House visit and timing: I propose setting off on the walk to Berwick at 2 pm. That should give people enough time to look round and have lunch, If you are interested in a 50-minute guided tour of the house, book here: Farleys tour link for the 1 o'clock slot. If you don't want to do the walk you could book a later slot, or if you get the earlier train you could go for an 1130 or 12 o'clock slot.

IF YOU JUST WANT TO VISIT THE GALLERY AND GARDEN, YOU STILL NEED TO BUY A TICKET HERE: Gallery visit link

Walk route: From Muddles Green, we take a bridleway north for 800m to Chiddingly and pick up the Vanguard way from there – it leads to Berwick station in 10 km/6 miles. A GPX file of the route - including the way from the Golden Cross bus stop to Muddles Green - is here: #/test/sandy/golden-cross-to-farleys-and-afternoon-route-to-berwick-on-vanguard-way.gpx

Or confident map-readers can find the route on the OS 1:25 000 map sheet OL25.

Lunch: Refreshments, snacks, cake and light lunches are available in the Farleys Gallery Cafe. Visitors are also welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the garden.

Tea: The Berwick Inn is directly opposite the station at the end of the walk. If we are in a rush at Berwick, there might be time to get something at the Runaway Cafe on Lewes station. 

Sunday Walk - Cholsey to Goring

SWC 49: Cholsey to Goring

Distance: 14.5 miles or 23.5 km

Difficulty: 3 out of 10

Train: Take the 9:50 AM Hereford-bound Great Western train from London Paddington to Reading (arriving 10:13) and change onto the 10:25 Didcot-bound train to Cholsey, arriving Cholsey at 10:41.

Return trains from Goring are at 22 past the hour Buy a day return to Cholsey

This walk offers a fine combination of gentle Oxfordshire countryside, wide grassy horse training gallops, a stretch of the Ridgeway with splendid views from the Berkshire Downs, and a final saunter along the banks of the Thames. Although the walk is fairly long, it has nothing too steep or demanding. More information, instructions and GPX can be found here.

The recommended lunch pub is the Red Lion in Blewbury (4 miles/6 km into the walk). Tea and afternoon refreshments can be had at the Wedge & Beetle Boathouse on the Thames.

Look forward to seeing you on the walk!

#2026-05-31T10:00

T=swc.49

L=swc.49