Sunday Walk: Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

#2026-09-27T09:42 
difficulty 5/10 15.7km  9.8 miles

A classic Chilterns walk with sloping fields, beech woods, three steep bits (one avoidable), fine views and (maybe, just maybe) autumn colour. 

Trains: get the 09:42 Oxford train from Marylebone, arriving Princes Risborough at 10:25 

Return from Great Missenden at xx:03 and xx:33   

A return to Aylesbury ("any route permitted") covers both journeys

Lunch: is at the Gate in Bryants Bottom 01494 488 632  The later Polecat in Prestwood, is another possibility. 

Tea: The George Ale House is recommended - real ale, cider, all that. Nearer the station you'll find the Cross Keys. There's also Matilda's for those that prefer tea. but it closes at 4 Sundays.

Directions: here T=1.45 

Faversham Circular

SWC 420: Faversham Circular

Travel: Take the 9:40AM Ramsgate-bound train from London Victoria, arriving Faversham at 10:50. Return trains are at 37 minutes past the hour.

Distance: 12 miles/19km, with a shorter option of 9 miles/14.5km available

Difficulty: 2 out of 10

This walk combines and extends two published walks promoted by Faversham Town Council. The initial leg to Oare is a loop around Ham Marshes, an isolated area hemmed in by Faversham Creek and Oare Creek. After a lunch, it explores Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park, where the remains of its massive structures are scattered around a patch of woodland outside the village. Then, a quiet country lane leads you to the hamlet of Luddenham, with its impressively large medieval church of St Mary now seemingly marooned in a farmyard. The full walk continues through farmland and past Uplees Marshes to the Swale, the tidal channel between the mainland and the Isle of Sheppey and loops around Oare Marshes Nature Reserve. More information on the walk and the instructions and GPX can be found here.

Elevensies and Lunch: First up for elevensies is the recommended, tumbledown Shipwright's Arms (01795-590088) in Hollowshore, like something out of Dickens, it has a limited menu (burgers, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, etc.), but it does have an interesting range of drinks. 

Having quenched our thirst, lunch proper can be had twenty minutes later, in Oare at either The Castle (01795-533674) and the more upmarket Three Mariners (01795-533633). Lighter fare is available at The Cafe by the Creek (01795-537985).

Tea: There are many possible refreshment places in Faversham, such as The Refinery at 122 West Street open to 9pm.

Look forward to seeing you on the walk!  I have not done it before and it sounds like fun!

#2026-09-27T09:40

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Saturday Walk - Henley Circular via Nettlebed

t=2.6 #2026-09-26T09:37

Length: 23.4km (14.5m)
Toughness: 6 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:37 train from London Paddington, change at Twyford onto the 10:15 to Henley arriving at 10:27. Return trains at xx:00 and xx:30.

This is a great walk across the Chiltern Hills to the north of Henley passing through extensive woodlands.

Saturday Walk - Bwlch Circular (via Mynydd Troed, then Llangorse Lake or Pen Tir) [Crickhowell Trip]

Length: 21.6 km (13.4 mi) [longer or shorter walk possible, see below] 

Ascent/Descent: 837/840m 

Net Walking Time: 6 hours 

Rating: 7 out of 10

Take the 09.26 Bus Line X43 from Crickhowell Square to Brecon (does not call in Llangattock), arrives Bwlch, All Saints at 09.36. 

Return: 14.30, 16.30, 18.43 and 20.33.

 

This is a varied walk from the small settlement of Bwlch (‘pass’ in Welsh), starting from a low col high above the Usk Valley onto the rolling moorlands of Cefn Moel and Mynydd Llangorse. The following long ridge walk along good grass paths across this outlying peak’s plateau – and the subsequent optional ascent to Mynydd Troed –command panoramic views across to many of the much higher giants of the Brecon Beacons National Park: across the Rhiangoll valley to the south-western flanks of the Black Mountains massif, west to the Central Beacons and south to Mynydd Llangynidr and Mynydd Llangattock.

A road descent leads to Llangorse village for lunch and around its iconic lake, of glacial origin and the largest natural lake in South Wales, with its watersports centre – and the only crannog outside of Scotland and Ireland. This is a busy touristic site in season.
Leave the crowds behind to further circumvent the large lake through pastures to a remote bird hide and an even more remote church-with-views in Llangasty-Talyllyn and then up the Allt yr Esgair ('wooded slope of the ridge' in Welsh). It is crowned by an Iron Age hillfort and a Roman road and overlooks the valley of the River Usk to the west and south and Llangorse Lake and the Black Mountains to the northeast. You then follow the Roman Road back down to Bwlch.

Walk Options:

Cut out the steep ascent to Mynydd Troed (2.2 km/1.3 mi and 260m ascent/descent) for a 6/10 walk.  

Cut out the ascent to the Allt yr Esgair Iron Age Hill Fort site near the end by contouring around the hill’s flank and along the ruined Paragon Tower folly.  

An easterly route from the summit of Mynydd Troed along the ridge and down into the Cwm Sorgwm and back up over Pen Tir to the Cefn Moel and to Bwlch adds 800m distance and 245m ascent (8/10).

 

Lunch: The Red Lion in Llangorse (12.0 km, open all day, brunch served to 15.00); The Lakeside Café at the Llangorse Lake (12.7 km, open as a café to 16.00, then turns into Lakeside Bar). 

Tea Pen Tir Route: The Farmers Arms in Cwmdu (open from 16.00, located 5.8 km from the end). 

Tea both routes: The New Inn (open from 14.00, located right at the end of the walk).

 

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

#2026-09-26T09:26 t=swc.308

Saturday Walk - Eridge to East Grinstead in reverse!

SWC 109: Eridge to East Grinstead in reverse!

Travel: Take the 9:20 AM Southern train from London Victoria bound for East Grinstead (stopping at EC 9:40AM). Return trains from Eridge at 50 minutes past the hour. Buy a day return to East Grinstead -- though the stations are not on the same line... so some questions may be asked....

Distance: 13.5 miles or 22 km, with shorter options -- such as taking a bus from East Grinstead to Forrest Row and starting the walk there. This would reduce the walk by about 2.5 miles -- so you could take the 9:50 train and have a reasonable chance to rendezvous with the main group.

Difficulty: 7 out of 10

We have done this route in reverse before and it worked well and means that we can end the walk at the lovely Huntsman Pub near Eridge Station, rather than leaving it behind in the morning.... Based on the walk notes, I would suggest we set off on SWC 40 in reverse and switch to the reverse of SWC 109 at Cansiron Lane. 

Traveling in this direction, the recommended lunch stop would be the Bear Inn in Hartfield and of course post walk refreshments can be had at the Huntsman, a stone's throw from Eridge station.

Look forward to seeing you on the walk! Remember to start in East Grinstead!

#2026-09-26T09:20
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Friday Walk - Llangynidr to Bwlch or Circular [Crickhowell Trip]

Length: 21.9 km (13.6 mi) [longer or shorter walk possible, see below] 

Ascent/Descent: 781/685m 

Net Walking Time: 6 ½ hours 

Rating: 7 out of 10

Take the 10.11 Bus Line 43 from Crickhowell Square to Brecon (calls Llangattock Plas Derwen at 10.15), arrives Llangynidr Village Hall at 10.26. 

Return: 17.49 from Llangynidr Village Hall (Line 43) on the shorter ending and 16.30, 18.43 and 20.33 from Bwlch, All Saints (Line X43) on the full walk.

 

This walk leads from Llangynidr village up along a tight valley, the Cwm Cleisfer, and onto the open limestone uplands of Mynydd Llangynidr, initially along a lane then through pastures, in the latter stages with some difficult-to-find-and-negotiate paths near the transition to the open moorland. Mynydd Llangynidr is a basically treeless undulating mountain of open limestone uplands with numerous depressions, shake holes and pits, as well as many ancient cairns (burial mounds) dotted across the moorland. You climb to the source of the Cleisfer, a perfect picnic spot, and then across the scarred landscape (map and compass come in handy) to the Chartist Cave, arguably one of Wales' most important historic monuments. The Chartists were a 19^th century working-class movement for political reform and this cave is where the local group met and stored weapons before the Newport Rising of 1839.

You cross the top of the moorland hill and descend to a remote road by an active limestone quarry and pick up a former tramway for transporting goods to the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal to skirt around the rim of the picturesque wooded Crawnon Valley. A stretch along a ridge high above the Talybont Reservoir is followed by a descent through lush pastures back to Llangynidr. To complete the walk, cross the Usk River and ascend to Bwlch on the other side for a return bus.

Walk Options:

A Variation on the Cwm Cleisfer route circumvents an often-overgrown stretch with difficult route finding.  

An Extension near the end over the Tor y Foel hill adds 250m and 113m ascent.  

A Variation of the route near the end through Llangynidr leads along the rivers Crawnon and Usk to Llangynidr Bridge rather than along the canal. This is flood-prone when The Usk is in spate and has some steep and rocky bits.  

A finish at the start point in Llangynidr is described but note that there is only one bus late afternoon through the village.

 

Lunch: Picnic.

 

Tea:  

The Coach & Horses Inn; open all day, located 3.1 km from the end of the walk; 

The Walnut Tree Café; open to 16.00, located 2.2 km from the end of the walk;  

The Red Lion; open all day, located near the start of the walk, i.e. at the other end of the village from the end of the walk route; 

The New Inn; open from 17.00, located right at the end of the walk.

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

#2026-09-25T10:11 t=swc.332

Crickhowell Trip - 4 Nights, 4 Walks (2 with bus journeys, 2 from/to Crickhowell)

A Thursday to Monday trip with 4 walks:

Notes:

-  Travel is by car or by train and bus: Paddington to Newport, change to Abergavenny, buses to Crickhowell (14 on Mon-Sat, 5 on Sun): Line X43 from the bottom of Station Road, Line 43 from the bus station.

-  note that the X43 now runs evening journeys, all the way to Bwlch, i.e. it is possible to travel to Crick on Thursday after work.

-  Train and bus details are based on the current schedule, which may be different in September.

 

Friday 25 September: 10.11 Bus Line 43 from Crickhowell Square (calls all stops in Llangattock), arrives Llangynidr, Village Hall at 10.26. Walk SWC Walk 332 Llangynidr to Bwlch or Circular: 21.9 km (13.6 mi) with 781/685m ascent/descent. 7/10 rating. With lots of options, shorter and longer. Picnic lunch.

Saturday 26 September: 09.26 Bus Line X43 from Crickhowell Square (does not stop in Llangattock), arrives Bwlch, All Saints at 09.36. Walk SWC Walk 308 Bwlch Circular via Mynydd Troed, then Llangorse Lake or Pen Tir: 21.6 km (13.4 mi) with 837/840m ascent/descent. 7/10 rating. With two principal options, and two shortcuts on the Llangorse Lake option. Picnic lunch on the rarely walked Pen Tir option, but a pub and tearoom in Cwmdu for ‘tea’.

Sunday 27 September: Meet at 10.00 at the Crickhowell Square bus stop. And start walking. Walk SWC Walk 370 Crickhowell Circular via Mynydd Llangatwg and Craig y Cilau: 18.9 km (11.7 mi) with 680m ascent/descent. 6/10 rating. Shorter and longer options: one extension, several shortcuts plus an opportunity for caving (for beginners).

Monday 28 September: Meet at 09.30 at the Crickhowell Square bus stop. And start walking. Walk SWC Walk 333 Crickhowell Circular via Table Mountain and the three Pens: 20.4 km (12.7 mi) with 973m ascent/descent. 8/10 rating. Feel free to walk this main walk version, or even the much harder 10/10 version, as some did last year on the Brecon Trip, but my intention is to walk the very different (and shorter) version which leads in a westerly loop from either Pen Cerrig-calch or Pen Allt-mawr (the latter route partly map-led) and down the lower part of the wooded Cwm Cumbeth (11.5 km/7.2 mi, 658m ascent; or 16.5 km/10.3 mi, 741m ascent) back to Crickhowell. [There is an even shorter version described.] This will enable me to check the old text, equip the currently map-led stretch with written directions, and still leave Crick relatively early for London.

#2026-09-24T18:00 #5days

Wednesday Walk - A heath and woodland walk near London: Oxshott to Ashtead (or Epsom)

Length: 18.6 km (11.6 miles) 3/10

This (further) revamped route features a big area of open heath land only a few stops from London, followed with mainly open woodland later on. Bring the up to date instructions /GPX because some of the old route has been reinstated after the conclusion of forestry work in Prince's Coverts and we take a new way through Ashtead Common. There are several possible shortcuts. The main walk loops back from Epsom Common to Ashtead but you can also finish at Epsom (not much difference in distance).

There is only a few hundred yards of overlap with the Oxshott to Cobham walk done on a recent Sunday.

Travel: Waterloo 1003, arriving Oxshott 1038, should fit in with the lunch pub. 4-5 return trains an hour from Ashtead and Epsom. Buy a return to Effingham Junction where the Oxshott and Ashtead/Epsom lines meet.

Lunch: The Star, Kingston Road, Leatherhead is large and has a beer garden. It is reached after 12.4 km (7.7 miles). Tel: 01372 842416. The track through the Prince's Coverts before lunch doesn't have good places to stop so picknickers might want to carry on past the pub into Ashtead Common where you should be able to find somewhere suitable.

Tea: The Woodman, 238 Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead. Tel: 01372 274524. With an Epsom finish you could try the Cricketers 01372 729384 which is on the walk route to the station.

Shortening the walk: the walk directions make a number of suggestions including a finish at Claygate (making a walk of 11.9 km/7.4 miles) but the simplest short cut is to go straight through Ashtead Common from the Star to the station, missing out Epsom Common and cutting 4.3 km/2.7 miles).

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#2026-09-23T10:03

Evening Walk - The Waterlink Way (Pool and Ravensbourne Rivers) - Lower Sydenham to Greenwich or any point inbetween

Length: up to 9.7 km (6.0 mi) [several dropout points en route] 

Ascent/Descent: negligible 

Net Walking Time: up to ca. 2 ¼ hours

Take the 18.09 Hayes (Kent) train from Charing X (18.12 W’loo East, 18.18 London Bridge, 18.27 Ladywell, 18.30 Catford Bridge), arrives Lower Sydenham at 18.33. 

From locations further south, take the 18.13 train from Hayes to Charing X, arrives Lower Sydenham at 18.30.

Finish is at one of: Ladywell Rail, either of the Catford Stations, Lewisham Rail/DLR, Cutty Sark DLR or Greenwich Rail/DLR. Return trains from these stations go to either London Bridge, then Cannon Street or Charing Cross, or to Blackfriars via Peckham Rye and Elephant.

The route connects a number of attractive parks and green spaces in South East London, while following the Pool and Ravensbourne Rivers. It follows parts of the well-waymarked Waterlink Way, the London-part of the National Cycle Network Route connecting Eastbourne to the Thames. Large stretches of those rivers have in recent years been re-naturalised or at least sympathetically embedded in landscaped linear parks such as Ladywell Fields and Brookmill Park, and as such the route makes for a pleasant outing in a densely populated part of London, even though some formerly highly industrialised areas such as Deptford as well as some densely built-up areas such as Catford and Lewisham are passed through.

Walk Options: The walk route runs past a few Railway and DLR stations (Catford/Catford Bridge, Ladywell, Lewisham, Elverson Road and Deptford Bridge), enabling an earlier finish or later start.

Refreshments en route: the Catford Bridge Tavern in Catford, The Ladywell Tavern in Ladywell, The Brookmill in St. John’s and The Birds Nest in Deptford. Plus, plenty options in Greenwich.

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

#2026-09-22T18:33 t=short.36