Meet: 6pm at Morpeth Arms pub, 58 Millbank (food available). Nearest tube: Pimlico

Move off to Tate Britain: 6.45pm

Return to Morpeth Arms when you've had enough culture!

Get the 10:21 Thameslink service from St Pancras and alight at Luton 10:56. You can also join this service at Blackfriars (10:12), Farringdon (10:16) and West Hampstead (10:29). You will need to buy a PlusBus ticket. Head straight for the bus station outside the station and find Stand 10. That is where we will meet to catch the 11:05 Busway route C departure. The bus will take us to the suburb of Beecroft where we will disembark at the Saxon Close stop. 

We will immediately pick up the Icknield Way Trail which, after half a mile in suburbia, will take us up onto the Dunstable Downs (https://www.chilterns.org.uk/map_marker/dunstable-downs/). Following the scarp as far as the footpath will allow, we then turn eastwards towards Whipsnade, stopping for a lunch break at the Tree Cathedral (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/essex-bedfordshire-hertfordshire/whipsnade-tree-cathedral/history-of-whipsnade-tree-cathedral).

After pushing on towards the village of Kensworth, we will loop back towards the Downs and then describe a semicircular route around the Kensworth Quarry (https://www.travelhackergirl.com/kensworth-quarry-a-hidden-gem-in-bedfordshire/). We then pass through the suburb of Downside and onto Blow’s Down (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blow's_Down) at the edge of which we will be reunited with the Busway to catch one of the many buses back to the station.

Total distance is just under 12 miles; total ascent 1100 ft. Chalk underfoot but with a chance of mud in places. You’ll need to be happy with a pace 2.5 to 3 mph. Bring a packed lunch and plenty of water. Weather forecast is for sunny intervals, and a light breeze; max. temp. 13 degrees.

From Dorking (Main) station, we quickly leave the town behind to cross fields before we follow an old coach road path to Brockham, a picturesque village with excellent views north to Box Hill. We then turn north to follow the quiet Old Reigate Road before turning south to Betchworth, where we will stop for lunch. Here there are benches in the churchyard and on a small green for a picnic lunch. There is a pub, The Dolphin, close by for a quick drink, but please bring a packed lunch as there will not be time to order food. After lunch we will walk westwards, following part of the Greensand Way through an area of farmland before passing through Brockham again. We might stop for a coffee at a small cafe on the village green, if time allows. We then continue on the Greensand Way through more farmland before an uphill stretch that takes us to Deepdene Wood, with wide views south towards the Weald. We will descend to cross the A24 before a short ascent to Glory Wood. From there we will descend and continue to the station via the attractive open space of Cotmandene. 

The total length of the walk will be about 9 miles and will be at a moderate pace  throughout. The terrain is generally level in the morning, with two short, but quite steep, uphill stretches in the afternoon.

There are no convenient drop-out points.

There are toilets at Dorking (Main) station, at the garden centre on the A25, at the pub at lunchtime, and possibly in Brockham if we stop there for a coffee after lunch; otherwise, there is lots of woodland.

Travel: The suggested train is the 09.41am service from Victoria, calling at numerous stops, including Clapham Junction at 09.48, Sutton at 10.13, Epsom at 10.24, and arriving at Dorking (Main) station at 10.40am. Meet outside the exit from the station from where we will leave, after intros, at about 10.50am. There are three trains an hour back to Victoria, with the journey taking about an hour.

Looking forward to seeing some of you on this walk.

Paul 

We’ll start by walking  through  the wooded  parkland of Penshurst estate, before dropping down to walk past Penshurst Place, it's church and village. 

We'll either stop there for an early picnic and a pop into the Leicester Arms, or we'll continue across the Eden valley for a  couple of miles further to Hoath Corner before having our lunch, where the Rock Inn will be our refreshment  stop.

The afternoon  will take us through the grounds of Chiddingstone  Castle and into Chiddingstone village, owned by the National Trust. We cross open fields and the River Eden again as we make our way back to Penshurst station.

Just across the road from the station is the Little Brown Jug for a drink, if you don't need to rush back to London

Please bring a picnic lunch, water and suitable clothing for whatever the weather is doing.

Let me know if you’d like to be co-leader on this walk and I can send you the route for whichever App/map you choose, or give you the map on the day.

 Imagine Penshurst station as being midway along the base of a triangle with London at the top - you have two routes to get there, both involving one change but taking about the same length of time. Whichever you choose, plan to use the same route for your return to London, as I'm not sure the different train companies will be happy to mix the routes.

Option one:    SouthEastern 9.35 train from Victoria Mainline station (Clapham Junction 9.42 , East Croydon 9.52)                                                                      Change at Redhill onto the 10.21 train to Penshurst, arriving there at 10.43.

Option two:   Southern  9.34 train from Charing Cross  (Waterloo East 9.37, London Bridge 9.43) arriving at Tonbridge at 10.16.           Change at Tonbridge onto the 10.26 train to Penshurst, arriving there at 10.34.                                                                                        

Please meet at the exit of Penshurst Station, from where the walk will start at 10.45am.

Return trains to London are hourly, on either route.

 Looking forward to walking with you.

Helen R 

We walk out of Reading town via the church grounds, near where the walk picks up with the River Kennet leading to Fobney Lock and the Navagational Canal to Southcope Lock and on westwards. It is intended to have a picnic lunch stop somewhere along the canal before the pub where we can participate in alternative refreshments as needed but the Sunday service will be too slow to eat there. Returning back the path picks up with the dismantled Old Coley Branch line to the scenic Holy Brook which eventually leads into Reading suburbs and on back to the station. Pub outside station at walks end optional. Elizabeth Line trains run back into Paddington (53min) making it Strickly Come Dancing friendly. About 8.5m. Bring picnic lunch.Get the 9.45 EL train from Paddinton arrive Reading 10.40. EL trains are only hourly today. Back trains xx.36; xx.06. FP friendly to Reading. Meet up on Reading platform or at station exit town side. I will be travelling near front of train if want to meet up on the way.

Leader BevM 

See email for further details

Tony

Start 11am Hackney Wick Station. Finish Woolwich Riverside. 9.5 miles

Sue Sinton Smith 

This trip is fully booked, with a waiting list.