15th Sept 2019 Hayes Kent Circular

A beautiful a September Sunday found 11 of us walking through Kent accompanied by 2 small dogs, Woody and Fred. A circular walk from Hayes meandering through dappled sunlight under trees still in full leaf passing the Wilberforce Oak where a plaque has been erected.  Across a dried ploughed field with unforgiving stubble, which was a bit of a challenge, particularly for those wearing sandals led to lunch break at Leaves Green. 

After lunch a few ups and downs in the terrain but all happily completed and ended the day with coffee, waiting for the return train to Charing Cross.

Wilberforce Oak plaque

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8th Sept 2019 Woldingham to Caterham

The walk this Sunday (8th) is from Woldingham to Caterham via the North Downs. The walk is 9 miles via Gangers Hill, Winders Hill and Gravelly Hill.

I don’t think there are any refreshment stops, so bring lunch, water etc.

The walk could be shortened by a couple of miles at the end by heading more directly to Caterham.

25th Aug 2019 Shoreham to Chartwell

A walk from Sevenoaks, not visiting Knole Park (!) and instead heading west along the Greensand ridge (and Way) to Chartwell.

From Sevenoaks station, we head south west through some posh bits of Sevenoaks, soon giving way to woodland, to Bayley’s Hill. There we turn west and start following the greensand escarpment, with great views dropping away to the south. Lunch will be somewhere along this section, and we will also stop at Ide Hill which is both a viewpoint and a village with a pub:

After Ide Hill we carry on west along the Greensand Way to Toy’s Hill and French Street, ending at Chartwell:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell

The National Trust cafe there is open until 5.

30th August 2019 Otford to Shoreham

An easier walk from Otford to Shoreham on Friday 30th of no more than 4 miles along the Darenth Valley path on flat and easy terrain, and around Shoreham.

Starting by walking down through Otford village, 
then along the path to Shoreham with packed lunch which we  
ate by the river at Shoreham, with a pub or tea stop in the village. 
We’ll do a circuit round this second pretty village and back beside the 
river before turning slightly uphill to Shoreham Station (with steps 
over to the platform, though it is possible to return by train to 
Sevenoaks and change there by lift).

18th August Circular walk from Wendover

The walk this Sunday (18th) is a circular walk from Wendover in the Chilterns. The walk is 9 miles (with a climb at the beginning). We’ll walk following the Outer Aylesbury Ring through Wendover Woods via Daniel’s Hole and back to Wendover along the Grand Union Canal.

25th August 2019: Sevenoaks, Ide Hill and Chartewell

This was a very hot Bank Holiday Sunday, so it was good that this walk was almost completely in woods, or otherwise shaded. Our departure from Sevenoaks was slightly delayed when we stopped to help someone who had spotted a dog shut in a car with the window only very slightly wound-down — that meant going with him to a nearby church where the owners turned out to be in the congregation.

The first part of the walk headed south and uphill from Sevenoaks station, initially through suburban streets and a long fenced-in path between gardens, but then through Mill Bank Wood. Eventually we reached the crest of the Greensand ridge, and the Greensand Way which we followed for the rest of the day, with good views south — this was taken from our lunch spot:

Bough Beech reservoir from the Greensand Way

Our next stop was at Ide Hill village, for a quick drink at The Cock. It was then another three miles on to Chartwell, and most of the first mile was the one part of the day which lacked shade. Going up hill in this was quite hard work, but we were soon back in the woods on Toys Hill.

The Cock at Ide Hill

We had not seen many other walkers on the Way, but both Ide Hill and Chartwell were very busy. Heading along the Greensand Way, you do not get to another railway station until Oxted, which is more than ten miles from Sevenoaks. However, on summer Sundays the 246 bus is extended on from Westerham to the car park at Chartwell. Dermot and Nigel caught the 4.20 bus, but the other four in the party had teas, cream or otherwise, then caught the last bus at 5.20, switching to a train at Hayes station.

Humphrey

4th August 2019 Hastings Country Park

Sunday’s (4th) walk is to explore the area around Hastings, including the country park (about 6 miles). We would do a 6 mile walk around the country park. Added extras would be having a look at the sea front & visiting the Old Town.

Bring packed lunch, water & sun cream!