LDWA London - WALKS PROGRAMME

If you are new to LDWA, please note

• These walks are for LDWA members; newcomers are welcome to join up to three walks as guests. Please email the walks secretary beforehand.
• Unless otherwise stated walks are circular and start and finish at a railway station.
• We generally have a pub lunch but walkers should carry food and drink for a full day as a precaution.
• Winter walks may finish after dark so bring a torch.
• You should be prepared for and able to walk at a brisk pace of 3 miles per hour for the duration of the walk. Walk duration will be approximately 7 hours with a 1 hour lunch and comfort stops.
• By joining a group walk you are agreeing to the route, duration, walking pace and timing the leader has decided on for the day. Please do not cause the leader reason to be concerned or disrupt the pace of the group. If for any reason you decide to leave a walk before the end, please let the leader know so we don't think we've lost you!
• Train times shown below may not be correct for the day of the walk - check with National Rail before the day.

• Starting point of a walk. It may happen that it has to be changed after the programme has been published in the Strider. Please always check this page before joining a walk.

Text in red indicates changes to previously published information

Sat 11 Sep Chappel Beer Festival Walk 22ml. Start Colchester stn 09:00 Depart London Liverpool Street 08:00. A morning walk around Colchester is followed by a pub lunch at the Forresters, and an afternoon walk to Chappel and Wakes Colne. After the walk there will be an optional visit to the Chappel Beer Festival at the East Anglian Railway Museum with choice of 450 Real Ales. Buy return tickets to Colchester. Ldr Rob Myers

Sat 18 Sep Polegate Circular 21ml. Start Polegate stn 9.30. Depart London Victoria 8.17. Please phone leader for route a few days before. Likely return train from Polegate 5.30pm. Please bring picnic. Ldr Clare Kirkbride

Sun 26 Sep Postponed to 3 Oct with a change of leader Founders Challenge Marshals' walk. Ldr Don Newman

Sat 2 Oct John Merrill's Epping Forest Challenge Walk 23ml. Start Waltham Cross stn 09.01. Depart London Liverpool Street 08.28. A walk around Epping Forest past places associated with Queen Boadicea followed by a stretch of River Lea Navigation. Pub Lunch High Beach. Ldr Rob Myers

Sun 3 Oct Founders challenge marshals walk 26ml. Start Boxhill & West Humble stn 9.04. Depart London Victoria 8.08. Return trains 26 & 56 min past the hour. Ldr Don Bolton

Sat 9 Oct Witley to Haslemere 18ml. Start Witley stn 10.09. Depart London Waterloo 9.15. The route will be via Witley Common and Ockley Common in the morning. Lunch probably at the old mill pub in Elstead. Via Thursley and Devil's Punch Bowl to Haslemere in the afternoon. Ldr Peter Buchwald

Sat 16 Oct 1066 circular 24ml. Start Battle stn 9.11. Depart London Charing Cross 7.45. A walk in East Sussex via Darwell Reservoir and The 1066 Country Walk. Lunch stop at Woods Corner. Map: OS Exp 124. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sun 24 Oct 14th Founders Challenge 26ml or 16 miles in 9.5hr from Peaslake Memorial Hall, GR TQ085447, on good fps & tks in the Surrey hills. Route incls places associated with the LDWA founders - Blatchford Down, Steers Field, Tanners Hatch YH, the Toposcope on Pitch Hill & the Old Peaslake PO. Start: walkers 09.00; runners 10.00. Entry: in advance (up to Oct 15) £5 LDWA member (non-LDWA member £7); if places still available on the day £7 and £9. Maximum participant number is 200 - 150 walkers and 50 runners. Includes drinks and food at CPs, light hot meal at finish and cert. Organised by London LDWA. Details, including nearby accommodation, and entry forms or email founderschallenge@ldwa-london.org.uk or send SAE to Gareth Davies at 5 Foxearth Spur, Selsdon, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 8EP

Sat 30 Oct A Wander round Woodcote circular 21ml. Start 9.06 Goring and Streatley stn. Depart Paddington 8.18, change at Reading. Lunch at the Four Horseshoes, Checkendon. Ldr Steve Singleton

Winter time. Sun 31 Oct Clocks go backwards 1:00 -> 0:00

Sat 6 Nov Circular from Billingshurst 20ml. Start Billingshurst stn 9.15. Depart London Victoria 8.02. A fairly flat walk in the fields and woods to east of Billingshurst passing a Norman castle and deer park, windmill, a literary trail and a D day airfield. Pub lunch at The Crown Inn at Dial Post. Maps OS Exp 134 & 121. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sat 13 Nov Bentley Circular 24ml. Start Bentley stn 9.02. Depart London Waterloo 08.00. A walk in Hampshire via Wyck, Upper Froyle, The River Wey, St Swithun's Way and the North Hampshire Downs. Lunch at Well. Map OS Exp 144. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sat 20 Nov West Essex circular 19ml. Start 9.23 Audley End stn. Depart Liverpool Street 8.28. Lunch at the Pheasant, Great Chishall. 2 return trains per hour. Ldr Lonica Vanclay

Sat 27 Nov A winter crossing of map 173. 20ml+ Linear. Start 8.50 Hatch End stn. Depart London Euston 8.20. Finish in Enfield. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sat 4 Dec Biggin Hill circular 22ml. Start Knockholt stn 8.48. Depart London Cannon St 8.15. A walk in west Kent via the North Downs Way. Head torches just in case. Lunch stop at Downe. Map: OS Exp 147. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sat 11 Dec Linear Bexley to Docklands 20ml. Start Bexley stn 8.40 London Loop, Green Chain walk and Thames path. Finishing in Docklands. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sun 19 Dec Thames Path - Abbey Wood to Westminster linear 20ml. Start Abbey Wood stn 9.05. Depart London Charing Cross 8.24. Finish back at Charing Cross stn. Regular trains back to Abbey Wood for drivers. A riverside walk through East London to the heart of the capital. Lunch stop at The Cutty Sark, Greenwich. Maps OS Exp 162 & 173. Joint walk with LDWA Kent. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Tue 28 Dec (Public holiday) Peter Saw's Christmas walk c18ml. Start Norbiton stn 8.43. Depart London Waterloo 8.18. Finish Richmond stn. Lunch in National Trust Morden Hall Park. A walk including 3 rivers, beautiful parkland and of course a windmill after lunch. This should be a great opportunity to shed the Christmas flab and get away from the in-laws. Hope to finish in the light but bring a torch just in case. Ldr Susanne Waldschmidt

2011

Sun 2 Jan Clapham Junction to North Downs 17ml. Start Clapham Junction stn 8.30. This is a repeat by popular demand of the New Year hangover busting walk of two years ago. Ldr Susanne Waldschmidt

Sat 8 Jan Ldr Rob Myers

Sat 15 Jan Winter walk from Staines to Putney 22ml. Start 8.52 Staines stn platform 2 exit. Depart London Waterloo 8.20. Past the boats, birds and locks. Mainly on lesser used part of Thames Path to Hampton Court , also Richmond Park. Pub lunch by river near Walton on Thames (or feed the swans, if you prefer). Mainly flat walk with no stiles, so pace will be brisk. Check website for any timetable changes. Regular trains from Putney (on London/Staines line). Ldr Andy Shoesmith

Sat 22 Jan WWW Wintry Winchester Walk 19ml. Start Winchester stn 9.05. Depart London Waterloo 8.05. Circular walk via the Downs. Pub lunch at Owlesbury. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sat 29 Jan Swalecliffe to Birchington Linear 22ml. Start Chestfield and Swalecliffe stn. A walk on the North Kent Coast via the Saxon Shore Way, Wantsum Walk and The Reculver Towers. Lunch stop at Sarre. Map OS Exp 150. Joint walk with LDWA Kent Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sat 5 Feb Woolhampton Circular 21ml. Start Midgham stn (at Woolhampton) 8.36. Depart London Paddington 7.45, change at Reading. Car park at station is free but very small; additional free parking nearby at Kennet and Avon Canal cp; from A4, carry on past station car park, over level crossing, over canal, past The Rowbarge pub, cp is on right. Via Midgham,The Slade and Frilsham to Yattendon, returning via Burnt Hill, Bradfield and Chapel Row to Woolhampton. Pub or picnic lunch at Yattendon. We should finish in daylight, but please bring a torch in case we are delayed. Joint walk with LDWA Thames Valley. Ldr Steve Singleton

Sat 12 Feb Eastbourne circular 20ml. Start Eastbourne stn 10.13. Depart London Victoria 8.47. Beachy Head to Willingdon for lunch. 1066 Trail to Pevensey and back along the coast. Finish in dark along lit paved seafront. ETA 6pm. Ldr Clare Kirkbride

Sat 19 Feb Cholsey Circular 22ml. Start Cholsey Stn 9.11. Depart London Paddington 8.15, change at Reading. Via the Berkshire Downs to Compton and onward to Blewbury, returning via Upton, East Hagbourne, and Aston Tirrold. Pub or picnic lunch at Blewbury. Ldr Steve Singleton

Sat 26 Feb Beacon Hill Circular 22ml. Start Rowlands Castle stn. A walk on the South Downs via The Sussex Border Path, Monarch's Way and The South Downs Way. Lunch stop at Hooksway. Map OS Exp 120. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sat 5 Mar "A visit to Uphusband" Circular 22ml. Start Andover stn SU 357459 9.00. Depart London Waterloo 7.50. Using part of Test Way and a roman road. Lunch at the George and Dragon in Hurstbourne Tarrant (sandwiches only available) or bring your own. Return trains at 04 and 38 past the hour. Map OS Exp 131. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sat 19 Mar Ldr Linda Ashwell

Summer time. Sun 27 Mar 2011 Clocks go forwards 0:00 -> 1:00

Sun 27 Mar Fords and Hills of Herts Circular c.19 ml. Start Ware stn 9.35. Depart London Liverpool Street 8.52. Pub lunch in Standon. Nick will buy a pint for anyone who walks through all the fords before lunch! Return trains to Liverpool Street every half hour. Ldr Nick Marshall

Sat 9 Apr "Go west from Winchester" Linear 22ml. Start Winchester stn SU 478300 8.40. Depart London Waterloo 7.35. Finishing at Romsey stn SU 357216. Buy returns to Romsey. On Clarendon and Test Way. Map OS Exp 132. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sat 16 Apr Forest Row Circular 23ml. Start Eridge stn. A walk through the High Weald via Ashdown Forest, the Vanguard Way and the High Weald Landscape Trail. Lunch stop at Forest Row. Map OS Exp 135. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sat 23 Apr Wivelsfield circular 20ml. Start Wivelsfield stn 9.11. Depart London Victoria 8.17. Undulating with views, wooded valleys on the Sussex Border Path to Ditchling Beacon and along the South Downs Way on the crest of the Downs to Plumpton for lunch, returning beside the race course and interesting Sussex villages to Wivelsfield. Ldr Clare Kirkbride

Sun 1 May Hollingbourne Circular 22ml. Start Hollingbourne stn. A walk on the North Downs via Detling, Wormshill and The Pilgrim's Way. Lunch Stop at Bredgar. Map OS Exp 148. Joint walk with LDWA Kent Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sat 21 May Stane Street Circular 25ml. Start Billingshurst stn GR TQ088251. East and west of the old Roman road via the River Arun and the Wey South Path. Map OS Exp 134. Lunch stop at Tisman's Common. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sun 12 Jun Swale Circular 26ml. Start Teynham stn. GR TQ956631. A North Kent coastal walk via Doddington, Ospringe, The Swale Heritage Trail and The Saxon Shore Way. Lunch stop at Painter's Forstal. Map OS Exp 149. A joint walk with LDWA Kent. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sat 18 Jun "Rings, hills and bottoms" circular 22ml. Start Shoreham by Sea stn TQ218053 9.00 Depart London Victoria 7.47. On the south downs via Chanctonbury and Cissbury rings with lunch at Washington. Map OS Exp 121 and 122. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sun 3 Jul Midsummer on the Downs Circular 38ml. Start Berwick stn GR TQ525067. A coastal walk on the Sussex Downs via Jevington, Wilmington Hill, Cuckmere Haven,

and Arlington Reservoir. Map OS Exp 123. Morning tea stop at Birling Gap then a late lunch stop at Seaford. A joint walk with LDWA Kent. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sat 6 Aug Silchester Circular 26 ml. Start Mortimer stn GR SU672641. Berkshire into Hampshire via Little London, Pamber Forest and Silchester Roman Town. Lunch stop at Sherborne St John. Maps OS Exp 144 and 159. Ldr Mike Ratcliff.

Winter time. Sun 30 Oct Clocks go backwards 1:00 -> 0:00

Challenge Walks Full programme on National Site. We encourage all members to have a go at a challenge walk, if they haven't already. These are good fun and not necessarily competitive. You do need to be able to read a map and compass, though. There are several local challenge walks that have become something of an institution for London Group members. These are run by adjacent groups and are worthy of our support. Consequently we normally don't schedule a social walk to clash with any of these. Details of all these walks can be found in Strider or the Future Events section of the national website.

Leaders Please email any late changes and updated train information at least one week before the walk to the Walks Secretary and they will be posted onto the LDWA website.

Walkers If you diary an event in advance please check programme changes.
The site will be updated if walk leaders provide the information to the walks secretary in good time but this is no guarantee. Be sure to check for schedule changes and engineering works with National Rail or National Rail Enquiries Tel 08457 48 49 50

As there has been a spate of engineering works recently with significant alterations and delays to trains, please be sure to check for schedule changes and engineering works beforehand.

If you are travelling to a walk by train, why not register for your free BiTE card - this gives you a permanent 20% discount off food and drink at many catering outlets at railway stations in the UK - go to http://www.bitecard.co.uk/