Silent Walks
SE England

Further details on walks - 2009

Sunday 11th January - Sole Street Circular (Book 2, walk no. 17)

8.4 miles 5 out of 10 toughness.

Take the 09.48 from London Victoria via Bromley South (not stopping at CJ) arriving Sole Street 10.31.

Happy 2009! Come and join us for the first walk of the year:

A peaceful, rural walk in the Kent countryside with plenty of good views.

Sunday 22 Feb Upper Warlingham to Woldingham (Extra walk no. 43)

This pleasent walk is on the borders of travel zone 6 yet is mostly rural with a good mixture of woods and valleys and the odd view or two.

8.1 miles (13 km); Approx 3 hours 15 mins walking time. Lunch is exactly halfway at the popular Harrow Inn on Great Farleigh Green. After lunch the route goes through woodland and passes through the delightfully named Halliloo Valley on the way to tea at the Great Dene Coffee shop(usually a good range of cakes are on offer). >From there it is a 10 minute walk to Woldingham station.

Trains: Buy a day return to Woldingham which is on the same line as Upper Warlingham. London Victoria 10.22, Clapham Junction 10.29 arrive Upper Warlingham 10.54. Journey time from Victoria 32 minutes.

Sunday 5th April - Book 1 Walk 49 Boxhill to Leatherhead

11.5km (7.1 miles). Toughness 7/10

Take the 10.06 from London Victoria calling at Clapham Junction at 10.13 and many other stations in South London, arriving Boxhill and Westhumble 11.01. Buy a cheap day return to Boxhill & Westhumble. Return trains are 03 and 33 minutes past the hour from Leatherhead.

This short but exhilarating walk will provide you with splendid views and a chance to explore the less populated parts of Boxhill, a favourite Surrey beauty spot, for good reason. You will have earned your lunch at the Running Horses in Mickleham, after a morning of two steep climbs. The afternoon section is a gentle stroll along the river Mole valley into Leatherhead for tea.

Sunday 3rd May - Extra Walk 1a Lenham to Hollingbourne

14.5km (9 miles). Toughness 3 out of 10.

9.39 London Victoria arriving Lenham 10.59 (calling at Bromley South at 9.58). Return trains are 21 minutes past the hour, journey time 1 hr 14 minutes. Please download the walk instructions from the website www.walkingclub.org Click on SWC Walks and then SWC Walks by number to find walk no 1 Lenham to Charing (alternative ending option in Hollingbourne)

Described as a tranquil walk, on little used footpaths, today is the first official outing for this new walk on the north side of the North Downs Way. Lunch is at the Plough Inn in the pretty hamlet of Stalisfield Green, 8 km into the walk. Tea is at the delightful village of Hollingbourne.

Sunday 31s May - Book 1 Walk 19 Hever to Leigh

14.5km (9 miles) 3 out of 10 toughness

You get to see no less than two castles and a NT property (the lovely Penshurst Place) on this beautiful walk through the "Garden of England." There are two lunch options, the first, earlier stop is the Castle Inn in Chiddingstone or a later option is the Leicester Arms in the village of Penshurst. There is also an excellent tea stop in Penshurst; Quaintways which not only serves great cream teas but stays open until the amazingly late hour of 5.30pm - if only all tea shops would be so obliging. It's possible to finish the walk at Penshurst, although the station is about 3 km away from the village, so you wouldn't save that much distance compared to ending at Leigh. There are also a couple of good pubs close to Leigh station should you mis-time your arrival for the hourly trains back to London at 59 past.

10.25 train from Victoria (calling Clapham Junction 10.31 and East Croydon 10.43) arrive Hurst Green 11.06, change trains for the 11.21 to Hever, arriving at 11.31. Time Out walks are self led; make sure you bring the instructions! Silent walks are every 4 weeks.

Sunday 28th June - Folkestone Circular Extra Walk #13

8.2 miles (13.1 km)

2 out of 10 toughness (except for one steep cliff path 8 out 10).

9.57 London Victoria arriving Folkestone Central 11.38 (journey time 1hr 41 mins). Also calls at Bromley South at 10.16. Return trains 44 past the hour (journey time 1hr 35 mins).

A surprise gem of a walk, great for a hot day (fingers crossed) due to many attractive swimming options. The route follows a mix of little used, wild coastal paths as well as more popular tracks with fine sea views throughout. There are some question marks over food availability at the 2 pubs on this walk (currently being researched) but there are plenty of perfect picnic spots for those with provisions (which can be bought at the supermarket en route). Tea at the aptly named cliff top cafe is a highlight and the landscaped beach at Folkestone exceeds expectations.

Remember to download the instructions www.walkingclub.org

Go to SWC walks and click on Walk number 13.