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NOTICES
1) Call for volunteers for the 25th Founders’ event on 1st Oct 2022 this key event cannot happen without the fantastic volunteers that help each year. Information for volunteers is available here https://bit.ly/3NvLjl5 there are lots of roles both in the different checkpoints and out on the course. All the details are there. Those of you who wish to volunteer please complete the form https://bit.ly/3NwmPZa and return it to Chris.
2) New Members Welcome to the following new Associate Member Neil Baldwin. Associate members please do share any walks you do in your local area either on the London group Facebook page or direct to me for our Out and About section of the newsletter.
3) Next Edition The Blather will have a rest next week, as there are no weekend walks planned for Saturday 9 April given the 4 day Wealdway expedition over the following Easter weekend. Members are welcome to join as many of the days as they wish.
Forthcoming Walks (details are also on the website) here
The Wealdway #1: Gravesend to Tonbridge Friday 15th April 2022
Region / Area
Southern England / Kent
Route
Gravesend station (Southeastern service departs Charing Cross 07.48, London Bridge 07.57 or fast service departs St Pancras 08.25). Meet by exit to Platform 2. Return trains from Tonbridge depart at .09, .19 and .49
We proceed to the official start point near New Haven Fort before returning through Gravesend. Exiting the town by a tedious road walk we eventually proceed across what will probably be somewhat muddy undulating countryside to the North Downs. As once the route departs Gravesend there are precious few benches or obvious places to stop until Tonbridge it will probably be a generally continuous walk to lunch, which is scheduled for around the 11-mile mark. Please bring a picnic lunch, and seat mats might be helpful, as it will of necessity be on the ground. More undulations take us to Platt (exit point for Borough Green & Wrotham station) before a gentle climb on to the Greensand ridge and a drop down to the tea stop at West Peckham (the only facility is the Swan on the Green pub). We then drop to the Medway Valley before a walk along the river brings us into Tonbridge.
Other stations: Sole Street (5.5 miles), Borough Green & Wrotham (a mile from the way at the 16 mile mark)
OS Explorer 161, 148, 137, 147
As we have a long day pace will be aimed to be around 3mph
Contact Gavin Fuller
The Wealdway #2: Tonbridge to Buxted Saturday 16th April 2022
Region / Area
Southern England / Kent
Route
Tonbridge (Train departs London Charing X 8.15, London Bridge 8.22 Arrives Tonbridge 9am) Return trains from Buxted hourly at .37
We leave Tonbridge passing the Castle (reputedly England's finest example of a Motte and Bailey), along the River Medway and before too long we climb up onto the High Weald for some far-reaching views. We pass through typically pretty Kentish villages such as Bidborough and Speldhurst and will stop for a late-ish lunch at The Dorset Arms in Withyam (13 miles). A couple of miles later will find us climbing through Five Hundred Acre Wood (the inspiration for A.A. Milne's 100 Aker Wood) to emerge onto Ashdown Forest. Here were have more stunning views. At Camp Hill we leave the heathland and encounter a mix of farmland and some incredibly pretty woods. We leave the Wealdway at St Margaret the Queen Church and continue onto Buxted station. As there is only one train an hour it seems sensible to have a tea stop at the Buxted Inn (near the station) rather than any earlier in the walk.
For those staying over in Buxted, dinner at the White Hart has been highly recommended and it may be worth booking a table in advance.
OS Explorer 147, 135
The Wealdway #3 : Buxted to Berwick Sunday 17th April 2022
Region / Area
Southern England / Surrey
Route
Buxted station (train departs London Bridge 07.52, East Croydon 08.07). Return trains hourly at .55
We leave Buxted Station to retrace our steps to join the Wealdway at St Margaret the Queen Church. We shall pass the Buxted Park Hotel and stroll on through beautiful countryside following the very well way marked path. We shall stop around 5 miles at Newlands Wood for a morning banana break. We cross farmland with a regular sprinkling of stiles heading through East Hoathly to have lunch half way along the route at Chiddlingly. In the afternoon we skirt the edge of Hailsham, through a residential area, to go towards Upper Dicker, There are many fields to cross which had been rutted by animal feet which means tread carefully. At Upper Dicker there will be a tea stop at the pub. Around 3 miles left to go on the final stretch, we head around Arlington Reservoir leaving the Wealdway to pass Chilverbridge House to reach Berwick Station
Email
The Wealdway #4: Berwick to Eastbourne Monday 18th April 2022
Group Walk
Region / Area
Southern England / Surrey
Route
Berwick station (train departs London Bridge 08,26, East Croydon 08,42, change at Lewes) Return trains from Eastbourne .06 and .35
The Wealdway is rejoined near Arlington Reservoir; the first stretch to the A27 is likely to be slightly overgrown from past experience. Once across the main road we pass through Wilmington to the base of the Long Man hill figure where we circle mainly below the South Downs to Jevington. Ascending to the Downs, please bring a picnic lunch as the lunch stop will be along this section, we process above Eastbourne to Beachy Head and the way's secondary start point above the lighthouse. Then it is back below Whitbread Hole and along the seafront to the official start/finish point by Eastbourne Pier. There should be time for a celebratory ice cream or drink before returning home
Capital Challenge 2022
It would be great to share your experiences in a future edition of the Blather. Until then the lovely people at Checkpoint 2 will have to suffice. Please do forward any photos to me via the normal London LDWA email.
Checkpoint 2 Capital Challenge
Photo: Tim Bedwell
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Property of the Week
Cambridgeshire Beauty
Photo: Ian Watson
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Out and About
Catbells
Photo: Gavin Fuller
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