Walk Report

Up and Down and Round About, Saturday 24th October 2020
11 walkers, 20.9 miles - leader Gavin Fuller
A gloomy day which unfortunately proved wetter than forecast didn't deter ten walkers joining the leader in Dorking for a walk through Surrey in its autumnal cloak to leafy Croydon (well earlier that week it had been listed in the 20 areas in England with the most tree cover per area!). First up (literally) was the "Down" of the title, in the shape of the North Downs, which were ascended, descended and ascended again to a windswept Colley Hill, where even the notably shaggy cows were seeking cover. Turning north, in due course the distinctly unfamous Shabden and Upper Gatton Circular Walk (the "Up" of the title) was reached and followed for a few miles, before another turn to the north crossed the second railway line of the day over a couple more undulations to Banstead Wood and a somewhat belated lunch on the green at Woodmansterne which afforded some cover from the deteriorating weather, whilst the local pub provided a couple of walkers with takeaway tea and coffee in the unfamiliar receptacle of plastic pint glasses! Things got a bit more urban afterwards but there were several green spaces for the walk to pass through including Oaks Park and Roundshaw (the "Round" of the title); the latter being a nature reserve on the site of London's original international airport not that you could tell now. One final open space in the shape of Duppas Hill Recreation ground too the walk into Croydon, where the plethora of transport options saw the party go three separate ways - the mileage given above is that of those who stayed with the leader to his semi-official finish at East Croydon.
Photographs by Gavin Fuller and Ian Watson; more by Gavin and Ian on the Group Facebook page

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