Eridge Circular walk

A heritage railway, a nature reserve and massive sandstone outcrops in the High Weald.

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sat, 30-Mar-24 Eridge Circular - a spring paradise 27 warm sun
Sat, 13-Jan-24 Saturday walk - Eridge Circular 13 gloomy but dry
Sat, 15-Apr-23 Eridge Circular 8 mix of sun cloud and a rain shower near the end
Sun, 31-Jul-22 Sunday Walk – Eridge Circular 9 overcast but warm not to say humid conditions
Wed, 13-Nov-19 Wednesday Walk Eridge Circular 6 sunshine in the morning
Sat, 16-Feb-19 Eridge Circular 30 light cloud and mist
Sat, 03-Mar-18 Saturday walk - Eridge Circular - a short walk through an interesting part of the Weald 12 quite a bit of sun
Sat, 09-Sep-17 Eridge Circular with optional extension 32 dry and sunny no rain until on the train home
Sun, 02-Apr-17 Sunday Walk – Steam trains in the High Weald 15 sunny and warm some cloud in the afternoon
Wed, 13-Apr-16 Midweek Day Walk - Eridge Circular
Sat, 29-Nov-14 Eridge Circular 32
Sun, 15-Dec-13 Eridge Circular 7
Sat, 08-Dec-12 Eridge Circular
Sat, 31-Mar-12 Eridge Circular
Sat, 17-Dec-11 a Eridge Circular, with shorter morning
Sun, 30-Oct-11 Eridge Circular
Sun, 05-Jun-11 Eridge Circular
Walker
Walker
16.8km (10.4 miles)

10.07 train from London Bridge (10.22 East Croydon) to Eridge, arriving 11.03 T=swc.120
For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.
Apologies to anyone who did this walk back in January, but now is the time of year when it is at its best. This is my favourite early spring territory, with nice wildflowers and a pretty mix of scenery. Given that you might be out walking on more than one day this Easter weekend, I thought that a not-too-long walk might be welcomed.
This is a good walk for wood anemones, both at the start and around Harrison Rocks in the afternoon. Pro tip: if you follow the Eridge to Forest Row walk for a short distance at the start, it not only cuts off a corner on the route for this walk, but takes you past more wooden ms. At Harrison Rocks the best wood anemone displays (pictured) are behind the track along the top of the rocks. There is also a fine display of daffodils at Groombridge Place, which should be at their best about now, and the walk is punctuated by the chuffing of steam trains on the Spa Valley Railway.
Groombridge has two pubs: the more characterful one is the Crown Inn, but the Junction Inn is a bit more spacious. The village also has a convenience store.
Tea is at the excellent Huntsman pub by Eridge station (they do tea, and a nice crumble if you are peckish).
Trains back from Eridge are at 50 past the hour.
  • Wed, 27-Mar-24

    If you are planning on a pub lunch, it might be worth booking ahead. Neither lunchtime pub had tables at 1. We’ve gone for 1.15pm.

  • Fri, 29-Mar-24

    Which one did you book? And for how many?

  • Fri, 29-Mar-24

    I’ve a table at the Crowne Inn that’s currently booked for 5. I’ve had a word with the pub and they say that if they add a leaf it can take 10. Hope that helps.

  • Fri, 29-Mar-24

    Thanks, Alice - it looks like being a bit chilly for picnicking!

  • Sat, 30-Mar-24

    There's a comment on this walk's web page that one of the two routes out from Groombridge was blocked by excessive mud and water for 50 meters. That was back in January but I would be suprised if if is much better now.

  • Sun, 31-Mar-24

    25 on the platform at Eridge, one significant other who joined us at lunch, and one who started at Ashurst for some reason. So 27 at least on this gentle meander around nature’s spring garden.

    In the warm sun all seemed lovely. Good amounts of wood anemones (though more to come) and a pleasing range of butterflies, including my first orange tips of the year. Lanes were bordered with concentrations of cheerful celandines and there was a green fuzz on the understorey shrubs and saplings.

    I set the tone for the day by leading a few unsuspecting companions on an unauthorised shortcut in the morning to see more wooden ms. Others did other variations. At the end of the walk, in the sunny garden of the Huntsman, there was discussion about how many had actually done the full main walk as published. Only one could confidently claim this status.

    A lot of us descended all at once on the Crown for lunch. The husband and wife team who run the pub get double brownie points for coping with us all without complaint. Two groups had booked tables inside, but this meant they got served slower, elbowed aside by those of us who ordered at the bar and sat outside (sorry about that!). How nice it was to sit outside! I hope for many more such days in the weeks ahead.

    As alluded to above, I reckon at least two thirds of the group spent some time in the sunny garden of the Huntsman, albeit in two shifts, one getting the 4.50 train and the other the 5.50. From tomorrow that will seem too early to be finishing a walk…

    Postscript: after posting the above, someone asked me about mud. Plenty of dry paths, but a few still very gloopy. I advised those I was with after lunch to avoid the path along the field edge between the railway line and the driveway to Harrisons Rocks, and to use the road instead. They ignored me and waded through mud up to their ankles as a consequence. But generally this was the first Saturday walk I have done this year where mud was not a mega issue.

PeteG
PeteG
t=SWC.120

Length: 17km / 10.5m. Toughness: 4 / 10

The stations at Eridge and Groombridge are connected by the Spa Valley Railway, which is running today. You are likely to see and hear vintage steam or diesel trains at several places along the route.

The morning section is an undulating route across typical High Weald territory.

The afternoon section goes from Old Groombridge's village green to Groombridge Place, a beautiful Jacobean manor house surrounded by a medieval moat. The full route continues past Harrison's Rocks, where you can usually watch climbers practising their skills on this massive outcrop of Ardingly sandstone. It then swings round to go through Broadwater Warren nature reserve (free entry). You could break off the main afternoon route at Harrison's Rocks and go directly to Eridge station via Forge Road.

Trains: Get the 1007 Uckfield train from London Bridge (probably platform 10) (East Croydon 1022), arriving 1103. Return trains at xx50.

Lunch: The suggested lunch pub in Groombridge (after 7 km) is the 16 th C Crown Inn ( 01892-864742. It has some outdoor seating overlooking the village green and "serves good food". There is an alternative pub ten minutes away in the main part of the village, the Junction Inn ( 01892-864275 ).

Tea: At the end of the walk The Huntsman pub is a stone's throw from Eridge station.


  • Sat, 13-Jan-24

    13 on the walk, which apart from a short super gloopy stretch had bearable mud levels. It turned out that the Crown was closed (but reopening tomorrow), which news from a local persuaded some of us to omit that loop. A couple ate in the Junction which apparently was slow. We were a bit split up by now, but a certain amount of regrouping at the end in The Huntsman before 7 getting the 1550 and 2 opting for the later stamp train to Tunbridge. gloomy but dry .

Sat, 15-Apr-23 : Eridge Circular 8
Dirk
Dirk
t=SWC.120

Length: 17km / 10.5m
Toughness: 4 / 10
Transport: Take the 10:00 train from London Bridge, change at East Croydon and arrive in Eridge at 11:03. Return trains at xx:50.

A pleasant walk through fields and woods with Harrison's and Eridge Rocks and the Spa Valley Railway along the way.

  • Sun, 16-Apr-23

    8 on a day with a mix of sun cloud and a rain shower near the end

  • Mon, 17-Apr-23

    As MoonBrain writes 8 on this pleasant walk around Eridge. The walk poster had cleverly selected a date to coincide with a Spa Valley Railways Steam and Heritage Diesel Train Rides 🚂🚆 (or was that date just serendipitous ⁉️)

    Whatever, walkers were treated to an up-close view of a steam locomotive at Eridge before setting off into the countryside. Definite signs of spring there with a green blur starting to appear in woodland and those cheeky little celandines showing off their blooms along the hedgerows.

    Walkers taking luncheon at the Junction Inn were able to sit outside and I hear good reports about the food there too.

    Two took advantage of the Spa Valley Railway Event and travelled back to Eridge on one of their trains and enjoyed the sights, sound and smells of a bygone age.

Sun, 31-Jul-22 : Sunday Walk – Eridge Circular 9
Sean
Sean
Extra Walk 120 – Eridge Circular

Length: 17 km (10.6 miles). Toughness: 4/10

09:51 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:58, East Croydon 10:09), changing at Oxted (arr 10:33, dep 10:38) for the Uckfield train waiting on the adjacent platform, arriving Eridge at 11:05.

If you miss this train and decide to take the one an hour later, consider getting off at Ashurst (the stop before Eridge) and doing the walk's Alternative Start from this station. It's 2½ km shorter than the Eridge start, so you should reach the Crown Inn in Groombridge from the other direction only about 20 minutes behind the main group.

Trains back from Eridge are hourly at xx:51, again changing at Oxted for East Croydon and Victoria.

This walk used to have a choice of two fairly short afternoon legs, but these have now been stitched together so that both the imposing Harrisons Rocks and the RSPB's Broadwater Warren reserve are included. This is actually the first outing for this extended version, although both of the original endings are still available if you want a shorter walk.

Groombridge-Place Other features on this walk are the steam locos and heritage diesels to be seen (and heard) on the Spa Valley Railway at Eridge and Groombridge, and a close-up view of Groombridge Place, a Jacobean manor house surrounded by a medieval moat.

Walkers who want a pub lunch in Groombridge usually go for the Crown Inn overlooking the green; the alternative is ten minutes away in the main part of the village, the Junction Inn. At the end of the walk you can unwind in The Huntsman pub, a stone's throw from Eridge station.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.120

  • Mon, 01-Aug-22

    9 left Eridge station under overcast but warm not to say humid conditions . The essential and charming anarchy of SWC quickly manifested itself at Mott's Mill where we split into high-roaders and low-roaders into Groombridge where further division occurred between picnickers and those dining at either the Crown or the Junction, both reported to be serving very satisfactory food. Much discussion and poring over maps and walk directions after lunch led to the majority taking the longer route back whilst two set off to walk past Groombridge station, collecting another who was finishing a very leisurely lunch at the Junction. At this point one of our number, suffering from post-Covid fatigue, exercised a woman's right to choo-choos and decided to take the steam train back to Eridge. The remaining two then took their own route (all right, were too busy chatting among themselves to pay attention to the walk directions) back to Eridge, arriving in light rain in time for a quick drink at the Huntsman, whose garden was positively heaving with diners listening to a live band and singer. Not quite sure what that was in aid of!

  • Mon, 01-Aug-22

    I think you have won the walk report Golden Groan of 2022 there, Brian!

  • Mon, 01-Aug-22

    Couldn't resist it.

Wed, 13-Nov-19 : Wednesday Walk Eridge Circular 6
PeteG
PeteG

Eridge Circular

Length: 15 km (9.3 miles) 4 out of 10 T=swc.120

The morning section is an undulating route across typical High Weald territory. A choice of routes – along an open ridge or through a secluded valley – lead to Groombridge, one of many rural villages which developed away from the original hamlet with the arrival of the railway.


The afternoon section starts from Old Groombridge and goes past Groombridge Place, a beautiful Jacobean manor house surrounded by a medieval moat. You then follow the railway line a short distance up the Groom valley before turning into Broadwater Forest, the Broadwater Warren nature reserve. The Main Walk goes past one of the massive sandstone outcrops in the area, Eridge Rocks.

Trains: Get the 1007 Uckfield train (1021 East Croydon) arriving 1103. (From Victoria, the 0955, East Croyden 1011). Return trains are 1550, 1650, 1750, 1820, 1850, 1920

Lunch: There is a choice of pubs in Groombridge, after about 7 km on the Main Walk. In the main part of the village the Junction Inn serves food 3pm. At the other end of the village the 16thC Crown Inn serves good food to 2.30pm. The Crown seems to be the favoured choice.

Tea: The Huntsman next to the station is well worth missing a train for.


  • Wed, 13-Nov-19

    6 on this walk, though I saw a seventh just miss the train at London Bridge. We had sunshine in the morning and then cloud in the afternoon, and the autumn colours were very fine - mostly oaks at this stage, but some beeches. Being the Weald there was some mud but on the whole it was not too trying.

    Two lunched at the Crown, and the sandwich eaters sat on the bench in front of the pub. One pub luncher ate inside, but another outside, the air temperature being just about warm enough despite the disappearance of the sun at this point. We were briefly joined by the walk's author, who was doing researches.

    The sandwich eaters, as is traditional, left before the two pub lunchers, and did the main afternoon route. The pub lunchers took the short cut via Harrison Rocks, which was very scenic. One suffered a footwear disfunction here and went straight to the station, presumably catching the 3.50 train. The other (me) wandered happily in the woods above the rocks, looking at the beech colours and dreaming of the wood anemones that grow here in spring. I then took a back way to Eridge - fabulous colours here - to meet up with the main group at the Huntsman pub by Eridge station. There the five of us enjoyed a roaring wood fire and took the 4.50 train home.

Sat, 16-Feb-19 : Eridge Circular 30
Mike A
Mike A

Getting there:

Catch the 10:07 am Uckfield train from London Bridge (10:22 am from East Croydon) arriving at Eridge 11:03 am - At the time of writing this service is scheduled to leave from platform 10 at London Bridge.

What tickets to buy:

Buy a cheap day return to Eridge.


About the walk:

There are options on this walk and I am posting the longer morning route and the shorter afternoon route (about 8 miles). However if you are wanting to walk further, then you may walk the longer afternoon option through Broadwater Warren after lunch (about 9.5 miles)
Vintage trainspotters - oh no, that's not right, ... Trainspotters interested in vintage steam and diesel locomotives can find the Spa valley Railway timetable here
Groombridge station (which the railway passes through) is about 800 metres from The Crown Inn tel: 01892 864742 which is a nice lunchtime pub.

Getting back:

Trains depart from Eridge station to London Bridge hourly at 50 minutes past the hour. However you make take afternoon tea or other refreshments in the Huntsman tel 01892 864258 while you wait. The Huntsman is just a few minutes from the station.

T=swc.120
  • Anonymous
    Thu, 14-Feb-19

    Plan to do regular 9.3miles. Everyone is welcome. This walk will be another hit, Mike, thanks for posting it.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 17-Feb-19

    25 arrived at Eridge and set off under light cloud and mist , splitting almost immediately into those taking the shorter route to Groombridge via Harrison's Rocks, and those taking the more scenic by Mott's Mill. Picnickers spread out at lunchtime, some taking advantage of seats, benches and a tea stall at the Spa Valley Railway station at Groombridge. Pub lunchers had a choice of the Junction or the Crown (no reports yet) before setting off back to Eridge. Again, the group divided, some taking the direct route, others trying, but failing, to follow the directions through Broadwater Warren and ending up slightly off-piste. A short bit of map and compass work got us to Eridge Rocks and back to the station, where The Huntsman had a log fire waiting and provided a comfortable stop before the 16:50 back to London Bridge.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 17-Feb-19

    The count at the station was 29, we met another walker who took an earlier train at the end. She went to the designated lunch stop The Crown, but found nobody else. So 30

Length: 15km (9.3 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

10.23 train from East Croydon to Eridge, arriving 11.03.

Suggested connecting train from Central London: 9.53 train from Victoria (9.59 Clapham Junction), arriving East Croydon 10.10

For walk directions click here. For GPX click here

I realise that with the snow forecast for Thursday and Friday it is touch and go if this walk will be possible. Much depends on the trains. I am tempted to change it for something closer to London but am aware that some adventurers may relish the prospect of a snow walk. So I will leave it up, but suggest that those setting out for it also bring directions for the Riddlesdown to Coulsdon South walk (book 2 walk 15) as a close-to-London back-up in case the Eridge train is not running. You could liaise with other walkers at the footbridge on platform 1 at East Croydon at 10.20.

If the train does run, this walk will provide an interesting and varied snowy winter outing in lovely quiet countryside that is actually not at all far from civilisation (Tunbridge Wells). The Uckfield line, being one of the very few in the south east to be diesel operated, should also be less vulnerable - famous last words - to disruption (no third rails to ice up etc).

Lunch is in either the Junction Inn (offering Malaysian food last time I looked) or the Crown Inn in Groombridge - both worthy pubs. Tea is in the delightfully remote Huntsman pub just next to Eridge station.

In the afternoon a short cut ending is possible which goes past Harrison Rocks - very fine scenery in its own right. Another alternative is to follow sections 13 and 14 of the Tunbridge Wells Circular walk into Tunbridge Wells, a distance of 6km (3.7 miles). You will probably need to buy another train ticket from Tunbridge Wells back to London, however.

Trains back from Eridge are at 20 past the hour. In the event of train problems, note that the station is just down the slip road from a big A road. A bus stop on the same side of this road has buses to Tunbridge Wells. T=3.120


  • Thu, 01-Mar-18

    I have been using Southern and SE trains most of the week and things have been quite good overall. This would be a good walk in the snow!

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 02-Mar-18

    There are now 2 footbridges at East Croydon. If the 10.23 train to Eridge is not running, I suggest meeting on the main entrance footbridge on platform 1 (up the ramp)

  • Fri, 02-Mar-18

    No, not the ramp, the footbridge - the new one, halfway down the platform. A footbridge is a footbridge and a ramp is a ramp. I meant the footbridge.

    Thinking about it, if the Eridge train is not running (it was running on Friday), then a good alternative would be either Oxted or East Grinstead (eg the short circular): both have the advantage that they start and finish in civilisation while taking in good rural places in between. A day return to Eridge would be valid to Oxted and would be accepted from East Grinstead in the circumstances, I am sure. I am sure we will manage to find somewhere to walk.....cross fingers.

  • Sat, 03-Mar-18

    What a change from Friday! Arctic conditions in full retreat, quite a bit of sun , low single digit temperatures feeling positively balmy, flowers out again, birds singing once more....

    The trains operated without a hitch. The Uckfield Line diesel was sat at East Croydon from before 10am, happily puffing out particulates, so we did not even have to wait for the connection in the cold. The sun came out as we headed south - a nice surprise. 12 set out. Or was it 13? We met one SWC regular halfway round going in the opposite direction. Was he there at the start?

    As soon as we got going, it was clear the snow was melting fast, but there was still a fair amount left. Some tricky navigation around pipeline works at one point, but otherwise a fine morning’s walk. Eight of us squeezed into a cosy sunny nook at the Crown (some non-SWC customers were even sat outside, which was tempting...). What a lovely pub this is: friendly, now with a whole gluten-free menu, bless them, and a vegan nut roast. One could have sat there all afternoon.

    More cloud in the afternoon, and as the snow melted, more slush and standing water and mud. Various routes across Broadwater Forest seemed to be taken. Towards the end of the walk there was more sun and then dark clouds approaching but the rain very politely held off until we were in the Huntsman. Another lovely pub! Tea served cheerfully in huge pots. A blazing fire to sit by. Most stayed only until the 4.50 train, but two of us found the warmth of burning biomass too irresistible after the last week’s weather and stayed for the 5.50, spending the hour resolving Brexit and other pressing global issues.

Dirk
Dirk
t=SWC.120

Length: 15 km / 9.5 m or 18 km / 11 m
Toughness: 4 / 10
Transport: Take the 10:08 from London Bridge, arriving in Eridge at 11:03. Trains back from Eridge at xx:50.

From the description:

The morning section is an undulating route across typical High Weald territory, starting with a slightly longer route to Mottsmill Stream than that in Extra Walk 109 (Eridge to East Grinstead). You can then choose between a high-level open route with fine views, or a lower route through a secluded valley with good displays of bluebells and other spring flowers. Both routes combine on the approach to Groombridge, one of many rural villages which developed around its railway station. The original hamlet (now called Old Groombridge) is just across the county border, in Kent.
The afternoon section starts by going past Groombridge Place, a beautiful Jacobean manor house surrounded by a medieval moat. You then follow the railway line a short distance up the Grom valley before turning into Broadwater Forest. Much of this area was acquired by the RSPB in 2007 and is now the Broadwater Warren nature reserve (free entry). The southern end of the wood is also a nature reserve (managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust) and the Main Walk goes past one of the massive sandstone outcrops in the area, Eridge Rocks.

You can extend the walk either from Eridge by walking back to Groombridge along the alternative path passing Harrison's Rocks or leaving the official route earlier to cut across to Harrison's Rocks and then to Groombridge. From Groombridge you can then take the steam train either to Eridge (17:06) or to Tunbridge Wells (17:36). Should it get very late there is also a bus at 18:46 to Tunbridge Wells.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 10-Sep-17

    Last but not least posting walk numbers here. 32, 30 at the start and with 2 arriving later. It has a number that was more than two other walks combined. Just to show there is great demand for a walk with <13miles when two others are 13 miles plus. Thanks for posting this lovely walk.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 10-Sep-17

    I have some sympathy for the above thought. The club is divided. We have a group champion for ever longer and tougher walks whilst another group finding harder and harder to identify themselves with the club for lack of what used to be a normal walk (10-12miles). I appreciate all walker posters' hard work for adding varieties to the club, Let's keep it in good balance.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 10-Sep-17

    Just to add dry and sunny no rain until on the train home

  • Mon, 11-Sep-17

    Three of the five walks posted for next weekend are under twelve miles. Numbers attending the Saturday walks often split more towards one walk than the other two, but predicting which will be the favoured one is not easy. But overall there is a pretty good balance between the three Saturday ones. Length is just one of many factors posters think of when choosing walks - weather, time of year, a balance of starting stations, giving all the walks an airing from time to time, and offering walks on different types of terrain being some of the others.

  • Mon, 11-Sep-17

    My tuppence worth:

    No one doubts that there is demand for short walks;

    that is why every weekend (incl.this one) the majority of walks are short or have attractive short options (but, yes: short options of long-ish walks afford people to actually live the SWC 'philosophy' and follow the written directions, which seems to be too much effort for many people);

    Walker posted a walk this Saturday that had just had two other outings (within the last 6 months), presumably pushing some of his regulars onto the Eridge walk;

    and I posted the 3rd Pulborough walk in as many weeks (a consequence of the research needed for the new walk I posted).

    So, ideal conditions for a SE of London short walk, but hardly a typical weekend.

  • Anonymous
    Mon, 11-Sep-17

    For some people, the reason to come to group walks is to enjoy others company (not too lazy to read the instruction). Some short cuts at the end of a walk are fine but others earlier in the walk defeat the purpose of coming to group walks.

  • Mon, 11-Sep-17

    Lazy or not...

    If in this day and age of mobile phones, emails, blogs and so-called social media, concerned people can't organise amongst themselves to have a sub-group on a long walk that together walks a clearly described and publicly posted shorter option on a long walk (i.e.: one reads and leads, the rest chat and follow);

    or if those same people can't be bothered to cross the river to go on a short walk north of the Thames, or on a Sunday;

    then that tells me that the problem can't be that pressing.

    p.s.: I haven't noticed a drop in attendance numbers over the weekends since the supposed 'divide' in the group, maybe Anonymous can provide the hard data that suggests the SWC is in crisis?

    p.p.s.: as I said above, every weekend the majority of walks are short or with clearly outlined and fully written up short options, so where is the 'lack of balance'?

    p.p.p.s.: this is the SWC website, not ramblers.org.uk, so there shouldn't be an expectation to be led on walks

  • Anonymous
    Mon, 11-Sep-17

    That will make posting walks each week redundant if everyone starts to use social media to organise walks themselves, right?

  • Mon, 11-Sep-17

    I'm talking about going on the posted short option of a group walk. put a comment on the blog that you want to walk the short walk, preferably with a name that people recognise rather than as Anonymous, and ask whether other people would like to join. that's how other people do it.

  • Anonymous
    Wed, 13-Sep-17

    "For some people, the reason to come to group walks is to enjoy others company (not too lazy to read the instruction). Some short cuts at the end of a walk are fine but others earlier in the walk defeat the purpose of coming to group walks."

    totally agree with this statement

  • Anonymous
    Wed, 13-Sep-17

    "For some people, the reason to come to group walks is to enjoy others company...'

    For some people, the reason to come to group walks is to enjoy the walk in reasonable solitude, but meet the group at the end for refreshments.

    For some people, the reason to come to group walks is to keep others in sight for a sense of security, but not talk to them if at all possible.

    For some people, the reason to come to group walks is to get out into the countryside, but not worry about navigation, just follow the group.

    For some people, the only type of walk there should be, is the type of walk they favour.

  • Anonymous
    Thu, 14-Sep-17

    solitude and totally silent walkers are a minority of the group, I'd say less than 10%. We used to have a silent walking group, even them could not resist the temptation of chitchat so they broke silent at lunch time. Let's face it, human beings are social animals, the very fact that 'solitude' and 'total silent' walkers come to the group walks just proves the point. Let's hope this group will not turn into a bunch of loners who could not see eye to eye.

  • Anonymous
    Thu, 14-Sep-17

    very off putting to scan the weekend walks and automatically exclude certain walks that would otherwise be lovely were it not for their grand mileage. Plus who wants to arrange a short version where one might be forced to walk alone because no-one else is doing it ?!!

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 15-Sep-17

    well...don't automatically exclude certain walks based on their mileage then. simples!

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 15-Sep-17

    Eh?.😐nil points,re-read the comment mate

  • Wed, 20-Sep-17

    Frankie

    If the group wants to expand and attract some younger walkers then a longer option may be important. I know of some newcomers who are very keen to have the longer challenge and are very talkative while walking

Extra Walk 120 – Eridge Circular
Length: 15 km (9.3 miles). Toughness: 4/10

09:53 East Grinstead train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 09:59), changing at East Croydon (arr 10:09, dep 10:15) for the Uckfield train (usually from the same Platform 6), arriving Eridge at 11:03.

Better still, take the first fast train to East Croydon when you get to Victoria or CJ – Sunday trains are always prone to delays. If you do miss the connection you'll have to take the next East Grinstead train and change at Oxted. You'll be starting an hour late but if you do the shorter outward route you'll only be 20-30 minutes behind the main group at lunchtime.

Trains back from Eridge are hourly at 50 minutes past and go to Oxted, where you change for Victoria.

The long-running industrial dispute on Southern trains still isn't resolved but I'll take a chance on this High Weald walk in their territory. You should get to see (and hear) steam trains on the Spa Valley Railway at Eridge station and also at the lunchtime village of Groombridge, where Groombridge Place always puts on a good show of daffodils and other spring flowers. The afternoon is across the RSPB's Broadwater Warren reserve and past the imposing Eridge Rocks (or you could take the shorter return route via the even more impressive Harrison's Rocks). At the end of the walk you can unwind in the Huntsman pub, a stone's throw from Eridge station.

You'll need to print the directions from the Eridge Circular Walk page. T=swc.120
  • Tue, 04-Apr-17

    15 on this walk on a perfect spring day, sunny and warm some cloud in the afternoon . Two excellent pubs and various spring flowers on display. The Broadwater Warren section is a tad disappointing because of mnajor woodland clearance which has obviously disrupted the wild life although there should be some good displays of heather in the late summer.

    We timed the walk perfectly to just miss the 3.50 train thereby forcing the group to have a final drink at the Huntsman whilst waiting for the one an hour later. A lovely day out

Mike A
Mike A

Eridge Circular

A short walk through an interesting part of the High Weald

Book 3* Walk 120

* Online only
Length : 15 km or 9½ miles

Toughness : 4 out of 10

Getting there : Catch the 10:08 am train from London Bridge to Eridge
(Departs from East Croydon at 10:23)

Meeting point : Eridge Station at 11:03

Tickets : Buy a cheap day return to Eridge

Brief Description

A newish walk in the delightful Kent/East Sussex countryside You may find full details here

Suggested Lunch stops

Crown Inn, Old Groombridge t: 01892 864742
Junction Inn, Groombridge t: 01892864275 (apparently in the process of changing ownership)

Suggested Tea stop

The Huntsman Pub t: 01892 864258 a fairly hefty stones throw from the station. Very friendly country pub, serves beer, nibbles and tea all in nice surroundings

Map

OS Explorer : 135

Return train times

Trains return from Eridge to London at the following times ... 15:50 | 16:50 | 17:20* | 17:48 | 18:20* | 18:49

* To London Victoria changing at Hurst Green
All trains stop at East Croydon, so you may choose to change there and catch a train to your preferred destination station.
  • Anonymous
    Thu, 14-Apr-16

    A very lovely walk with fabulous wildflowers

    including bluebells out in profusion.

    about 16 on walk. jfk