Another good lunch option is the cafe at the refurbished pavilion in Fernhurst, the Fern Cafe. It has cooked food, coffee, cakes and even wine, and its website says it is open Wednesday to Sunday.

15 set off in w==drizzle-which-soon-gave-way-to-a-dry-spell-with-persistent-light-rain taking over after lunch. About half the group had lunch at the Fern cafe while the rest picnicked outside. The cafe does sandwiches,some hot food, tempting cakes and hot drinks. Five or six picnickers set off ahead of the cafe group which split at the point where some opted for the Temple of the Winds route and others the other route to Black Down. This latter group reached Haslemere around 4pm.Three went straight to the station, the others went for refreshments. This is a lovely walk, as lovely and atmospheric in the wintry rain as it is in other seasons. There was some mud but mostly the ground was firm.

drizzle which soon gave way to a dry spell with persistent light rain

Look out for the cute little pink bell-shaped flowers on the bilberry.

14 on a sunny spring day Some bits were dry some bits were muddy. But not muddy like last week. There was flowers. Bluebells, gorse, violets, celandine but no little pink bilberry flowers. The Red Lion is in new hands but the food seemed fine. A pleasant time was had in the garden. The HSB beer was good.

We lost half the group here - picnickers who went on ahead. After the pub it was time for the dreaded Black Down ascent. Up through the mud, up through the stream, upward, ever upward. “Not as bad as it could have been” declared an unusually cheerful Mr Tiger at the top.

Eventually the hardy crew neared Haslemere. Some went straight to the station and three to Hemingways where most of their cake had already sold out. The good news, for Mr Tiger at least, was that the rainbow cake hadn’t. Then, it was off to the station for the 17:30 home.

We’re going to be on the 9.52 from Clapham Junction that will arrive in Haslemere at 10.50. See you there.

As per Wednesday walk. Good idea to book Red Lion, Fernhurst.

With Southern Rail not operating, it was a ragged meet up in Haslemere with six setting of at about 11. The weather was “overcast-and-later-on-windy.

But what a lovely walk. Autumnal colour aplenty as we walked to the Red Lion arriving at 12.30 with 6.8km recorded on one walker’s phone (rather than the 8.3km in the walk description). Refreshments (beer or coffee) were enjoyed with snacks and picnics consumed on the benches on the picturesque green. A further walker arrived and left bringing the total to 7 .

Those of us with wellies were certainly glad of them in the ascent to the Temple of the Winds as part of the route was a stream. Our efforts were richly rewarded with a memorable view and time was spent identifying the various landmarks.

The return to Haslemere went through some remarkably attractive heathland. Gorse was still in flower and belted galloways were spied through the heather and billberry patches. The fungi count was negligible although one walker recounted a near death experience with death caps. A reminder to us all.

We arrived back in Haslemere at just after 3. Two walkers headed to the station and three went to the Swan Inn for a rather good late lunch, joined by a fourth for a beer. The usual train shenanigans on the way home did not add too much time to the journey. A very worthwhile day out.

Hello, thank you for organising.

I'd like to join this hike, but it's my first time with SWC, even though I've done many of your routes before. I'll be arriving at Haslemere by car. How do I recognise the group?

Hi Andrey. We look like walkers with typical walkers boots etc. (well most of us anyway ), and congregate outside the station exit for a short while after the train arrives to exchange names. There may be other groups - if so ask around. We usually answer to “Saturday Walkers”.

There’s.link to a guide for new starters at the top of the “this weeks walks” page.

Hi, I can't find a 1000 train tomorrow. I'll be getting the 1013 from Woking which I believe leaves Waterloo at 0945. Hope to see some of you there.

@Sandy I couldn't find it either. Changed to the next train, the 10:30 from Waterloo (or 10:28 from CLJ change Woking)

There is a cafe in Fernhurst. It's in the cricket ground. It has been open the last couple of times ove been there but I don't know if it's open today.

Arrived at Haslemere to find a huge crowd outside the station. I was wishing they’d clear away so we could see the walkers. Then I realised they WERE the walkers! All 25 of them. Another caught us up mid- morning making us 26

The weather was cloudy sunny humid

The start is not as rural as it used ta be. A large housing estate is appearing where once was a field with horses. The group sped on up to Marley Common.. Those hills aren’t getting any lower either.

The Red Lion wasn’t all that busy. Apparently things were kicking off at 2. Service a bit slow maybe but I think everyone got fed. And we were a large influx. A contingent of sandwich eaters formed an advance party up the not-as-muddy-as-it-could-be bridleway (but still a bit). Some went the Temple of the Winds way, but not Mr Tiger. No. He soldiered on with a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone.

After yet another hill, we were back in Haslemere where a brass band was playing. But not for us. No. Some Queen or other. A jubilee fair was in progress. So much bunting Mr Tiger couldn’t find the pub. In the ensuing panic he ended up with a coffee and a cake. :(

Grand day out. Thanks to Andrew for sorting out the morning train.

Lovely walk and wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to one walker who was kind and hung about as this walker struggled with the massive climb upwards today! Nice to know kindness still exists👍appreciated and hope you enjoy rest of bank hol.

It was suggested to make this walk the annual memorial walk for Nicholas Albery, founder of the Saturday Walkers Club and editor of the first Time Out Book of Country Walks.

Nicholas died on 3 June 2001 in a car crash. I am his widow and will join you on this walk, which is close to a piece of land we once came across on one of our Saturday walks with friends in the late 1980's. It has been our country retreat for many years. So this walk is very special to us.

Looking forward to meeting you on Saturday!

The booking email link doesn’t seem to be working. Could this be checked please? I’m booking for 2 places at lunch.

The booking address is not a link. You need to type or copy and paste it into your email.

25 set off from the station in pleasantly warm cloudy but bright weather. 12 had lunch at the Red Lion and most of the others joined them for a drink. The afternoon stretch was muddy on the ascent out of Fernhurst but otherwise not too bad. Bilberries are ripe - sweet but tiny. Around 10 caught the 16.02 train back to London.

Wanderer, many thanks for posting this ever popular walk and organising bookings at the Red Lion - much appreciated!

The Red Lion is a very good lunch stop able to accommodate all who wanted lunch or drinks under outdoor cover and the sea bass was an excellent choice in my part. Thanks to Wanderer for the booking especially as she didn’t eat there. On behalf of the less able 3 who caught the reliable bus after lunch we caught the 15.02 train having just missed the one half an hour earlier I can confirm that the burger cafe next to the station serves tea. We felt too under dressed to visit the lovely gastro steakhouse with rooms opposite the station but I have had drinks there on the outside terrace on previous Haslemere visits. We were delayed by the Raynes park signalling failure resulting in a queue to enter Waterloo and subsequent delays to onward departures.

It was good to see Josefine after such a long absence and we hope to welcome her again. I understand that she hopes to run the Poetry challenge in October where participants are asked to memorise and recite a poem. Nicholas Albery felt that learning something by heart helped to stimulate his memory.

the 10am to Portsmouth looks canceled. There is a 10.15am one.

Hi, I’m at Woking - there seems to be a 1043 from here getting to H’mere 1116. Not sure if that’s the one you’re getting Anonymous, but I hope to see someone there. Need to be back promptly so I won’t be going to the pub for lunch

Sorry to anyone at Haslemere. Trains all cancelled at Waterloo. We were waiting for the 10.15 but it was delayed and the driver, who was waiting with us, was doubtful it would run. So we switched to the 10.24 to Box Hill. One bailed out. Seven of us are doing Box Hill to Leatherhead. Annoyingly, just after we left Waterloo the 10.15 left just fifteen minutes late.

At least 10 set off to do this walk, and maybe one or two succeeded. There was Sandy at Woking, as seen in an earlier comment, and I hear another actually got to Haslemere. Eight more assembled at Waterloo for the specified train to find it and most other Portsmouth line trains cancelled due to the sudden onset of the 21st century in the Havant area, or some such disaster. The 10.15 alone was not cancelled but the minutes ticked by and the only change was it went from “on time” to “delayed”. Confidence was dented by the fact that its driver was standing next to us and seemed dubious that it would go, and by the “next fastest train to...” section of the departure board saying 11.00 for the next train to Guildford.

So we cast about for alternatives and alighted on the 10.24 to Box Hill. Hurried attempts to change our tickets to this route at the ticket office were scuppered by the fact that a) changing one walker’s ticket took about five minutes and b) the only other two available ticket windows were embarked on negotiations of a length and complexity to make Brexit seem snappy. Eight of us got the train nevertheless, using our Haslemere tickets, but one immediately bailed out again at Clapham Junction (what private griefs she had, alas, I know not, that made her do this).

So...seven of us got to Box Hill, and after some discussion elected to do Box Hill to Leatherhead. Except four needed the loo and so we went straight down the road to Burford Bridge, where the car park has public loos. Except three could not wait for the four in the loos, so they walked along to the Stepping Stones path and we four left behinds (to coin a phrase) set up to climb the hill by the back slope.

We met at the top, however, where the mist largely obscured the view. This lasted all day, which was a bit disappointing, though atmospheric in its way. The gloom was enlivened by at least half a dozen song thrushes practising their song, even though they should not really be doing this for another three weeks. The ground underfoot was not mud-free, obviously, but was reasonably firm throughout the walk.

Three had sandwiches and we did not see two of them afterwards. Four of us lunched at the Running Horses and one joined us for a drink. After lunch one wanted to continue to Leatherhead but four of us set out to do the loop back to Box Hill station, with talk of extending the walk to Denbies for tea. But in the end the lure of Box Hill station proved too much (even though it was only 2.30pm) and only one - me - carried on to Denbies, a pretty little route enlivened with the sight of my first bluebell shoots of the year.

And so I sit here at 3.40 penning these lines (and to one of my fellow walkers I say: they actually DON’T keep the scones in the refrigerated cabinet) and wondering what tender mercies South Western Railways have in store for me on the way home - what signal failures, what broken down trains, what emergencies requiring the attendance of the emergency services and necessitating terminating a train at Surbiton at 10.30pm and requiring one to pay £28 for a taxi to Richmond... (you may have noticed a bit of recent experience creeping in there...) And during such crises, will the onboard train guards, who strike so resolutely in defence of their public utility, actually have any information of any use whatsoever to offer passengers - anything better that I can get from the live train app, anyway?

4 three got off two trains at about 11.30 to join one motorist. We set off in low wet cloud getting to the Red Lion quite quickly for an excellent lunch. It was drier and clearer as we walked up the famously muddy path after lunch although there has been so much rain you could walk in the mud free stream bed for much of the way. Low cloud again towards the top so we did not visit the temple. Two of us had tea in Darnleys which stays open to 5.00 PM. An enjoyable day out and many thanks to those who had the persistence to get to Haslemere.

I was the one who continued alone after lunch to Leatherhead along the River Mole and jolly pretty it was too. Not too muddy and certainly not flooded. An enjoyable finale to a good days walk. I loved the mist up on the top, it added to the atmosphere. Thank you guys, for salvaging a walk from the wreckage at Waterloo.

Much to my surprise and pleasure I was permitted to use my return ticket from Haslemere on the Leatherhead line, and the trains were running fine, so all‘s well that ends well.

So 12 in all, by my calculation.

I forgot to mention, by the way, that annoyingly just minutes after we left Waterloo, we found our from the online train tracker that the 10.15 to Haslemere did after all depart, just 15 minutes late. It is the complete lack of information from the train companies in these situations that is so teeth-grinding. The train obviously was there or approaching Waterloo when we decamped to the Box Hill train: if they could just have said that to waiting passengers rather than just having it on the board as “delayed”

I would like to join ypu on this walk. Where in Waterloo Staion should we meet, unde the clock?

Kind regards

Barbara

Barbara....You may be lucky and have someone meet you under the clock but it's more usual to meet at the destination station either on the platform or near the ticket barrier. Look out for a group in typical walkers attire. If you haven't already looked at our guide for new members yet, have a look for the link at the top of the page.

Oh No Darnleys has closed!! Still there are other options.

21 on this walk on a dry sunny day. T-shirt weather for some and lunch at the Red Lion was al fresco. It’s probably been said before and no doubt it will be said again .... this is more than a 4. I reckon more like a 7. But an enjoyable walk all the same. Others agreed. Mudlarks squealed with delight on encountering the afternoon bridleway. “Even muddier than usual” said one. “Seen it muddier” growled Mr Tiger. Tea was taken mostly at Hemingways, the White Horse for others. On leaving, it was noticed that Darnley’s was not as closed as had been suggested. Unless, of course, those sipping tea inside were nought but wraiths – mere shadows of a bygone era.

10 It were hot and sunny

Some bits of path had recovered from the wet winter, some hadn’t. :(

There were some patches of bluebells but not enough to induce rapturous "ooh"s. At least, not in me.But then, I rarely display pleasure.

There seemed to be a competition amongst subgroups to see who could get the most lost. I’m not sure who won. Maybe the people we never saw again. I myself only managed a minor deflection.

Lunch seemed to go down well in the Red Lion’s garden. Unfortunately so did the drinks. This made the notoriously muddy post-prandial bridleway even more of a challenge. Damn you Mr Fuller! Damn your beer!

Along the way, we made friends with some stripy cows and said hello to a few sheep.

Good day out.

Well, if the Stripy One (the Tiger, not the cow) will drink the strongest beer on offer what can he expect.

I also counted ten in our group, but there was also a group of three, and at least one further pair, doing the walk independently.

Hopefully this walk stands a chance of meeting Marion's strict criteria for a suitable choice for a mid-week walk.

Thank you Marcus and will hopefully restore the popularity of our mid-week walks to our regulars. Lets hope for some good weather.

But, has it got bluebells?

12 off the train plus 2 arriving by car. Two newcomers- all the rest were our regulars and agreed on a great choice of walk in cloudy but later sunshine and good views in the afternoon. Excellent pub lunch enjoyed by 8 of us and all but one sandwich eater joined us in the pub so we all kept together. 5 did the shorter walk and all met up in Hemingways for delicious cakes and tea.

Lovely hilly walk with no problems with route finding and plenty of delightful group synergy and conversation enjoyed by all. Several comments made reference length of walks suggesting that the winter solstice of early sunsets will ensure shorter walks and an early return to London for those with evening commitments to attend.

I rest my case!

Sad to hear that Pete B has serious health issues as does our lunch monitor P. Wishing them both a speedy recovery

14 cloudy then sunny

I led this walk for the Ramblers a couple of weeks ago on a wet Saturday. There were only 5 of us, and we got fed in the pub, but a surprising number of tables were booked, so might be worth booking if you're a crowd.

The rhododendrons seem to have been drastically cut back (assuming I was where I thought I was). Might be worth checking that part of the instructions.

something like 22 on this walk though I forgot to count at the station and others I asked hadn’t counted either but all guessed over 20

The weather was absolutely perfect all day for this with it being warm in the virtually continuous sunshine with only a brief patch of cloud in the afternoon.

The highlight of the day for me was the view from the Temple of the Winds which was extremely clear and bright for miles - I have been here often before but this was the best time ever with still some autumnal colour around and views out to la manche

A very dry day with mounds of leaves, of various hues of browns, rustling underfoot, strangely added to the pleasure of the walk with numerous people commenting on it - maybe we all remember the normal muddy days of late autumn / early winter.

We all arrived at lunch at 11.40 so maybe we could have used a later train say ( 10.00 or even 10.30 ? )but luckily the Red Lion in Fernhurst was open and as another walking group just beat us there we had to queue for 15 minutes or so to get served. As we had made a courtesy call and warned the pub that we were coming we had tables reserved for us. The walking group ahead of us had to eat in the garden - rumour had it that they hadn’t phoned before hand. It was cold sitting outside so the picnicers left quickly but we inside in the warmth had to wait for our lunches so we spent something like 90 minutes there - my red mulltet and another in tomato sauce was very disappointing - I wonder if they have changed the chef since I was last here a year ago. Several made the choice of mulled wine or spiced cider with a free mince pie - not much good for the tea totalers - strange that it being a pub

Tea in Hemingways for about 9 of us was fine though they have rather loud music which they refused to turn down despite being politely asked TWICE

So the best day for walking and a perfect choice of walk but a bit on the low side for repasts - bon appetite for the next one

Soo Brique

Just for those who do not know, Josefine is the widow of Nicholas Albery, author of Time Out Country Walks Volume 1 and the founder of the SWC. He tragically died in a car accident in 2001.

More on NIcholas and the early history of the club can be found in the HISTORY section on this page

http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/swc/saturday_walkers.shtml

However, you don't have to have known Nicholas to come on this walk. It is a normal SWC walk and anyone is welcome, newcomer or old timers alike

is Josephine actually going on this walk ?

She specifically requested it because she said she wanted to do it, so presumably yes

Sorry Josphine but as usual Saturday is my busiest day day at work. Thats why we started the Wednesday mid-week walks for those who can't walk weekends. Now that so many people are freelance or only work part time or have retired, the mid walk walks have really grown in popularity thanks to David Cooke who posted them for 10 years and now Mike Atkinson. Big thanks due to both.

38 or 39 if you count the dog! Weather was warm, dry and sunny. A great walk as always and a few newcomers as well as some old timers and regulars.

This is the detour suggested by EM in the comments section:

"The original book 1 walk instructs people to climb up a bridleway sharply uphill, continuing on for 800 metres, just before point 13. Somewhere along this path you eventually come out of a woody archway onto Black Down and its superb views. However, this path is one of the muddiest in the county. It is easy to avoid this mud by turning right at the bottom of the hill where the path starts. You head up a sloping grassy meadow and eventually reach the top of a hill, where if you turn left, you soon come onto the main area of Black Down that you would have reached through the bridleway anyway".

It's been a while since I did this walk, but EM's comment (from 2010) looks odd. My recollection is that the notoriously muddy section is in the climb through Reeth Wood, between points [11] & [12] (see para 28 in the online directions: "If it is very muddy at this point..."). At this point you're not yet on the open access NT land and I don't know if you can escape from the wood to a "sloping grass meadow".

The book describes the 800m bridleway between points [12] & [13] as "somewhat winding" but doesn't mention any problems with mud here. In any case you can bypass this part of Black Down by taking the recommended diversion to the Temple of the Winds in para 32.

Can anyone clarify the situation?

I have to admit I’ve always gone straight up this bridleway. But then I’ve got tigers feet. I thought the meadow off to the right rang true but I could be thinking of one on another walk. It’s been a while….

Who is E M ?

Who is Anonymous?

Note that the Jubilee line isn't running north of Waterloo this weekend. Northern and Bakerloo lines running as normal.

It would be good to find a better climb onto Black Down. From the OS map, it looks possible to carry on along the road past the lunch pub, take the path left towards Lower House Farm and Lower Calhams, then the 1st left path up past Blackdown House onto Black Down and up to the Temple of the Winds. I don't know if this would be any better but please post feedback if you try it.

I have written a walk from Haslemere which would indubitably be less muddy.

However it involves some road walking.The walk is entitled The Temple of the four winds.

The other drawback with it ifs that if walking it on a sunday it would involve

getting a taxi back to Pulboroough at the end. This would be feasible if several people took part.

jfk

3 on the "official" walk plus a group of 10 and another group of 6 doing the walk independently. dry ,_cloudy_and_cold_but_no_wind

The previous night's snow was melting, dripping gently from the trees in the woods during the morning section. After lunch, 2 of us tried an alternative route onto Blackdown which turned out to be rather scenic. Blackdown and the Temple were the highlight - magical in light mist and the usually sandy paths and the surrounding hills were still covered in snow.

The route we took was along the road past the pub, soon picking up a footpath on the left parallel to the road just after the cricket green. This veers away from the road, eventually joining a lane, where we turned left and followed the footpath east, then eventually left, northwards up a grassy slope with a vinyard on the right towards Blackdown House to join the original route at Ferndale Lane. I'd say it was 50% dry paths and 50% muddy paths so could be a drier route in better weather.

Have booked for 14 peeps, in the garden, for 1.30, at the pub. There is a smokers shelter and a back room for us if it rains. She will email me the menu for us to peruse and pre order! [Goodness she must think we are the Ramblers]. Will have a few copies for you to read on the train, if you wish, and I will get an indication, at the arrival introduction, if I may, who lunches and who sandwiches.

I'm working every Saturday

but would love to meet up with Hugh again. Are people planning on staying on somewhere after the walk for an evening meal? Or maybe Hugh could come out with the Mid week walkers where i should love to meet up and walk with him again.

Thanks Pauline

Hi Marion and anyone who knows me, I am coming on the walk with Hugh, my first for many years! I look forward to walking together and talking...!

See you on the train!

My number is 07949 86 86 06. Best to send me texts.

Love,

Josefine

Marion, sorry you can't join us this weekend, and that I'm flying home Monday so won't make it to a mid-week walk. Good to know you're still active in the walkers club.

I'll be meeting the train at Haslemere as I'm staying nearby in Surrey.

40

warm and sunny

Far too many people to count but I'd say we were about 40. Fantastic walk.

Glad to see the old favorite still very popular. Many thanks to Hugh, Josefine and other veterans who built a strong foundation for the club to grow and prosper. And thanks to all volunteers, past and presents, for the contributions over the years and for keeping this club so unique and enjoyable.

It was a glorious day! It was great to meet Leila again after so many years and John!

Hugh and his sister met us at the station and we got deep into conversation all the way to the pub and got lost on the way there. After lunch, Jane, Hugh and Sheila, Martin and Catherine where the last to finish our meal and made our own way back, so we lost you all! But what a day! I so enjoyed it!

Marion, Sorry you could not make it! We went to have tea at my hut and everyone enjoyed it. We left at 7pm, earlier than planned.