A jolly 24 enjoyed this walk in sparkling sunshine . Discussions at lunch about why the winter sun seems so intense: maybe because it shines directly into your face? I would add that skies are a particularly deep blue at this time of year. In such weather a stroll around a car park would have probably seemed enchanting, but as a first timer on this walk I enjoyed its particular quirks. The slanting climb up onto Riddlesdown, for example, and the high terrace with fine views on the way up to Woldingham village. One walker did complain at tea that there had been too few hills however… Confession time: I posted an earlier than specified train for this walk (short winter days and all that). That meant we got to the lunch pub, the Horseshoe, a bit before midday, but this had the benefit that some of us were able to order breakfast, which was very nice and quickly served. The pub was also not at all busy at this hour. I counted 11 who either ate or drank there. That leaves 13 who went somewhere else. Where? In the afternoon the path around the upper lip of the golf course was a bit brambly in places. There was some talk of doing the shortcut, but most of those I was with set off bravely to do the climb to Woldingham village. Up and up we climbed. Eventually the trees fell away and we climbed bare scree slopes towards the snow-capped peaks. Or rather, we got to a church and then started to descend. There had been a bank of cloud to the south for much of the day: for the last part of the walk, the crossing of the massif that separates Woldingham school from Caterham, it came between us and the sun. We got to the latter town at 3pm. Eight went to Caffè Nero for tea and we learnt three had gone to a pub. After tea most went for the 15.55 train. Three of us went to the pub, but the others were gone and it was a bit noisy, so we got the train too. On the way back to London Bridge we compared and commiserated over our respective Christmas plans.

Ah ha, well 2 of us (who hadn't been out with SWC for a while), looked at the walk instructions and it said (or did I read it wrongly?..) catch the 10.40 train, we were puzzled but assumed that was so we would arrive at the lunchtime pub at the best time... no one else on the train of course, no one else on the walk, we wondered if walks had fallen out of favour or gone virtual... However it was a delightful sunny day with hazel catkins giving the hedgerows a yellow glow. Blackthorn berries have also been frosted now and were quite palatable...we also lunched at the Horseshoe. Sorry to miss you all!

Sorry! 10.40 just seemed too late for such a short day. The walk post on This Week’s Walks is always authoritative over the walk home page. 26 then

12 on a breezy sunny day. A no-holds-barred walk (billed as strenuous, but the only choice today, anyway). We were straight off the train into a mountainous ascent. Up, up and up again. 11 giddy goats cantered off, leaving one not -so-giddy Mr Tiger lumbering along behind. The goats were not seen again till Warlingham, where they were spotted grazing on Sunday roasts in the White Lion. There, Mr Tiger nibbled away at a cider. Then off again. After a vertiginous descent, a long, ankle-threatening slog through Halliloo Valley on a poorly maintained slightly overgrown footpath. Still, mustn't grumble. Then guess what readers, another climb up endless steps. At the top, two kind of deer. To the right captive, to the left the free-running variety. Another down and up followed before a final down into Caterham, where the William Garland beckoned and a select group of goats had congregated. And -. get this - proper real 8.4% Gladiator cider on offer. Suddenly, it was all worth it Mr Tiger was only going to have 1 but kindly benefactors inched that up to 2. Soon, he was giddy too. So ended another grand day out.

17 cloudy some sun a little chilly . Perhaps someone else would like to write a bit about the walk, pub etc...?

The group stayed together until the approach into Warlingham. The picnickers plan of eating in the churchyard was foiled by a wedding. Some ate in a cricket pavilion with a game having just started, others ate in a nearby green. The pub group went to the Horseshoe (recommended by one walker from last year's walk). The picnickers mostly continued to the Horseshoe for a drink. The pub is very spacious with outdoor huts, decking and a garden - will let others comment on the food. The picnickers left slightly ahead of the pub lunchers. Upon reaching Woldingham two continued to Oxted (following the SWC walk) with the rest following the route to Caterham. Oxted has 3 or 4 pubs in the town outskirts, the two stopped at the Crown Inn for refreshments before the 1853 train. Later found out that Oxted is where one of the candidates for PM grew up - would agree with his description of rolling pastures and beautiful chalk hills

#31, # mostly cloudy some rain later . A good choice for the day as the very strong turnout showed. Quite a lot of mud in Kings Wood and plenty of hills all inside Zone 6. We split between the Horseshoe and the White Lion for lunch. Those in the Horseshoe praised the food and service, it did not seem significantly more expensive. Quite why they call it a "community pub" - its one of a local chain of nine. The White Lion was busy and some dishes took a long time to appear. The path down the side of the golf course is rather at a slant and takes you very close to if not across one of the Tees. In Caterham, Cafe Nero seemed slow and unwelcoming and Costa had an even longer queue so we made for the 16.25. Generally positive feedback for this walk which was new to most of us.

10.38 train from London Victoria, change at Purley, arrives at Kenley at 11.14. Hilary

Thanks Hilary for posting a train that stops at Clapham Junction which I shall catch.

22 and one small dog. A sunny day. The first climb, straight off the train, sorted out a leisurely few sheep from the speedy goats, who raced off ahead and were, mostly, never seen again. After the climb, the morning was fairly flat. There was lots of buttercups. There was forget me nots, there was Laura-Ashley-weed, the works. I followed the walks author through various curlicues of Kings Wood. We caught up with one or two of the goats in the White Horse. Having noticed a memorial to a benefactor in the church, Mr Tiger had wondered if there would be such a person in the pub, handing out chips, maybe. And do you know what, readers, there was. A kindly benefactor. The afternoon was harder. Up, down, up, down, up, down- and that final sting in the tail - up, down.. It was hard going . It was hot. Mr Tiger had almost had enough but he soldiered on with a cheerful smile and stayed the course, never complaining. At walks end, now down to two, there was nothing for it but to call into a public house and restabilise our aqueous equilibrium.

The pub was the White Lion and produced speedy cheap lunches and drinks for a select group of 5. Everyone else ate picnics in the Green opposite. The afternoon hills were far too much to contemplate and definitely more than 5 out of 10 so after an orange juice and a Magnum in Woldingham village I went directly to Woldingham Station to catch the 4pm train. Thanks to Sean for his directions and leadership.