Vanguard Way 2 - Oxted to Forest Row

Jane Rosoux writes...

"There were five of us in the party, including the leader, Henriette Van Zaelen, and on leaving Oxted Station we quickly reached the point on the north side of the M25 at which we had left the Vanguard Way on the first leg from East Croydon on the 18th July. On reaching Limpsfield Chart after having walked a little over 5 miles we had a short stop at St Andrew's Church ....



"We then continued another 5 miles to our planned lunch stop at Haxted Mill, a restored water mill on a tributory of the River Eden...



"Rested and refreshed we continued south and it was not long before we arrived at the moated Starborough Castle. The route description from there was confusing but we rejoined the Vanguard Way after a detour past New Barns Farm and were soon passing Dry Hill Reservoir.

"From that point there would still have been more than 4 miles to walk to Forest Row from where we had been intending to catch a bus to East Grinstead, with its hourly train service to London. But as it was getting late and we had already walked over 15 miles we decided to leave the Vanguard Way at that point, cut out the bus journey, and head for Dormans Station, 3 miles away.



"We arrived back in London tired but glad we had done the walk.

Many Thanks Jane...

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Vanguard Way 1 - East Croydon to Oxted

Jane Rosoux writes:
"I attach photographs taken on last Sunday's walk from East Croydon to Oxted led by Henriette Van Zaelen.

"There were 11 in the party and the weather was good.



[Henriette is front right, with blue cap].



"Most of the route followed the Vanguard Way and we stopped for lunch at 'The Bull' pub, Chelsham. As we continued southward and left London behind the scenery became more rural and soon we were on the the North Downs escarpment with the M25 below us and Oxted beyond.



"Rather than follow the Vanguard Way east from this point and then have to double back to Oxted Station, Henriette led us along short stretches of the North Downs Way and Greensand Way to the outskirts of Oxted.



"At that point we had covered 12.5 miles.

From there most of the party headed straight to the station, a further mile or so, whilst two of us retraced our steps to the North Downs Way and then followed an attractive 7-mile route via Marden Park to Caterham Station."

Many thanks to Jane for the report and photos.

Finally, Jane has sent a photo of an unusual bird she spotted on the walk....



Any identifications will be warmly welcomed!

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Selborne, Home of Natural History

I've been coughing and wheezing over the last couple of weeks. Luckily, Jane Rosoux, our walks organiser, has been busy walking, writing and taking photos.....

Jane writes...

"Last Sunday I went on the Hampstead Ramblers' circular ramble from Alton led by Henriette Van Zaelen, which was nearer 14 miles than 13. There were 13 in the party, which was excellent considering the distance from London, and the weather was very good - much better than forecast.


The route took us through a number of picture-postcard villages containing thatched-roofed houses, stilted grain stores,


oasthouses and attractive churches and we also had good views and spring flowers and blossom. In the morning we stopped at Oakhanger where the Church was having an open day and an hour later we had lunch at Selborne, which is linked with Gilbert White,


and some picnicked in the attractive churchyard, which contained a stone in honour of 'The Trumpeter',


whilst others enjoyed good food at the 'The Selborne Arms'. Soon after lunch we had a steep but rewarding climb up the zig-zag path to the high part Selborne Common. At Newton Valence pond there was a curious 'Frog Crossing' sign.


The last village we went through on the way back to Alton was Chawton, which contained yet another attractive church (which we did not have time to visit) and also Jane Austen's House.

Henriette is talking about doing the 8 mile circular ramble on another occasion, which would include an optional visit to Jane Austen's House and other places of interest."

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