Balcombe to East Grinstead walk

Gentle wooded hills, Wakehurst Place Gardens (NT) and a reservoir

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
Wed, 04-Sep-24 Balcombe to East Grinstead 9 sunny then overcast and humid
Sat, 06-May-23 Balcombe to East Grinstead
Wed, 25-May-22 Balcombe to East Grinstead - Balcombe Lake, Wakehurst Place, West Hoathly, Bluebell Railway, Weir Wood and Reservoir - then on to East Grinstead 5
Wed, 14-Oct-20 Balcombe to East Grinstead - Wakehurst Place, Bluebell Railway, and Weir Wood with its reservoir 15 sunny intervals with one short shower
Sun, 20-Oct-19 Balcombe to East Grinstead - Gentle wooded hills, Wakehurst Place 10 sunny with some cloud but that weird not cold not warm weather
Wed, 25-Sep-19 Balcombe to East Grinstead - Wakehurst Place, Priest House and Weir Wood 4 rain during the lunch stop
Sat, 14-Oct-17 Balcombe to East Grinstead - a varied walk across the High Weald 28 warm sun eventually managed to break through
Sat, 15-Oct-16 Saturday First Walk - Woods and hills and the hoot of a steam train 21 wonderfully sunny day with a little shower at the beginning and another at the end of the day
Sat, 01-Aug-15 Saturday First Walk 23 sunny and warm all day
Wed, 01-Jul-15 Midweek Day Walk Balcombe to East Grinstead 5 sunny hot and humid
Sat, 12-Jul-14 Balcombe to East Grinstead 15
Sun, 30-Jun-13 Balcombe to East Grinstead 9
Sat, 20-Aug-11 Balcombe to East Grinstead
Sat, 13-Nov-10 Balcombe to East Grinstead
Sat, 28-Aug-10 Balcombe to East Grinstead
Sat, 22-Aug-09 Balcombe to East Grinstead
Sun, 29-Mar-09 Balcombe to East Grinstead
Sat, 23-Feb-08 Balcombe to East Grinstead
Sat, 25-Aug-07 Balcombe to East Grinstead
Sun, 07-Jan-07 Balcombe to East Grinstead
Wed, 04-Sep-24 : Balcombe to East Grinstead 9
Wanderer
Wanderer

T=1.34 Length: 17.2km (10.7) miles

Toughness: 6 out of 10

Trains: Take the 10.05 from London Bridge (10.19 East Croydon) to Balcombe arriving 10.46.

Trains back from East Grinstead to London Victoria run at xx.06 and xx.36.

Tickets: Off peak single tickets are recommended as Balcombe and East Grinstead are on different lines. If you have a travel card up to zone 6, buy tickets from there to Balcombe and back from East Grinstead.

Lunch: For elevenses or an early lunch, you could stop at Wakehurst Place , about 5km (3 miles) from the start: the Seed Café is in the Visitor Centre.

For a pub lunch, t he suggested lunchtime stop, 8.4 km into the walk, is the Cat Inn (tel 01342 810 369 ) in West Hoathly.

Picnickers may congregate around the church in West Hoathly.

Tea: The suggested tea stop is The Old Dunnings Mill pub (tel 01342 821 080 ), about 2km before the end of the walk. Allow 30 minutes from here to reach the station.

For more details L=1.34

  • Wed, 04-Sep-24

    9 on the walk in sunny then overcast and humid weather. Having only done this walk in the muddy season before, it was nice to do it with mostly dry paths and the route festooned with chicory, Canadian goldenrod, camomile and other members of the daisy family. Some delightful bits of forest too.

    There was a problematic section between Wakehurst and West Hoathly where we somehow got separated from the path by a sticky wet muddy ditch. Most waded, jumped or otherwise picked their way across. Two back markers found a better route and avoided the issue, but it led to the party being quite strung out by the time we got to lunch.

    Before that we had lost two circling back to Balcombe, but 6 of the remaining 7 regrouped in the Cat Inn, where three sandwichers had drinks and the others had efficiently served pies or mussels which were pronounced very good.

    The afternoon seemed quite long, especially the bit round the reservoir, so four of us stopped for more welcome refreshments at the Old Dunning Mills before getting the 1706 train by the skin of our teeth. Thanks Wanderer for posting, a fine day out.

Sat, 06-May-23 : Balcombe to East Grinstead ?
PeteG
PeteG
Length : 17.2km (10.7 miles), 5 hours. 6 out of 10.

This walk has a fair number of relatively gentle uphills and downhills, but is well worth the effort.

It starts in the old village of Balcombe, passes Balcombe House, and then goes through the woods and by the lake of Balcombe Estate, to reach the National Trust gardens at Wakehurst Place around mid-morning.

Trains: Get the 0935 Thameslink, Brighton train arriving Balcombe 1016. (St Pancras 0920, Blackfriars 0929, East Croydon 0949).
Return trains from East Grinstead xx06, xx36 to Victoria.
These stations are on different lines so 60+ should get singles from/to boundary zone 6. Otherwise get a day return to Balcombe and a single from East Grinstead to East Croydon.
Lunch: The suggested lunchtime stop, 8.4 km into the walk, is the Cat Inn (tel 01342 810 369 ) in West Hoathly, a 16th century freehouse with lots of atmosphere, which serves top quality food from an extensive menu. Booking recommended. Apparently there is a church for picnics.
Tea: The suggested tea stop is The Old Dunnings Mill pub about 2km before the end of the walk. Allow 30 minutes from here to reach the station.

Near the station is the Starbucks at East Grinstead Sainsbury's.

There is a pub in the town centre, about 300m beyond the station - go right on Station Approach at the roundabount just before the station.


T=1.34



Book 1 Walk 34 - Balcombe to East Grinstead

Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 No steep hills but lots of ups and downs to keep you awake
Travel

Thameslink service from Cambridge to Brighton, with stops at:
Finsbury Park: 09-52 hrs with connections to LT Victoria and Piccadilly lines
London St Pancras: 10-00 hrs
London Bridge: 10-15 hrs
East Croydon: 10-29 hrs
Arrive Balcombe: 10-55 hrs
Return

East Grinstead to London Victoria : 06 and 36 mins past the hour
Rail ticket is a bit tricky: either separate singles, or - and the play safe option - try a day return to Balcombe plus a single from East Grinstead to East Croydon. The extra single ticket is required to get through the barriers at East Grinstead station. But if you possess the gift of the gab try sweet talking your way through the barriers at East Grinstead station with just your Balcombe return ticket - it has been known to work on the odd occasion.
It has been a little while since this walk was given an airing, so let's dust it off and give it a go today. Leaving the railway station we head up into Balcombe village then on to Balcombe Lake. We then cross farmland and drop down to Tilgate Wood before entering the grounds of Wakehurst Place - Kew Gardens outpost and seed centre. An early lunch can be taken here in its Seed Cafe in the visitor centre. Continuing on the walk, after leaving the extensive grounds of Wakehurst Place we drop down though woodland and head through woods before heading uphill to exit the woods close to a quarry. A section along a track takes us to the village of West Hoathly, where we find the (usually excellent) Cat Inn, popular with SWC foodies. Booking ahead is strongly recommended: 01342-810369 Your e.t.a is 1-20 pm.
Leaving the village after lunch, having first visited the church, the walk continues, soon through Giffard Wood before you cross the Bluebell Railway line. On then over fields and up to Stone Farm Rocks before dropping down to Weir Woods and Weir Reservoir, on the Sussex Border path. Having traversed these woods close to the edge of the reservoir you next walk up over fields and along a series of field edges to the outskirts of East Grinstead. You now walk uphill to reach the railway station.
T=1.34
Walk Directions are here: L=1.34
  • Wed, 25-May-22

    5 of us set off from Balcombe Station, with rain threatening from the star. As the walk progressed light rain came and went, and it felt chilly compared to recent weather. Recent rainfall also meant that in places the mud was back! After an undulating morning, we reached West Hoathly where 3 had a picnic in the church yard, whilst 2 went to the Cat pub for a light lunch. 1 of the group had to abandon the walk at this point due to a broken shoe. The afternoon weather brightened up a little as we traversed fields full of cows and sheep, and crossed over the Bluebell railway line. We managed to miss the 4.36 train by seconds, so popped into Starbucks for some cake.

Book 1, Walk 34 - Balcombe to East Grinstead

Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 Lots of ups and downs but nothing drastic or dramatic - kid's stuff for seasoned SWC mid-week walkers
Thameslink service from Cambridge to Brighton, with stops at:
St Pancras: 10-00 hrs
London Bridge: 10-15 hrs
East Croydon: 10-29 hrs
Arriving Balcombe: 10-55 hrs
Return
East Grinstead to Victoria: 06 and 36 mins past the hour. Change at East Croydon for London Bridge
Rail ticket: Your best bet probably is a Thameslink single from London to Balcombe, and a single from East Grinstead to London (or East Croydon - Zone 6- if you have a railcard) Note: A Balcombe return does NOT usually work at East Grinstead station.
Please see - and comply with - our Covid Rules and Track and Trace - and practise Hands-Face-Space
This is a walk for our mid-week foodies, as the lunchtime pub - the Cat Inn - is one of the best on any SWC walk. I have made a reservation for our discerning diners.
Today's walk is a most pleasant one through undulating Sussex countryside, with a mixture of woods, farmland and pastures. Mid-morning we walk through the extensive grounds of Wakehurst Place, the seed bank and outpost of Kew Gardens (Royal Botanic Gardens). If their Seed Cafe is open, it makes for an early lunch stop. Onwards then through woodland and along a quiet track into the village of West Hoathly, where we stop for a picnic in or near the Church (worth a visit inside) or lunch at the excellent, gourmet Cat Inn. Diners please read their comprehensive Covid rules which they require us to respect and adhere to.
After lunch the walk route takes us up and over the Bluebell Railway then on to Stone Farm Rocks before we follow the Sussex Border Path around Weir Wood Reservoir. On then along a number of field edges (hopefully not too muddy today) then uphill along a road to East Grinstead railway station. For those in need of a proper tea stop, you will need to divert into town. Otherwise, your choice on your way to the station is a cafe in the Sainsbury's supermarket, or the station cafe (if open).
Enjoy !
T=1.34
Walk Directions are here: L=1.34

  • Wed, 14-Oct-20

    15 who divided into groups. I was in a group of 3 that soon became 3 groups of 1. Although I was the slow guy at the back, 3 of the faster ones caught me up later. It’s what’s euphemistically called “exploring new territory”

    A tough walk with mud and slippery descents. The notorious steps at the start, the ones that did for my arm a few years ago, are now missing some sections of handrail.

    The weather was sunny intervals with one short shower . That guy who wrote that song shoulda called it “Acorns keep falling on my head” because they were. Lots of them.

    By the time I and one of the Lost Boys reached the Cat, the 5 that stuck their hand up for lunch had moved on. Apparently, the inn has devised an elaborate waitress-summoning system using helium balloons. (Does it involve inhaling? I wonder).

    Eventually, not before time, East Grinstead hove into sight and we got a train home.

    If any of the Fast Ones would like to post a review, particularly of the lunch pub, please do.

  • Anonymous
    Wed, 14-Oct-20

    The Cat really exceeded everyone's expectations.

    Mussels, Trout, pork belly,Caesar salad, all done to perfection.

    Orders were taken and food delivered promptly by people who looked like they knew how these things work. Every nook and cranny seemed full of happy diners.

    More crannies than usual as each table had been isolated by hospital type screens, giving the slight impression of an upmarket casualty clearing station! (the screens were tastefully covered in William Morris type cloth work)

    Outside, even the car park was full.

    What's their secret? Must be the food.

    Many thanks to Marcus for reserving our luncheon par excellance.

    We partook of tea and cake at the Old Dunning Mill pub on the edge of East Grinstead and, fully replete, limped home to the metropolis on the 18.06.

    A memorable day out.

17.2km (10.7 miles),
Difficulty 6/10
The star attractions on this rarely posted walk are the gardens and Tudor mansion at Wakehurst Place (a rural outpost of Kew’s Botanic Gardens). We go through on a public footpath. (For a proper visit, you'd need a ticket - £13.95, free for NT and RBS members).
Then we’re off, through woods to the Norman church, Priest House Museum (Admission £5), and lunchtime pub in West Hoathly, the second highest point in Sussex.
After lunch, more woods, then the nature reserve at Weir Wood Reservoir (home to great crested grebe, heron and osprey).
Trains
Get the 9:41 Brighton train from London Bridge (East Croydon 9:55) to Balcombe arr 10:28
Trains return from East Grinstead, xx:12 and xx:42.
The stations are on different lines The safest option is two singles. A Thameslink single from London Bridge to Balcombe plus a single from East Grinstead to Victoria (or East Croydon if getting off there). Although it's tempting to just get a Balcombe return, this is unlikely to get you through the barrier at East Grinstead (see notes).
Lunch
The Seed Café at Wakehurst Place or the Cat Inn (tel 01342 810 369) in West Hoathly (phone ahead with numbers).
Tea
The suggested tea stop is The Old Dunnings Mill pub (tel 01342 821 080), about 2km before the end of the walk. Allow 30 minutes from here to reach the station.
Directions here. The steps near the start (paragraph 2) are slippery when wet. Take a victim's advice and hold the handrail.
t=1.34
  • Anonymous
    Fri, 18-Oct-19

    The Cat is very upmarket these days and might well be full on Sunday. You will need to phone or risk no lunch. If you can get in, the food is stunning. There are one or two cheap options but very few.

    Andrew

  • Anonymous
    Sat, 19-Oct-19

    Anyone attending this walk. Hope to see some of you. Monica.

  • Sun, 20-Oct-19

    Ended up walking this, but not with the group (lie-in preferred on Sunday) so started late. Extremely slick/muddy probably an understatement, despite no rain. Good workout with some views, but (for future hikers) probably best after a heatwave or a few days of baking hot sun in the summer.

  • Sandy
    Mon, 21-Oct-19

    I was thinking of using this route of a weekday visit to Wakehurst in the near future so thank you globetrekker for the warning about the mud.

  • Tue, 22-Oct-19

    You're welcome Sandy. Had a couple of falls (thankfully nothing serious) and a scratched finger (will hopefully heal soon) while desperately grabbing a fence trying to prevent a third. Extra clothing/gaiters etc., strongly recommended.

  • Anonymous
    Tue, 22-Oct-19

    I think this will be one of many walk reports as the group splintered pretty early. There were three, THREE, groups getting off at Balcombe rail station, which led to some noisy waiting and and perhaps a little over stimulating for the beginning of a quiet country Sunday walk. I didn't take the exact count, but I think there was 9 off the train, and then Globetrekker came later, so all in all 10 . If someone got a different number, please say. sunny with some cloud but that weird not cold not warm weather .

    There was a wrong turning very quickly after the slippery and dangerous steps we were warned about (no casualties, thankfully), with half the group stopping to sort themselves out, and the half stubbornly carrying on insisting they were right. I was in the latter, so hopefully those smart walkers who sorted out their mistake before blindly climbing uphill for 1 km on the wrong road in the wrong direction will also write a walk report so I can hear how their day went. As we never saw each other again!

    For us wrong'uns, we did get to see some pretty countryside before turning around. Our blunder did mean that we were able to separate ourselves from the other two walking groups, which appeared to be doing the same walk, or perhaps the circular one (not sure). We had some lovely conversation about walking projects (my old love the London Loop was discussed). One stopped at the the shop in Balcombe to grab some lunch, which was described as lovely upon consumption. However, the rest of the way was marshy, boggy, and somewhat reminiscent of the Dead Marshes leading to Moria. What ding-dong requested a noted muddy and boggy walk in the pre-winter wet season? (It was me, I requested it--sorry guys).

    At the seed bank, we had a parting of ways, as two of us went into Wakehurst Place for a quick nose, and the other two of our party soldiered on. I hope those two also do a walk report! Us two who went into the gardens were rewarded with a quick snoop around the house, which was empty of everything. But the real delight was the earl grey and lemon cake we naughtily consumed. Easily one of the best cakes I have ever had the pleasure of devouring. All you others missed out!!!

    The rest of our walk was muddy muddy muddy and had the inevitable slips. I slipped while standing on the impressive rock climbing outcrops and narrowly missed sliding off of them, whilst my companion slipped on a footbridge onto her back. Luckily, neither of us were hurt, but please be careful on this walk.

    We had some great conversation and impressive views. Not all the colour is out yet, but perhaps in a week or two. Really enjoyable walk, even if my lower half changed to mud slowly during the day.

    Thanks to the walk poster for honouring my walk request! I did really enjoy it.

    ~Karen

Book 1 Walk 34 - Balcombe to East Grinstead

Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 Probably over-rated. No serious hills.

Either
London Bridge: 10-05 hrs Thameslink service from Bedford to Brighton. East Croydon 10-19 hrs
Arrive Balcombe: 10-46 hrs

Or
London Victoria: 09-55 hrs Brighton service CJ 10-02 hrs
Arrive East Croydon: 10-11 hrs Change trains
Leave East Croydon: 10-19 hrs Thameslink service as above
Arrive Balcombe: 10-46 hrs

Return

East Grinstead to Victoria: 06 and 36 mins past the hour up to and including 17-36, then 17-51, 18-06, 18-21 and 18-36 hrs. Change at East Croydon for return to London Bridge.

Rail ticket

A little tricky: a Balcombe return is not usually accepted by rail staff at East Grinstead station, They usually require you to possess a ticket from East Grinstead to East Croydon. So you choose: either a day return to Balcombe, plus a single from East Grinstead to East Croydon, or buy separate off peak singles, London to Balcombe, and East Grinstead to London, or buy a day return to Balcombe and try sweet talking your way though the barriers at East Grinstead: again, your choice !

This pleasant walk takes you via Balcombe Lake through gentle wooded hills as you make your way to Wakehurst Place, the seed conservation and germination centre for Kew Gardens aka the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Free access to the facilities for National Trust members. The public footpaths through the complex are open to all. The Seed Cafe in the complex makes for an early lunch stop (after 3 miles). Otherwise, the walk continues through woodland and open land as you make your way to the village of West Hoathly, where you stop for lunch at the popular - and usually very good - Cat Inn.

After lunch you pass through more woods as you cross the embankment for the Bluebell Railway. You then head for Stone Farm Rocks where rock climbers practise their skills on the sandstone rocks. Onwards then around Weir Wood Reservoir, at times on the Sussex Border path, then on into East Grinstead.
T=1.34
Walk Directions are here: L=1.34



  • Anonymous
    Mon, 23-Sep-19

    there are some absolutely treacherous steps down at the beginning of this walk where I had a really awful fall many years ago . Hold tight to the hand rail . maybe see u all jfk

  • Mon, 23-Sep-19

    I second that .... broke my arm on these steps a few years back. The mossy stone is slippery when wet.

  • Fri, 27-Sep-19

    I am informed 4 on this walk, with rain during the lunch stop , but otherwise mostly dry and autumnal. The diners enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Cat Inn, West Hoathly. I'm sorry I was unable to be with you.

Book 1, walk 34 - Balcombe to East Grinstead
Length: 17.2km (10.7 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10

10.10 train from St Pancras International (10.22 Blackfriars, 10.49 East Croydon) to Balcombe, arriving 11.19

Or take the 10.23 from Victoria (10.29 Clapham Junction) to East Croydon, arriving 10.40, to connect with the above train there.

Buy a day return to Balcombe and then a single from East Grinstead to East Croydon on the return journey **

(** Balcombe tickets are NOT valid on this leg: a Balcombe return with a Network Card costs £12.75. You can reduce this to £6.35 by taking a Thameslink only option but then you must change at East Croydon on the return journey and take a Thameslink train, which today means only a Blackfriars/St Pancras train as services to London Bridge are not running. A single from East Grinstead to East Croydon with a Network Card costs £6.20)

For walk directions click here.

I thought this old favourite would make a nice autumn walk. It has lots of delights, including plenty of Wealden woods and hills, a crossing on public footpaths of the National Trust Grounds at Wakehurst Place, and the hooting of (usually unseen) Bluebell Line steam trains. In the afternoon there is a stretch along the Weir Wood Reservoir.

Lunch is at the somewhat posh-looking Cat Inn in West Hoathly, but an earlier option is the National Trust tea room at Wakehurst Place. This is immediately adjacent to the right of way but just occasionally NT staff have been sniffy about walkers diverting into it - I don't know why, as it is extra revenue for them. So be discreet (ie try not to enter en masse, waving treking poles and splaying mud everywhere) and don't use it as a way into the gardens without paying. If you fancy doing a proper visit to the site, note that there is light for walking today until about 6.30pm.

For tea the Dunnings Mill pub a little way before the end of the walk is nice and the only pub option. Otherwise East Grinstead Sainsbury's at the end has a Starbucks.

Trains back from East Grinstead are at 07 and 37 past.... Don't forget to buy that single to East Croydon. T=1.34
  • Anonymous
    Wed, 11-Oct-17

    Thank you, Walker, for the careful research. Appreciated.

  • Wed, 11-Oct-17

    Following the uncertainty earlier in the week, as reflected in earlier versions of this post, Southern have now confirmed that their trains will run as normal on the East Grinstead line on Saturday. So this post is no longer provisional...

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 13-Oct-17

    Sounds like a great walk - Ryan

  • Fri, 13-Oct-17

    I'm going to try a route out from East Grinstead via Fen Place Mill and Minepit Wood and will aim to meet the group at lunch.

  • Sat, 14-Oct-17

    28 on this walk: 25 at the start, one late starter, one who walked from East Grinstead (see previous comment), and one dumb clutz (me!!) who mistakenly took the train an hour earlier than the one he himself had posted (just goes to show you should always read the walk post CAREFULLY).

    It started rather cloudy but warm sun eventually managed to break through . Increasing amounts of it. There was a bit of mud but not too much. Quite a bit of autumn colour too, though we are still some way (several weeks if this mild weather holds) off the peak.

    One walker had pre-booked a table for four at the Cat Inn. When another tried to book one for 8, he was told they were fully booked. Those who ignored this advice and went to the pub anyway found it not that busy. About ten of us went instead to the Seed Cafe at Wakehurst Place where the queue moved somewhat slower than the Greenland ice sheet and the hot choice was a) vegetable soup b) baked potatoes with cheese or tuna mayonnaise and c) sausage rolls. Having said that, both soup and baked potato were quite nice.

    The cafe lunchers managed to hook up with the pub lunchers at the Cat Inn, where we sat outside in the sun having drinks and coffee - how nice it is to sit outside! How soon this pleasure will be denied us!. Eight of us also diverted to the National Trust tea room at Standen near the end of the walk and had an al fresco tea there. Others went for drinks at Dunnings Mill, and a few of us went to a stripped-down pub near East Grinstead station (beer served from the barrel), whose name escapes me.

    All in all, I think the consensus was that it was a nice autumn walk and 10.7 miles of walking adequately filled the day, though as one old timer commented "this walk does not seem as long as it used to".

    (Oh and belated apologies for not realising that the best ticket combination would have been a Thameslink single to Balcombe and a Southern single from East Grinstead to Victoria - £12-13 in all. For the record, while three of us diligently paid the East Grinstead to East Croydon supplement, one of our party with a Balcombe any permitted return did not bother and was waved through by both barrier staff and the ticket inspector on the train.)

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 15-Oct-17

    I am surprised to see that the issue of distance of the walk came up again. To keep it in balance, some found the distance was just about right - coupled with a late start, it was perfect. Thank Walker to post this walk.

  • Sun, 15-Oct-17

    Sorry, my wording gives the wrong impression. The issue of walk length did not come up at all: no one mentioned it. I was merely repeating a throwaway remark by an old friend. He was reflecting on how easy 10.7 mile walks seem today compared to when we first started doing SWC walks. Quietly, without noticing, walking each Saturday makes your fitter.

Book 1 Walk 34 - Balcombe to East Grinstead
Length: 17.2km (10.7 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10

9.42 from London Bridge (9.56 East Croydon) to Balcombe, arriving 10.22.

Best ticket: a tricky one, as Balcombe and East Grinstead are on different branches, diverging at East Croydon. Our resident train gnome says that an "any permitted" day return to Balcombe is accepted at East Grinstead, but recent comments cast doubt on that. You should certainly avoid a cheaper "Thameslink only" return to Balcombe, as you will be coming back on a Southern service. Having said that, you could get a "Thameslink only" return to Balcombe (£5.60 with a Network Card) and then a single from East Grinstead to East Croydon (£6.15 with a Network Card) and then make sure you change at East Croydon to a Thameslink train to return to London Bridge (or use Oyster from there on in, but don't forget to tap in). Anyone with better advice is welcome to post a comment

For walk directions click here.

This pleasant Wealden walk seems to have dropped off the map recently, which is a pity as it was once a firm favourite. You set out eastwards from Balcombe, the only rural stop on the Brighton line, and to begin with there is a fair bit of upping and downing, taking in the gardens of Wakehurst Place, a National Trust property (whose tea room is a potential light lunch stop) en route.

One more up and down brings you to West Hoathly, whose pub the Cat Inn looks to have slight idees au dessus de son gare (ideas above its station: a joke from the Terence Rattigan play French without Tears), even though West Hoathly is in fact not au dessus de son gare because it is the village that refused to let the Bluebell Line re-open its station (see Wikipedia). (Ho ho ho - Ed)

Whatever, with luck your walk through the woods after lunch will be punctuated with the pleasant hooting of a passing Bluebell Line train, before a climb up to Stone Farm Rocks and a walk along the Weir Water Reservoir. Tea is at the Old Mill pub or Starbucks in the Sainsbury's by the station, though keen students of the East Grinstead Circular walk would be able to divert to other options.

Trains back from East Grinstead are at 07 and 37 past.
  • Tue, 11-Oct-16

    Walker's ticket advice is sensible. Southern staff at East Grinstead have become fussier about accepting return tickets issued to other stations, which won't go through the ticket barriers. They usually wave through tickets to Uckfield-line stations (somewhat grudgingly) but it would be annoying to pay over the odds for an "Any Permitted" return to Balcombe and then have it rejected.

    Note that the cheap "Thameslink only" tickets are only issued from London stations like St Pancras or London Bridge: tickets to Balcombe are more expensive from East Croydon or Boundary Zone 6 (both £6.25 single, £7.40 return). And on the way back a single from East Grinstead to Boundary Zone 6 (£6.20) is more expensive than East Croydon (in Zone 5!) or Upper Warlingham (£5.15), so get the latter if you've got a Freedom Pass. [If you're changing onto a Thameslink train at East Croydon you could actually get a single to Caterham "via East Croydon" for £5.50, but don't ask me why that's 65p cheaper than the fare to East Croydon...]

  • Tue, 11-Oct-16

    Thanks fgpr the travel details Walker and thanks Sean for adding to it

    BUT

    whcih tickets do we buy please ?

  • Tue, 11-Oct-16

    Well, if the alternative idea I suggested doesn't impress you, buy "any permitted" day return to Balcombe and then pay for a single from East Grinstead to East Croydon if asked to do so at the ticket barriers there

  • Wed, 12-Oct-16

    Ah this walk always attracts plenty of comments regarding the tickets!

    I'm going for the Thameslink return to Balcombe (£5.60) and Sean's excellent suggestion of a single from East Grinstead to Caterham via East Croydon (£5.15)

    Network Rail Cards assumed - cheaper for Freedom Passers methinks.

    However London Bridge is my preferred station so I am biased!

  • Wed, 12-Oct-16

    To clarify (or muddy the waters)

    Mike A's solution would be £5.60 + £5.15 = £10.75 with a Network Card, and you would either have to use Freedom Pass or Oyster from East Croydon to home, or get a Thameslink train back to London Bridge or Blackfriars.

    From London "any permitted" to Balcombe return is £14.60 with a Network Card. You may be allowed to use this from East Grinstead or you may not, so you may have to pay an extra £5.15 (to Caterham via East Croydon) or £6.15 (East Grinstead to East Croydon) on top = £20.75 potentially.

    So putting up with changing on the return leg to a Thameslink train at East Croydon seems to give you big cash benefits.

    All this advice is "without prejudice" as the lawyers say

  • Anonymous
    Wed, 12-Oct-16

    how many more acres are you going to fill up with aimless chat about train tickets, when the price difference is negligible and it all hinges on the mood of the people at the barriers in E. Grinstead anyway? One already has to scroll down multiple times to get to the posting for walk 2, never mind 3...

  • Sat, 15-Oct-16

    21 walkers on this wonderfully sunny day with a little shower at the beginning and another at the end of the day .

    A calm gentle walk with leaf change showing quite startling so when a maple occurred.

    The Cat Inn - bloomin marvelous

    Tea at The Old Bank Cafe - so so

    The Manor House is up for sale apparently in West Hoathly in case anybody wants a nice gaff over the road from the pub and the church but I can't find the price on the web and one of our walkers met the man selling it and he said the price is not being disclosed - I wonder if he really wants to sell it.

    As maybe you can guess - there was little of incidence on the walk - just a lovely day.

Sat, 01-Aug-15 : Saturday First Walk 23
Bridie
Bridie
I will be standing down shortly - I go away in September
So a new volunteer poster is needed - or volunteers: it is perfectly OK to volunteer for every other week or even one week in four.
Traditionally this slot has been chosen from Book 1 or Book 2 walks and the feeling is that it would be good to continue this
.
The work involves choosing a walk - choosing a train time and posting it.
The posting team will be very happy to give the new poster/s support
To volunteer email saturdaywalkersATyahooDOTcoDOTuk (or post a comment if you have a question).

Meanwhile here is this weeks walk

Book 1 Walk 34 : Balcombe to East Grinstead
17.2km (10.7 miles)
6 out of 10 Just picked this up form the comments
We loved every minute of this walk. We were a group of 10 friends and had a blast. We are not really sporty people, although we try to do some workout now and then. We managed to do the whole thing and be very happy at the end. So don't be discouraged by the toughness level 6.
Explorer 135 or Landranger 187
Map of the walk here


Take the 10. 12 from London Bridge Station ( East Croydon 10. 2 5 ) to Balcombe arriving 10.51 .
Clapham Junction take the 10.08 changing at East Croydon leaving at 10. 2 5 on the London Bridge train
Trains back from East Grinstead XX. 07 XX.37 go to Victoria
Ticket advice is tricky as the two stations are on different lines. In the past Southern have accepted a day return to Balcombe at East Grinstead but they will not accept tickets endorsed "FCC only", which is what you will be offered at London Bridge and other stations served by First Capital Connect. It's probably best to ask for a return to Balcombe valid on any train (eg. by saying that you might want to return to Victoria), but be prepared to buy a single to East Croydon (where the two lines merge) if this isn't accepted at East Grinstead.
One of the posters did some re search about a year ag o and posited this

Thames link Day return to Balcombe £11.50 (10p more than a single)
Southern Day return to Balcombe (Victoria) £18.90 (10p more than a single)
Southern single East Grinstead to East Croydon £9.30
so £11.50 + £9.30 = £20.80 is watertight £18.90 is not
or if you're eligible for a 1/3 off ...
£13.73 is watertight £12.48 is not


The Bluebell Railway (tel 01825 720 800) is nearby, and it would be possible to combine part of this walk with a trip on a period train hauled by a steam locomotive. The line goes from East Grindstead through Kingscote and Horsted Keynes to Sheffield Park.
See the Comments page for this walk for some ideas on how you could do this.

This walk has a fair number of relatively gentle uphills and downhills, but is well worth the effort. It starts in the old village of Balcombe, passes Balcombe House, and then goes through the woods and by the lake of Balcombe Estate, up to a farm that can be extremely muddy in wet weather, to reach the National Trust gardens and Tudor mansion at Wakehurst Place around mid-morning. From there the route passes through further woods to the Priest House Museum, Norman church and the lunchtime pub in West Hoathly, the second highest point in Sussex.


After lunch, the route is through Giffards Wood then past the Stone Farm climbing rocks (sandstone rocks formed from the bodies of plants and invertebrates, and used as shelters in mesolithic and neolithic times), leading to the shoreline of the Weir Wood Reservoir and nature reserve (home to the great crested grebe, heron and osprey).

The suggested lunchtime stop is the Cat Inn (tel 01342 810 369) in West Hoathly, halfway through the walk, which serves good but fairly expensive pub food from midday 2.30. Or you could stop earlier at Wakehurst Place, about 5km (3 miles) from the start: the Seed Café is in the Visitor Centre while visitors to the gardens also have the choice of lunch in the Stables restaurant. On days when it is open another option would be to have brunch at the Balcombe Tea Rooms


The only place for refreshments near the station is the Starbucks at East Grinstead Sainsbury's (tel 01342 303 167). The suggested tea stop therefore is The Old Mill pub (tel 01342 326 341), about 2km before the end of the walk. Allow 30 minutes from here to reach the station.
From the comments There are a few tea rooms in East Grinstead eg New York Coffee Club http://www.visiteastgrinstead.com/eating_and_drinking/coffee-houses-tea-rooms.php and Bluebells (near the station) http://www.bluebellscafe.co.uk/ and The bookshop in the High Street http://www.eastgrinsteadbookshop.co.uk/

More info here
https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_34/index.shtml
  • Anonymous
    Sun, 26-Jul-15

    When you get to East Grinstead station go to the ticket office and ask for an excess ticket. Make sure you show your ticket at the time. If you are lucky they will issue a zero cost ticket on a discretionary basis. (For those with bus passes it is possible to get the bus to Haywards Heath where an excess ticket will cost less than £2.00, if you don't get waved through by the nice man on the barrier.)

  • Anonymous
    Thu, 30-Jul-15

    Prudential Ride London this weekend!

    If you're planning to travel by bus to any of the three (London Bridge, Victoria and Waterloo) departure stations on Saturday, your journey will probably affected by this event.

    AD

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 02-Aug-15

    23, sunny and warm all day

    A lovely walk, nice views, lots of lush woods, water features from nearby reservoir, undulating path with manageable distance of just under 11 miles (no short or long cut to confuse or disintegrate the group) - can't beat this proven book one old favourite which continues to bring so much joy to many. All stopped at Cat Inn for lunch. This is a gastropub with price and quality to match. 3 took Bluebell railway in the afternoon whilst the rest- most ended up at The Old Mill pub for refreshment before catching train back to London.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 02-Aug-15

    Most did not have any issues with the Balcombe return ticket (regardless if it was from London bridge or Victoria). We asked the guard at East Grinstead ticket barrier, he let us through without asking any questions. The group did experienced over-crowded train from London Bridge - some had to stand all the way to Balcombe.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 02-Aug-15

    Rumour has it that Bridie timed this walk to coincide with Gay Pride's 25th Anniversary in Brighton.

    Although the train was heaving with attendees of same and some folks had to stand, there was a great party atmosphere on board.

    However, I must say it was nice to step onto the platform at Balcombe and enjoy the relative calm and stunning vistas in this neck of the woods.

Mike A

Balcombe to East Grinstead an Iulius first

Gentle wooded hills, Wakehurst Place Gardens (NT) and a reservoir

Book 1 Walk 34

Length : 17 km or 10.7 miles

Toughness : 6 out of 10

Getting there : Catch the 10:12 am train from London Bridge to Balcombe OR
Catch the 10:02 from London Victoria (departs 10:08 from Clapham Junction) and change at East Croydon to join the London Bridge train there, departing East Croydon 10:25 am.

Meeting point : Balcombe Station at 10:51 am

Brief Description

This walk has a fair number of relatively gentle uphills and downhills, but is well worth the effort. It starts in the old village of Balcombe, passes Balcombe House, and then goes through the woods and by the lake of Balcombe Estate, up to a farm that can be extremely muddy in wet weather, to reach the National Trust gardens and Tudor mansion at Wakehurst Place around mid-morning. From there the route passes through further woods to the Priest House Museum, Norman church and the lunchtime pub in West Hoathly, the second highest point in Sussex
You may find full details here

Suggested Lunch stops

The suggested lunchtime stop is the Cat Inn (tel 01342 810 369) in West Hoathly, halfway through the walk, which serves good but fairly expensive pub food from midday to 2pm Tuesday to Friday. Or you could stop earlier at Wakehurst Place, about 5km (3 miles) from the start: the Seed Café is in the Visitor Centre while visitors to the gardens also have the choice of lunch in the Stables restaurant.

Suggested Tea stops

The only place for refreshments near the station is the Starbucks at East Grinstead Sainsbury's (tel 01342 303 167). The suggested tea stop therefore is The Old Mill pub (tel 01342 326 341), about 2km before the end of the walk. Allow 30 minutes from here to reach the station.

Maps

OS Explorer : 135

Return train times

Trains return from East Grinstead at :07 and :37 minutes past the hour to London Victoria. Change at East Croydon for London Bridge (I know, you new that!)
  • Thu, 25-Jun-15

    You need to be careful about tickets on this walk. The two stations are on different lines and the book's advice is out of date. If you're travelling out from London Bridge don't get the cheapest Balcombe return ticket, which is only valid on Thameslink services: this won't be accepted by Southern at East Grinstead for the return journey. An unrestricted off-peak return to Balcombe won't go through the ticket barriers there either but in practice this is likely to be waved through. At worst you might be forced to buy an extra single back to East Croydon where the two lines merge.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 28-Jun-15

    how about swapping this walk for a seaside one please so people can swim ? going to be too hot to trot..

  • Sun, 28-Jun-15

    A tea stop near East Grinstead station that's been popular with SWC walkers for quite a while is Bluebells Café, on the corner of London Road and Railway Approach (01342 458491).

  • Sun, 28-Jun-15

    There is also a pub or cafe with a raised terrace at the back on the northerly side of High Street, from memory...

  • Wed, 01-Jul-15

    5 sunny hot and humid .-initially-with-cloud-cover

    Brilliant walk, as always, even more so today, as the often challenging muddy patches were mostly dried out, and plenty of the kilometerage is under tree cover. Modest pace in light of the heat, with frequent stops at benches or under shady trees. Excellent, fast, and cheerful food and service at The Cat Inn. Great company. 16.37 train for two, Sainsbury's for the others.

    The directions could do with an update reflecting changed landscape furniture and new housing, but today wasn't the day to take notes, really...

    As for the ticket: my London Terminals - Balcombe rtn (Any Route Permitted) ticket did NOT impress the gate warden at Grinstead, so an extra Croydon single had to be purchased.