18 on the walk, which we all enjoyed. Quite atmospheric in the woods with the light mist and bits of gold in the trees from the few remaining leaves. A welcome lack of significant mud. Eleven of us ate at the pub, with efficient service and reasonable food. In the afternoon some blue sky. The cafe at Kingswood is no longer open, so we squeezed into the pub, around a small table, just big enough for 7 teapots. The pub had impressive Christmas decorations, and as usual, some stayed longer than others.

A good turnout of 16 on the posted train, 2 car drivers and one catching us up at lunchtime making19 in all. All but two did the far loop to Mugswell, where many of us took advantage of the pub's offer to eat our lunch in the garden if we bought a drink. Two ate inside.

Banstead Wood and the return path between Chipstead Lane and the railway were a bit squelchy but not too bad compared to recent weeks. About five of us including the drivers returned to Chipstead instead of going to Kingswood.

Dull with one shower

10 off the train and 2 car drivers making 12 set off from Chipstead in warm sunshine and a cool breeze which made for comfortable walking conditions. All were impressed by how remote and unspoilt the countryside was. Woods and hills along the route added to its interest.

Four lunched at the Well House Inn while others picnicked nearby before joining them.

One or two may have walked back to Chipstead from here. Ten carried on to Kingswood arriving just seconds too late for the 3.19 train. One set off walking to Chipstead to collect his car. Others went to the Kingswood Arms - some sitting in the very pleasant sunny and sheltered beer garden. We assembled on the platform for the 4.19 train which showed as delayed and then cancelled. Three went back to the pub, two got a lift in an Uber and in plummeting temperatures, four hijacked the car driver who had just reached Chipstead and who kindly picked them up and dropped them at Sutton where they caught a train. The three in the pub caught the 5.19 back from Kingswood.

Altogether a lovely day despite the delayed return journey.

11 set off in the promised light rain, hoping for showers, but no such luck. However a shortcut person secured us a table for 8 and we joined her for a good lunch at the pub, unfazed by our collective dampness.

3 picnicers called in as we were finishing up, who'd benefited from a break in the weather, but didn't want to waste the break from the rain by stopping.

Losing 2 to a short cut home, we set off in the dry, but thunder foretold what was to come. Passing the picnicers, who possibly did the whole thing, 6 of us opted for a longer shortcut half of which was in heavy rain. 2 went for the train and 4 the pub, where 30 minutes turned into an hour. But again nobody seemed to mind that we were very wet!

8 at the station and 2 encountered later makes 10 The light rain had cleared by the time we started and, apart from a short microshower mid-afternoon, the weather was cloudy with occasional sun The woods were quite pretty but not really autumn as we know it. Lots of chestnuts crunched underfoot. We saw a lion, a witch, and a wardrobe (no, really) and later some little horses.

Too fast for me to keep up in the directions so I just followed the others. (As they seem to have changed since I printed them, this probably wasn't a bad thing). They seemed to know where they were going and we got to the Well House ok which is more than I managed last time. I am told we accidentally took at least one short cut.

Service was fast in the Well House and the food seemed to be appreciated.

Some dropped out on the way round. The remainder got to Kingswood for 15:50. This gave time for a quick snifter before the 16:13.

11 on this walk, including at least 2 who did a shorter loop. I can't comment on the full walk to Kingswood as the shady woods were so nice on such a hot day that I decided to loop back to Chipstead through the woods.

From memory, I think we were 12 today but perhaps someone could correct me if I've got that wrong. One headed back home early due to a foot problem, which hopefully will get better quickly.

Plenty of autumn colours still on the trees brightened up an otherwise cloudy day and the woodland paths were carpeted with crunchy leaves and as dry I can ever remember on this walk.

I didn't eat at the Well House Inn but those who did seemed happy with the food and service there.

In the afternoon, two opted for the circular route back to Chipstead and the rest did the full walk to Kingswood, where most stopped for a drink in one of the cosy snugs of the Kingswood Arms.

As well as the pub in Kingswood, there's also The Waterhouse Cafe, which is open until 4pm.

https://www.waterhousecafe.co.uk/

18 alighted from the train, to be met by two locals at the start of the walk. One more joined mid-morning and two more at lunchtime so 22 walkers, plus two well behaved dogs, in total. We were lucky to have sunny and calm conditions and not much mud. All in all, a very pleasant walk through woods and across open valleys.

The Pub near the station is a nice place to have tea and they do puddings. If you get to Kingswood early, a possible 2nd option is The Waterhouse Cafe near the station on Waterhouse Lane, which is open until 3pm. I say possible because their website says the kitchen closes at 2pm but I think that may refer to their lunch menu.

Walk is in the diary...

24, sunny am then cloud pm . The group soon got dispersed with the many variations in Banstead Woods. This is walk where you need to read the words not just follow lines on you map. The `permissive path along the road to the Well House Inn is almost impassible now and unfortunately its best to walk along the road. The pub managed to reserve tables for 8 plus 2, food was mostly good with a very generous home made chicken and leek pie. The aubergine tangine was less wonderful but overall they did well to accomodate us on a busy Sunday lunch.

`permissive path along the road to the Well House Inn is almost impassible now"

A start was made today...~50-100 metres clipped...work in progress

Big thank you to those clearing the path.

You are stars.

Is that SWC clearing the path? If so let m know when you are next going and I'll help if I can make it.

I could help out as well depending on when it is, bring your secateurs people !

Did anyone do this walk today? I got to London Bridge a little early and discovered that the Tattenham Corner part of the 09.54 had been cancelled because of a staff shortage. I ended up catching the 09.41 Thameslink train to Purley, which overtook the 09.24 Tattenham Corner service. I was the only person (walker or otherwise) to get off at Chipstead. Rather than wait an hour to see if anyone was coming on the later train, I decided to do the walk on my own. It was very nice weather for walking, and the directions were clear, apart from not being sure which Surrey Downs fairway to cross. I managed to work it out and was back at Chipstead station in plenty of time for the 2.03 train back to London Bridge. I await news from other walkers with interest.

If David had peeked inside the tea stop on his way to the station he would have spotted four regulars enjoying lunch. A group of three had set off after a train had finally turned up at Chipstead, intending to stick to the prescribed route. But whereas David had found his way round with the written directions, following the convoluted maze of lines for this multi-option walk on a phone app is a good deal more demanding. At any rate the challenge was not completely solved, since after exploring every possible route in Banstead Woods the group ended up back at the car park near the start. Meanwhile the walk author (on a solitary stroll searching in vain for fellow-walkers) had been fielding phone calls giving vague clues as to what was occurring. Somehow everyone met up in the Ramblers Rest at around 1pm.

After a reviving lunch the intrepid three set off in an attempt to reach the next base, but by 2pm a steady drizzle had set in. The walk author wished them luck, switched off his phone and headed back. I guess we can just about claim 5 on a cold windy drizzly day.

I can sympathise ... this is a walk I got lost on a few years ago.....it's all coming back to me now ....the nightmares..... Glad to know its not just me. Banstead Woods must be some sort of Sargasso Sea for walkers. There's probably some of our group been in there for years.

I thought about going to the Ramblers Rest, but as it was just starting to rain, I went straight back to the station and ate my sandwiches on the platform. Well, if anyone wants to do this walk another time, I'd be happy to guide you through Banstead Woods (perhaps there was an element of luck as well as judgement). it would be nice to do the walk later in the year to appreciate all the different trees the author mentions.

doing this it sounds nice and not far to go outside London

Roughly 25 plus Bofey the very obedient dog. Weather was dry quite warm sunny spells . A very nice walk and one which didn't feel as close to London as it was. I would definitely do it again.

Just 3 on this walk plus 1 determined solo walker who we kept bumping into en route. Weather w= dull-but-dry and good underfoot. Leaves off the trees so no colour to speak of.

Well House Inn so crowded that they were not serving any food so we pressed on to Kingswood where 2 stopped for tea whilst I decided to catch an early train which turned out to be possibly the best choice as the next one was cancelled. I think it looked like just an hourly return service this Sunday. Pleasant walk with some good views.

Historical duplicate/misleading attendance numbers cleanup project: 4

12 on this walk in beautiful autumn sunshine with the woods, hills and valleys looking magical and other-worldly. warm and sunny . The Well House Inn had set aside a snug for the 8 pub-lunchers and provided a fast and friendly service from a varied and excellent menu.

The woodland trails in the morning gave way to gorgeous open countryside in the afternoon where towards the end the walk author/inspector made a brief guest appearance!

A beautiful walk in great company marred slightly by a train cancellation which meant a longer than anticipated stay in the Kingswood Arms which was no real hardship,