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Godstone to Oxted walk

Compare two magnificent yew trees in the Surrey churchyards of Crowhurst and Tandridge.

Surrey

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, 07-Feb-24 Godstone to Oxted 13 rain free
Sat, 11-Feb-23 Godstone to Oxted - Two Ancient Yew Trees 15
Mon, 30-Aug-21 Godstone to Oxted (with Short Afternoon Options) 15 autumnal feeling and cloudy
Sat, 08-Jun-19 Godstone to Oxted - Two magnificent yew trees 17 heavy downpours sun hail thunderbolts and lightnin very very frightnin
Sat, 13-May-17 Godstone-Oxted Walk – Compare two ancient yew trees in Surrey churchyards 26 cloudy clearing to sun and cloud late
Wed, 07-Feb-24 : Godstone to Oxted 13
Wanderer
Wanderer

T=swc.277

This walk is mostly through low-lying farmland (with occasional stretches of woodland) in the valley of the River Eden, but there are also good views from the low hills to the south of the river and the Greensand Ridge to the north.

Length:17¾ km (11.0 miles)

Short Walk Options:

1. Main Walk, omitting Tandridge 14½ km (8.7 miles).

2. Main Walk, finishing in Hurst Green 13 km (7.8 miles)

Difficulty: 4 out of 10

Trains: Take the 10.21 train from London Bridge to Redhill, changing there for the 11.00 Tonbridge train which arrives Godstone at 11.10.

Return trains from Oxted run at xx:20 to London Bridge or xx.23 and xx.53 to London Victoria.

Tickets: Godstone and Oxted are on different lines. A return to Edenbridge Stations via East Croydon is valid on the return journey from Oxted or Hurst Green as well as the outward journey to Godstone via Redhill.

Lunch:The only conveniently-placed pub for a lunchtime stop is the Royal Oak (01883-722207) on the edge of Staffhurst Wood, after 8¾ km.

Tea: various options in Oxted .

For directions, map and GPS l=swc.277



  • Wed, 07-Feb-24

    A lucky 13 enjoyed a rain free walk between the downpours of last night and those forecast for tomorrow. Instead, water rose up from the ground mingled with mud to embrace our boots and permeate through to our socks (mine at least). A pleasant walk if the slippery ground did not demand so much attention. 6 or 7 lunched at the pub, others picnicked outside the pub and in the woods before joining them. Three did not stop for a drink but carried on to Oxted on the shorter route arriving there around 3.30. Two went to Weatherspoons, one to Cafe Nero. Others may wish to report on their lunch and afternoon routes.

  • Wed, 07-Feb-24

    Well the lunch was good and all half price! which is why the pub was so full I suppose.

    Three of us took the short cut to Hurst Green and the 1550 train from there; the remaining seven were last seen marching across a wet ploughed field towards Tandridge.

    Thanks for posting!

PeteG
PeteG
T=swc.277
Length: 17¾ km (11.0 miles). 4 hours 15 minutes walking time. 4 out of 10.

The Crowhurst Yew and the Tandridge Yew . The walk itself is mostly through low-lying farmland (with occasional stretches of woodland) in the valley of the River Eden , but there are also good views from the low hills to the south of the river and the Greensand Ridge to the north. There is a mud warning, but hopefully not too bad after the recent dry weather.

Trains: Get the 1021 Thameslink, Three Bridges train from London Bridge (East Croydon 1036), changing at Redhill 1052, for the 1109 Tonbridge train arriving 1119.
Return trains are 1720, 1723, 1753 etc to either London Bridge or Victoria. There is a warning of the 1623 & 1653 being busy because of Crystal palace playing Brighton.
The start and finish stations are on different lines but a return to Edenbridge Stations via East Croydon is valid on the return journey from Oxted or Hurst Green as well as the outward journey to Godstone via Redhill.
Lunch: T he Royal Oak ( 01883-722207 ) on the edge of Staffhurst Wood, after 5.5 miles, 8¾ km. A “Grumpy Mole Restaurant” it has an attractive garden with fine views across the Low Weald.
Tea: Cafes in Oxted & a Wetherspoons next to the station.
  • Sat, 11-Feb-23

    15 of us set off, with 4 ramblers a bit ahead, doing a recce for Southbank next Saturday. The ground was generally firm, giving good walking & nice views. The usual split at lunch, where we were joined by a lunch couple, but not enough to make it 17! Some snowdrops at Tandridge church. 6 of us stopped in the Wetherspoons, as did two others later. It ended with 11 getting the 5.20/5.23.

Margaret
Extra Walk 277 – Godstone to Oxted (with Short Walk Options)

Length: Main Walk: 17¾ km (11.0 miles). Toughness 4 out of 10.

Short Walk Options:

1. Main Walk, omitting Tandridge 14½ km (8.7 miles).

2. Main Walk, finishing in Hurst Green 13 km (7.8 miles)

10:15 (Thameslink) Brighton train from London Bridge, changing at Redhill (arr 10.42, dep 11.00) for the (Southern) Tonbridge train, arriving at 11:10. The start and finish stations are on different lines but a return to Edenbridge Stations via East Croydon is valid on the return journey from Oxted or Hurst Green as well as the outward journey to Godstone via Redhill.

Return trains: From Oxted at xx:20 to London Bridge and at xx:23 and xx:53 to Victoria. From Hurst Green xx:16 to London Bridge and xx:20, xx:50 to Victoria

This route allows the group to walk together for most of the walk, since the shorter options would be taken about half way along the afternoon stretch.

It's mostly through low-lying farmland with occasional stretches of woodland in the valley of the River Eden, with good views from the low hills to the south of the river and the Greensand Ridge to the north. Along the main route, you can compare two of the largest British yew trees (the Crowhurst and Tandridge Yews), each at least 1,000 years old, although the two shorter endings both miss out the Tandridge Yew.

You reach the Royal Oak (01883-722207) on the edge of Staffhurst Wood, after 8¾ km. It has an attractive garden with fine views across the Low Weald. It appears to be open and is popular so it would be wise to call ahead/make a booking.

There are various options for tea on the Main Walk and Short Walk Option 1 (see the walk directions for details). If doing Short Walk Option 2, there's nothing near Hurst Green station but you could take the train 1 stop to Oxted and visit the Wetherspoons pub or one of the several cafés and coffee shops there.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.277 page.

  • Daisy Roots
    Sun, 29-Aug-21

    There are also options to travel directly from Clapham Junction to Redhill (dep 10:16 arr 10:48) or from East Croydon to Redhill (dep 10:29, arr 10:42)

  • Mon, 30-Aug-21

    Thanks Sean for authoring the walk. It was great! Just what I needed and good to meet everyone. Tim

  • Tue, 31-Aug-21

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  • Sandy
    Tue, 31-Aug-21

    There were 12 of us on various trains, plus 3 car drivers so 15 started from Godstone on an autumnal feeling and cloudy day. The walk author was very modest about the quality of the walk but I found it had plenty of variety and interest, especially the historic yew trees and forest sections. The majority ate very substantial portions and/or had some refreshments at the Royal Oak, which we were pleased had survived the pandemic, as it is in the middle of nowhere. As usual we set off in different groups after lunch, with two car drivers returning to Godstone. My group had dwindled to four by the time we had a chilly tea/coffee/cake outside the Everyman cinema in Oxted high street, produced just in time for us to catch the 1723 train. Many thanks to Daisy Roots for suggesting this different walk.

Walker
Length: 17.5km (10.9 miles)
Toughness 4 out of 10 T=3.277

10.21 train from London Bridge (10.05 St Pancras Thameslink, 10.37 East Croydon) to Redhill, arriving 10.52, changing there for the Tonbridge train, depart 11.00, arriving Godstone at 11.10.

You could also get the 10.09 from Victoria (10.16 Clapham Junction, 10.27 East Croydon), arriving at Redhill at 10.48

Buy a day return to Edenbridge Stations (via East Croydon, if there is a choice of routes)

Walk directions are here, a GPX file is here, a map of the route is here.

We have several walks in this area, but this particular combo has not had an airing since May 2017. It covers pretty and generally gentle terrain that I am sure will display the last flowery phase of spring to best effect. There is in particular one field just before Tandridge that has in the past been a great riot of buttercups, though these things vary from year to year. Oh, and you also get to see two of the most ancient yews in the country, apparently, both at least 1000 years old.

Lunch - slightly uneasily - depends on the popular Royal Oak pub on the edge of Staffhurst Wood (which is also the lunch pub on the Oxted to Lingfield walk). This is 5 miles into the walk. The directions warn it may be fully booked inside at the weekends - the slightly uneasy bit - but if the weather is fine it has a large garden.

In extremis, pushing on for another 3 miles gets you (with a very minor detour) to the Barley Mow in Tandridge, which serves food until 3pm, though you are fairly close to the end of the walk by this point.

For tea or something stronger, your way into Oxted is festooned with pubs and there are also several tea shops and cafes - see the walk directions for details.

Trains back from Oxted are at 20 past to London Bridge and 23 and 53 past to Victoria (London Bridge is slightly faster). Your Edenbridge ticket is valid for these.
  • Fri, 07-Jun-19

    I have booked a table for 6 at 13:00... Sounds busy, said he could just about fit us in. Obviously if fine we can eat in the garden.

  • Sat, 08-Jun-19

    17 people. The weather could most politely be described as “unusual” ( heavy downpours sun hail thunderbolts and lightnin very very frightnin ) Rain so heavy my camera stopped working. One or two finished at lunch to avoid more of the same. The tough nuts kept going.

    In the first paragraph, the “side gate on the right” no longer has a blue arrow but does have a “beware of the dog” sign. This was disconcerting. After a bit of a dither, we convinced ourselves it was the right gate and so it was. And no sign of the doggie.

    Lots of sheep in the fields. One or two might have been goats.

    The large number of stiles on this walk would be good training for gymnasts or ballet dancers - unfortunately, I'm neither.

    The lunch pub was welcoming and walker friendly with little blue baggies provided for feet.

  • Anonymous
    Sat, 08-Jun-19

    There was indeed a little dog, sheltering in the barn and looking a little forlorn. Some guard dog - he/she just sat and watched as we walked past

Sean
Extra Walk 277 – Godstone to Oxted
Length: 17½ km (10.9 miles). Toughness: 4/10

10:39 Tonbridge train from Victoria (Clapham Jct 10:45, East Croydon 10:56), arriving Godstone at 11:19. Buy a return to Edenbridge Stations: not an obvious choice, but this is valid on both the outward and return journeys.

On the way back there's a fast hourly service from Oxted to London Bridge at 19 minutes past, plus slightly slower services to Victoria at 24 & 54 minutes past the hour. They all stop at East Croydon if you want to switch destinations.

Notionally this is a new walk, but to forestall complaints I should acknowledge that it's been cobbled together from bits and pieces of an earlier version of the Oxted to Lingfield Walk (#135). Its raison d'être is to let you compare two of the oldest yew trees in the country, just 4 km apart as the crow flies in the Surrey hamlets of Crowhurst and Tandridge. The walk itself is mostly over low-lying farmland in the Eden valley with a short climb onto the Greensand Hills at the end, but the presence of a few woodland stretches means that it won't be entirely bluebell-free.

The lunch pub is the same as on Walk 135, the Royal Oak on the edge of Staffhurst Wood. It's got plenty of outdoor seating but you'll get there around the peak time of 1pm so call ahead if you want to be sure of a table inside. At the end of the walk there are several tea places in Oxted, with Café Papillon and the Oxted Inn both right next to the station.

You'll need to print the directions from the Godstone to Oxted Walk page. You can save a sheet or two of paper by first clicking the ‘Main Walk’ option (or the word ‘Main’ in the Options heading if you might want to do one of the afternoon short cuts). T=swc.277
  • Anonymous
    Mon, 15-May-17

    cloudy clearing to sun and cloud late

    26 or so

    Great walk, lovely yew trees , both stunning and seeing as they are both featured in the UK's top 50 trees it means that we saw 4% of the top trees in the country

    Royal Oak / Grumpy Mole handled us with aplomb - they put us in the garden but the weather was mild enough and food was good.

    Cafe Papillon closed early and the cafe Robertsons seemed to struggle under the duress of having 6 of us turn up but in the end we all got our teas and ice creams ( one chap's cake got forgotten twice but so it goes)

    BUT the buggers cancelled our train at 17.19 so we had to wait another 7 minutes for the one after

    Slim Jim