15 off the posted train having joined at various stations along the way. It was dry and not as cold as forecast under cloudy skies with a very light wind . We managed a good pace along paths through fields and woods, accumulating layers of sticky mud on our boots but not sinking in too deep. We reached the lunch stop at around 12.30. Nobody was interested in a pub lunch so we picnicked on benches, tombs and in the porch of St John the Baptist church before taking a shortcut omitting the loop to the Scarlett Arms and rejoining the official route on the other end of the loop. There were several positive comments about the walk even though the trees were bare and it was missing the colours of seasons to come. We saw snowdrops and a very early primrose in the churchyard and the woods were full of twittering birds so Spring is in the air. We reached Warnham before 3pm. Four managed to catch th 14.55 train. The rest stopped at the Sussex Oak in Warnham for refreshments. Six caught the 15.55 via Horsham leaving behind four beer drinkers still slaking their thirst.

About 20 regulars on this lovely walk in warm and largely sunny conditions. No shortage of mud and boggy bits, but nothing regular boots could not cope with. Generous helpings of bluebell woods and patches throughout, and one wonderful stretch of wild garlic (with bees aplenty) in the second half of the walk. Two of us lunched in idyllic conditions outside St John the Baptist Church. The very friendly Friends of the Church were running a tearoom in The Ark, their church hall. Should we get another Great Flood, this is the Ark I want to be in: the cakes were spectacular. As I eyed the coffee and walnut, one of the Lady Noahs asked me a question you never get asked in a high street cafe: 'How much do you want'? My companion joined (most of) the others at the pub and I walked on, keen to get a train at around 4. Acting on Walker's written tips, I got the service shortly before that hour to Horsham, and then onto a fast service to Victoria. At Horsham I spotted a very speedy walker who must have completed the extension. This walk is ideal for Spring - in less fertile conditions, the amount of hard surface walking involved might have chafed more. Thanks for scheduling.

20

warm and sunny

10 on this walk. One turned up in wellington boots. Smart lad. He will go far in life.

You would normally expect mud to have dried by this point in April. But not this year. Splish splash slither squelch the whole way. Occasional dry sections only raised hopes that were swiftly dashed. In February when the midweek walkers did the same route, the paths were dry.

To get all of the good news out of the way, there were indeed zillions of wood anemones throughout the route - but most were not in flower. They may be not out yet, they may not be coming out or they may have gone over. They should be at their best now, but the memo obviously got lost in the post. On the plus side there was a blue haze on many of the plentiful bluebell woods: they at least seem to be on schedule.

The weather was initially a disappointment too. But despite the gloomy forecast the clouds slowly cleared to sun and it was pretty much a perfect spring afternoon (except for one walker who found the sun “too hot”…)

And after the early disappointment, this was a gorgeous spring walk. There were some very nice patches of “wooden ms”, particularly on verges. The birdsong included half a dozen chaffinches, chiffchaff, nuthatch, song thrush, wren, blackbird. The flowers were many and varied, with particular mention of drifts of cuckoo flowers and several patches of goldilocks buttercups (a woodland specialist). Also a clump of delightfully scatty false oxlip (an accidental hybrid between primrose and cowslip). The hornbeam woods were a vibrant green.

We decided not to forewarn the Scarlett Arms of our arrival and it proved not at all busy. Two ate inside, five outside in the sun, and the three sandwichers joined us for drinks. Welly Man said the pie was the best he had ever tasted.

A slight personal regret as we approached the end of the walk was the lack of butterflies. But then in the woods near Warnham I saw a brimstone and my first orange tip of the year, bless it, having its evening feed on some cuckoo flower. What greater happiness is there on this earth?

I also achieved my dream of having tea in the sunshine in the garden of the Sussex Arms, with a nice chocolate brownie with ice cream for ballast.

I wanted the moment to last forever. Alas, others were already discussing whether we might get the 17.19 train. One or two seemed ready to stay, but then the sun went behind a postage stamp-sized cloud and that settled it. We fled back towards London.

Significant issues with trains, so hopefully we will get to Ockley on time! I have taken a slightly earlier train to change at Dorking.

19 off the train on a day of blue skies and sunshine . The walk was tranquil and beautiful as described and the mud was not too bad though a bit sticky. Ten picnickers stopped for lunch in the lovely churchyard in Oakwood, sitting on benches in warm sunshine. Eight had lunch in the Scarlett Arms. Five picnickers continued the walk via the pub and five took a shortcut cutting out that loop and planning to walk to Horsham by a scenic route. The pub route contingent spread out over the afternoon stretch. Most reached Warnham village at 15.40. A couple of people went to the pub, some rushed to the station for the next train and six caught the 16.19, two munching unhealthy snacks from the village shop.

sorry, im confused. Is there a start time?

m

1051,or when the train arrives if it is running late.

Around13 in mild and occasionally sunny weather. Three of us forged a map led route from Point 7 in para 36 directly to Horsham. This bypassed Warnham entirely and crossed the A24 via an underpass. We were then able to return to London Bridge on a Thameslink train.

11 at the station, though a later count made it 15. A late starter joined at the church and another caught us up at Warnham Station. That makes 13 right? (turns out 4 of the 15 were another group that got intertwingled).

A sunny day. The woods were a picture with bluebells, wood anemones and a dash of celandine, forget-me-not, and violet. The whole works. And someone saw an orchid.

Some went to the Scarlett Arms for lunch, others stayed at the church in the woods. A more arduous afternoon followed, with one or two ridiculously high stiles.

After a languorous stop at the Sussex Oak, 7 went on to Horsham and 5 to Warnham Station , where number 13 joined.

A grand day out

I abandoned my colleagues on my posted walk (Billingshurst to Amberley) today - Saturday 23 April - and instead did Dirk's posted walk a week later - for the bluebells. They were full on - superb - with plentiful fields of wooden "Ms" as well, with wild garlic in the woods coming along nicely. For the record, there was a group of friends - 8 in the thirties - following a print off of our directions, plus one solo walker with dog armed with the TO Book. All of us had lunch at the Scarlett Arms - and very good it was, too. A lovely sunny day with a breeze. A perfect bluebell walk.

Hi, Could there be another (more affordable) longer walk option on the 24th, please? Not a criticism of the current two offerings, just a polite request.Thank you.

23 on a sunny day. We divided into legally sized clumps and spread ourselves out.

Bluebells were just starting to come out, except in a later wood where they were out out. There was celandine, wooden enemies, violets. Quite a pleasant visit to the Scarlett Arms where some ate and others just drank. It was declared good. Even the little dead fish with starey eyes.

The fore-mentioned bluebell wood should be regarded as this walk’s Bermuda Triangle. A certain walks correspondent went adrift there before and did so again today, dragging another walker with him. New territory was covered and a donkey was met. Warnham was eventually reached but the Sussex Oak had no room for weary stragglers so we continued to the station and home

News just in. After a dramatic recount, make that 24

I have also become aware that the 'Bermuda Triangle' is only likely to ensnare those still using the book directions. Much clearer online.

A wonderful walk in bright sunshine . Lovely to be able to sit in a pub garden again with good company .The chips at the lunchtime pub were the best I have ever eaten A wonderful detour in the afternoon enhanced the experience Jane

15 at the station and 2 encountered midway makes for 17 who divided themselves into groups. The weather was sometimes sunny with two heavy showers The going was slippy with some – well, lots - of mud. Not deep mud though. Some autumn colour.

A pretty walk particularly the morning, but perhaps a little long for the time allotted. At least 3 (1 habitual slowcoach and 2 dawdlers) finished in the dark. The dawdlers caught up with the slowcoach after he’d been ‘exploring new territory’, Can’t comment on how many stopped at the Scarlett because I didn’t go in but I did spot 4 in the garden. They soon scuttled off when they saw me. One or two dodgy high stiles, without holdy-on posts, slippery after rain.

One bubble of about 5 went to the Punchbowl pub in Okewood Hill where they stopped in the covered shelter to the side of the pub - I'm not sure if they went in for a drink: they were leaving as I arrived. A much welcomed hot lunch for me next to a log fire, which helped to dry my book check notes which had suffered during the morning's heavy rain. I met another 4 after lunch at the junction with the lane leading down to Monks Farm - I had spotted then crossing the field just before this point and I waited to say hello. They sped ahead, or rather, I was a bit slow following them as I attempted to continue my book checking. With the arrival of another downpour in the afternoon, I had to give up this task and just enjoyed the remainder of the walk, mostly through oak and beech woods showing some nice leaf colour. Arriving in Warnham to find the Sussex Oak pub closed, I headed straight for the railway station, to catch the 17-18 hrs train back to London.

This is a lovely walk, at all times of year, and I enjoyed it today, even if it was a bit damp at times.

Any Walkers?

An enjoyable day for the 3 of us. Cloudy with sunny intervals .

It rained on the journey down, which was not encouraging, but it had stopped by the time 12 of us disembarked at Ockley. Thereafter it was cloudy , sunshine occasionally trying and failing to break through - until we were on the way home, when, inevitably, the clouds parted.

At the start we were just “doing names” on the platform when - I may be right, I may be wrong, but I am perfectly willing to swear... Actually, I definitely am right: a nightingale sang on Ockley station. This is only the second time I have ever heard one, the previous time being the day before when I visited Knepp Wildland especially to hear one. This is why I recognised it today: and yes, they do sing by day too.

Otherwise this is a walk through territory where, as the walk notes say, nothing has ever happened. A kind of Adelstrop country, where no one comes and no one leaves on the bare platform. Except there are also bluebells, wild garlic, yellow archangel, and lovely beechwoods whose new foliage even on a dull day was an eye-aching bright green. The bluebell woods are not big show-stoppers. No Dockey Woods or Old Simm’s Copses. But little bits and pieces throughout the walk, some full out, some not so. It all made for a perfect April outing.

Five of us lunched at the Scarlett Arms. One of the delights of midweek walks is that even tiny pubs have room, though this one was by no means empty. Four of us were persuaded by another diner to have the fish pie. It arrived hot on the outside but barely warm in the middle. Three of us sent it back and it returned twenty minutes later slightly less barely warm in the middle, at which point we ate it anyway. Very nice it was too. So far no ill effects..... We all got free coffees for complaining - even the ones who had not complained, which doesn’t seem quite fair.

At the end of the walk the pub in Warnham did mega pots of tea. Eight got the 17.18, three the 17.39 to Horsham and one perverse soul (me) the 17.46. On the idyllic walk to the station one of my companions said; “This is not the best bit of the walk, is it?” Then I saw a swallow, my first of the year.

Hi Walker

Gosh you heard a nightinglae sing. Wish I was there to hear it. Was walking and exploring Ashridge estate bluebell woods today . Yes Dockey wood was at its best so was Flat Isley, Crawley wood and Old Copse. Luckily no rain just cloudy. Saw and heard a cuckoo flying on way to Berkhampstead plus swallows too. Black caps was at Alpine meadow. I think there are resident there now according to a local bird watcher.

Monica

It is interesting that you heard - and saw! - a cuckoo at Berkhamsted: I heard one last year there too. Must be a good spot for them. I wish you had been there to hear the nightingale too: the other eleven showed only polite interest. “Well, it doesn’t really change my day,” was one reaction I got.

Hi Walker I see Marcus has posted a walk tomorrow for Tring Blue bell. I may repeat the walk tomorrow as the bluebells were great in other woods which I discovered wondering around. At least its free for Dockey wood on weekdays. I think by next week blue bells may be over. See on some walks in the future.

Monica

Are you walking Marcus? best M

Are you, Marcus?

Melanie, best we do not use this website as a personal diary.You have my e-mail address for any private communication you wish to make.

My general request remains concerning all walks posted by me: please do not bring your dog along with you. I believe many of our regular mid-week walkers share my preference not to have dogs on our walks.

On the subject of dogs (not my favourite topic), when I last book checked today's walk earlier this month, the unruly and out-of-control dogs at point 23 in the Directions, by the farms, are still there. What is particularly annoying, the dog owners look on and don't give a damn. As it says in the Directions, have that walking pole at the ready to keep the brutes at bay.

Ladies, do not despair. Stun grenades will be distributed on the platform, pre-walk.Lob cricket balls in your garden to simulate the action required.

14 walkers set off from Ockley on a very pleasant autumn day with warm sunny periods . It was delightful and easy walking through serene woodland and quiet country lanes. There was no sign of any unruly dogs, and only occasional sightings of Gatwick-bound aircraft. The walk directions were excellent. The Scarlett Arms in Walliswood was the chosen lunch stop and at least half the group sat outside in the pub garden and enjoyed the unusually mild weather. We got to Warnham just too late to catch the 4.18 return train, so most of the walkers stopped off at the Sussex Oak for refreshment, while four pressed on to catch the train via Horsham. All-in-all a really pleasant day.

Thanks for posting this walk -back to SWC classic.

Many would agree with Anonymous that this is a SWC classic, although the height of summer is not the best time to do it (it's better in early May for its bluebells or l). Amusingly, last week an Anonymous Miseryguts posted a most disparaging comment on this walk - See Comments, Book 1.

....for its bluebells or late autumn for leaf colour in the woods.) Amusingly, ......

This is a shady walk so will give respite from the heat if it continues.

Thanks for pointing this out. For those who don’t care swimming - this walk fits the bill perfectly.

Did I hear someone say "about 15" on this walk?

sunny

A lovely walk with nice woodland and open fields. The negative comments about this walk really do not do justice to this walk (esp the comment relating to fields with cows - we saw no cows but horses - someone clearly needs a visit to an optician!). About 7-8 ate at Scarlett Arms - pretty basic pub food but chicken burgers got high marks. Most stopped at Sussex Oak for refreshment in Warnham. The fast walkers caught the 4:18 train back to London whilst slow strollers an hour later. Nice a day out in good company. I'd recommend this walk for all seasons but agree that spring (for bluebells) and autumn (for autumn colours) would be particularly wonderful.

28 on this walk including 3 on variant trains. The weather was cloud clearing to sun at lunchtime . Though I say so myself, this made a lovely spring walk, one which did indeed have bluebells throughout just as advertised. No vast showstoppers but lots of modest woods, all fully carpeted. Also three big areas of wild garlic, pretty much in full flower. Several people commented on how interesting it was to do this walk in spring rather than the autumn slot it used to occupy in the rota. I enjoyed the contrast between the bare branches in March 2016, when I last did the walk, and the lush green today.

For lunch we spilt between the two pubs. I hear the food was a tad slow to appear in the Scarlett Arms. The Punch Bowl was nearly empty and momentarily surprised to have nine of us turn up, but the single member of bar staff was super friendly and the food came quickly and was tasty. On the way to the pub we passed through a gorgeous little bluebell wood that also had, in the space of twenty metres, early purple orchid, woodruff, sanicle, yellow pimpernel and wood speedwell. I realise this list means little to most of you, but for a wildflower enthusiast like me it was a royal flush, an unprecedented concentration of less common woodland species.

We sat outside the Punch Bowl under grey and ever so slightly chilly skies but as we left the pub the sun appeared and it was then a warm and lovely afternoon. We elected not to do the rather niggardly short cut back to the main walk route suggested in the directions but instead went back into the wood to see more bluebells etc, pass the woodland church and come to the Scarlett Arms where we joined some of those who had lunched there.

In the afternoon there was a big field of ewes and lambs who were thrown into delightful consternation by the arrival of a flock of humans. In one other field there were nervous cattle and calves (I was glad at this point that no one on the walk had a dog, even a well-behaved one...). The final delight was the Sussex Oak pub which has a pleasant sunny garden and served proper tea in pots and super puddings with astonishing speed and efficiency. It was only a pity we had to tear ourselves away to catch the last train at 18.08.

I did this walk in the summer. Around point 20, the footpath seems to have changed (or else I missed it). I see someone else has since put a note that you have no choice but to use a stile in the corner, squeezing past an abandoned trailer to get to it.

Sounds delightful especially if Marcus is leading it.jfk.

i need to ask you if i can post a new walk in development from Amberley probably in the spring now jane

Thanks Jane. We will be very happy to post your new Amberley walk in the Spring.

As I will be book-checking the Ockley walk tomorrow I will be on the train one hour ahead of the SWC group. I expect you will catch me up late in the morning leg or at the Scarlett Arms.

6

grey sunny cold

A classic SWC walk, saw 5 regulars on the scheduled train catch up with "M", our guide and mentor, at Sutton, whose attempt to do a walk-check ahead of the group, was thwarted, having been chucked off the earlier train by our Nemesis, Southern Rail. A fast pace to lunch, in surprisingly good weather with lots of sun to highlight the autumn colours and leaf fall underfoot. Not that muddy, despite overnight rain. All lunched well at The Scarlett Arms. Much pheasant consumed. Onward to the Sussex Oak for tea, the second great pub of the day. A short walk after dark to the station rounding off a great day. Sorry to those who stayed abed due to the dreary forecast which turned out to be........plain wrong.

In case anyone else is snookered by engineering works I intend the following journey suggested by TFL. Any other options gratefully received as there's no trains to CJ via Barnes.

Bus 267 to catch 9.06 Twickenham to Raynes Park

9.43 Raynes Park to Dorking

10.27 Dorking to Ockley

10.38 ETA

Paul (Porky) Nationalrail offer the 18.44 journey via Horsham as a return at the same price so should be no problem...but please check

Not going on this walk now. Too many logistics issues with the rail journey. Will go with Thomas option to Thame.

32 including one late starter who caught us at lunch. A heavenly day of warm sunshine and blue skies . Lots of signs of spring, including hearing the first chiffchaff of the year (first migrant bird to arrive from Africa) and covering nine daisies with one foot (old country saying says it is not spring until you do). Oodles and oodles of bluebell woods, but only the very occasional bluebell flower. Some wood anemones, lots of primroses, daffodils, celandines.

The group got split up, but about half, I think, lunched at the Scarlett Arms. Yet another pub that replaces "order at the bar" with "order drinks at the bar, wait for us to take orders at the table, then pay at the bar". Time and motion studies should be compulsory for publicans! Also no garden, which was painful on a sunny day. But to be fair, the food was nice when it came and we were only in there for just over an hour, which is not too bad.

There was a lot of mud in places, due to low-lying fields and squelchy bridleways: interestingly the arable fields at the end were bone dry, however. A glorious tea in the garden of the pub in Warnham - big pots, scrummy deserts.

Most got the 17.24, I think. Two of us walked into Horsham - a much nicer route than you would think from looking at the map, including an interesting wildfowl lake. We ended up on the 18.20 which is also the last train stopping at Warnham, but didn't see any other walkers get on that.

Wind and rain for the rest of the weekend, they say. Heigh-ho. But at least Et in Arcadia Ego

This is a lovely walk. Last time I walked it I applied these corrections/simplifications to the walk instructions:

3. ... field beyond. Cross the field to the edge of the wood opposite and turn left along the wood.

5-7. ... village of Ockley. Follow the path into the wood until a car wide track crosses. To the left there is a small footpath entering the wood opposite. After 45 metres by a cypress tree ...

10-11. ... In 40 metres go over the river [4] and turn left. Follow the track as it curves ...

I think Horsham is only another 1.5 hours' walk away from Warnham from where there are many more and later options to return back to London by train. A torch would be advisable for this attempt.

Enjoy !

Dirk

About 12 walkers. The weather turned from overcast to sunny . One of the highlights of this walk is the sudden emergence among the trees of the church in Okewood. After lunch in the always attractive Scarlett Arms two walked ahead and were not seen again. The rest had tea and desserts in the Sussex Oak. 3 walked on to Horsham via the Warnham Wildlife Reserve.