9 on a hot sunny day. At the top of the first climb, there were 2 more waiting. That made us 11 There was buttercups. There was ups, there was downs, (at least one of which was vertiginous). There was big old trees, woods, meadows: There was scenery.

After a lot of this, decision time. Which way into Frant? Some took the quicker road route. It didn’t sound like they enjoyed it. The hardnuts opted for the traditional but no-longer-in-stewardship route through Old Eridge Park. The way was still passable. The much publicised boggy bits weren’t all that boggy today but Mr Tiger’s fashionable footwear was no longer pristine. He won’t be wearing them in London’s trendy discotheques any more. There was an unexpected burst of fast walking when the group attracted the attention of a herd of bullocks. But they were poppets. (When safely past the gate, they were poppets).

Then the Abergavenny. The short cutters were already tucked into posh looking food, when we arrived, which they said was good. No chips though. No benefactor today. Sigh.

After an afternoon of more of the same, 5 opted for the traditional ending. Of those, 3 caught the 15:40 and 2 hung around for refreshments.

The hardnuts, still hungry for more, tried out the new extension. It was generally well received. Grumpy old Mr Tiger, though, found the manicured parks and treks through suburbia a bit tame after the rest of the day.. !He cheered up a bit after coffee and a doughnut from a park caff.

Most caught the 17:10. One stayed behind to check out the Pantiles.

A party of 7 chose what was soon revealed to be a Wealden wallow in mud - glorious mud! Slippery, boot-sucking mud. The weather was changeable but improving, with drizzle giving way to leaden then lighter skies in the afternoon . Two sandwichers tarried for a drink in the Abergavenny Arms where the food looked on the gastro-portion-size side of delicious. A later than expected arrival in Tunbridge Wells ruled out most of the tea stops but Carluccio's obliged us with coffee and cake.

Did I mention the mud? Right to the top of my size 12 boots!

Morning, I find I have a free day, is there definitely someone going on this walk as I’d really like to join. Jo

I plan to join in today's walk and meet at Wandhurst. Any number I can call?

Mine is 07483271893

Lijia

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Jo and Lijia - please read the FAQ for answers to your questions (link below).

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/swc/index.shtml

I am going.

17 on a lovely sunny day. Some mud, but not as bad as expected. 8 of us went to the George Inn with a friendly welcome. That was the last we saw of the picnickers. One well behaved local sheepdog & owner. One meet-up person without any directions. A fine day out.

It is wonderful to see this walk listed again as I remember doing it before

Walking form the station I went into my reverie whilst we were ably led by several people with confident manners and an array of media for the information.

When I started this walk little did I think that my report, for I had vowed to do one though I never did until now, would go in this vein but such are the vagaries of our daily lives that here I am an idle pip in the grapefruit of a random breakfast hopefully refreshing the palates of the readers

The quest for meaning and a searching for poetry in ones daily joy de vivre / every breath

resulting in the need to bind the unconscionable random events of our existence into a malleable structure with no limits all the while using a narrative to relate to a value system has no doubt caused us all untold angst but then

- BOOM -

I walk and life comes into petrifying focus. On this walk there was a young lamb that trotted alongside me. I stopped to watch it and it also stopped and intelligently returned my gaze and then I walked on and it assuredly walked on as well matching my pace.

I felt a whole oneness with the animal and such a joy in the event.

I breathed deeply and looked to the sky and realised that this could be the beginning of my next symphony

I had actually settled on the train before coming into the present. Then with extreme fatigue I realised that my vision was due to be fulfilled.

And did the thought occur to me that my brother S Oddel should have walked with us today - he would get this?

Rapture

TW Addle

12 on this walk. We were nearly stymied by a broken down train ahead of us: we were disgorged from our train at Tonbridge and threatened with a replacement bus. But then the line cleared and we were gorged again and got to Wadhurst only half an hour late. It was a sunny morning with a cold wind . No mud yet, so we could enjoy the pretty ups and downs of the Weald without slithering. There was some autumn colour but still a lot of green. With this cold weather the last big push must be coming soon, however.

In Frant the George had a hunting party so we went to the Abergavenny Arms where the food was fine apart from the vegetarian options having inevitably sold out (order more veggie meals, pubs! Demand is rising!!). By the time we emerged it was cloudy but at least the threatened showers did not materialise. In Tunbridge Wells most of us squeezed into Juliet’s where we all enjoyed scrummy cakes - all, that is, except the two vegans, because the vegan cakes were (inevitably!!) sold out. A 5.20 (ish)’train home and off into the Great Darkness. Only five months to spring......

Sounds lovely & not too long. Is anyone else planning to go pls?

Yes, I'm planning to do this walk. The weather forecast tomorrow looks great too. Ruth

Ticket?!

25. sunny and cold

Just before Juliet's at 5 Castle St is Tiffin tea room which is my favourite. It's small but they have an upstairs bit too.

20 or so got off of the train and had an excellent day out in autumnal sun . This walk is perfect for this time of year with powerful views of hills and woods which the autumnal colours set off perfectly

14 of us lunched at the Abergavenny arms in Frant - very nice thank you - and 3 popped to the George

8 of us decided to lengthen the walk at the end to reduce the amount of suburban walking but oh so foolish of us as it then rained heavily for 40 minutes until we got to the tea room on the High St - not Juliet's but an independent coffee bar just a few doors further on and that was good as well - tea in a pot with loose tea - one day all tea will served this way.

6 of us made the 16.39 while the other 2 ' went shopping '- it is good for couples to have a past time

One of my fellow walkers, a journalist, asked if I could make this report witty as apparently most of the reports, ( M Tiger excepted ) are too dry - I am sorry but no I can't

Hello! Me and my friend would like to join you (we'll print directions and try to follow them, too, but it'd be good to make sure we're not getting totally lost – err, it'd just be a lot nicer to know we could blunder behind you.) Any way to meet you in Wadhurst? Planning to get in at Waterloo East. Thanks!

The more the merrier, Eu. You might well come across some fellow-walkers on the train but if not you won't have any problem spotting them on the platform at Wadhurst station. Although there's no walk leader, people always mingle together for a few minutes before setting off. You might like to read our New Members page.

good to know! will keep an eye out – thank you!

On a day of hazy sunshine 18 walkers turned up, if we count one regular who appeared at the lunch pub but declined to be cross-examined about how much walking she'd actually done, or intended to do afterwards. The walk poster's hope that the route might be ‘less muddy’ than on previous outings provoked hollow laughter as a succession of squelchy fields and gloopy footpaths impeded our progress. However, the seven or eight first-timers were surprisingly uncomplaining about their sodden footwear and mud-spattered trousers and I hope they're tempted to try our walks again in better conditions.

The George Inn provided its usual excellent fare, postponing yet again any idea of defecting to the other pub in the village. At the end some headed for the High Street and/or the 16:09 train, while others took the small detour to Calverley Grounds for a relaxed cuppa in the sunshine before taking the 16:39.

The said regular did about 5 miles had an excellent lunch and the benefit of some lovely companions. Also the sun shone all day.jfk

The soils of the Weald do not drain well.