Night Experience

There were around 25 of us last night on the "Night Experience" organised by Dody. We took the Emirates cable car across the Thames just after sunset and it was amazing. We even saw the blood red moon rising just as we got back to North Greenwich.

Thoroughly recommend it even if you have to pay for the ticket - our tickets were funded by CLOG as it was one of our monthly socials. Here a few photos but no way do they do justice to this experience.

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BEDLAM IN SURREY – Sunday 4th October

A reminder for this 8 mile circular walk for art lovers, from Guildford. 

We will visit the Watts Gallery in the village of Compton, dedicated to the art of the Victorian George Frederic Watts, but which is also featuring a special exhibition of works by Richard Dadd: http://www.wattsgallery.org.uk/ . A couple of chapels will also be visited.

Dadd was a gifted artist, also of the Victorian era, who murdered his father and was committed to Bedlam mental hospital, and later Broadmoor. However he continued to paint, creating amazingly detailed and imaginative works, including Shakespearian scenes. Gallery entrance is £7.50, or £3.75 for students and Art Fund members. (No reduction for seniors, and tickets cannot be booked in advance.)

A snack lunch can be taken at the Gallery Tea Shop, famous for its Welsh Rarebit (and variations thereof), or bring your own picnic. (Tables cannot be reserved.)

Itinerary.
From Guildford, we will climb up onto the Hog's Back before dropping down to the Gallery, spending about two hours there. We will then visit the Art Nouveau Watts Chapel nearby before returning to Guildford through Loseley Park and along the River Wey. Here we can have a look at the ruined St. Catherine's Chapel (painted by Turner), on its little hill overlooking Guildford. Finally there is an optional pub stop in Guildford (probably the riverside White House).

Catch the 10:00 from Waterloo, arriving Guildford 10:40, where I will meet you. Returning, if not stopping at the pub, you are likely to catch the 17:35 from Guildford, arriving Waterloo 18:14. (Trains every 30 mins.)

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start__dateTime(4th October at 10am)

end__dateTime(4th October at 18:14pm)

Night Experience" - September Monthly Social Tuesday 29th September

Don't forget, tomorrow (Tues), we have the "Night Experience", a 25 minute ride on the Emirates cable car.

The ride will take us both ways across the Thames and takes approx. 25 minutes with a fantastic view of London at night.  "Discover a unique perspective of London's night sky – see The O2 from the air and the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf' with music and video".

Meet at North Greenwich (Emirates Greenwich Peninsula) at 7.00pm on Tuesday 29th September. Please find Dody who will be waiting next to the ticket office and organising tickets so that we get the group discount.  Will go to a pub afterwards.

GETTING TO GREENWICH PENINSULA TERMINAL (south side)

The closest station is North Greenwich Underground Station, about 400 metres away, which is served by the Jubilee Line. A number of bus routes also serve North Greenwich Station, including the 188 from Central London (Russell Square, Holborn, Aldwych, Waterloo).

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Thames Beachcombing/Mudlarkng walk Saturday 3rd October 3.5 miles / 5.6 km

Meet 11.15am Greenwich rail station ticket office. Greenwich is served by DLR or 8 mins by train from London Bridge).  Start 11.20am.

Wear shoes/walking boots but not expecting any mud!

Late lunch with possible stop at London's second biggest brewery. 

The tidal window is limited i.e. time and tide wait for no man.  Care to be taken on steps which may be slippery. Mudlarkers also welcome.

Meal at end of walk probably in trip adviser best Greenwich restaurant" The Green Pea"

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start__dateTime(3rd October at 11:15am)

end__dateTime(3rd October at4pm)

Black Mountains weekend 16th to 18th October

There are still places available on the Black Mountains weekend.  This would be a great opportunity for those who came on the potential new members walk last Saturday to experience a weekend away

There will be hill walking on the Saturday and Sunday ..     The cost for accommodation is £40

There is a full day option of canoeing on the River Wye on the Saturday (extra cost)

There is also horseriding available on the Sunday  (extra cost) 

Accommodation is in a private hostel on Cwmfforest Farm between Crickhowell and Talgarth in the Black Mountains.  sleeping  in bunks  Bedding 2 breakfasts and 2 packed lunches are included (a bed and breakfast alternative is available at a higher cost)

Full details  including transport options were set out in in previous posts  

Drivers willing to drive to Wales and prepared to take passengers  are  particularly welcome 

If you would like to come, email jimmarlowe1@gmail.com

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start__dateTime(16th October at 6pm)

end__dateTime(18th September at 9pm)

New Year trip to Alnwick YHA Northumberland 29 Dec 2015 to 3 Jan 2016

Bookings are open for the New Year trip to Alnwick YHA in Northumberland for five nights from Tuesday 29th December 2015 to Sunday 3rd January 2016.
We have exclusive use of the YHA which is situated in the town centre of Alnwick and is a former stone-built courthouse dating back to 1856. The YHA is a 7-minute walk from Alnwick Castle which unfortunately isn't open during our visit but can be admired from the outside and a 12-minute walk from Alnwick Garden which is open. 

Alnwick is 4 miles from the coast at Alnmouth and plenty of walking along the Northumberland coast is on offer. This rugged coast is best known for its sweeping beaches, imposing castles, rolling dunes, high rocky cliffs and isolated islands.

Highlights in the area include Dunstanburgh Castle – an iconic ruin not far from Alnwick and dominates one of the most beautiful stretches of the Northumberland coastline. Further up the coast is Bamborough Castle which is classed as one of the finest castles in the country.

Holy Island is worth a visit and lies just a few miles off the coast and is cut off twice-daily from the mainland by fast-moving tides. Luckily the tides have been kind to us and the Lindisfarne Causeway road to Holy Island is open during daylight hours on our trip so we can explore the island and the picturesque village. Unfortunately Lindisfarne Castle is closed although the Priory is open on weekends during the winter months.

There are 27 places and the cost is £100 per person which includes accommodation, breakfasts, packed lunches for walking and a communal meal on New Year's Day. Accommodation will be mainly in 4 and 6 bed dorms with a bed left spare in each room to provide more space.

An optional New Year's Eve meal is planned at a suitable venue yet to be investigated in Alnwick which will be within walking distance of the YHA. This will be followed by a party back at the Hostel. 

Getting there
The address of the YHA is 34-38 Green Batt, Alnwick NE66 1TU. For those of you driving to Alnwick, follow the A1, then take the A1068 exit from the A1 at Alnwick and then the B6346 to Green Batt. There is parking at the hostel.

Hopefully there will be enough car drivers to cover all on the trip but if anyone is travelling by train then Alnmouth is the nearest train station which is four miles from Alnwick. There are direct train services from Kings Cross to Alnmouth. Bus X18 is an hourly service which runs from Alnmouth to Alnwick bus station with the last bus from Alnmouth at 22.51 and then there is a 5 minute walk to the YHA.

Advance train tickets are not available for the 29^th December yet but advance tickets to Alnwick and return on earlier dates are showing from £39.50 each way. The X18 bus starts from Newcastle-upon-Tyne so you have the option of catching a train to Newcastle then taking the bus to Alnwick which will be cheaper but it will be a longer journey. The last bus from Newcastle is 21.13. Advance tickets on earlier dates from Newcastle are £29.10 each way. The X18 bus runs from Newcastle to Berwick-upon-Tweed along the coast stopping at Seahouses and Bamborough along the way so plenty of opportunity for exploring Northumberland
Priority to members/members only

To book
Send a cheque for £100 payable to 'CLOG' to Bookings Organiser - Sheila Pitt, 24 Tillingbourne Green London BR5 2HS and write the reference number 15/012-ANC on the back of your cheque. Include your e-mail address, however not on the back of the cheque.

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start__dateTime(29th December at 9am)

end__dateTime(3rd January at 6pm)

Sussex Beachcomber Walk: Shoreham-by-Sea to Littlehampton - Saturday 26th September

You're welcome to join us on a 13.5 mile linear stroll along the West Sussex
coast, starting in Shoreham-by-Sea and ending in Littlehampton this Saturday
(26th September). Shorter walk options are available with 5.5 miles to Worthing
for lunch and 8 miles from Worthing in the afternoon. A walk with a difference
since this virtually follows the beach for the entire length, running parallel
to the ever sprawling urban expanse. But ideal for striding out, especially at
low tide across the sand with the sea for company ...

Meeting Point:
SHOREHAM-BY-SEA station at 10.30 am and we'll go soon after the train arrives
from London. The leader will meet you at the station.

If joining in for the afternoon stretch from Worthing, then meet up at
the pier entrance at 2 pm having made your own way from Worthing station
(about 15 minutes walk).

Shorter Walk Options:
5.5 miles from Shoreham-by-Sea to Worthing (5 trains per hour from here back
to London; some direct, others involve changing at Brighton)
8 miles from Worthing to Littlehampton.

Getting There:
Train travellers need to catch the 9.16 am Southern service from LONDON VICTORIA
station, destined for Eastbourne & Littlehampton: You need to sit in the front
part of this train since it will divide !

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start__dateTime(26th September at 10:30am)

end__dateTime(26th September at 6pm)

CLOG Social 24th October. 7.30 PM.

Old Coffee House.  47 Beak Street Soho.

Singing, buffet, disco.

start__dateTime(24th October at 7:30pm)
end__dateTime( 24th October at 9:30pm) 

Devil’s Punch Bowl figure-of-16 walk

12 miles Moderate pace; not suitable for slow walkers

The Devil's Punch Bowl is a steep-sided natural bowl which is being restored to rare heathland after the A3 was diverted underneath it in a tunnel a few years ago. This figure-of-16 walk is made up of 4 circular walks exploring the area in each direction.

Look out for other Cloggies about 8.45am at Waterloo Station near the National Railways ticket office. Take the 9am train from Waterloo to Haslemere for a connecting bus to Hindhead. Buy a return to Haslemere. Meet at Haslemere station exit when the train arrives (due 9.48am).

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start__dateTime(7th November at 8:45am)
end__dateTime(7th November at 6pm)

North West Kent Walk: Farningham Road to Sole Street - Sunday 20th September

Come out to a different part of Kent on a 12 mile linear walk from Farningham
Road station to Sole Street station this Sunday (20th September). Perhaps less
pretty and more gritty than the "Garden of England" as portrayed for tourism,
but packed with variety and plenty of contrasting rural views across open
fields, woodland, downland and even some orchards. Maybe some hares, certainly
some pylons and, on a good day, even the whoosh of a Eurostar .

Meeting Point:
FARNINGHAM ROAD station at 10.45 am. For car drivers, this station is located
on the A225 Farningham-Dartford road. Train arrives from London at 10.44 am.

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start__dateTime(20th September at 10:45am)
end__dateTime(20th September at 6pm)

What we did last winter: Hill and coastal walking in the Cote D'Azure

After Xmas last year, we fled the cold dark English winter for the warmth and beauty of the south of France.

It is often very sunny in winter due to the local microclimate and there is an excellent and very cheap public transport system: trams, buses, SNCF trains and the only private railway in France - Nice to Dignes les Bains.  The latter is the surviving part of the once extensive Chemins de Fer de Provence.

We were based in a hotel in Nice and went out each day to explore coastal walks, walks in the hills, deserted hilltop forts and medieval villages with dark narrow streets which hide the sun.

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What we did last summer: Dorset walking weekend

We were based in in the centre of Weymouth for 3 nights and each day we did a variety of walks along Dorset's stupendous coastline.

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Round the Weald in 80 Days walk Edenbridge to Sevenoaks via Chartwell & Knole Deer Park

Round the Weald in 80 Days walk

Edenbridge to Sevenoaks via Chartwell & Knole Deer Park

Saturday 12 September

Moderate pace – not suitable for slow walkers. 13 miles (linear walk). Hilly

The last stage of my Round the Weald in 80 Days walk is a classic route via Crockham Hill, Chartwell, Toys Hill, Ide Hill and Hanging Bank then a newly-discovered high route across Sevenoaks Common into Knole Deer Park

Bring a packed lunch for a picnic

It starts by following the Vanguard Way. This is part of a long-distance path from London to the sea which was created by The Vanguards - a rambling club formed in the 60s by some walkers on a crowded train who ended up sitting in the Guard's Van. We leave the Eden Valley behind and start climbing up onto the Greensand Hills

After 2 ½ miles we reach the village of Crockham Hill (where there used to be a youth hostel). We will stop for a quick drink at the Royal Oak pub and a brief look at the church which is known for its stained glass window and tomb effigy commemorating Octavia Hill, one of the founders of the National Trust, who lived nearby

After 4 miles we reach Chartwell which was Churchill's home. We go round the outside past the estate farm and some attractive oasthouses

After 5 miles we reach the restored well at Toys Hill which has a wonderful view over the Weald towards Ashdown Forest and the South Downs. It is one of the places that inspired Octavia Hill to found the National Trust. It has several benches and will probably be the lunch spot

After 6 ½ miles along the Greensand Way passing another outstanding view over the Weald towards Ashdown Forest we reach Ide Hill, one of the highest villages in Kent. This is the quintessential village green with its church and pub. We will then say hello to the Ide Hill donkey (who is usually very grumpy) and look at the view from the Octavia Hill memorial bench before a coffee stop at the village shop.

We continue along the Hanging Bank ridge through Stubbs Wood which has several splendid views of Bough Beech Reservoir and then make our way across Sevenoaks Common to enter Knole Deer Park

After 13 miles we reach Sevenoaks. Optional tea and coffee stop at the end at my home

Look out for other Cloggies about 9.30am at London Bridge Station near the National Railways ticket office. Take the 9.45am train from London Bridge to Edenbridge; note that this is not the same station as Edenbridge Town which is on a different line. This train usually departs from Platform 10 at London Bridge; it calls at Norwood Junction and East Croydon. The ultimate destination is Tonbridge via Edenbridge

The walk will depart shortly after the train arrives at Edenbridge (due 10.33am). There are no facilities of any sort whatsoever at Edenbridge station (apart from the platform where I will meet you)

Alternatively take the 9.37am train from Victoria to East Croydon; this train calls at Clapham Junction. Change at East Croydon onto the train to Tonbridge and get off at Edenbridge

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start__dateTime(12th September at 9:30am)

end__dateTime(12th September at 6pm)

"Night Experience" - Tuesday 29th September

Join us for a 25 minute ride on the Emirates cable car "Night Experience". The ride will take us both ways and take approx. 25 minutes with a great view of London at night. Meet at North Greenwich (Emirates Greenwich Peninsula) at 7.00pm on Tuesday 29th September.  Paid up Clog members will have tickets subsidised.  Non-members are more than welcome but will have to buy their own ticket, but as you will be joining a group, you will benefit a discount and the ticket which would normally cost just over £10 will cost £8.40.  Please find meet me first before buying tickets. I will be waiting next to the ticket office

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start__dateTime(29th September at 7pm)

end__dateTime(29th September at 8pm)

Black Mountains Weekend Friday 16th to 18th October with Clogactive canoeing, caving and horse riding

This is based on the independent hostel  at Cwm Forrest Farm Pengenfford (GR183292) halfway between Crickhowell and Hay on Wye in the Black Mountains South Wales. (just off the A479) 

Walking

The hostel is immediately below Waun Fach the highest of the Black Mountains and there are mountain walks in all directions with several high level routes routes possible from the bunkhouse including the ascents of Hay Bluff and Lord Hereford's Knob (yes, this is a mountain!).  Valley walks along both the River Wye and the River Usk are about 5 miles away in opposite directions. Walks will be led by CLOG volunteer leaders  as usual.

Clogactive Activities 

The following events are available to book for Saturday 17th October.  They are led by local professionals and are subject to weather and other circumstances that might arise. Places are limited (but if numbers previously wanting places are borne out this should not be a problem. All places must be pre-booked when booking.

This weekend has been designated the Clogactive event for October . This means I can offer the activities at prices  (for CLOG members only) below those previously indicated - in accord with the agreed Clogactive policy. 

Horse-riding

The hostel is on Cwmfforest Farm which has its own  breeding herd of Welsh Cobs and offers full day escorted trekking for experienced riders only in the mountains. Riders must be comfortable at the walk , trot and canter. The cost is £50 for the day.  

Canoeing

This is a canoeing trip on the River Wye covering about 10..5 miles downstream at a cost of   £20 in  kayaks. Please send me an email if you are interested.Please bear in mind that the event is in October and the water may be colder than now (if you fall in)

Caving 

There are a number of caves in the Brecons which are accessible by  small groups of people led by experts. This involves wearing specialist equipment and may involve , climbing, wriggling on your tummy and squeezing through narrow gaps.in the dark (head torches are provided   It is lots of fun, but these are  definitely not show caves. (min 4 people cost  £30 per day) 

The hostel

The hostel has 25 beds  at £40 each (including 2 breakfasts and packed lunches (GR 183292)  There are shared showers, a full  kitchen, dining room and drying room. There is a pub providing food 1 mile north in Pengenfford (20 mins walk)  You can check the hostel out on its website breconbeaconsbunkhouse.co.uk.

Bedding is provided but you need to bring your own towel.
 
There are also a very  limited number of bed and breakfast beds  in the adjacent farmhouse  (all with  shared bathrooms). ( The price is likely to be £60 in shared rooms  £70 single occupancy - however prices may vary dependent on numbers and none of these rooms can be guaranteed) 

Extending the trip

It is possible to extend the stay in the hostel by booking extra nights either before or after the weekend at a cost of £15 per person per night.  This includes bedding but no food.

If you are interested please send me an email (see below)  Do not book this through the Booking process at present

.

Car Parking

There should be ample parking  for cars. but not all of it will be next to the accommodation. If you can offer a lift or need a lift.please let me know when booking.  However Clog cannot accept bookings conditional on getting a lift. 

Public Transport

It is possible to get to Abergavenny about 7 miles away by trian  from Paddington (change at Newport Central)  Buses go to Crickhowell (about 7 miles during the day only  There is NO ongoing public transport .

If there is sufficient demand we may be able to organise private transport from Abergavenny ( sharing the cost) but this would require the users  everyone to co-ordinate their arrival .  This is most likely to work around the 14.45 or  19.15 from Paddington arriving at Abergavenny at 16.57 and  21.55 respectively. 

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start__dateTime(16th October at 6m)

end__dateTime(18th September at 9pm)

What We Did Last Summer: Sea kayaking and cycling weekend

Last July we were in Chichester for the weekend.  Saturday was sea kayaking in Chichester Harbour, and Sunday cycling on quiet cycle routes by the coast and on disused railway lines, with an option of a walk for non-cyclists.

We hope to do a similar trip in 2016.

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Walk - Wednesday 9 September - Benfleet & coast

Benfleet to Leigh on Sea for drinks/food then walk back or drop out.  Walk approx 4.5m or 8m.  Intending to have a leisurely day out and enjoy views & wildlife, moderate pace.

Train 11.00 Fenchurch St; 11.08 @ West Ham (where I join. NB the ticket office at WH has closed, staff @ Benfleet will sell tickets) frequent return trains.

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Potential New Members Walk

You are welcome to join us for a short walk along the River Thames on 19 September.

Meet at Ravenscourt Park tube exit at 10.30 to make our way from there to the river. Ravenscourt Park is on the District Line (frequent trains going to Ealing Broadway or Richmond) and is just one stop beyond Hammersmith.

We will then follow a pretty section of the Thames Path (along the north bank) for about 4 miles in the morning to Kew, where we will have lunch in a pub or packed lunch for those who prefer. 

We then walk about 3 miles in the afternoon to Richmond along the Thames Path (south bank). The path on the south bank has a woodland feel to it in contrast to the garden feel of the north bank.

In Richmond we will find a pub and for anyone who feels like it a quick evening meal before heading home. 

Richmond has fast trains back to Waterloo and is on the Overground to North London as well as being on the District Line back to Central London. It is in Zone 4 so an Oyster or Zones 1-4 Travelcard will cover the day.

This walk is ideal for potential new members to try us out. We hope you can come along! Existing members are also welcome of course.

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Post Xmas in Andulucia

OUTLINE OF THE TRIP:

- Return flights to Malaga (please note that the tickets /return trip/. The leader recommends to book as early as possible as the flights prices will only go north! Contact her for details.

- Visiting:
*** Malaga: birth place of Picasso with museum dedicated to his paintings
*** Parque Natural de el Torcal, 55km north of Malaga with various trails. This is a massive high plateau of glaciated limestone with some rock scuptures.
*** possible Nerja with its caves, to be discussed
*** Ronda with its River Gorge el Tajo, you can also walk down the River on donkey tracks
http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm
*** Granada of course with the Alhambra.

Open to discussion of course, but the aim would like not to travel too far away from Malaga, so not planning to go to Seville or Jerez this trip.

This trip will combine sightseeing with some walking. Accommodation will be in small hotels. There will be a meeting probably in October with the other participants to finalise the itinerary and details of the trip.

BUDGET:
Between the flights, the accommodation, and food, it would be prudent to budget around £700/ £800 for the trip. May not be that much, but would rather send a pre-warning to let you know.

NB  This trip is only open to clog members so you would need to join clog in order to go on the trip.

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Faversham Hopfest - Next Sunday 6th September - 5 miles + live music ++

A fine old town by the Thames estuary. One of my favourite short walks, with added live music. Only found out about it the other day, with a strong recommendation.

- 0939 from Victoria (going to Dover Priory), arriving Faversham 1054. Meet at the right hand end of the ticket office by 0930. I'll have boots and a red rucksack.

- 5 miles down and up creeks, with lunch half way, by a creek, at the Shipwrights Arms http://www.theshipwrightsarmspub.co.uk/   01795 590088

- Back to Faversham  2ish to see what's on offer http://www.favershamhopfestival.org/ . Half a dozen stages with live bands, and other stuff. http://www.playinginfaversham.com/search/label/Sunday

- Fast trains back to Victoria about half-hourly. Leave when you like.

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Greenwich Beachcombing/short walk 3/4 miles 3rd September

start 11.20am Greenwich rail station ticket office served by DLR (Greenwich is 8 mins from London Bridge networkrail station).

Shoes / walking boots but not expecting any mud, late lunch with possible stop at London's second biggest brewery. 

The tidal window is limited -Time and tide wait for no man - care to be taken on steps which may be slippery.   Mudlarkers also welcome.  

Meal at end of walk to be decided

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Tottenham Hale to Blackheath Walk this Saturday 5th September

This walk goes along as many waterways and finds as many green spaces as it possibly can in  East/South East London.

River Lea/Hackney Marshes, Victoria Park, Regents Canal, Limehouse, then onto Greenwich thru the foot tunnel and onto Blackheath

Meet 10.30am at Tottenham Hale station

Distance: around 11 miles

Pub lunch or packed lunch.

Pub stop at end

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Caterham walk today 7 miles

A walk from Caterham rail station through Green Belt around Woldingham School  to teashop at Woldingham and return. Optional drop-out at Woldingham Station. (If you've been shopping at the garden centre?) Some steep hills.

Meet 12..30 Caterham Rail Station. Zone 6. ( Woldingham is one stop outside zone 6).

 London Bridge 11.36, New Cross Gate, Norwood Junction 12.00, E Croydon 12.07, Purley,
, Caterham 12.28.

Or, a later train from London Bridge (to Tonbridge) at 11.45 arr. Norwood Junction at 11.56

Return trains !7.22, 17.41, 18.01., 18.07
The Dene teashop at Woldingham closes 4pm.

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