MONDAY, 30TH JANUARY
LONDON TO THE SEA
Stage 4: Christ's Hospital to Billingshurst
(This hike has been organized in association with the Canadian Women's Club but is open to everyone)
This is a pleasant, easy walk through the fields and woods of the county of Sussex. We start from Christ's Hospital station which was built to serve the eponymous school founded in the city of London in 1553 by King Edward VI. In the nineteenth century it removed to its present location and is now co-educational. The boys still wear the traditional, ancient blue and yellow uniform (which has been adapted for the girls) and which has given the school it's popular name of the Bluecoat School. We have lunch in the charming village of Slinfold and from then on the route is almost entirely on paths all the way to Billingshurst Station.
Date: Monday, 30th January
Distance: 10 miles
Cumulative height gain: 300 feet
Meet: 0900 near the Swatch kiosk adjacent to platform 7 on the main concourse of London Victoria Railway Station
Depart: 0932
Arrive: Christ's Hospital 1038
Depart: Billingshurst 1629
Arrive: London Victoria 1746
Lunch: at a delightful old pub after 4 miles
Bathroom facilities: on the train and at the pub
Cost: £12.00 excluding rail fare and lunch. The fare depends on the numbers attending but should not exceed £20.00. GroupSaver fares normally apply whereby I can purchase four tickets for the price of two which reduces significantly the Cheap Day Return fare quoted above.
Closing date for applications: 26th January
Please read the 'Notes, terms and conditions' at the bottom of the page.
Please pay here.
(If you prefer to pay be cheque, please see paragraph 2 of the Notes, terms and conditions at the bottom of the page.)
Historical walk #4: The Middle Ages
A circular walk from St Albans
This walk is designed to give an inkling of the importance of the church in the mediaeval period. In pre-reformation times it was immensely powerful, wealthy and even had its own laws which made it, to some extent, a state within a state.
Our walk commences in St Albans where we shall see the cathedral which was originally the Abbey Church of St Alban named after England’s first christian martyr. St Albans is also the well-preserved Roman city of Verulamium so it will give those of you who missed the Roman walk an opportunity to appreciate the importance of that period, too.
From the cathedral we walk across Verulamium Park to enter the ancient estate of Gorhambury. Our route makes a sweeping curve to pass Gorhambury House and the ruins of Gorhambury Manor. After lunch at a delightful old country pub we walk through fields and woods to return to St Albans.
Date: Saturday, 4th February
Distance: 10 miles
Cumulative height gain: negligible
Meet: 0900 near the ticket office on the ground floor of London St Pancras Railway Station from where local trains depart. Note that it takes several minutes to walk from the Underground station to the meeting point.
Depart: 0934
Arrive: St Albans 0955
Depart: St Albans 1616
Arrive: London St Pancras 1642
Lunch: at a pub that serves excellent food after 4.5 miles
Bathroom facilities: on the train, on the station and at the pub
Cost: £12.00 excluding rail fare and lunch. The fare depends on the numbers attending but should not exceed £12.00. GroupSaver fares normally apply whereby I can purchase four tickets for the price of two which reduces significantly the Cheap Day Return fare quoted above.
Closing date for applications: 2nd February
Please pay here
(If you prefer to pay be cheque, please see paragraph 2 of the Notes, terms and conditions)