Unwaymarked Route: Southern England/London
Old Coulsdon to Brighton76km/47 miles
A route from the edge of south London across the Surrey Hills and Weald on quiet paths and lanes to the famous coastal resort, requiring map and compass skills to follow. Devised by Maurice Hencke for the Socratic Walkers - the name is an acronym with a history too eccentric to describe here.
In 1999 the route was adopted as Croydon's Millennium Trail.
Connects with
Highway authorities
Tourist Information Centres
Public transport
The start is a 3km/2 mile walk or bus ride from Coulsdon South station for trains to Croydon, London Victoria, Redhill and Gatwick Airport, or you can catch a bus to central Croydon for regular trains to London Bridge, Victoria, Gatwick, Brighton and Croydon Tramlink services. The route runs roughly parallel to the main London to Brighton railway line via Gatwick, with stations at Mertsham, Nutfield (on the North Downs Line to Maidstone East), Horley, Three Bridges (3km/2 miles along the Worth Way), Haywards Heath, Plumpton (on the line from London to Lewes and Eastbourne: change for Brighton), Falmer (on the line from Brighton to Seaford and Eastbourne; change for London) and Brighton (also coastal services to Worthing, Portsmouth, Seaford, Eastbourne and Hastings). There are also some local buses but these may be infrequent. The guide below divides the route into shortish stages between stations.
For more on transport in London, click here.
For more on finding out about services and fares, click here.
Maps
- Landranger Maps 187, 198
- Explorer Maps 122, 135, 146
Publications
At the time of writing (May 2011) we understand that the original guidebook is out of print but that a new edition is in preparation.
