Recreational Route: Southern England/London
Croydon to Newhaven
107km/66 miles
A pleasant route from the London suburbs to the south coast, via Ashdown Forest and the Cuckmere valley. Along its southern section the route is paralleled by the Wealdway. The Vanguards Rambling Club, who pioneered the route, named themselves after an occasion when they returned from a walk in the guard's van of a crowded train.
From Croydon you can continue north along the Wandle Trail for 20km/14 miles, following the river Wandle through the attractive grounds of Morden Hall Park to join the Thames at Wandsworth. This is a multi-user route also available to cyclists, though there are a number of sections for walkers only where cyclists are directed along an alternativve route. It was developed by the local London boroughs in conjucntion with the Wandle Group, Groundwork Merton and the Wandle Industrial Museum.
Some easy-access sections, especially along the Wandle Trail and the urban sections of the Vanguard Way. Information on easy access is included in the Wandle Trail leaflet (below) and there is an ongoing programme of improvement to make the route more accessible. For additional information contact local authorities (see below). Ring 020 8648 1845 for details of access to Morden Hall Park.
Connects with
Highway Authorities
Parks and countryside
Tourist Information Centres
- Clacket Lane (M25) 01959 565063
- Eastbourne 01323 411400
- Edenbridge 01732 868110
- Lewes 01273 483448
- London. There is a TIC at Croydon, and several in central London. For a list click here.
- Seaford 01323 897426
- Tunbridge Wells 01892 515675
Accommodation
Click here to find bed & breakfast accommodation on this path
Public Transport
- The Wandle Trail is within the London zonal fares boundary with many frequent rail, Underground and bus services. Wandsworth at the start of the Trail has trains to Waterloo and buses to many parts of southwest and central London. For more on public transport in London, click here.
- East Croydon has frequent services to London, Brighton and many other parts of south London, Surrey and Sussex, plus some services via the West London Line to Watford and Croydon Tramlink services. The route also connects with the Tramlink at Lloyd Park. There are buses at Coombe Road, Selsdon and the Forestdale Estate (Selsdon Wood). This section is also within the London zonal fares boundary.
- Stations on or near the route at Warlingham, Oxted, Edenbridge, Lingfield, Dormans, East Grinstead, Crowborough, Buxted, Berwick, Seaford, Bishopstone and Newhaven, all serving or with connections for London and stations along the south coast.
- Between the stations there are buses serving the routes at a number of points including Westerham, Crockham Hill, Forest Row, Colemans Hatch, Blackboys, East Hoathly, Alfriston, Litlington, Exceat. For details of services connecting Newhaven, Seaford, Exceat, Alfriston and Berwick including on summer Sundays and bank holidays see the South Downs entry under Public Transport: Southern England.
A more detailed guide to public transport is in the Vanguard Way guide listed below. For more on finding out about services and fares, click here.
Maps
The route is shown on the most recent editions of these maps. Local street atlases may be more useful in built-up areas. See
Walking in London: Maps.
Publications
- The Vanguard Way by Colin Saunders, Vanguards Rambling Club, ISBN 0 9530076 0 X. Order here!
Guidebook with detailed route description and maps - The Wealdway and the Vanguard Way by Kev Reynolds, ISBN 0 902363 85 9. Cicerone £4.99
A single guidebook to both routes, including maps. Last updated 1987. - The Wandle Trail: Walk, Cycle and Ride. Free leaflet from from Sutton Central Library
- The Wandle Guide by the Wandle Group, ISBN 0 907335 33 0. Sutton Leisure Services £4.95, available from Sutton Central Library.
Useful guide to both the river and the Wandle Trail.
See also www.wandle.org
Contacts
