Socratic Trail

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 Downlands Circular Walks, Greensand Way, High Weald Landscape Trail, London LOOP, Mid Sussex Link, Monarch's Way, North Downs Way (E2), South Downs Way (E9), Sussex Border Path, Worth Way

Highway authorities Brighton & Hove, Croydon, East Sussex, Surrey, West Sussex

Tourist Information Centres

• Brighton 0906 711 2255 (premium line 50p/min), www.visitbrighton.com 
• Burgess Hill 01444 238202, www.burgesshill.gov.uk/Tourist.htm 
• Clacket Lane (M25) 01959 565063
• Edenbridge 01732 868110, www.heartofkent.org.uk 
• London: there is a TIC in Croydon, and several in central London. For details click here.

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.