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.
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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.
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Connects with 1066 Country Walk (E9), Capital
RING (via Wandle Trail), Eden Valley Walk, Forest Way, Greensand
Way, GR21/GRP des Forêts de
Haute-Normandie (via local footpaths and ferry Newhaven-Dieppe), High Weald Landscape Trail, London
LOOP, North
Downs Way, South
Downs Way (E9), Sussex Border Path, Thames Path
(via Wandle Trail), Wealdway
Highway Authorities Croydon,
East Sussex, Merton,
Surrey,
West Sussex, Sutton,
Wandsworth
Parks and countryside South London
Parks (Morden Hall Park on Wandle Trail, Selsdon Wood)
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
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, Dormans,
East Grinstead, Colemans Hatch, 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.
Explorer maps
123,
135,
146,
147,
161
Landranger maps
187,
188,
198,
199
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
