The walk is roughly 8 miles and involves no uphill sections. We pass the Sportsman Pub in Mogador and the cafe and loos at Reigate Hill. Halfway along there is a great reveal, where we walk out onto Colley Hill on the North Downs, with massive views to the South.

All of this is dependent on the trains. It’s a linear walk so unsuitable for driving.

Re the trains, we can’t be sure of the schedule, recovering from the earlier planned industrial action, with “late starting”.

To allow for the late starting services, the plan is to assemble at East Croydon at 10:30 for the timetabled 10:44 to Purley, then taking the 11:00 to Tadworth. There are two trains to Tadworth per hour. Trains back from Merstham are fast, taking 12 minutes, twice an hour, at 03 and 33. Merstham station will require a ticket to get back into TFL zones.

If the trains are totally off, we can still assemble for 10:30 at East Croydon, and take an alternative walk via bus.
The backup plan is the 403 bus to Hamsey Green, walk to Coulsdon for the 60 bus back. The route follows the “South London Downs National Nature Reserve” almost all of the way. This option is down and up and up and down, but still worth the effort. 6 miles, so shorter but harder work. Meet at East Croydon Station at 10.10 to catch the 10:23 from East Croydon, 10:45 from Purley, arrive Tadworth 11:03

Please note Train times to be confirmed.

Return trains from Merstham – hourly fast trains at 07 past