Ashtead to Kingston Upon Thames linear 17km / 11 mile walk

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GRADE: Beginner/Intermediate, 17 km/11 miles on good paths, 120m total ascent, about 4.5 hours of hiking, including picnic lunch.

This mostly flat linear hike starts at Ashtead station, from where we head into Ashtead Common National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest with an abundance of different bird and invertebrate species, and once a site of a Roman tile making complex and a number of earthworks and ditches, some of which can still be seen amongst the trees. We then cross a small section of Epsom Common before joining Thames Down Link, a route linking two National Trails, the Thames Path at Kingston and the North Downs Way near Westhumble. The Link takes us along a lovely green corridor which includes Horton Country Park Local Nature Reserve, and the Hogsmill river. In Malden Manor, we pass a dazzling 15-metre mosaic created by more than 1,000 volunteers exclusively from donated recycled materials.

After crossing the A3, we continue along the Hogsmill River and then along a short stretch of the London LOOP (the walking equivalent of the M25) until we reach Kingston Upon Thames, “the ancient market town in which Saxon kings were crowned”, and today the administrative centre of The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames. We cross the Ancient Market, open 7 days a week, and walk past an interesting sculpture made of 12 disused red phone boxes. We finish our hike at Kingston station, from which there are frequent trains back to London.

MEETING TIME: 11:15 outside of Ashtead station.

COST: £10.00 organiser fee pay on RSVP

TRAINS: There is a train from London Waterloo at 10:32 which arrives at Ashtead at 11:12, journey time 40 min. Tickets cost £8.20, or £5.40 with a Network Railcard.

Due to Covid-19, we currently cannot travel together and organise group tickets. If you choose to do so on your own, please remember to follow all current government safety and social distancing guidelines.

WALK STARTS: 11:15 from Ashtead station

LUNCH: We will stop for a picnic around 12:30-1:00pm. Please bring packed lunch and plenty of water to keep hydrated, as we won’t be stopping to buy food.

WALK ENDS: Approximately 15:45 at Kingston station

RETURN TRAINS: Trains from Kingston to London Waterloo leave every 15 minutes. Oyster is the cheapest way to pay at £4.20 (Kingston station is in zone 6).

https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/KNG/London/020820/1530/dep#outwardJump

CONTACT: Phone number for the day: 0799 0489 040

What to bring: Face covering and sanitiser (compulsory) lunch, snacks, water, suitable clothing and hiking footwear. Click here:
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