Chipstead to Merstham

A magnificent seven set out from Chipstead station and enjoyed a lovely walk through the Surrey countryside stopping for a good pub lunch at Mugswell and eventually arriving at Merstham to find a train waiting to take us home. There was intermittent sunshine and showers but never enough to dampen high spirits. Good demonstration of map reading/app use cooperation and lessons in how to cross a golf course without imperiling one's life form either stray golf balls or angry golfers

Date: 
Friday, 6 August 2021 - 11:00am
Walk Leaders: 
Bronwen
Meeting Point: 
Chipstead station
Distance: 
8 miles
Maps: 
os 146
Travel: 

OUTBOUND - Clapham junction 9.46am change Purley to Chipstead
This train starts at Waterloo if that is more convenient for you or there is a direct train to
Chipstead from London Bridge. It is also possible to pick up the Chipstead train at East
Croydon, so I suggest you look up what is most convenient for you. Chipstead is within zone 6
RETURN Merstham regular trains

Route: 

From Chipstead we walk up and through Banstead woods Banstead Woods are a 80-ha
protected area and Site of Special Scientific Interest, roughly triangular in shape, known to host
a vast range of wild plant species. It featured in the BBC “Domesday Reloaded” programme in
1986. Then down into the valet through Chipstead woods and up the other side to Mugswell The
small village, called Mag's Well, hence “Mugswell”, is mentioned in the Domesday Book of
1086. The Well House Inn is situated here with the original well
After lunch we walk over the pasture lands of Surrey to Merstham occasionally following the
Pilgrims way Mostly rich horsey country Merstham's name is Anglosaxon meaning “settlement
by the marsh” and the marsh dwellers here were a highly independent race known as the
“Mearsoeti”. The Mearsoeti controlled all comings and goings, built one of the first churches in
the land and saw off the invading Danes who caroused across southern England pursued by the
ultimately triumphant Edward the Elder, son of King Alfre
The ups are all slow and steady with some stiles in the afternoon

Lunch: 

Well House Inn Mugswell Lots of outside tables so should be okay without booking