Forthcoming train excursions - May to August inclusive. Please purchase a ticket to the stations marked thus *.
Important note: train times after 17 May have yet to be confirmed against the new summer timetable. The fare quoted is the full cost of a cheap day return from London to the final destination
- they do not take account of any discounts by the use of network, senior citizensí or other cards. It is also advisable to check for cheaper alternatives.
MONDAY 21 April — TEYNHAM/FAVERSHAM* FARE £13.90 OS 178 Explorer 149 ORGANISER — DAVID HORWILL 01932784866
This is hop country and at Teynham the first regular growth of apples and cherries began in the reign of Henry VIII. Tours highlighting the blossom take place in spring.
Victoria dep 09.41 arr 19.45 Bromley South dep 10.00 arr 19.23 Teynham dep 11.01 arr 18.20 Faversham arr 11.07 dep 18.15
SUNDAY 29 April —ALTHORNE/BURNHAM ON CROUCH* FARE £11.10 OS 168 Explorer 176 ORGANISER — GEOFFREY STEVENSON 020 8807 3831
A little-known railway system can be found at Mangapps Farm, built by an enterprising farmer/rail enthusiast. It is well worth exploring, perhaps on a return visit.
Liverpool Street dep 09.24 arr 19.33c Stratford dep 09.31 arr 19.23c Romford dep 09.41 arr 19.12c Althorne arr 10.32c dep 18.21 Burnham on Crouch arr 10.37c dep 18.16 c-change at Wickford
MONDAY 5 May - FARNHAM/BENTLEY* Fare £11.70 OS 186 Explorer 144/145
Organiser - Arthur Reed 020 8658 2810
What could be better than having a footpath lead straight from the station? Well, Bentley can boast more than one footpath leading into the countryside, from off the down platform.
Waterloo dep 09.20 arr 18.50 Clapham Jnctn dep 09.16c arr 18.42c Wimbledon dep 09.lOd arr 18.48d Sunbiton dep 09.28c arr 18.31c Farnham arr 10.09 dep 17.46 Bentley arr 10.16 dep 17.37 c - change at Woking d - change at Surbiton and Woking
SUNDAY 11 May- KINGS SUTTON/BANBURY* Fare £18.40 OS 151 Explorer 1911206 Organiser - Geoffrey Stevenson 020 8807 3831
Do sample Banbury cakes if you have the opportunity. These local delicacies are made from flaky pastry filled with dried spiced fruit.
Marylebone dep 09.40 arr 18.35 Wembley Stadium dep 08.58c arr 18.40c Kings Sutton arr 10.58 dep 17.15 Banbury arr 11.03 dep 17.10
SUNDAY 18 May - GLYNDE/BERWICK* Fare £16.50 0S 1981199 Explorer 123 (16) Organiser - Michael Kohn 020 8367 6371
Sweet strains of arias may waft across the downs from Glyndebourne. Perhaps this may encourage you to sing along. Perhaps best not - the countryside is for quiet enjoyment'
Victoria dep 09.47 arr 18.31 Clapham Junction dep 09.53 arr 18.24 East Croydon dep 10.07 arr 18.11 Glynde arr 11.04 dep 17.09 Berwick arr 11.10 dep 17.04
MONDAY 26 May - KINTBURY/HUNGERFORD/BEDWYN* Fare £17.10 OS 174 Explorer 1571158 Organiser - Geoffrey Stevenson 020 8807 3831
From the Thames at Reading to Hanham Lock on the Bristol Avon, the Kennet and Avon Canal is 86.5 miles with 105 locks. We must be thankful for the preservation society's hard work, which allows us to enjoy the benefits of its delightful meanderings through this part of the countryside.
Paddington dep 09.28 arr 18.39 Ealing Broadway dep 09.35 arr 18.57c Slough dep 09.54 arr 18.39c Kintbury arr 10.45 dep 17.28 Hungerford arr 10.50 dep 17.24 Bedwyn arr 10.57 dep 17.18 c - change at Reading
SUNDAY 1 June - ASHFORD INTERNATIONAL/WYE* Fare £16.10 OS 189 Explorer 137 Organiser- David Horwill 01932 784 866
Wye is an attractive town with fine old houses. Nearby Olantigh Towers was originally a Georgian manor, dating from 1762 but, alas, it burnt down in 1903, but was subsequently rebuilt in the same style.
Charing Cross dep 09.30 arr 19.36 Waterloo East dep 09.33 arr 19.33 London Bridge dep 09.37 arr 19.28 Orpington dep 09.43 arr 19.12 Ashford International arr 10.48 dep 18.17 Wye arr 11.04 dep 18.00
SUNDAY 8 June - YARMOUTH (IOW)* Fare £25.60 (to Lymington Pier - ask for through ticket to Yarmouth) 0S 196 Outdoor Leisure 29 Organiser - Arthur Reed 020 8658 2819
The River Yar is one of the shortest rivers in the country. It is scarcely two miles long.
Waterloo dep 09.30d arr 20.30d Clapham Junction dep 08.46c arr 20.14d Wimbledon dep 08.54c arr 20.18c Surbiton dep 09.03c arr 20.lOc Yarmouth arr 12.15 dep 17.30 c - change at Woking and Lymington Pier d - change at Lymington Pier
SUNDAY 22 June - EMSWORTH* Fare £17.50 OS 197 Explorer 120 Organiser- Michael Kohn 020 8367 6371
You can walk the fascinating inlets along this stretch of coast, or head inland across the downs.
Victoria dep 09.17 arr 20.01 Clapham Jnctn dep 09.23 arr 19.54 East Croydon dep 09.37 arr 19.41 Emsworth arr 11.10 dep 18.03 NB: Train divides en route - please make sure you are in the correct part of the train for Emsworth
SUNDAY 29 June - EVESHAM/PERSHORE* Fare £25.50 0S 150 Explorer 190/205 Organiser- Geoffrey Stevenson 020 8807 3831
This is a famous fruit-growing area, covering the Vale of Evesham. Two town churches have porches no more than a few metres apart - All Saintsí from the 12th Century, and St Lawrence, rebuilt in the 16th.
Paddington dep 09.43 arr 19.40 Ealing Brdway dep 09.25c arr 20.Old Slough dep 10.02 arr 19.38d Evesham arr 11.44 dep 17.42 Pershore arr 11.54 dep 17.32 c - change at Slough d - change at Reading
SUNDAY 13 JULY - BATTLE/CROWHURST* Fare £16.50 0S 199 Explorer 124 Organiser - David Horwill 01932 784 866
St Martinís Abbey, built on a hill above Battle, is reputedly on the site where King Harold died. It has an extremely fine 14th Century gatehouse. Nearby is Senlac Hill on which the actual battle in 1066 was fought
Charing Cross dep 09.10 arr 18.53 Waterloo East dep 09.13 arr 18.49 London Bridge dep 09.17 arr 18.44 Orpington dep 09.33 arr 18.28 Battle arr 10.39 dep 17.26 Crowhurst arr 10.42 dep 17.22
SUNDAY 20 July - SHERBORNE* Fare £31.30 0S 183/194 Explorer 129 Organiser - Arthur Reed 020 8658 2810
Famous for its beautiful Abbey Church and rich stone buildings, Sherbome must rank as one of the best preserved towns in England. Its neatness allows easy access to the surrounding countryside - if you can drag yourself away.
Waterloo dep 09.03 arr 19.50 Clapham Jnctn dep 09.10 arr 19.42 Wimbledon dep 08.54c arr 19.47c Surbiton dep 09.03c arr 19.40c Sherborne arr 11.10 dep 17.31 c - change at Woking
SUNDAY 27 July - MORTIMER/BRAMLEY* Fare £13.10 0S 175 Explorer 144/159 Organiser - Geoffrey Stevenson 020 8807 3831
A fine Roman town once dominated the area - Calleva Atrebatum, otherwise Silchester, formed an important link in the excellent communications that the Romans introduced. Little now remains but the site is still impressive.
Paddington dep 09.46 arr 19.lOc Ealing Broadway dep 09.53 arr 19.Olc Slough dep 10.16 arr 18.40c Mortimer arr 11.26c dep 17.59 Bramley arr 1l.31c dep 17.54
SUNDAY 3 August - SOUTHEASE/SEAFORD* Fare £16.00 0S 198/199 Explorer 122/123 (16/17) Organiser- Michael Kohn 020 8367 6371
Delightful downs country with glimpses of the sea and rolling landscape. Valleys carved over millennia by the rivers which now meander placidly along through these lush green hills.
Victoria dep 09.47 arr 19.31c Clapham Junction dep 09.53 arr 19.24c East Croydon dep 10.07 arr 19.llc Southease arr 11.08c dep 18.04 Seaford arr 11.19c dep 17.54 c - change at Lewes
SUNDAY 10 August - ELY/LITTLEPORT* Fare £19.30 0S 143 Explorer 226/228 Organiser - Geoffrey Stevenson 020 8807 3831
What a fascinating view is presented to us by Ely Cathedral. Famous for its octagonal tower, it dominates the surrounding fenlands. A haven in times of old when floods would have cut off this town and made journeys dangerous. Now we can enjoy both the views and a flood-free landscape.
Kings Cross dep 10.15 arr 19.05 Finsbury Park dep 09.56c arr 19.22c Ely arr 11.l7 dep 17.56 Littleport arr 11.24 dep 11.48 c - change at Cambridge
SUNDAY 17 August - HAM STREET/APPLEDORE* Fare £17.90 0S 189 Explorer 125/137 Organiser- David Horwill 01932 784 866
When war threatens, the country looks to its defences and such a defence was built in this area in the form of the Royal Military Canal, now a quiet backwater amid marshlands and low hills.
Charing Cross dep 10.00 arr 18.36c Waterloo East dep 10.03 arr 18.33c London Bridge dep 10.07 arr 18.28c Ham Street arr 11.26c dep 16.58 Appledore arr 1l.31c dep 16.53 c - change at Ashford International
MONDAY 25 August- RADLEY/OXFORD* Fare £16.00 OS 164 Explorer 170/180 Organiser - Geoffrey Stevenson 020 8807 3831
City of spires and aspirations, much could be written (and has) about Oxford. One of the several Oxfordshire Circular Walks passes through Radley. Or the Thames Path can be followed.
Paddington dep 10.07 arr 19.40c Ealing Broadway dep 10.14 arr 19.31c Slough dep 10.31 arr 19.14c Radley arr 11.34 dep 18.02 Oxford arr 11.41 dep 17.56 c - change at Didcot
SUNDAY 31 August - ROWLANDS CASTLE* Fare £18.30 OS 197 Explorer 120 Organiser - Arthur Reed 020 8658 2810
There is a castle here, but little remains of it and what there is, is not on general view to the public. Nearby is Stansted House, home of the Bessborough family for many years.
Waterloo dep 09.45 arr 19.30 Clapham Junction dep 09.52 arr 19.22 Wimbledon dep 09.24c arr 19.18c Surbiton dep 09.33c arr 19.lOc Rowlands Castle arr 11.08 dep 18.02