Betchworth - The Dolphin

The Hills Are Alive - With The Sound Of Groaning

Tuesday 8th Feb:


Walkers: Farty, T.B., Lil, Registrara, Clat.

No-one else could make it, for various reasons, so we shall catch up eventually! This also explains change of venue.



Find of the Walk: a set of number plates from a volkswagen garage



Distance: 7 1/2 miles - would have been longer, on the flat, but we had some very steep hills to climb.
The weather was stonking today - beautiful blue, crisp and clear skies, sunshine, and no wind - perfect. Farty was sporting her Arafat style scarf, which she had rescued from a skip, and T.B. was wearing a black corduroy hat - very nifty. He told us he was in a snap-happy mood, and lived up to the promise, so you should get loads of pics today.

We set off at 10.30!! - a record. Through the grounds of St Michaels church (featured in 4 weddings & a funeral), where we saw our first clump of snowdrops - gorgeous. Heading west we came to the river mole, and found more snowdrops, and other blossoms sprouting forth to greet the Spring. Northwards now, and past an octagonal-shaped aviary full of budgerigars and finches, who were enjoying the sunshine.



Further along, we came to the Reigate Road, safely crossed it, and found ourselves in a field full of slurry. You can imagine the smell - a good vintage, we thought, and quite a recent one too - the pace quickened at this point. At the railway line, we turned and eventually went underneath the tracks, towards our first bit of a climb.

Lime Works with scaffold

Full of trepidation, but nothing to worry about, as the climb was a gentle one. We arrived at the Brockham Lime Works, and could see evidence of the dis-used workings, the kilns, the workers cottages, and even a well. The previous slices into the hills had left huge white chards of chalk, visible for miles, and a reminder of times gone by. We stopped for a break, and Lil noted that a part of the quarry was now being used by scramblers - bikes not eggs.

Onwards and upwards we went, through the trees and on the Pilgrims Way. We had better views of the quarry, and fabulous views across the valley towards the south. Further along, we found a large gravestone, dedicated to 'Quick' who had been a favoured thoroughbred horse. He'd only lived for 8 years, which is young. He died in 1944 - a war-horse maybe?

Here, we also found a lone male walker, also sporting an arafat scarf - is this some secret sect Farty has become a member of? did she drop her scarf, and he had picked it up? we shall never know.

By the way, Anonymous (from last week's blog), is none other than T.B. himself - puzzle solved.

Downwards now, through Poors Field - a dreadful track - narrow, gully-style, and slippery. Kemps Farm next, and eventually under the railway track once more. A little bit of confusion here, which meant we were on the wrong side of the fence - we've done this before, folks. We found a gap in the wiring and clambered over.



Some beautiful countryside followed - an un-tapped goldmine for those of us who walk here regularly, and wooded areas choc-full of snowdrops - marvellous. A nearly-missed cut through, by some houses brought us out onto the road, and eventually the pub - home at last!


The pub has recently re-opened after its make-over, and very good too. A lot of the originality has been retained - open fires, wooden floors, and the old furniture, but with a newer, posher-looking restaurant. The marks are: Service - 5, Ambulance - 5, Value - 5, Food - 4. One point lost for providing the wrong sauce with the squid and whitebait. 19/20 -very good.

We shall be walking next Tuesday 15th February - so Happy Valentine's for the day before.

The venue will be Dormansland