A bright eyed Viewpoint reader has pointed out that the listing in the centre pages of Viewpoint refers to this event as a Climbing activity.
This is not a climbing event, it’s a walk ! There might be some small hills to climb, but no rock climbing is involved.

No special equipment is needed, apart from the COPSE traditional and optional items of: bobble hat, hiking boots, gaiters, compass, OS Map, sandwich, drink, rucksack, anorak, gloves, and it’s hard to imagine needing more than sunhat, shorts and sandals in this heat.

Assemble at East Croydon by 10 to catch the 10:09 East Grinstead train, change at Oxted for the Uckfield train. Get a return Ticket to Eridge.

Firstly, we will take the train down to Ashurst, due in at 10:59. From Ashurst station, we will walk South East, via Groombridge. Groombridge is a sweet small town/larger village, with the added bonus of a heritage railway.

Our “picnic” is towards the end of the walk at Harrisons Rocks, which are the closest climbing rocks to London, and very popular. We are not planning any climbing, and beware that there are vertical drops from the top of the rocks. The idea is to observe the spectacle of the rocks and the climbers, from the ground.

From the rocks, it is not far to Eridge station for the train home.

Path route shown in orange dots on the map. If we want a longer walk there is an option for an extra loop from the Rocks to Eridge, marked in blue, to explore more on the way. There are hourly trains at 51 minutes past, and a convenient pub by the station to wait for the next train, or the one after. The Huntsman, open until 6pm.