DON’T FORGET IT’S ON SAT, SAT, SATURDAY!

(ON SUNDAY MORNING YOU CAN HAVE A LIE-IN  WATCHING ALAN TITCHMARSH & MICHAEL PORTILLO ON THE TELLY!)

Also a little note to those who have walked this before, a new route in this part is being used which for about two thirds is completely different!

So yes, Saturday April 6th, 2024 for Part Five of this route, picking up from last Spring at Crawley Down, Sussex (nothing to do with Crawley) to Ardingly village, a distance of around ten miles of fairly gently undulating topography,  but likely with plenty of mud as it’s done nothing but RAIN for the last goodness knows how long a time!! Despite what it may say in certain sources, this is not a 9-5pm day (as in the song!) – don’t expect to be back in Croydon until after 7pm (unless you leave early, which is an option – see below).

By-the-by, the Industrial In-Action on the railways this long weekend is not due to disrupt the plans at all. As just mentioned you can leave (or join?) at West Hoathly around lunch time or later (on a Metrobus 84) if you have had enough, or want to explore this village more (there’s an open garden here – the Priest’s House – which some of you have probably visited, but we probably won’t plan to visit as it costs money to enter and needs time to go round, so you may want to return privately for this).

Bring along usual food and drink supplies. There is a pot selling place with a cafe along the way, which we could use if making good time, but the main stop is West Hoathly village with its Pub, and churchyard for sandwich eaters. Also a pub at Ardingly in case we have time before the bus.

And the bit you’ve been waiting for, the Travel stuff!

Meet at East Croydon Railway Station by 9.30am ‘clock-time’ (and you know why I say that! it’s that crazy time of the year again!) to catch the 9.49am train to Three Bridges (one a little while later too in case this one messes up). From there, on the opposite side of the road from the station’s main entrance, we catch one of three different Metrobus services (281 at 10.36, 272 at 10.46 or 291 at 11.06am…earlier the better) to Crawley Down WAR MEMORIAL stop.

Returning we catch the Metrobus 272 bus from Ardingly at 6.11pm to Three Bridges where we jump on a train for East Croydon (there is an earlier 272 bus at 5.45pm that goes to Haywards Heath Rail Stn, and you’d need to pay the extra on the train).

Paul, 07968 223589.

Have I missed anything…probably – ask me anything! Will further check the travel situation as the week wears on, but the timetables I’ve seen allow for the industrial in-action.