As the weather warms, Londoners can get to exploring the city’s finest walking routes. While many will opt for well-known paths like the London Loop, the Thames Path or the various Greenways scattered around the capital, there’s an underrated route that deserves your attention.
This hidden gem, known as the Vanguard Way, takes you on a 66-mile journey from the bustling heart of Croydon all the way to the tranquil Sussex seaside.
Starting outside East Croydon Station, a major South London transport hub, the trail is easily accessible from across the city. The path is mostly off-road and it’s advised not to attempt the entire 66 miles in one go, but rather to tackle it in stages over a weekend or week.
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From East Croydon, the trail is marked with special ‘V’ badges and signs on direction posts, passing landmarks such as Lloyd Park tram stop, Ballards Plantation, Chelsham Common, Titsey, The High Chart (near Westerham), Ashurst Wood, Forest Row village, Hawkhurst Common, Berwick station, the River Cuckmere and Seaford. The final stretch takes you along the beautiful beaches of the Sussex coast to Newhaven.
The Vanguard Way, a route that offers breathtaking views of the Kent Weald and Sussex Downs, culminates in the stunning sight of the Seven Sisters cliffs.
This trail has its roots in the early ’80s when a group of South London ramblers sought adventure down south. Colin Saunders, chair of the Vanguard Way Association, shared with MyLondon: “The trail was created in 1981 by members of the Vanguard Rambling Club, which took its name from a train journey in 1965 when they had to sit on the floor of the ‘guard’s van’, because no seats were available.”
Mr Saunders continued: “With the blessing of the county councils, they waymarked the route and wrote a detailed guide, which is updated to this day, now as a free download from the website. There’s now a photoguide app for smartphones. In 2022 management of the trail was handed over to a more formal Vanguard Way Association, which anyone can join who walks the route or would like to support it.”
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