Blackdown - Highest Point of The South Downs National Park | 29km (18mi)

📈 Grade: 🥾🥾🥾🥾 Level 4/5
——
📖 ABOUT:

The highest point in the whole South Downs National Park is not chalk downland at all. It is Blackdown: 280m of gorse, heather and silver birch, ancient sunken lanes worn deep over thousands of years, and a view so good that Tennyson built a house below it and stayed for the last 24 years of his life.
We start and finish at Haslemere station, direct from Waterloo, and take the long way round: 29km (18mi) and 646m of ascent through ancient woodland, along the River Lod and over Green Hill, with the Temple of the Winds, a curved stone seat in a spot with a real secret feel, as the quiet centrepiece of the day.
A proper full day in the hills, walked slowly enough to actually enjoy it.
——
🌟 HIGHLIGHTS:
⛰️ Blackdown (280m), the highest point in the South Downs National Park and in Sussex
🪑 The Temple of the Winds, one of the finest views in the National Park
🌲 Ancient woodland at Barfold Wood and Verdley Wood, plus the quiet river valley of the Lod
🏘️ The hamlets of Dial Green and Kingsley Green
🦋 Internationally important heathland: Belted Galloway cattle, Dartford warblers, woodlarks and nightjars, with dragonflies over the bog ponds, including the rare black darter
🍂 Bilberries and blackberries along the sunken banks!
——
SUMMARY:
🥾 29km (18miles) | Circular | Ascent: 646m | ~7 hours
🚆 Train from London Waterloo station
⛳️ Meeting Point: 2 Options
1- London Waterloo train station - Main Ticket Office (opposite platform 16) | 08:40 (Train is at 09:00)
2- Haslemere outside train station | 09:55
📍 Hike start: Haslemere outside train station | 10:05
🏁 Hike finish: Haslemere | approx. 17:00-18:00
——
💷COST: Free
This hike is completely free to join but participants need to purchase their own transport tickets.
——
🎒WHAT TO BRING:

• 2L Water
• Packed lunch and snacks
• Comfortable walking/hiking shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing (layers, waterproofs, hat, sunscreen)
• Optional: trekking poles, camera

——
✅WHO CAN JOIN:

• Our hikes are open to adults aged 21 and over.
• For safety reasons, we’re not able to include children.
• We love animals, but pets (including dogs) can’t join our hikes.
  ——
  🚨RSVP & ATTENDANCE:
  RSVP only if you plan to attend. Please cancel as early as possible if you can no longer make it so others can join. A no-show means you RSVPed but did not attend or cancelled just before or after the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal. Reliable regulars who end up on a waitlist may message the host for priority consideration.
  ——
  ☯️STAYING TOGETHER:
  A dedicated back marker is not always present, so please keep others in sight and avoid moving too far ahead or falling too far behind. Faster walkers should wait at junctions. The hike leader will pause at key points to regroup and reduce the chance of anyone becoming separated from the group.
  ——
  ⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
  By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety, and neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.