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Vanguard Way
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| Vanguard Way | |
|---|---|
 Looking east along the Vanguard Way towards the Seven Sisters at Cuckmere Haven | |
 | |
| Length | 106.5 km (66 mi) |
| Location | Southern England |
| Trailheads | East Croydon station, Greater London 51°22′30″N 0°05′33″W / 51.3750°N 0.0926°W Newhaven Harbour station, East Sussex 50°47′23″N 0°03′20″E / 50.7897°N 0.0555°E |
| Use | Hiking |
| Season | All year |
The Vanguard Way is a long-distance path of 66.2 mi (106.5 km)[1] from East Croydon station in outer London (OS grid reference TQ328658), travelling from the north, to Newhaven, on the south coast of England.[2][3] It passes through the counties of Surrey, Kent and East Sussex, between Croydon and Newhaven, East Sussex.[2] It connects the London suburbs to the south coast, via the North Downs, Ashdown Forest, South Downs National Park and the Cuckmere valley.[2]
The walk was developed in celebration of the 15th anniversary in 1980 of the Vanguards Rambling Club, who named themselves after an occasion when they returned from a walk travelling in the guard's van of a crowded train.[4] The route's formal establishment occurred on 3 May 1981, and the Vanguards Rambling Club remained as the route's management[3][5] until 2022, when responsibility was transferred to the Vanguard Way Association.[6]
The Vanguard Way connects with central London with the Wandle Trail along the River Wandle from Croydon and is sometimes used as a walking route between London and Paris, connecting with the ferry ports on the south coast. The walk also connects with the London Outer Orbital Path, North Downs Way, Pilgrims' Way, Greensand Way, London Countryway, Eden Valley Walk, Forest Way, Wealdway, Sussex Border Path, the South Downs Way and the England Coast Path.
Places on the way
[edit]Gallery
[edit]-
Vanguard Way crosses the tram line -
The Vanguard Way crosses the prime meridian to the north of Oxted, Surrey -
Woodland portion near Buxted -
Vanguard Way across Ashdown Forest -
View west from the Vanguard Way along Seaford Beach -
From Tide Mills towards Newhaven
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References
[edit]- ^ "Vanguard Way – LDWA Long Distance Paths". Long Distance Walkers Association. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ a b c "Vanguard Way (including map, GPS files and statistics)". WalkingEnglishman.com. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Vanguard Way – Walking Tour in Croydon – Visit South East England". Tourism South East. 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ Saunders, Colin (2018). "Footline Press". ColinSaunders.org.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
This remarkable and idiosyncratic walking route was set up in 1981 by the Vanguards Rambling Club, which takes its name from their being established in the guard's van of a ramblers' excursion train...
- ^ Saunders, Colin (2009). "The Vanguard Way – How It All Began – Action". Users.GreenBee.net. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ Hawksworth, Veronique (26 May 2025). "The unknown footpath that takes walkers from Croydon all the way to the beach". MyLondon. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
External links
[edit]
- Official website
– includes a free downloadable guide to the route - The Vanguard Way – detailed coverage by Long Distance Walkers Association
- Interactive map of the Vanguard Way – from The Walking Englishman
