September 2020

Good wishes to Susan and her friend who are proposing to walk the Vanguard Way in October.

Thanks to Andy from Nationals Trail & Rights of Way and The Southdowns National Park who are supporting us by putting up the VGW discs in 2021 in the southern part of the route.

David completed the Vanguard Way in October finding it an enjoyable and ‘a well waymarked walk’ and congratulations to the two Linda’s who also completed our walk during 2020 and enjoyed the view at Seaford Head.

John reported The Newhaven diversion has re-opened & the brambles by the railway line have also been cleared 

Thanks and best wishes to Katherine in her quest to complete the Vanguard way. It's good to have reports about problems met, conquered and acted on! 

Pete and Jill completed the walks in 3 days in 2019, no competition please, just enjoy! Please look at the link for information about their walk 

http://www.c8h10n4o2.org/walking/vanguard/index.html

Thank you to Patrick for his strapline ‘A Very Good Walk’ . Wonderful. 

October 2020

Good luck Jaz and her plans to run the Way and raise funds for her charity and congratulations to Tom who completed the way in 3 days.

Thanks to Matthew, The Principal Rights of way office at East Sussex Council about the news that the Way at Newhaven is now open

The Seaford Museum & Heritage Society Martello Magazine  have contacted us to confirm they are closed during the present pandemic, Their contact details are info@seafordmuseum.co.uk

In the last two months many walkers have contacted us about walking and completing the Vanguard Way. Congratulations to everyone who is on the way to and has completed the walk

August 2020

Christof and Rui are planing to walk the VW. We hope you are successful 

Thanks to Mary Ann, the Countryside Access Officer at Surrey County Council who has agreed to help with a new fingerpost at Cernes Farm and the overgrowth of vegetation around FP472 on the Titsey Estate

September 2020

Congratulations to John and Jane on completing the Vanguard Way in 5 days with their interesting overnight stays. It’s good that weather was a plus and a great choice of the Vanguard Way after the Camino Frances!

Richard is looking to run the Vanguard Way in a shorter time than Jonny Muir in 2013 (10hr 27m) in October 

Daniel has completed the Vanguard Way in an amazingly quick time and added the information to the website fastestknowntime.com and given us detailed information about parts of the Vanguard way. This is always useful.

Gary and Julian who are ‘delighted to have finished the Vanguard Way finding it a really enjoyable and interesting route with stunning scenery, especially between Forest Row and Buxted’.

Alison also completed the Vanguard Way over three Saturdays in September. It was good to hear how much you enjoyed it in the fine weather. Here’s hoping your exploration of the The London Loop and The Capital Ring go well.

Phil and his companion ran and ‘shuffled’ along the Vanguard way in 2 days! Let's hope your recovery is good. Thanks for the information about a blocked footpath

Good wishes to Sylvia and your planned walk.

The Vanguard Way can be found on Travel Log Lewes who added the VGW to their website

http://www.travelloglewes.co.uk/wp/walks-and-walking/vanguard-way/

Thanks also to Chris about the bus information around Buxted and information about Community Transport Lewes  

                         

There are reports of  cliff erosion around Coastguard  Cottages at the southern end but the beach can still be accessed and there are diversion signs around the back the cable hut. Beware of the changing tide!

June 2020

Thanks to everyone who sends us information about the Way. Neil reported concerns about Gardiner Business Park and the closed barrier, and he also alerted us to holly overgrowth with interesting ways to manoeuvre round it. We could apply these ideas to other obstacles!

Thanks to Fay about her information abut the styles in section 4.

Julian contacted us about the Wealdon Round Walk (to be found the ramblers website) from a booklet he had found which mentioned The Vanguard Way as well as The Sussex Border Path and the Greensand Way

July 2020

More information from other walkers. Chris told us that in Section 4 the Wet Wood is part of Hammerswood near the Scout Camp and thanks to John for all his information about potential problems and suggestions about possible improvements to the route.

Thanks to Keith who was at the southern end of the Vanguard Way and reported construction near Newhaven East pier is affecting this part of the route. The Vanguards will be contacting various groups about support they can offer.

Planned changes to the Vanguard Way in Croydon have been delayed. We recognise that we need new signage on parts of the way and new posts will be installed around the Kent & Surrey Golf Club later in the year. We hope other waymark posts will be installed  later.

                                                                                        

Cleared under growth thanks to John                                                                             Alison crossed the Greenwich Meridian Line

Congratulations to Barbara and Richard, Fiona and partner (at a great speed in 3.5 days), Alison with lovely photos of her crossing the Meridian Line, Christof and friends, John and last but not least Adrian for the successful completions of The Vanguard Way

Good wishes to Kevin on his planned walk of The Vanguard Way 

 

Lots of time has passed since our blog was updated but here goes. 

In March David, Clerk of Forest Row Parish Council commented that the Vanguard Way review ‘has been a bright light in an otherwise gloomy picture, and had been very pleased to circulate it to all our Councillors. A great and much appreciated effort, maintaining this splendid amenity, may it go from strength to strength’ . 

In April difficulties began to be reported about the path including an obstructed bridge, and trailing wires, a loose step at a stile near Woldingham, the possible rerouting of FP24 north of High Hurastwood. The new route uses VGW stickers on ESCC discs, where possible.

Later in May we were told that FP 51b immediately south of the railway was currently impassable and leaving an isolated finger post on FP 51a, Neil’s report about the status of a FP through Ludlay Estate and right of way near Lewes Road problems with the area around Edenbridge and Gardiner Business Park. 

In May lots of ramblers were on the trail, several using  OS maps, and centrally what to do about the industrial estate barrier? that blocks a foot path. Thefts from unattended buildings are on the up in the area which might explain the barrier. A small gap for pedestrian access could be created.  

Good suggestions about seeing things on the route including railways and local buildings

Winter 2019/2020

The Winter edition of the Ramblers Walk magazine has an item about the Vanguard Way. We are 8th in Britains top ten trails. The London Loop and the Capital ring are joint 9th.

There are several ramblers who have contacted us with lots of comments and useful information. 

Andrew from Croydon noted the mud around Hasted Mill, temporary fencing around Gills Gap and returning to the route after getting lost. 

Carol is planning her Vanguard way walk and now has details of out website www.vanguardway.org.uk. We wish her every success and hope she enjoys the routes. 

Owen has reported obstacles along section 4 including road closures, mud, floods, the kindness of a local postal worker and Raffles (Forest Row as a good point to have lunch)

Best wishes to James from Friends of the South Downs and their planned walk.

Lets hope Jim and Suzanne have an easier time after section 4. We always try to update the directions and thanks to Roger for volunteering to attach some Vanguard way discs