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Vanguard Way

106 km / 66 miles

E Sussex, Gtr London, Kent, Surrey
A walk from the London suburbs to the sea originated by the Vanguards Rambling Club. It passes the Selsdon Nature Reserve, the woods and heaths of Ashdown Forest, Alfriston and follows the scenic coast through Seaford to the finish.

It connects with the Wandle Trail and the London Loop in Greater London and numerous other long distance paths including the North Downs, Greensand, Eden Valley and South Downs Ways.

The official route guide published by the Vanguards Rambling Club is available for free download from their website below.

The Wandle Trail (11 miles) provides a link to the Thames Path National Trail at Wandsworth, enabling a route from the Thames to the sea.

Details:

Path Type:	Paths Marked on OS mapping
Waymark:	Named discs
Attributes:	Coastal; Heath
Start:	TQ328658 - East Croydon Railway Station, Gtr London
Finish:	TQ449009 - Newhaven Harbour, E Sussex
Web Sites:	Vanguard Way Website

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Looseleaf:	Vanguard's Way - Official Guide (Vanguards Rambling Club - 2009)
Paperback:	Vanguard Way (S B Publications - June 2009)
Badge:	Badge for Vanguard Way (Vanguards Rambling Club)

Paperback:	Wandle Guide (Sutton London Borough - 1997)
Leaflet:	Wandle Trail (Wandle Industrial Museum)
Paperback:	Wealdway & Vanguard Way (Cicerone Press - 1987)

Click to show 3 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

Maps:

*Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps):*
OS Landranger:	176, 177, 187, 188, 198, 199
OS Explorer:	122, 123, 135, 146, 147, 161
OS Explorer Active:	122, 123, 135, 146, 147, 161

Group Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:

Hostel Accommodation:	Stay Green	3 Km
Hostel Accommodation:	Glade At Blackboys, Gun Road, Blackboys, Uckfield	< 1 Km
Hostel Accommodation:	Blackboys YHA, Gun Road, Blackboys, Uckfield, Sussex	< 1 Km

Hostel Accommodation:	Alfriston Youth Hostel, Frog Firle, Polegate, East Sussex	< 1 Km
Hostel Accommodation:	Alfriston YHA, Frog Firle, Alfriston, Polegate, East Sussex	< 1 Km

Click to show 2 more Accommodations

Connected Paths:

E Routes:	E-Route 2 UK Section - Dover to Kirk Yetholm; E-Route 9 UK Section Dover to Plymouth
National Trails (England & Wales):	North Downs Way National Trail; South Downs Way National Trail
Paths Marked on OS mapping:	Eden Valley Walk; Forest Way (Sussex); Greensand Way; High Weald Landscape Trail; London Loop; Sussex Border Path; Wealdway Click to show 4 more Paths Marked on OS mapping
Other Paths:	Ashdown Forest Perambulation; Coast to Coast - Southern England; Diamond Way (Sussex); Greenwich Meridian Trail; London Countryway; London Green Belt Way; Pilgrim's Way; Sussex Coastline Walk; Sussex Ouse Valley Way; Tandridge Border Path; Walking the Castles of Sussex; Wandle Trail Click to show 9 more Other Paths

Downloads:

GPS Exchange Format Route File:	Vanguard Way GPX Exchange Format Route File	Login to Download (Members Only)
MemoryMap Route file:	Vanguard Way Memory Map Route File	Login to Download (Members Only)
Tracklogs Route file:	Vanguard Way Tracklogs Route file	Login to Download (Members Only)

Route Profile:

106.5 Km (66.2 miles)
1,859 m (6,099 ft) ascent
260 m (853 ft) maximum height

(click to enlarge)

Walks

The LDWA organises many challenge and local group walks, as well as listing many more organised by other organisations. Challenge events are normally between 20 and 100 miles and must generally be completed within a defined time limit. Group walks are normally led walks of around 20 miles.
Click here to find out more.

Long Distance Paths:

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