| Vanguard Way | |
|---|---|
 Looking east along the Vanguard Way towards theSeven Sisters atCuckmere Haven | |
 | |
| Length | 106.5 km (66 mi) |
| Location | Southern England |
| Trailheads | East Croydon station, Greater London 51°22′30″N0°05′33″W / 51.3750°N 0.0926°W /51.3750; -0.0926 (Vanguard Way (northern trailhead)) Newhaven Harbour station, East Sussex 50°47′23″N0°03′20″E / 50.7897°N 0.0555°E /50.7897; 0.0555 (Vanguard Way (southern trailhead)) |
| Use | Hiking |
| Season | All year |
TheVanguard Way is along-distance path of 66.2 mi (106.5 km)[1] fromEast Croydon station in outerLondon (OS grid referenceTQ328658), travelling from the north, toNewhaven, on the south coast ofEngland.[2][3] It passes through the counties ofSurrey, Kent andEast Sussex, betweenCroydon andNewhaven, East Sussex.[2] It connects the Londonsuburbs to the south coast, via theNorth Downs,Ashdown Forest,South Downs National Park and theCuckmere 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 theguard'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 theWandle Trail along theRiver Wandle from Croydon and is sometimes used as a walking route between London andParis, connecting with the ferry ports on the south coast. The walk also connects with theLondon Outer Orbital Path,North Downs Way,Pilgrims' Way,Greensand Way, London Countryway,Eden Valley Walk,Forest Way,Wealdway,Sussex Border Path, theSouth Downs Way and the England Coast Path.
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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...
– includes a free downloadable guide to the route