Chasing the Green Diamond Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sussex Border Path

The "Sussex Border Path" follows the land border of Sussex from Thorney Island in the west to Rye in the east for approximately 150 miles. It also has a branch from East Grinstead to Brighton, which roughly follows the boundary between East and West Sussex. Long distance footpaths are usually, but not always, easy to follow.

This is one of the "not so" variety. To quote from West Sussex County Council's website, "It is not always way-marked and is therefore adventurous and challenging." The "Solent Way" runs along the Solent coast of Hampshire, the "Hangers Way" is also in Hampshire and the "Southwell Way" doesn't exist although there is a "Southwell Trail" in Nottinghamshire.

Answer: Vanguard Way

The Vanguard Way is a route about 65 miles in length, which reaches the coast at the Cuckmere Gap with glorious views of the Seven Sisters cliffs. From its end at Newhaven it is possible to take a ferry to France and carry on towards Paris.
The "Ouse Valley Way" in Sussex is a 42 mile walk following the course of the River Ouse between Lower Beeding and Newhaven. Only at Handcross have I seen signs dividing it into east and west, but this is only to direct people east or west of A23 dual carriage way which is motorway class at this point.
The "Lune Valley Ramble" is not in the south east of England, but in Lancashire.

Answer: Wealdway

The Wealdway runs from Eastbourne on the Sussex coast to Gravesend on the banks of the River Thames. (Or vice versa if you prefer.) It is about 80 miles in length and runs through the Weald, and Ashdown forest. The "Crab and Winkle Way" follows the former railway line from Canterbury to Whitstable, the "Worth Way" follows the former railway line between Three Bridges (in Crawley) and East Grinstead, while the "Cuckoo Trail" follows the route of the disused railway between Eastbourne and Heathfield.

Answer: Saxon Shore Way

The line used is the coast in the 5th century AD. It takes the name "Saxon Shore Way" from the chain of forts built by the Romans to defend against Saxon invaders. Four of these forts lie on the route. The route itself runs 163 miles between Gravesend and Hastings.
The "High Weald Landscape Trail" runs from Horsham to Rye and is inland. The "Staunton Way" runs between Havant and Petersfield in Hampshire.

Answer: Greensand Way

According to the "Long Distance Walkers Association", the route takes its name from the layers of sandstone, which forms the ridge. These contain a green coloured mineral called glauconite. The route itself runs from Haslemere in Surrey to the village of Hamstreet in Kent by way of Leith Hill, the highest point of land in Surrey.
There is a "Limestone Link" in north west England, the "Swale Heritage Trail" is a short trail in north Kent and the "Cowal Way" is in Scotland.

Answer: Monarch's Way

It is the second longest long distance footpath in the UK after the "South West Coastal Path", which follows the coast from Minehead to Poole and is 630 miles in length. The Sussex end of the "Monarch's Way" is where the route reaches the coast, at Shoreham.

This is where the pursued monarch took a boat to France. According to the Ramblers Association's web page there are plans to continue the path along the route taken in France as well. The other three trails are inventions and any resemblance to existing long distance footpaths is purely coincidental.

Answer: Wey-South Path

In fact two canals were built at different times to complete the route. The first enabled boats to travel leave the River Arun at the point where it was no longer deep enough for them and continue to a point west of Billingshurst. This canal followed close to the route of the River Arun. Late a second canal linked this with the River Wey at Godalming, (the furthest extent that the river could be navigated).

The River Wey is a tributary of the River Thames so with the completion of the 'Wey and Arun Canal', boats could travel between London and the South Coast ports without travelling through the Straits of Dover. The "Royal Military Canal Path" follows the "Royal Military Canal" in Kent north and west of Romney Marsh.

The "Forest Way" runs along a dismantled railway line from East Grinstead to Groombridge and the "1066 Country Walk" is near Hastings, visiting places connected with the battle thereof.

Answer: Downs Link

The "Downs Link" is a trail connecting the North and South Downs. Hence the name. The route uses two closed railway lines that departed from Christ's Hospital station, one to Guilford and one to Shoreham. It is the former route that gives us the double bridge.

When the railway was first opened the government inspector took exception to the incline south of Rudgwick and to ease this, the bed of the track had to be raised. The problem was that part of the section to be raised was across a bridge over the river Arun.

The solution was to use the first bridge as the foundation for the second. This double bridge still stands and the Downs Link runs across it. Just after crossing the bridge is a small track on the left (when heading south) leading to a convenient viewing and photographic vantage point. The "Green Chain" and Hillingdon walks are both in urban London while the "Archaeological Trail" is the name of a trail in Nottinghamshire, and probably others elsewhere share this name.

Answer: Darenth Valley Walk

All too many paths now seem to have alternative starts, ends or branches thus confusing the poor map-reader. The Darenth Valley Walk is an example of this with an alternative start in Chipstead. This walk also passes through the village of Otford. Otford claims to be home to the "largest scale model of the universe in the world". Apparently the path passes Neptune, which makes it the first interplanetary footpath in Kent.
The other walks are all to be found in the south east of England but they don't pass Lullington Castle.

Answer: North Downs Way

The "Pilgrim's Way" is believed to have been used for many thousands of years as a track along the line of the 'North Downs' between the coast nearest to mainland Europe and the mineral rich southwest of Britain. Reflecting this historical connection between the trails, it is entirely fitting that the "North Downs Way" was opened by the then Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Donald Coggan.
The "Cistercian Way" is in south west Cumbria. The "Sussex Diamond Way" was created to celebrate 60 years (diamond anniversary) of the Ramblers Association. "Diamond Ways" have also been created in other parts of the country.
The "Wayfarer's Walk" runs across Hampshire, from Portsmouth on the coast, and on into Berkshire.