View source for Vanguard Way

{{Short description|Long-distance path in southern England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
 |name=Vanguard Way
 |photo= On Short Cliff, East Sussex-geograph-5188442-by-Philip-Halling.jpg
 |caption=Looking east along the Vanguard Way towards the [[Seven Sisters, East Sussex|Seven Sisters]] at [[Cuckmere Haven]]
 |location=Southern England
 |length={{Convert|106.5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
 |trailheads=[[East Croydon station]], Greater London<br>{{coord|51.3750|-0.0926|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|format=dms|name=Vanguard Way (northern trailhead)}}<br>[[Newhaven Harbour railway station|Newhaven Harbour station]], East Sussex<br>{{coord|50.7897|0.0555|type:landmark_region:GB|format=dms|display=inline|name=Vanguard Way (southern trailhead)}}
 |use=[[Hiking]]
 |elev_change=
 |highest=
 |lowest=
 |difficulty=
 |season=All year
 |sights=
 |hazards=
 |map= {{maplink-road|7|51.068|0.025|from=Vanguard Way.map|frame-height=150}}
}}
The '''Vanguard Way''' is a [[Long-distance trail|long-distance path]] of {{convert|66.2|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="homeLDWA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Vanguard+Way|title=Vanguard Way – LDWA Long Distance Paths|publisher=Long Distance Walkers Association|language=en-GB|access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref> from  [[East Croydon station]] in outer [[London]] ([[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]] {{gbmappingsmall|TQ328658}}), travelling from the north, to [[Newhaven, East Sussex|Newhaven]], on the south coast of [[England]].<ref name="walkEnglishMan1dp">{{Cite web|url=https://www.walkingenglishman.com/ldp/vanguardway.html|title=Vanguard Way (including map, GPS files and statistics)|website=WalkingEnglishman.com|language=en-GB|access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref><ref name="tourismSouthEast">{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitsoutheastengland.com/things-to-do/vanguard-way-p851511|title=Vanguard Way – Walking Tour in Croydon – Visit South East England|date=2019|publisher=Tourism South East|language=en-GB|access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref> It passes through the counties of [[Surrey]], Kent and [[East Sussex]], between [[Croydon]] and [[Newhaven, East Sussex]].<ref name="walkEnglishMan1dp" />  It connects the London [[suburb]]s to the south coast, via the [[North Downs]], [[Ashdown Forest]], [[South Downs National Park]] and the [[River Cuckmere|Cuckmere valley]].<ref name="walkEnglishMan1dp" />

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 [[Brake van|guard's van]] of a crowded train.<ref name="colinsaunders/vanguard-way">{{Cite web|url=https://www.colinsaunders.org.uk/vanguard-way/|title=Footline Press|last=Saunders|first=Colin|date=2018|website=ColinSaunders.org.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=5 May 2019|quote=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...}}</ref> The route's formal establishment occurred on 3 May 1981, and the Vanguards Rambling Club remained as the route's management<ref name="tourismSouthEast"/><ref name="~bellwoodab/history3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.users.greenbee.net/~bellwoodab/history3.htm|title=The Vanguard Way – How It All Began – Action|last=Saunders|first=Colin|date=2009|website=Users.GreenBee.net|language=en-GB|access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref> until 2022, when responsibility was transferred to the Vanguard Way Association.<ref>{{cite news |last= Hawksworth |first= Veronique |date= 26 May 2025 |title= The unknown footpath that takes walkers from Croydon all the way to the beach |work= MyLondon |url= https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/unknown-footpath-takes-walkers-croydon-31707876 |access-date= 28 May 2025 }}</ref>

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, [[Recreational walks in Kent#Intermediate length walks|Eden Valley Walk]], [[Forest Way]], [[Wealdway]], [[Sussex Border Path]], the [[South Downs Way]] and the England Coast Path.

== Places on the way ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Croydon]]
*[[Woldingham]]
*[[Crockham Hill]]
*[[Forest Row]]
*[[Blackboys]]
*[[Berwick, Sussex|Berwick]]
*[[Alfriston]]
*[[Seaford, East Sussex|Seaford]]
*[[Newhaven, East Sussex|Newhaven]]
{{div col end}}

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
 | title = Views along Vanguard Way
 | width = 200 
 | height = 180
 | align = center
 | mode = packed-hover
 | state=expanded
 | File:Vanguard Way crosses the tram line (geograph 2160311).jpg
 | alt1 = A photograph which illustrates the footpath's crossing at a London Trams' light rail tram line, at the East Croydon station.
 | Vanguard Way crosses the [[Tramlink|tram line]] 
 | File:Greenwich Meridian Line marker, North Downs Way and Vanguard Way, Limpsfield, Surrey - June 2025.jpg
 | alt2 = An information board that reads "This plaque marks the point where the North Downs Way & the Vanguard Way cross the Greenwich meridian line"
 | The Vanguard Way crosses the [[prime meridian]] to the north of [[Oxted]], Surrey
 | File:Woodland walk - geograph.org.uk - 35004.jpg
 | alt3 = A photograph of the Vanguard Way travelling through a forested portion near Buxted, in East Sussex. 
 | Woodland portion near [[Buxted]]
 | File:Vanguard Way across Ashdown Forest - geograph.org.uk - 1583718.jpg
 | alt4 = A photograph of the Vanguard Way traversing across Ashdown Forest.
 | Vanguard Way across [[Ashdown Forest]]
 | File:Seaford Beach - geograph.org.uk - 6832063.jpg
 | View west from the Vanguard Way along Seaford Beach
 | alt5 = A photograph of the sea and a curved sandy beach with a chalk headland in the distance
 | File:Vanguard Way Footpath from Tide Mills towards Newhaven - geograph.org.uk - 723250.jpg
 | alt6 = A photograph of the Vanguard Way footpath from Tide Mills Village towards Newhaven. The path runs through the ruins of Tide Mills Village.
 | From [[Tide Mills, East Sussex|Tide Mills]] towards [[Newhaven, East Sussex|Newhaven]]
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}} –  includes a free downloadable guide to the route
* [https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Vanguard+Way The Vanguard Way] – detailed coverage by Long Distance Walkers Association
* [https://www.walkingenglishman.com/ldp/LDP/UV/vanguardway.html Interactive map of the Vanguard Way] – from The Walking Englishman

{{Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom}}
{{Named footpaths in London}}
{{Surrey Hills AONB}}
{{Transport in Surrey}}

[[Category:Ashdown Forest]]
[[Category:Footpaths in East Sussex]]
[[Category:Footpaths in London]]
[[Category:Footpaths in Surrey]]
[[Category:Long-distance footpaths in England]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Croydon]]