After a long break for Christmas & New year, it's time to start hiking again. Slowly the evenings are getting lighter and new years resolutions are starting to get broken.... But if your resolution is to get out and enjoy the countryside with some great company then this is a perfect weekend to make a start.

For our first hike of 2011 we'll be heading North of London to the Chiltern hills. We'll follow an 8.5 mile circular route from Amersham through some low hills to the scenic and historic village of Chalfont St Giles where we'll stop for some lunch. In the afternoon we'll head back through the countryside to Amersham where we'll end the walk in a pub near the station for some well earned food and a drink or two.

The good news is that sunset won't be till 4:30pm (a whole 35 minutes later than on the last walk). So we've got plenty of time to complete the walk and get to the pub by sunset.

Once again we've got a nice short train journey of only 35 minutes from Marylebone Station. As usual we'll meet at 10:00am at the station so that there's no need to get up too early on a Saturday. We'll take the train at 10:27 which arrives in Amersham at 11:02.

Although Amersham is well outside of London and outside the M25, it somehow manages to be on the Metropolitan Line. Apparently the tube has a zone 9 and Amersham's in it. So if you live in anywhere near the Metropolitan Line in North West London then you've got the possibility of getting there by tube and meeting us in Amersham.

The Metropolitan line is closed this weekend between Aldgate and Harrow on the Hill. So Marylebone Station will be the best option for most people.

As usual the hike's free to join. You can use your Oyster card to get to Amersham on the train. Pre-pay from Marylebone is £3.50 each way. However if you have a travel card the price will be less. (£2 each way if you have zones 1-3).

Meeting Point: Marylebone Station - outside the ticket office

Meeting Time: 10am

Distance: 8.5 miles