London Social Hiking

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We’ve created a list of FAQs to help you.
The self-driving option is available for this trip (see below).

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From mid-April to late May, native English bluebells carpet woodlands around the UK. While bluebells can be found everywhere, in some places they put on especially spectacular shows. On this day hike, we'll head to the New Forest National Park to discover its lovely bluebell areas, often listed as one of the best places to view bluebells in the country!

We'll explore vast tracts of unspoilt woodland, heathland and the river valleys of the national park and see the famous and much-loved New Forest ponies that continue to roam freely throughout much of the open forest. We'll visit the delightful New Forest villages of Lyndhurst – the ‘Capital’ of the New Forest, and Brockenhurst – home to ponies, deer, donkeys and cows – all of which are known to roam the main street. See a recent article about a pony walking into a bar for drinks 😊:

https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2018-09-07/new-forest-pony-walks-into-bar-and-joins-drinkers

This hike is almost entirely flat, on good tracks and is suitable for BEGINNERS – a great way to experience hiking before joining our more difficult trips! 🤩

DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY

Distance: 10 miles (16km).
Ascent: 150m.
Difficulty: Easy.

ITINERARY

07:45 meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station); 08:00 sharp departure; 10:00-15:30 hike in the New Forest National Park via two bluebell areas – Roydon Woods and Pondhead Inclosure; we'll stop for lunch at Brockenhurst village; 15:45-16:30 drinks and refreshments in Lyndhurst, the ‘Capital’ of the New Forest; 16:30 departure; 18:30 London, Hammersmith.

TRANSPORT

As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.

SAFETY

This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader.

SELF-DRIVING OPTION

If you don't need transport, we're happy to offer a 50% discount. Simply change to the correct amount at the checkout, and PM our admin (one of the hosts of the event) your phone number. We'll meet you at 9:30 AM at Lyndhurst Village Centre Car Park, Gosport Ln, Lyndhurst, SO43 7BF (Google Maps link). Look for a silver, 16-seater minibus (see the picture).

BOOKING

Please RSVP and pay by bank transfer to the account below, leaving your Meetup name and the name of the trip as a reference (e.g. John New Forest):

Business Account Name: London Social Hiking
Sort Code: 20-17-20
Account Number: 63116514

We'll let you know by changing your status to ‘Paid’ as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the attendees list of the event. Please allow up to 48 hours for the payment to arrive.

THE PRICE OF £68 INCLUDES

• Transport throughout the trip
• Experienced, professional CPC/PSV minibus driver
• Professional event organisation
• Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced Mountain Leader
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
• Admin fee
• 20% VAT

HOW TO CONTACT US

For all enquiries, please PM our admin (one of the hosts of the event) via Meetup, or leave a comment on the event page or the event chat. If you have any difficulties locating the starting point, please call Anna on 07596844467. Please DO NOT contact our hike leaders during the week on the phone numbers provided.

WHAT TO BRING

• Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Gloves/hat/cap
• Water (min 1L)
• Packed lunch
• Walking poles (optional)
• Gaiters (optional)

REVIEWS ⭐

We have hosted over 400 events on Meetup, you have left us a huge number of positive reviews! We’re very proud to have achieved 4.8 out of 5 average event rating (screenshot with review summary). At the moment, reviews on Meetup are only visible to organisers. Please keep sharing your feedback to help us make trips even better!

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next!

Facebook group link and Instagram

REFUND POLICY

You can check our refund policy here.

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We’ve created a list of FAQs to help you.
The self-driving option is available for this trip (see below).

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Come and join us on a trip to one of the UK's most famous beauty spots! At 400ft (122m) deep and three miles (4.8km) long, Cheddar Gorge is England's largest gorge, boasting subterranean caverns with impressive displays of stalactites and stalagmites. Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, known as Cheddar Man, was found here, as was some extremely rare Ice Age art.

Cheddar is also the birthplace of the world-famous Cheddar cheese. We're going to visit the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company – a family-owned, independent small artisan cheesemaker, that makes the only authentic Cheddar cheese in the world! Cheese is produced by hand, using traditional methods, such as using raw milk, traditional animal rennet, and a cloth wrapping. Of course, no visit would be complete without tasting the renowned authentic Cheddar cheese and purchasing some gifts for your friends and loved ones!

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a cliff-top walk around the famous Cheddar Gorge, with its weathered crags and pinnacles. There will be some rocky paths and stiff climbs, but all of your efforts will be well rewarded by the jaw-dropping beauty around you!
• Explore mysterious chambers of Gough's and Cox's Caves, that are over 500,000 years old! Marvel at the incredible rock formations and the outstandingly beautiful chambers of St Paul’s Cathedral, Solomon’s Temple and Aladdin’s Cave.
• See picturesque stalagmites and stalactites inside the caves.
• Visit the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company, and see how the only authentic Cheddar cheese is made!

DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY

Distance: 3 miles (5km).
Ascent: 300m.
Difficulty: Easy.

ITINERARY

07:45 meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station); 08:00 sharp departure; 11:15-13:30 Cheddar Gorge cliff-top walk; 13:30-14:30 lunch in Cheddar village; 14:30-16:30 visit the Cheddar Caves and Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company (the only Cheddar cheese made in Cheddar!); 20:00 London, Hammersmith.

TRANSPORT

As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.

SELF-DRIVING OPTION

If you don't need transport, we're happy to offer a 50% discount. Simply change to the correct amount at the checkout, and PM our admin (one of the hosts of the event) your phone number. We'll meet you at 11:15 AM outside the entrance to Gough's Cave, The Cliffs, Cheddar, BS27 3QF (Google Maps link).

FOOD

There will be a variety of nice cafés, tearooms and restaurants in Cheddar village to have lunch. However, feel free to bring your own packed lunch.

SAFETY

The hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader.

BOOKING

Please RSVP and pay by bank transfer to the account below, leaving your Meetup name and the name of the trip as a reference (e.g. John Cheddar):

Business Account Name: London Social Hiking
Sort Code: 20-17-20
Account Number: 63116514

We'll let you know by changing your status to ‘Paid’ as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the attendees list of the event. Please allow up to 48 hours for the payment to arrive.

THE PRICE OF £68 INCLUDES

• Transport throughout the trip
• Experienced, professional CPC/PSV minibus driver
• Professional event organisation
• Guiding by an experienced Mountain Leader
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
• Admin fee
• 20% VAT

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Entrance ticket to Cheddar Caves (you can buy it on the day)

HOW TO CONTACT US

For all enquiries, please PM our admin (one of the hosts of the event) via Meetup, or leave a comment on the event page or the event chat. If you have any difficulties locating the starting point, please call Anna on 07596844467. Please DO NOT contact our hike leaders during the week on the phone numbers provided.

WHAT TO BRING

• Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Gloves/hat/cap
• Water (min 1L)
• Packed lunch (optional)
• Walking poles (optional)
• Gaiters (optional)

REVIEWS ⭐

We have hosted over 400 events on Meetup, you have left us a huge number of positive reviews! We’re very proud to have achieved 4.8 out of 5 average event rating (screenshot with review summary). At the moment, reviews on Meetup are only visible to organisers. Please keep sharing your feedback to help us make trips even better!

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next!

Facebook group link and Instagram

REFUND POLICY

You can check our refund policy here.

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This hike is now FULL. If you missed it, the last chance to join in 2024 is on Summer Bank Holiday, August 23-26! Sign up via the link:
https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/298440051/

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Join us for the iconic Three Peaks in Three Days Challenge – a fantastic adventure and a great way to experience the best mountain ranges that Britain has to offer in one long weekend! The Three Peaks in Three Days Challenge involves climbing the highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales over three days, one peak per day, whilst taking in the magnificent scenery these countries have to offer.

To maximise the enjoyment and the chances of successful ascents of all peaks, we'll travel to Scotland one day before, on Friday, staying overnight near Glasgow. We'll then start with Ben Nevis (1,345m) on Saturday, climb Scafell Pike (978m) in England on Sunday and finish with Snowdon (1,085m) in Wales on Monday! All routes will be guided by an experienced Mountain Leader, who has completed this challenge many times in the past (including the much tougher National Three Peaks Challenge in 24 Hours!). Throughout the whole trip, we'll use a private minibus with a dedicated driver, who won't be walking.

ITINERARY

Day 1 – Friday:

07:45 meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR;
08:00 sharp departure;
13:00 stop at services for lunch;
18:00 check-in at Premier Inn Glasgow East Kilbride Central Hotel, dinner and free time;

Day 2 – Saturday:

07:00 breakfast at the hotel;
08:00 transfer, with one stop (15 min) at services to buy packed lunch;
11:15-19:00 climbing Ben Nevis (1,345m), the highest peak of Scotland;
22:00 back to Premier Inn Glasgow East Kilbride Central Hotel;

Day 3 – Sunday:

08:00 breakfast at the hotel;
09:00 transfer, with one stop (15 min) at services to buy packed lunch;
12:30-17:00 climbing Scafell Pike (978m), the highest peak of England;
20:00 check-in at Premier Inn Bolton (Stadium/Arena) Hotel, dinner and free time;

Day 4 – Monday:

07:00 breakfast at the hotel;
08:00 transfer, with one stop (15 min) at services to buy packed lunch;
10:30-15:30 climbing Snowdon (1,085m), the highest peak of Wales;
18:30 stop at services for dinner;
21:30 London, Hammersmith.

DIFFICULTY & EQUIPMENT

Over three days, you'll trek around 23 miles (37km) and ascend to a total height of almost 3,000 metres. This is a serious and tough challenge, which requires a very good level of fitness, as well as plenty of grit and determination. Ultimately, however, your hard work will be rewarded with spectacular views and a huge sense of achievement!

Good hiking boots with ankle support and waterproof clothing are essential on this trip.

TRANSPORT

As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus with air conditioning.

LUGGAGE

You can bring two small bags with you: one cabin size personal item bag (up to 10kg) and one smaller hiking backpack to fit under the seat. During the hike, you can leave your luggage in the minibus.

THE PRICE INCLUDES

• Transport throughout the trip
• A dedicated, IAM/RoSPA qualified driver, who won't be walking, for the duration of the challenge
• Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced Mountain Leader
• Professional event organisation
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
• Three nights' accommodation at the hotel in shared twin rooms
• Three Peaks Challenge Medal for those who complete the challenge
• Admin fee
• 20% VAT

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, personal trekking insurance)
• Food

BOOKING

The total cost of this trip is £598 per person. A deposit of £298 is required to secure your place, with the remaining balance paid one month before the trip (3rd April). Any places not paid in full by this date will be lost, and the deposit will be non-refundable and non-transferable.

To join, please RSVP and pay the deposit (£298) by bank transfer to the account below, leaving your Meetup name and the name of the trip as a reference (e.g. John 3 Peaks):

Business Account Name: London Social Hiking
Sort Code: 20-17-20
Account Number: 63116514

We'll let you know by changing your status to ‘Paid’ as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the attendees list of the event.

WHAT TO BRING

• Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Gloves/hat/cap
• Water bottle (min 1L)
• Nuts and energy snacks to last you during the trip
• Walking poles (optional)
• Gaiters (optional)

You can check the refund policy here.

#################

We’ve created a list of FAQs to help you.
The self-driving option is available for this trip (see below).

#################

London Social Hiking is off to discover the Isle of Portland, the southernmost point of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site and the venue for sailing events during the 2012 Olympics!

The Isle of Portland is 6 kilometres long by 3 kilometres wide and is connected to the mainland by the breath-taking sweep of the shingle ridge of Chesil Beach. On this walk, we'll explore dramatic, rugged limestone cliffs and hidden coves, and enjoy stunning coastal views and landscapes shaped by centuries of military activity, farming, fishing and quarrying. Did you know that the world-famous Portland stone has been quarried here since Roman times, and many famous buildings – including St Paul's Cathedral, the British Museum, Tower Bridge and the United Nations headquarters in New York – were built using it?

The hike will finish at the fishing village of Chiswell, where we'll enjoy well-deserved drinks and refreshments next to Chesil Beach – one of the best sunset locations in Dorset! 🌅

HIKE HIGHLIGHTS

• Breath-taking clifftop views along Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon
• Small secluded beach at Church Ope Cove
• Pulpit Rock and Portland Bill Lighthouse
• Dramatic views to the cliffs of Purbeck and Portland Harbour
• The ‘Spirit of Portland’ sculpture which depicts a fisherman and a quarryman to represent the two main industries of the Isle
• Tout Quarry Sculpture Park – a former quarry that is now home to over 60 sculptures, carved from Portland stone
• The Olympic Rings sculpture, created to celebrate the 2012 Olympics, in which Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy hosted the sailing events

DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY

Distance: 11 miles (18km).
Ascent: 410m.
Difficulty: Moderate.

ITINERARY

07:45 meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station); 08:00 sharp departure; 11:30-16:45 Isle of Portland circuit walk; 16:45-17:15 drinks and refreshments by the sea; 17:15 departure; 20:00 London, Hammersmith.

TRANSPORT

As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.

SELF-DRIVING OPTION

If you don't need transport, we're happy to offer a 50% discount. Simply change to the correct amount when paying, and PM our admin (one of the hosts of the event) your phone number. We'll meet you at 11:15 AM at New Ground Car Park, New Ground, Portland, DT5 1LQ (Google Maps link). Look for a silver, 16-seater minibus (see the picture).

SAFETY

This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified Mountain Leader.

BOOKING

Please RSVP and pay by bank transfer to the account below, leaving your Meetup name and the name of the trip as a reference (e.g. John Portland):

Business Account Name: London Social Hiking
Sort Code: 20-17-20
Account Number: 63116514

We'll let you know by changing your status to ‘Paid’ as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the attendees list of the event. Please allow up to 48 hours for the payment to arrive.

THE PRICE OF £68 INCLUDES

• Transport throughout the trip
• Experienced, professional CPC/PSV minibus driver
• Professional event organisation
• Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced Mountain Leader
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
• Admin fee
• 20% VAT

THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

• Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
• Food

HOW TO CONTACT US

For all enquiries, please PM our admin (one of the hosts of the event) via Meetup, or leave a comment on the event page or the event chat. If you have any difficulties locating the starting point, please call Anna on 07596844467. Please DO NOT contact our hike leaders during the week on the phone numbers provided.

WHAT TO BRING

• Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Gloves/hat/cap
• Packed lunch
• Water (min 1L)
• Walking poles (optional)
• Gaiters (optional)

REVIEWS ⭐

We have hosted over 400 events on Meetup, you have left us a huge number of positive reviews! We’re very proud to have achieved 4.8 out of 5 average event rating (screenshot with review summary). At the moment, reviews on Meetup are only visible to organisers. Please keep sharing your feedback to help us make trips even better!

JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next!

Facebook group link and Instagram

REFUND POLICY

You can check our refund policy here.