About us
Welcome to Chiltern Explorers a walking social group aiming to do a wide range of guided walks across the Chilterns and further afield exploring other fantastic British countryside.
Most of our walks start at a convenient tube or railway station and aim to get the best deals on any group save tickets for trains and try when possible to look for free car parking giving you as many travel options as possible.
All our walks are well researched, leaving you free to relax and enjoy the lovely scenery or urban views in the company of other like-minded individuals and of course you will be keeping fit. Most walks end with a well-deserved pub stop with a strong social ethos.
The walks are very varied with a relaxed feel, mainly around ten miles and at the weekend but some short walks from seven miles to longer faster paced walks of up to 20 miles and some mid-week walks. We are enthusiastic about photography and encourage sightseeing.
We are twined with a more city urban walking group London Explorers and often do events together. Chiltern explorers is based to the west of London in the gorgeous Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and also does a wide range of weekends away to other UK National Parks and other AONBs.
Chiltern Explorers is unusual for many outdoor meetup groups in that it currently only arranges the walks and leaves the accommodation up to the members giving members the option to go on the days they want and stay according to their budget, many members also car share for trips away. The weekends have a good social atmosphere and comradery.
The country walks have covered the Chiltern and Surrey hills, the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head and the Lake District amongst many others.
IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT WORLD HEALTH CRISIS I AM HOSTING SOME LIVE VIDEO EVENTS ON LONDON EXPLORERS & CHILTERN EXPLORERS MEETUP GROUPS.
I hope you decide to join us!
Upcoming events
6
- £7.00
The Pegsdon Hills & Hitchin Gap – Long Hilly Country Hike
Hitchin Railway Station, Walsworth Road, Hitchin, GBWalk length 16miles/26km (approx) Circular.
A very scenic hike from the small town of Hitchin past historic villages and nature reserves to the Pegsdon Hills and Hoo Bit Nature Reserve on the border between Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. The town of Hitchin has a wealth of ancient buildings and church dating back to the 13th century.
Hitchin marks the northeast edge of the Chiltern Hills and complements one of our recent walks at Goring-on-Thames that marks the southwest edge some 50 miles away. Both edges are often referred to as the Goring and Hitchin gaps.
The Chiltern Hills form a chalk escarpment north and west from London across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire and are designated officially as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Lunch and Finish
Please bring a packed snack lunch and water for the hike, the walk should finish before 5.00pm, however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace (this is a complete day event and you are advised not to have definite events planned in the evening).
We will probably have an early lunch close to the small village of Pirton.
THIS IS A DEMANDING HIKE BOTH IN LENGTH AND WITH NUMEROUS HILLS, PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THIS.
Transport & meeting
Meet Outside Hitchin Station for the hike to start at 10.15am (after the train from London). Car parking at the station or free roadside parking maybe available.
If traveling from London meet outside the entrance to London St Pancras station (Midland Road Entrance) from 9.10am to give time to get tickets and groupsaves (see photo below). The 9.40am (platform B, St Pancras) gets to Hitchin for 10.15am (are other London station stops on this line) please check before travel. Discounts available with a groupsave or network railcard.The organizer is not taking the train from London but will meet the group at Hitchin station
Train return from £17.00, ask for super off-peak. Could also be a third off with a group save or network railcard.Walk Cost: £7 cash on the day organizer fee (For paypal it is 'colin45@hotmail.co.uk' Please send as friends and family to avoid charges. For bank transfer message organizer.
Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681.
Walking Safety
Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking shoes, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Chiltern-Explorers/pages/Terms_and_Conditions/)
COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE THE ORGANIZER, MANY THANKS.
5 attendees - £7.00
Windmills, Devils & Swim – Long Hilly Country Hike
Hassocks Station, Station Approach West,, Hassocks, West Sussex BN6 6JD., GBWalk length 16miles/25km Linear
A picturesque route from the village of Hassocks via the Clayton windmills of Jack and Jill to Devil's Dyke and then down to Shoreham-by-Sea via Edburton Hill along the South Downs Way with panoramic views towards the sea.
Features..
The impressive Clayton windmills also known as Jack and Jill which were both built during the early 19th century and are Grade I and II listed.
Devil's Dyke a 100m deep dry valley on the South Downs Way and a major local tourist attraction since the late 19th century. Another windmill coming back into Brighton,
Blatchington Windmill which is a grade II listed smock windmill.This hike is a chance to explore the South Downs down to the seaside town and port of Shoreham-by-Sea and perhaps have a quick dip in the sea which is also close to a pub.
Meeting
The hike is linear from Hassocks to Shoreham-by-sea and starts from Hassocks rail Station at 10.35am.Meeting at London: Meet from 9.00am at London Bridge Train station to get the 9.35am train arriving at Hassocks at 10.32am.
At London getting group saves at 9.00am (may have to queue, please be prompt so we can get tickets and board the train when announced they can get busy).
The meeting point is London Bridge Train Station. Meet next to the main ticket office opposite the WHSmith. See photo below.
Please try to use facilities before arriving at Hassocks which has limited facilities.Its is best to get a return to Brighton (Thameslink super off peak should be under £16 with a network card or group save (we get off at Hassocks). Then get a single from Shoreham-by-Sea to Brighton for the return journey. Should be £5 or less with a group save or network railcard
Cost/Meetup/organize fee: £7 cash on the day or you can do paypal (colin45@hotmail.co.uk, please do friends and family to avoid charges).Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681..
Walking Safety
Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking shoes, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Chiltern-Explorers/pages/Terms_and_Conditions/)
COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE ME. MANY THANKS.
1 attendee - £7.00
Radnage, Wheeler Common, Booker & West Wycombe Hill – Country Hike
Saunderton, Princes Risborough, GBWalk length 14miles/22km approx. Circular.
A really picturesque circular hike from Saunderton across fields and woods to Booker returning past West Wycombe Hill and Wheeler Common. We will have a snack lunch stop at Booker and optional drinks at the end.
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL HIKE AND HILLY IN PLACES, PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THIS.
Meeting and Transport, please read...
Train from London: The 9.53am train from London Marylebone gets to Saunderton for 10.52am. I suggest you arrive at London Marylebone from 9.20am to give you time to get tickets and any group saves. Please note the organizer will meet you at Saunderton (see photo below).
The walk should finish around 5pm but may be slightly earlier or later than this depending on weather ans pace.
Meet outside Saunderton station for the hike to start at 11am after the train from London arrives (Saunderton station has no facilities). Car parking should be free.Train is £16 approx. return with a group save or by using a network railcard.
Walk Cost: £7 cash on the day organizer fee (For paypal it is 'colin45@hotmail.co.uk' Please send as friends and family to avoid charges. For bank transfer message organizer.
Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681.
Walking Safety: Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking boots, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Chiltern-Explorers/pages/Terms_and_Conditions/)
COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE ME. MANY THANKS.
1 attendee - £7.00
The Serpeant Trail, Black Down/Temple of the Winds – Afternoon Hike
Haslemere Station, Lower Street, Haslemere GU27 2PE, GBWalk length 8.5miles/14km approx. Circular.
A chance to follow the serpent trail from Haslemere across woodland and heathland to Blackdown and a Bronze Age Circular bank earthwork named the Temple of the Winds.
The serpent trail is a 64-mile path across rare heathlands and its name reflects the shape of its route. Blackdown has some of the finest views across the South Downs National Park.
The walk is undulating with hill climbs and ridges.
The walk should finish before 6pm and include a short snack stop, however the time may be slightly earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace.Transport and meeting
There are two meeting options for this walk, see below..
Meeting:
Train from London: Meet outside the main WHSmith next to the rail information point and Pret A Manager on the main concourse at Waterloo Station at 12pm to get the 12.30pm train that gets to Haslemere for 13.21pm for the walk to start (see photo below) We need time to get tickets/group saves so please be prompt (3-9 people with a group save).Cost
Train about £20.00 return from London to Haslemere but with a group save (3 or more and must travel together) or individual network railcard.
Walk Cost: £7 cash on the day organizer fee (the host is a qualified London guide). For paypal it is 'colin45@hotmail.co.uk' Please send as friends and family to avoid charges. For bank transfer message organizer.Car: Meet outside Haslemere Station for the walk to start fter the train arrives from London at 13.21pm. The organizer is coming by train.
Parking: Haslemere, main car parks may charge but side streets may be free (please check for restrictions and leave enough time to park).
We will use a pub near Haslemere Station after the walk, there are regular trains back to London Waterloo.Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681.
Walking Safety
Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking shoes, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Chiltern-Explorers/pages/Terms_and_Conditions/)
COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE THE ORGANIZER, MANY THANKS.
2 attendees
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