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
Whiteleaf Hill, Pulpit Hill, Beacon Hill, Coombe Hill & Chequers – Country Hike
Princes Risborough Station, Station Approach, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire., HP27 9DN, GBWalk length 13miles/20km approx. Circular.
A hike with a great variety of scenery, including fine views and the summit of a number of hills including Whiteleaf Hill, Pulpit Hill Nature Reserve, Beacon Hill, Coombe Hill and a walk around the footpath close to the Prime Minister's Chequers country home.
Chequers house is the country house of the Prime Minister. It was given as a house for the Prime Minister in 1917 and dates from the 16th century.
The walk passes through a number of woods and scenic Chiltern countryside and uses a number of important footpaths including parts of the Ridgeway, an ancient track described as one of Britain's oldest roads and the more recent Alyesbury Ring.
Princes Risborough is a small country town that lies between the Vale of Aylesbury and the Western Escarpment of the Chiltern Hills, on the route of the pre-Roman Upper Icknield Way and is dominated by a chalk hill carving, the Whiteleaf Cross.
The walk should finish about 4.30pm and include a Snack/lunch stop however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace.
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL HIKE IN LENGTH AND WITH A NUMBER OF HILL CLIMBS, PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THIS.
Cost
£7 cash payable on the day guided walk & meetup costs. You can do paypal (colin45@hotmail.co.uk) please use friends and family with paypal to avoid charges. Bank transfer if you prefer, please contact the organizer.Train:
Ticket with a third off this with a group save or network railcard should be £20approx.
Meeting
Meet outside Princes Risborough Train Station for the hike to start just after the train from London arrives at 10.25am.
At London Marylebone Rail Station: Meet from 9.15am at London Marylebone to get the 9.42am train that gets to Princes Risborough for 10.25am (you may have to queue for groupsaves). Meet close to the WHSmiths (see photo below).The organizer is not taking the train but will meet you at Princes Risborough.
For parking the station charges but nearby roads are free on Sundays such as Manor Park Avenue.
We may go for drinks at the end of the walk.Please make a note of the organizers number - 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.
7 attendees - £7.00
Autumn Leaves at Virginia Water – Country Hike
Sunningdale Railway Station, London Road, Sunningdale, SL5 0HD, GBWalk length 13miles/20km approx. Circular.
A scenic largely flat walk exploring Virginia Water which is particularly picturesque during the Autumn.
Virginia Water was created in 1753 and is part of the Great Windsor Park. For many years it was the largest man-made lake in the UK. It is surrounded by extensive woodland, some designated as sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSI) for woodland biodiversity.
The Cascade was created in the 1780s when Virginia Water was extended by George the III. The south bank of the lake has the ruins of a Roman Temple (Leptis Magna), which were given as a gift by Bashaw of Tripoli in 1816 to the then Prince Regent (King George IV). It was originally intended for the ruins to be exhibited at the British Museum.
The lake was drained during World War II so as not to be a target for nearby Windsor. Recently the lake has been used for filming of the Harry Potter films and the largest British catch of a pike at over 58lbs was recorded at the lake.
Five Arch Bridge was built in 1827 and designed by the architect Sir Jeffry Wyattville who was also responsible for extensive alterations and designs at Windsor Castle.
A newer addition to the lake is a 100ft Totem Pole given as a gift from the government of British Colombia.
The walk route from Sunningdale Station to the lake is fairly long however it goes through a section of woodland and past some nice polo fields.
Lunch and Finish: Please bring a packed lunch and water for the walk. The walk should finish at about 4.30pm and include a short pack lunch stop close to the visitor centre, however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace. We will have a pub stop close at the end of the walk.
Meeting: Meet outside Sunningdale Rail Station for the walk to start at 11.00am (after the train from London arrives). This is a circular walk and finishes back at Sunningdale Rail Station (very few facilities at Sunningdale station).
Transport
Car: Station Car Park at Sunningdale is £2 on Sunday (limited), free roadside parking close to the station in adjacent roads. (please leave allow enough time to park and check any parking charges and car restrictions).
Train from London: The 942am train from London Waterloo gets to Sunningdale for 11.00am for the walk to start.
Please be prompt trains can be busy and you need time to get tickets/group saves. Train from London: Meet outside the main WHSmith on the main concourse at Waterloo Station from 915am close to the Pret and ticket information desk to give you time to get tickets/group saves (see photo below).
THE ORGANIZER WILL MEET YOU AT SUNNINGDALE FOR THIS WALK SO YOU NEED TO GET THE TRAIN TICKETS YOURSELVES.
Cost
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.
£12.00 return train approx with a group save or network railcard discount).Please be prompt trains can be busy and you need time to get tickets/group saves. Train from London: Meet outside the main WHSmith on the main concourse at Waterloo Station from 9.00am close to the Pret and ticket information desk to give you time to get tickets/group saves (see photo below).
THE ORGANIZER WILL MEET YOU AT SUNNINGDALE FOR THIS WALK SO YOU NEED TO GET THE TRAIN TICKETS YOURSELVES.
Cost
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.
£12.00 return train approx. with a group save or network railcard discount).
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.
3 attendees - £7.00
Tripods & Fireworks – Country Hike
Woking station, Station approach, Woking, GBWalk length 10miles/16km approx. Circular.
A curious and scenic hike exploring Horsell Common as far as Stanners Hill close to Woking, the common was originally part of Windsor Great Park and supports a mixture of acidic grassland and open heathland.
The sandpits on Horsell Common are famous for being the inspiration for the landing site of the alien space craft in H. G. Wells 'War of the Worlds' novel. The hike also passes the edge of Fairoaks Airport and McLaren Park which contains the HQ of McLaren Cars.
Will have a lunch stop at the Fairoaks Airport Cafe which does reasonably priced baguettes, snacks coffee etc (if you bring your own pack lunch you will not be able to eat it in the cafe).
Cost
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. Firework display on the day entrance price £11
At end of the hike you can return to London or get some food and drink with the group in Woking. We can walk to Woking Park ten minutes from the rail station to see the town firework display. The display starts at 7.30pm and the event finishes at 10pm (please wrap up well). There are regular trains back to central London.
See: https://www.wokingfireworks.org/Meeting: there are a number of travel options, see below:
Outside Woking train station: Meet outside the entrance to Woking Train Station, High Street exit for the hike to start at 11.00am after the train from London arrives (the walk is circular and finishes back at Woking).Train from London: Meet outside the main WHSmith on the main concourse at Waterloo Station from 10.00am close to the Pret and ticket information desk to give us time to get tickets (see photo below).
The South West train service from Waterloo at 10.30am gets to Woking for 11.02am. Discounts with group save or a rail network card (should be about £14 return with a third off group save or national railcard discount).Car: Parking close to Woking station, Station car park £6.40 on Saturday, side roads may be free but please check for restrictions.
The walk should finish before 4.30pm including a lunch stop and optional pub stop at the end before the fireworks, however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace (this is a complete day out and you are advised not to arrange plans for the evening).My phone number is Colin 07709 305681.
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 THE ORGANIZER, MANY THANKS.
2 attendees
Past events
1554
