What we’re about
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 (4+)
See all- Ditchling Beacon, Hollingbury & Brighton Seaside Swim – Country HikeBurgess Hill Train Station - Southern Railway, West Sussex£7.00
Walk length 13miles/20 km approx. Linear.
A very picturesque route from Burgess Hill via Ditchling Beacon to Brighton.
Ditchling Beacon commands a place as the third highest point on the South Downs at 814ft (American designations define a mountain as 1000ft!, getting close) with panoramic views, because of its defensive position it was also the site of an early Iron Age Hill fort.
The hike has a nice mixture of fields, ridge sections, hillforts as well as some urban sections into Brighton.
We pass Brighton station on the way to the seaside and at Brighton you have the option of seeing the seaside, shopping or having a social drink and maybe having a swim!
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL BUT MEDIUM LENGTH HIKE HIKE WITH A NUMBER OF GRADIENTS.
Lunch & Finish
Please bring a packed lunch & water for the hike. We should finish before 5pm which will include a 30 min snack lunch stop (rustic lunch stop in fields, no facilities) however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace (this is a complete day out and your are advised not to plan definite events for the evening).
Various meeting points see below..
The hike is linear and start from Burgess Hill Station at 11am.
Meeting at London: Meet from 9.30am at London Bridge Train station to get the 10.05am train arriving at Burgess Hill at 10.58am (get off at Burgess Hill but we return from Brighton so get a return ticket to Brighton.At London getting group saves at 9.30am (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.
Cost: Train £16.50 (Super Off-Peak Return) or less with a group save, network railcard or ordered online.
If driving to Burgess Hill be aware this is a linear hike and you will need to collect your car after the hike to Brighton, short single train journey.
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.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.
- Blenheim Park, Roman Villa & Cotswolds – Country HikeHanborough Station Car Park, Witney£7.00
Walk length 13miles/20km approx. Circular.
A chance to explore some Cotswold countryside close to the edge of Oxford with a number of features including the views of Blenheim Palace from Blenheim Park, the pretty market town of Woodstock and the remains of a small Roman Villa that is free to visit at North Leigh.
Blenheim Palace was designed in an English Baroque Style and was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. North Leigh Roman Villa dates from the 4th century and is regarded as one of the larger Roman Villas of Roman Britain.
Lunch and Finish
Please bring a packed snack lunch and water for the walk, we will probably have lunch at Woodstock.
This is a medium hike with undulating terrain.
Transport & meeting
Meet outside Hanborough Train Station for walk to start after the train arrives at 10.54am.
The 9.47am from London Paddington gets to Hanborough for 10.54am. If you want to meet for groupsaves suggest meeting close to the WHSmith at Paddington (see photo below) at 9.20am to give yourself time to get tickets.
Return train fare is approx. £29 super saver return with a network railcard or about the same price with a groupsave of 3 or more (must travel back together with groupsave).
The organizer is coming by train from High Wycombe and not London so will meet the group at Hanborough.
£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.
Car
Parking: Hanborough, station car park may charge but local side roads may be free, please check for restrictions and leave enough time to park.
We may use a pub close to Hanborough Station at the end, there are regular trains back to London Paddington.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.
- Beaconsfield, Seer Green, Hodgemoor Woods & Ancient Pub/Country HikeBeaconsfield Station, Beaconsfield£7.00
Walk length 12miles/19km approx. Circular.
A very varied hike exploring a number of features... Jordans is famous as a centre for the Quaker movement during the 17th century. Two sights of interest are the Jordans Friends Meeting House and the Mayflower Barn (wood claimed to be from the Mayflower), we will try to see the outsides of both.
We will through Hodgemoor woods a section of ancient woodland that was the site of a Polish Refugee camp from 1946-1962 one of a number of camps in the area that housed Polish servicemen and their families after WW2, some remains exist.
On the last section we can stop at the Royal Standard of England for a drink which is possibly one of the oldest pubs inthe UK. The pub is a short walk back to Beaconsfield station for trains back to London or final drink at the Beech House Beaconsfield.
The terrain on the hike is gently undulating and the hike should finish around 5pm but the time maybe slightly earlier or later depending on on pace and conditions.
Meeting
Meet outside Beaconsfield Train station, north side of station for the hike to start at 11.08am after the train from London arrives.
PLEASE ALL MEET AT THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STATION (YOU MAY HAVE TO USE THE FOOTBRIDGE).
From London
The 10.40am train from London Marylebone gets to Beaconsfield for 11.08am.
If getting the train from London you are suggested to get to Maryebone for 9.20 onwards to give you time to get tickets/groupsaves. Meet outside the WHSmiths (see photo below).
Train £16 return approx with a network railcard or groupsave ticket.
The organizer will not be getting the train but will meet you at Beaconsfield.By Car, Beaconsfield station charges but some side roads are free (check for parking restrictions and leave enough time to park).
Please bring pack lunch for the hike.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 ME. MANY THANKS.
- Godalming, Compton, Art Nouveau Chapel/River Wey – Short Afternoon Country HikeGodalming Station Car Park, Godalming£7.00
Walk length 9.5miles/15km approx. Circular.
A varied hike across fields and woodland and starting from the small market town of Godalming towards the village of Compton where we can stop for a short coffee break at the Watts Gallery the return section is via the River Wey close to Farncombe.
The Watts gallery was founded in 1904 as the only gallery in the UK devoted to a single artist George Frederic Watts. We may be able to visit the fantastic Watts memorial chapel full of Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau influences.
THIS IS A SHORT HIKE WITH FLAT SECTIONS AND SOME HILL CLIMBS.
As this is a short walk we will just have a short snack stop probably at the Watts Gallery. The walk should finish around 5.00pm, however the time may be slightly earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace.
Transport & 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 from 12.15pm (see photo below) to get the 12.45pm train that gets to Godalming for 13.34pm for the hike to start. We need time to get tickets/group saves so please be prompt (3-9 people with a group save).
You can get your own tickets or drive to Godalming, ticket discounts available with a network railcard or groupsave. Train approx. £20.80 return but could be less with a groupsave or network railcard discount.
Meet outside Godalming Station for the hike to start at 13.35pm after the train from London arrives.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.
