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- Faversham to Whitstable Bay, Carnival & Swim – Coastal HikeFaversham, Faversham£7.00
10miles/16km approx/Linear
A great coastal hike exploring the coastal path from Faversham to Whitstable passing the Nagden, Cleve and Graveney Marshes with sea views across Whitstable Bay. The hike largely follows the Saxon Shore Way.
Lunch and Finish
Please bring a packed lunch and water for the hike. The hike should finish at 4.30pm but may be earlier or later than this depending on pace and weather and includes a pack lunch stop and pub stop at the end and maybe a cheeky swim (please be aware this is a complete day out and you are advised not to have definite evening plans).
The pub at the end at Whitstable is classy but very reasonably priced and does food and close to the station. The pub used to be an old cinema and has an Art Deco feel, named after a famous actor Peter Cushing who had connections to the area.
On this day there is also a carnival being hosted by the town in the afternoon as a tribute to Peter Cushing which we may get a chance to enjoy!
Meeting
Outside Faversham station for the hike to start just after the train from London arrives at 10.50am.
If you are driving you will need to get the train back to Faversham to collect your car from Whitstable. Station car park is £3.90 Saturday, other free roadside parking may be available (please check for restrictions).
Meeting at London
The 9.40am train from London Victoria gets to Faversham for 10.50am.
This is a linear walk so you need to get a return to Whitstable but get off at Faversham. You will return from Whitstable.THIS IS A MEDIUM LENGTH HIKE AND LARGELY FLAT.
The meeting point is an official meeting point symbol directly opposite the Upper Crust shop & the Gatwick Express entrance close to platform 13 & 14. Meeting from 9.00am to give us time to get tickets (see photo below).
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.
Meeting at London
The 9.40am train from London Victoria gets to Faversham for 10.50am.
This is a linear walk so you need to get a return to Whitstable but get off at Faversham. You will return from Whitstable.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.
- The Pegsdon Hills & Hitchin Gap – Long Hilly Country HikeHitchin Railway Station, Hitchin£7.00
Walk 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 10.14am (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 9.15am to give time to get tickets and groupsaves (see photo below). The 9.41am (platform B, St Pancras) gets to Hitchin for 10.14am (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 £18.40, 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.
