Tripods & Fireworks – Country Hike

Walk 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 9.50am 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 10.20am gets to Woking for 10.45am. 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).

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 THE ORGANIZER, MANY THANKS.