What we’re about
Welcome to Escape London City Explorers a walking and social group aiming at doing a range of guided walks and social trips to cities outside of London from London and guided walks and hikes within London.
The idea is to do a short country hike or city urban walk exploring cities or towns fairly close to London such as Oxford, Brighton, Portsmouth or Stratford-upon-Avon.
Transport will be either by train or coach, the group is twined with two other groups London Explorers (London walks & hikes) and Chiltern Explorers (countryside hikes within the Chilterns and further afield).
We are enthusiastic about photography and encourage photographs walking at a leisurely pace but also sometimes with harder faster and longer walks.
IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT WORLD HEALTH CRISIS I AM HOSTING SOME LIVE VIDEO EVENTS ON LONDON EXPLORERS & CHILTERN EXPLORERS MEETUP GROUPS.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Watlington Hill, The Ridgeway & Cowleaze Wood – Long & Medium Country HikeMarylebone Railway Station, LondonGBP 7.00
Walk length 21miles/34 km approx. Circular.
A really picturesque circular walk from Saunderton Station up to Watlington Hill across a variety of landscapes from scenic views to wooded tracks, with a number of hill climbs.
Some of this walk is on the Ridgeway National Trail, a path that follows tracks going back to prehistoric times and was used by travelers and herdsman.
Lunch and Finish: Please bring a snack lunch and water for the hike (rustic, no facilities). The hike should finish before 6.00pm, however the time may be slightly earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace.
There is a nice pub very close to the station at the end which we can use for drinks or food or if you need to wait for the train.
THIS HIKE IS A HARD LONG HIKE WITH A NUMBER OF SUBSTANTIAL HILLS, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP IF YOU WANT AN EASY SHORT HIKE.
If the weather is not suitable for a long hike close to the day I may change the hike for a shorter version.
Meeting
Train from London. The 8.53am from London Marylebone gets to Saunderton for 9.52am for the walk to start at 10am. You are advised to meet from 8.30am to give you time to get tickets or groupsaves.
If coming from London I suggest meeting close to the WHSmiths at London Marylebone for any group saves (see photo below)
The organizer is not coming by train for this hike but will meet you at Saunderton.There is a possibility of doing half this hike as it is a figure of eight you could park your car at Stokenchurch or if coming by train and are prepared to get a taxi back to Saunderton (please contact organizer if you fancy this option).
Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681.
Train cost £18.50 return approx with a groupsave or network railcard.Meet outside Saunderton Rail Station for the hike to start promptly at 10am after the train from London arrives. SAUNDERTON STATION HAS NO FACILITIES.
£7 (cash on the day, can do paypal, colin45@hotmail.co.uk) guided walk & meetup costs, please do paypal as friends and family to avoid charges.
Car: Car parking at Saunderton Rail Station is free (please check for any restrictions and leave enough time to park). This is a circular walk and finishes back at Saunderton Rail Station.
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/Escape-London-City-Explorers/pages/23195445/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.
- St Martha's Hill & Chilworth Gunpowder Mills – Short Afternoon HikeLondon Waterloo station, SE1 8SWGBP 7.00
Walk length 8.5miles/14km approx. Circular.
A chance to explore the Surrey Hills and the fantastic views from Pewley Down and St Martha's Hill and exploring a heritage trail past Chilworth Gumpoder Mills.
The walk passes the grounds of historic Guildford castle built shortly after the 1066 invasion of England when Guildford was sacked by William the Conqueror along with other towns along the Pilgrims Way.
We will stop for a short coffee/drink stop at a pub near Chilworth.
St Martha's Church is on the Pilgrims' Way an historic footpath supposed to have been used by pilgrims walking to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury.The walk also follows a short part of the River Wey just south of Guildford.
The walk includes some hill climbs but also level ridge sections and river paths.
Lunch and Finish
The walk should finish at about 5.00pm however the time may be 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 from 12.15pm (see photo below) to get the 12.45pm train that gets to Guildford for 13.24pm for the walk to start. We need time to get tickets/group saves so please be prompt (3-9 people with a group save).
Cost
Train about £18.10 return from London to Guildford but with a group save (3 or more and must travel together) or individual network railcard should be less.
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.
Car: Meet outside Guildford Station for walk to start at 13.30pm, after the train arrives from London at 13.24pm. The organizer is coming by train.
Parking: Guildford, 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 in Guildford 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/Escape-London-City-Explorers/pages/23195445/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, Winchmore Hill & King's Wood – Country HikeMarylebone Railway Station, LondonGBP 7.00
Walk length 10miles/16km approx. Linear.
A scenic open country and woodland hike from Beaconsfield to High Wycombe via the villages of Coleshill and Winchmore Hill.
THIS HIKE IS UNDULATING IN PLACES, PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THIS.
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.
Train return approx. £17 with a saving using a network railcard or groupsave. This is a linear hike so get a return to High Wycombe but get off at Beaconsfield if coming from London.
Lunch and Finish
Please bring a packed lunch and water for the walk. The walk should finish at about 4.30pm and include a 30 min snack lunch stop probably around Winchmore Hill or Coleshill Common, however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace.
Meeting & Transport
Train from London: 10.42am from London Marylebone gets to Beaconsfield for 11.09am (see photo below). See National Rail Enquiries (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/).
I would suggest you meet from 10.15am to get group saves/buy tickets (see photo below). The organizer will not be taking the train from London but will meet you at Beaconsfield Train Station.
Meet outside Beaconsfield Station for the walk to start at 11.10am, just after the train from London arrives (north side of the station so take the footbridge over to the north side if arriving from London.
Car: Station Car Park at Beaconsfield charges. There may be some free street parking a short walk from the station along nearby roads. Please leave enough time to park and check restrictions. This is a linear hike so you will need to collect your car from from Beaconsfield or High Wycombe.
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/Escape-London-City-Explorers/pages/23195445/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.
