The Six Woods Challenge: Nature Reserves & Hidden Paths | Free Hike 23km (14mi)

📈 Grade: 🥾🥾🥾 Level 3/5
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📖Summary
Join us for a peaceful, green London-edge escape along the Six Woods Trail. A point-to-point hike that links six different woodlands between Ruislip Manor and Northwood Hills Underground Stations.
This route is all about calm nature time: Forest tracks, quiet nature reserves, open clearings and gentle countryside paths with the soothing feeling of being far from the city even though we’re still on the Tube network.
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🌟Highlight

• 🌲 Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve – One of London’s most important ancient woodland areas, with a real “deep forest” feel, seasonal colours and loads of birdlife.
• 🍃 Mad Bess Wood – A quieter, tucked-away stretch where the path feels properly secluded—great for that calm, mindful hiking vibe.
• 🌳 Bayhurst Wood – Classic Chiltern-edge woodland atmosphere: soft trails, tall trees and a lovely sense of being enveloped by nature.
• 🌿 Old Park Wood Nature Reserve – A beautiful reserve section with a wilder feel and rich habitat, perfect for slow moments and wildlife spotting.
• 🌲 Bishop’s Wood – A gorgeous woodland network with winding paths and plenty of “choose-your-own-adventure” trail vibes (with the main route keeping us on track).
• 🍂 Copse Wood – A charming final woodland chapter: smaller, peaceful and a lovely way to finish before we return to civilisation at Northwood Hills.
• 🦌 Wildlife spotting – This whole corridor is known for wildlife, so keep your eyes open for woodland birds and other surprises.
• 🚤 Grand Union Canal nearby – Calm waterside atmosphere on the western side of the route with amenities close by.

⚠️ Trail notes: Some woodland sections can be muddy, especially after rain and occasional fallen trees may mean minor detours.
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📈Trail Details

• This is a Point-to-Point Hike
• Ruislip Manor Tube Station ➡️ Northwood Hills Tube Station
• Distance 23km (14.3mi)
• Total Ascent 396m
• Total Descent 393m
• Max elevation 104m
• Duration 6 hours including breaks
• Difficulty 🥾🥾🥾Grade 3/5

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💷Cost: Free
This hike is completely free to join but participants need to purchase their own transport tickets.
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⛳️Meeting Point & Time
👉🏻Ruislip Manor Tube Station | 09:50
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📍Hike start: Ruislip Manor Tube Station | 10:00
🏁Hike finish: Northwood Hills Tube Station | ~17:00

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🎟️ Train Ticket Information

• Pay by Oyster / contactless bank card (Tube at both ends)
• More information at https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

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🍱 What to Bring

• 1-2L water
• Packed lunch and snacks
• Comfortable walking/hiking shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing (layers, waterproofs, hat, sunscreen)
• Optional: trekking poles, camera

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✅Who Can Join
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Our hikes are open to adults aged 21 and over.
• 👶 For safety reasons, we’re not able to include children.
• 🐾 We love animals, but pets (including dogs) can’t join our hikes.
• ☑️ Everyone is welcome to RSVP, but to keep things fair for all members:
- If someone often cancels last minute or misses hikes without notice, they may be placed on a waitlist or removed from the group for future events.
- We do a quick check-in on the day of the hike, which helps us keep track and make sure spaces are available for those who really want to join.
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⚠️SAFETY
As adults, you are fully responsible for your own safety and decisions throughout the walk.
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❗️NOTES

• This is a group hike led by volunteers. Everyone is welcome to join.
• A few wrong turns? That’s part of the fun!
• While you're free to “hike your own hike,” we encourage group participation, get to know one another, make new friends, and enjoy the journey together.
• Food options are limited en route, bring lunch.

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🚨DISCLAIMER
Event Participation Disclaimer

• By signing up for an event we host, you acknowledge and agree to the following:
• The organisers are not qualified hiking leaders, certified first aiders, or formally trained in navigation, survival, or any related disciplines.
• These hikes are informal, self-guided gatherings of like-minded individuals.
• The hosts expressly disclaim all responsibility and liability for any injuries, accidents, or safety incidents that may occur during participation.
• Participation is entirely voluntary, and all attendees are solely responsible for their own safety and well-being.
• These events are non-commercial and are organised purely as a recreational hobby, with no business or financial interests involved.
• Hiking and outdoor activities inherently carry risks of personal injury. By choosing to participate, you accept these risks and take full responsibility for your own actions and decisions.

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🚨GENERAL GROUP POLICY

• Voluntary Participation: Attendance is at your own risk. The group and hosts bear no liability.
• No Professional Duty of Care: Hosts are volunteers, not trained guides or medical professionals.
• Insurance Is Your Responsibility: If desired, you must arrange your own personal insurance.
• Respect Nature: Follow Leave No Trace principles at all times.
• Emergency Preparedness: You are responsible for organising your own emergency plan.
• Weather and Safety: Events may be cancelled or changed if conditions are deemed unsafe.
• Self-Assessment Required: You must honestly assess your fitness and ability to keep pace with the group.
• No Guaranteed Rescue: While help may be offered, full rescue capabilities should not be expected.
• No Minors Without Guardians: Participants must be over 21.
• Right to Refuse Participation: Hosts may turn away any individual who appears unprepared or poses a safety risk to others.
• First Aid Preparedness Encouraged: It is highly recommended that each participant carries a small first aid kit for minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, bites, and blisters.

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🚨FINAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT

• By attending this event, you confirm that you are participating voluntarily and at your own risk. Neither the host nor the group accepts responsibility for any injury, loss, or damage incurred.