Hike For Charity

In cases where a section is less than 16km in length we may increase the distance by combining two sections, or by extending the walk.
See.... London LOOP - Transport for London

Walk facts (section 1)
Length: Approximately 16 km /10 miles.
Duration: actual walking time, circa 4 hours.
Walk grade: Easy, the paths are mainly level.
Weather: Bexley - BBC Weather

Donation to charity: £5 cash on the day
What to take: A packed lunch and plenty of water.
Also, we're not insured, so please have your own insurance for this type of activity.

Walk description
Our route will generally follow the route given on the Ramblers website. For info and walk highlights: London Loop section 2 of 24: Old Bexley to Petts Wood

We will also increase the length of the walk to 16km by exploring Petts Wood and Jubilee Country Park Jubilee Country Park Local Nature Reserve .

Pushed for time?
It is possible to shorten the walk by taking buses from Foots Cray (4km) or from Queen Mary’s Hospital in the Chislehurst Road (6km).

Facilities along the route

• There are cafés and pubs at Bexley and Petts Wood. There are also pubs in Foots Cray High Street and in Sidcup Place.
• There is a café and toilets at the Morrisons that is a short distance along Chislehurst Road from Sidcup Place.
• If the weather is fine we will stop to eat our snacks at a convenient outside location. If necessary we will seek shelter in a pub or café.
• At the end of the walk we plan to have a farewell drink before heading for home.

Meeting at
Bexley railway station. We'll be outside the station exit at 11.30 am. We'll start walking at 11.40 am.

TRAVEL
Both Bexley station where we start, and Petts Wood where we finish, are Oyster friendly.
Plan your route: TFL and The Trainline

KEY INFORMATION
YOU MUST READ THE THREE SECTIONS BELOW - if you join this trip, you're confirming that you have.

1. The perilous bit
2. Our FAQs, including an explanation of Group save tickets which will save you money.
3. See here for what to wear and take. Specifically make sure you bring good hiking boots and that you are ready for muddy conditions . Please - no trainers, they are not suitable for walking in the wintry muddy conditions.

AND FINALLY

• We're raising money for charity

We’ll deduct Meetup fees but all the profits will go to charity. After each hike, we’ll let you know exactly how much we’ve all raised. And if you’d like to join us and raise money by leading some hikes, please get in touch – the more the merrier 😊

Walk facts
Distance: Approximately 19 km / 11 miles
Duration: Walking time circa 5.5 hours.
Grade: Moderate. We will maintain a steady pace over varied surfaces. There are quite a few hills on this route.
Donation to GOSH: £5 cash on the day
What to take: A packed lunch and plenty of water.
Also, we're not insured, so please have your own insurance for this type of activity.

Walk description
From Wendover station we ascend Coombe Hill to join the The Ridgeway - National Trails.

We’ll then follow The Ridgeway through woodland to our brief mid-morning stop where toilets and refreshments are available.

After our break, we'll continue across open land towards Chequers, the country house of the Prime Minister. Leaving The Ridgeway, we'll walk through Pulpit Nature Reserve and ascend Whiteleaf Hill, for great views over Princes Risborough. We'll stop here to eat our packed lunches.

After lunch, we’ll continue on The Ridgeway to Pulpit Hill and on to Beacon Hill before walking across open land to ascend Coombe Hill to the Boer War Memorial and more great views.

From the Memorial it’s all downhill to the end of our walk and a very well-earned drink at the Shoulder of Mutton, located very close to the railway station.

Meeting at
Wendover railway station. We'll be outside the station exit holding a GOSH banner, please see the photo below.
Meeting time:10.20 am. We'll leave at 10.25 am.

TRAVEL
by train
Train: leaves London Marylebone at 9.27 and arrives into Wendover at 10.16 am.
Get a return to Wendover. A day return is £24.10 but with Groupsave or a Network Railcard, it's £16.05 (times and prices as of 31/5).

There's one train an hour returning to London from Wendover.

Plan your route: TFL and The Trainline

If you're driving there is a car park at Wendover Railway Station HP22 6BX. Use RingGo or APCOA or Parkopedia App. Its currently £5.20 for all day Saturday.

Limited spaces will be available in a car traveling from Reading to Wendover (return). Message Carl R for information.

KEY INFORMATION
YOU MUST READ THE THREE SECTIONS BELOW - if you join this trip, you're confirming that you have.

1. The perilous bit
2. Our FAQs, including an explanation of Group save tickets which will save you money.
3. See here for what to wear and take. Specifically make sure you bring good hiking boots and that you are ready for muddy conditions . Please - no trainers, they are not suitable for walking in the wintry muddy conditions.

AND FINALLY

• We're raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children

We’ll deduct Meetup fees but all the profits will go to GOSH. After each hike, we’ll let you know exactly how much we’ve all raised. And if you’d like to join us and raise money by leading some hikes, please get in touch – the more the merrier 😊

In cases where a section is less than 16km in length we may increase the distance by combining two sections, or by extending the walk.
See.... London LOOP - Transport for London

Walk facts (Section 3)
Length: Approximately 17.5 km /11 miles.
Duration: actual walking time, circa 5 hours.
Walk grade: Easy. Footpaths through commons and parks with some steep slopes and steps.
Weather: Hayes (Bromley) - BBC Weather

Donation to charity: £5 cash on the day
What to take: A packed lunch and plenty of water.
Also, we're not insured, so please have your own insurance for this type of activity.

Walk description
For details and walk highlights, please see the Ramblers website
London Loop section 3 of 24: Petts Wood to West Wickham Common

We will increase the length of the walk to 17.5 km by taking a longer route through High Elms Country Park High Elms Country Park Local Nature Reserve

Pushed for time?
It is possible to shorten the walk by taking the bus from Farnborough or Keston and some other points on the route.

Facilities along the route

• There are cafés and pubs at one or two places along the way.
• Café and toilets at High Elms Country Park.
• If the weather is fine we will stop to eat our snacks at a convenient outside location. If necessary we will seek shelter in a pub or café.
• At the end of the walk we plan to have a farewell drink before heading for home.

Meeting at
Petts Wood railway station. We'll be outside the station exit at 11.30 am. We'll start walking at 11.40 am.

TRAVEL
by train
Both Petts Wood station where we start, and Hayes station where we finish, are Oyster friendly.
Plan your route: TFL and The Trainline

KEY INFORMATION
YOU MUST READ THE THREE SECTIONS BELOW - if you join this trip, you're confirming that you have.

1. The perilous bit
2. Our FAQs, including an explanation of Group save tickets which will save you money.
3. See here for what to wear and take. Specifically make sure you bring good hiking boots and that you are ready for muddy conditions . Please - no trainers, they are not suitable for walking in the wintry muddy conditions.

AND FINALLY

• We're raising money for charity

We’ll deduct Meetup fees but all the profits will go to charity. After each hike, we’ll let you know exactly how much we’ve all raised. And if you’d like to join us and raise money by leading some hikes, please get in touch – the more the merrier 😊

Walk facts
Form: Linear walk from Redhill to Reigate via Reigate Hill.
Length: Approximately 16 km /10 miles.
Duration: Actual walking time, circa 4.5 hours.
Walk Grade: Moderate, total ascent 280m, so it will be energetic.
Weather: see: Reigate - BBC Weather
Donation to GOSH: £5 cash on the day.

Donation to charity: £5 cash on the day
What to take: A packed lunch and plenty of water.
Also, we're not insured, so please have your own insurance for this type of activity.

Walk description
We'll set off from the station and quickly find ourselves on the Tandridge Border Path, heading towards Nuffield Marshes.

From here, we head for Mersham Station - anyone missing the start of the walk could possibly catch up with us at the station.

Soon we join the Pilgrim's Way climbing through woods and fields to Reigate Hill and Gatton Park. Public toilets are available here if needed.

Next, we follow the North Downs Way to Reigate Hill and Colley Hill Viewpoint for some magnificent views and a little break if the weather is fine.

Rested, we'll head downhill to Greensand Way and into Reigate town. We’ll visit the Castle Grounds public park, where the former Reigate Castle stood and take the opportunity to enjoy a well deserved drink.

Those that want to do so can catch the train home, but our day out doesn't end here so please read on.....

The caving tour
At 5pm, we'll regroup (meeting point TBA) to go underground into Reigate Caves with one of the volunteer guides from Wealden Cave & Mine Society.

We'll see two distinct systems:

• Tunnel Road East (museum side)
• Barons Cave (the old wine cellar beneath the medieval castle).

A trip into both takes approximately 2 hours in total (1 hour per system) and costs £6 per person. It should be possible to bail out after 1 hour if you are pushed for time.

Wealden Cave & Mine Society are a charity and all the money received goes back into the upkeep of the systems.

Meeting at
Redhill Station. We'll be outside the station exit.
Meeting time: 10.55am. Walk start 11am.

TRAVEL
by train
The day starts in Redhill but ends in Reigate. Buy a day Return to Reigate which covers both journeys. It will cost £23.30 but with Groupsave or a Network Railcard, the price is £15.50 (as of 14/7/25).

From London: catch the 10.08 am from London Victoria arriving Redhill at 10.49 am.
Coming back: there are 4 trains an hour going back to London from Reigate.

KEY INFORMATION
YOU MUST READ THE THREE SECTIONS BELOW - if you join this trip, you're confirming that you have.

1. The perilous bit
2. Our FAQs, including an explanation of Group save tickets which will save you money.
3. See here for what to wear and take. Specifically make sure you bring good hiking boots and that you are ready for muddy conditions . Please - no trainers, they are not suitable for walking in the wintry muddy conditions.

AND FINALLY

• We're raising money for charity

We’ll deduct Meetup fees but all the profits will go to charity. After each hike, we’ll let you know exactly how much we’ve all raised. And if you’d like to join us and raise money by leading some hikes, please get in touch – the more the merrier 😊