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- St Martha's Hill & Chilworth Gunpowder Mills – Short Afternoon HikeGuildford Station, London GU1 4UTGBP 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 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.
- Beaconsfield, Winchmore Hill & King's Wood – Country HikeBeaconsfield, BeaconsfieldGBP 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 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.
- Henley, Culham Court Deer Park & Hurley – Long Country HikeHenley-on-Thames, Henley-on-ThamesGBP 7.00
Walk length 16miles/26km approx. Circular.
A long circular hike from Henley to Littlewick Green exploring various features from the Thames path close to Culham Court Deer Park and, Henley to various woods and fields some with far reaching views across open countryside and the Thames.
We will probably have lunch at Littlewick Green which has a village green and pub. At the end of the walk we will have a optional pub stop.
PLEASE BE AWARE THIS IS A LONG HILLY HIKE SO PLEASE ONLY RSVP IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS AND CAN KEEP A REASONABLE PACE. BE AWARE IF THE WEATHER IS BAD THE HIKE MAY BE SHORTENED.
Cost
Cost: £7 cash or paypal (colin45@hotmail.co.uk) payable on the day guided walk & meetup costs. You can do paypal or bank transfer if you prefer, please message the organizer.
Train £17 approx. return with a network railcard or groupsave discount.
Lunch and Finish
Please bring a packed lunch and water for the walk. The walk should finish before 5.30pm and includes a pack lunch stop and pub stop at the end, however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace (this is a complete day hike, you are advised not to arrange anything for the evening).
Meeting points please read..
Meet outside Henley train station for the walk to start at 10.27am (after the train from London arrives).
By train from London: The London Paddington train at 9.16am gets to Henley-on-Thames for 10.27am with a short change at Twyford. I would encourage you to seek out other members who can go as part of a group save on the train and meet from 8.45am to give you time to get tickets.
I would suggest you meet outside the WHSmith shop at Paddington (see photo below). See National Rail Enquiries (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/)
Train times may be amended before the event.
Car: The station car park at Henley charges but there are a number of off road streets that should be free on a Sunday, please leave enough time to park and check for restrictions.
Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681.
The organizer will not be taking the train but will meet you at Henley.
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.
