What we’re about
Must all meetup groups in London be fully booked or ridiculously expensive?! Not here!!
Explore Britain and the Great British outdoors free of charge by connecting with walkers, hikers and outdoor lovers!
We are different from most outdoor Meetup Groups because
- we are 100% free & community-driven;
- we are a group of friends, not a business;
- we do different activity types and levels;
- anyone may organize a walk/trip. You, too!
How does it work?
- You only pay for your train tickets and accommodation (if necessary)
- If possible we will share ticket costs and discounts (e.g. GroupSave)
Who should join this group?
- Anyone who loves the outdoors:
- All ages and experience levels;
- Check each individual event's details to decide if it's suitable for you.
What are the rules?
Because each event has a different organizer, please read each event's rules carefully, e.g. some trips may have limited places due to safety reasons;
Get ready for unforgettable adventures, forests, ancient castles, prehistoric ruins, valley walks and hills, weekend breaks and day walks - along the English coasts, the mountains of Wales and the Highlands of Scotland - all for free!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Exmoor National Park Coastal walks - Bank Holidayilfracombe, somerset, Ilfracombe
Exmoor National Park Coastal weekend - Sunday 25th to Monday 26th May (bank Holiday Monday) 2025
Beaches, sea views, high cliffs, wild flowers and undulating coastal paths are the main sights of this Exmoor National Park event. I have taken my groups to the best coastal walks in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, walked the entire 630 miles South West Coastal Path. Exmoor National Park is by far my favorite section with its unique breathtaking scenery. Exmoor coastal path is only 36 miles long and will we walk the best 18 miles of this magnificent National Park treasure within 2 days. The featured photo was from last year May in Exmoor.I only have 10 FREE places for members that have access to a car. I can offer you Sunday 25 & Bank holiday 26th May. I can only send you essential details for the day hike i.e. walk description, meeting point & kit list but cannot provide any more assistance. You will need a car to get to the starting locations as there NO public transport.
Images of past Exmoor National Park events and info event:
Exmoor National Park & Dorset June 2022 | MichaelsOutdoorEvent (michael-outdoor-events.com)I am also leading a “non Free” group from London for the whole weekend of Saturday 24th to bank holiday Monday 26th as part of this FREE meetup group. If you are interested in the “non free’ full 3 day programme (1 day in Dorset & 2 days in Exmoor National Park), just email michaelwk16@yahoo.com. Michael will organise all of the logistics: Transportation from London via mini bus/cars, hotel and the 3 days of walking.
You can email me via michaelwk16@yahoo.com for details on cost how to secure a place, please state whether you want the free event or the non free 3 days event.
Proposed Schedule
Saturday 24th to Monday 26th May 2025
Saturday 24th May 2025
08:00 Meet at Coulsdon South train station for briefing
08:05 Leave for Dorset
12:00 Arrive at Lulworth Cove, Dorset for our 1st coastal walk
12:30-18:00 Walk from Lulworth Cove to Weymouth
18:00 Finish walk at Weymouth
18:30- 20:00 Dinner at Weymouth
20:00-21:00 Drive to our Premier Inn hotel in Tiverton
Sunday 25th May 2025
07:00-08:00 Breakfast at Premier Inn Tiverton
08:15-09:15 Travel to Combe Martin (Exmoor National Park)
09:30-17:00 Walk from Combe Martin to Lynton & Lynmouth
17:00-18:00 Refreshments at Lynmouth
19:00-20:00 Drive to Tiverton Premium Inn hotel
20:00- 22:00 Dinner at Hotel
Monday 26th May (Bank Holiday Monday)
07:00 - 08:00 Breakfast at Premium Inn restaurant
08:05 - 09:15 Travel to Woolacombe (Exmoor National Park)
09:30 - 13:30 Walk from Woolacombe to Ilfracombe (classic Exmoor National Park coastal walk)
13:30-14:30 Lunch break at Ilfracombe
14:30-18:30 Drive back at Coulsdon South train Station (zone 6)For the non free event transportation is provided from London & return back to London. I will sort out all of the transportation logistics for the whole group. Organise the departure point, exchange drivers and members contact details in advance and ensure the drivers get to every location during the event on time.
Please note this 2 day offer can not be added to the free day offer on Saturday 24th to Dorset.
No circular coastal routes: The beaches, sea, high cliffs and undulating coastal paths are the main sights of Exmoor & Dorset so the whole walking distance will be along the South West Coastal Path. Other walking groups will walk a circular route and finish back at the starting point. For this event to maximise the coastal experience we will have cars strategically parked at the finishing point of each walk which maybe up to 10 miles away from the starting point, ready to pick up the group after a long day’s walk. No other groups will do this as the logistics are complicated and time consuming for the drivers.
- Isle of Wight night hike with James (24 miles)Ryde Esplanade Railway Station, Ryde
Another summer is coming, so time for another nocturnal outing – with luck moonlit for the whole night – once again on the Isle of Wight. This time exploring the eastern side of the island, rising gently at first, then more steeply over the interior chalk downland to culminate in St. Boniface Down, the highest point on the island from which there will be views far across the English Channel as the sun rises. This is followed by a final descent into the seaside resort of Shanklin just as the town is waking up, for a hearty and well-deserved breakfast.
You will definitely need to BRING A TORCH. Bear in mind this is a longer walk than usual, so not recommended for those who are new to hiking or have doubts about their ability to go the distance. Also there will be few if any opportunities to bail out during the night. Please ensure you have enough water and snacks to get you through to the morning.
NB James is the host so direct any questions to himTRAVEL
Walk start: 21:00 at Ryde Esplanade. The cheapest way to get there is via Portsmouth & Southsea and the hovercraft that completes the Solent crossing in under ten minutes. You can purchase a Super Off-Peak Return from London Waterloo to RYDE HOVERPORT that covers the entire journey for £48.50 with Network Railcard. In order to secure a spot on a particular hovercraft crossing, you will need to book at least 48 hours in advance and follow the instructions here: https://www.hovertravel.co.uk/connections/national-rail/. Another option is to book a similar journey to Ryde Pier Head via Portsmouth Harbour and the Wightlink ferry for £55.70. (In both cases you may be able to find cheaper deals if you're willing to commit to Advance Singles on specific trains.) The hike will end on Sunday morning at Shanklin, from where there are regular local trains back to Ryde (27 minutes, £3.25 with Railcard).
How to join?
- The walk is entirely free of charge;
- You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses;
- Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part);
What to bring
- Plenty of water, 1-2 litres recommended
- Enough snacks and packed lunch to keep you energized along the walk
- Extra snacks and an extra packed lunch just in case
- Rainproof (ideally waterproof) clothing, sturdy shoes/boots you don't mind getting muddy
- Spare socks
- Walking poles and/or an umbrella :-)
- Yourself...
- ...and your camera!
- Cash for train ticket
- Cash for pub at the end of the walk?
IMPORTANT
Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organized by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes.
Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is no business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader".
Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen.
By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer.
Here are our tips on staying safe during outdoor trips:
https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, INSURANCE
Although we provide detailed suggestions, each participant is expected to arrange their own travel - this gives everyone the freedom and choice. Anyone interested in travel or outdoor insurance should also arrange this on their own. As mentioned above we always take extreme precautions, but some people may still feel safer if covered.
As most of our trips are confirmed or postponed very close to the event date - heavily depending on the weather forecasts - we advise not to buy this until the last minute. People getting tickets from the same station are encouraged to meet early on the day to benefit from discounts such as GroupSave.
