Hike Together

• Standard Return: £22.20 (or £14.70 with Network Railcard)
• We don’t arrange group train tickets, but if you arrive early, you may be able to team up with others who have a Network Railcard. Buying your own ticket gives you the flexibility to return at a time that suits you. If you hike regularly, a Network Railcard costs £30/year and pays for itself within a few trips.
• 👉 If you’d like to arrange group tickets in advance, please use the event chat to connect with others.

🚗🅿️ BY CAR:

• Free parking may be available on nearby streets.
• Or use Tring Station car park: 1112 Station Rd, HP23 5QR (£7/day, check Saba parking).

📍 MEETING POINT OPTION 1 (if comeing from London):

• 09:00 – Meet at London Euston railway station ticket office
• 09:15 – Leave meeting point to board train
• 09:24 – Train departs
• 10:02 – Arrive at Tring
• On arrival at Tring, go up the stairs from the platform and turn left (do not cross the bridge to the main car park).

📍 MEETING POINT OPTION 2 (Meet at Tring station):

• 10:05 – Regroup outside the ticket office at Tring Station
• Please arrive early or on time. The group will not wait, and anyone not present when check-ins are completed at the scheduled walk start time will be left behind. Please ensure you manage your time and travel arrangements accordingly.

📱 There may be little or no mobile signal at the station, so calling the host might not be possible.

🚶WALK STARTS (after check-in):

• 10:10 – From the ticket office at Tring railway station

🏁 WALK FINISHES:

• 17:00 – Return to Tring Station
• 17:15 – Direct train to London (arrives 17:52)

🚻 TOILETS:

• Brownlow Café (after about 2 hours)
• Nature breaks
• Pub (after about 4 hours)

⚠️ TERRAIN, CONDITIONS AND DIFFICULTY:

• Distance: ~22 km (13.5 miles)
• Grading: EASY/MODERATE
• Ascent: 325 m | Descent: 334 m
• Elevation: 117 m – 238 m
• Hiking time: ~5 hrs | Total time: ~6.5 hrs
• Pace: ~5 km/h (about a steady sociable walking pace, think of walking purposefully but still able to chat)

🎒WHAT TO BRING:

• Packed lunch and plenty of snacks
• At least 2L water
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Layers & waterproof clothing
• Sun protection
• Daypack (optional poles)
• Any personal medication & small first aid kit
• Fully charged phone

📞CONTACT:

• Message the host via Meetup with any questions (before the day, due to limited signal).

⚠️DISCLAIMER:
By joining, you confirm you’ve read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety, and neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.

• Buy a return ticket from London Terminals to Chichester (CCH). Fare: £26.70 with a Network Railcard discount, £40.10 without discount.
• We don’t arrange group train tickets, if you arrive early, you may be able to team up with others who have a Network Railcard.
• 👉 If you’d like to arrange group tickets in advance, please use the event chat to connect with others.

📍 MEETING POINT - OPTION 1 (from London)

• A co-organiser, Adrian, will be at this meeting point.
• 08:00 – Meet at London Victoria station ticket office
• 08:15 – Leave the meeting point and board the train
• 08:35 – Train departs London Victoria to Chichester
• 10:07 – Arrive at Chichester

Please check National Rail for up-to-date train times and fares.

📍 MEETING POINT - OPTION 2 (local)

• 10:15 – Outside Chichester Railway Station entrance
• We’ll regroup here with those arriving from other locations.

🚶WALK STARTS:

• 10:30 – From Chichester Railway Station entrance

🚻 TOILETS:

• On the train before we begin walking
• “Nature facilities” during the hike

🏁 WALK FINISHES:

• Approx. 17:00 at Chichester Railway Station

🔁 RETURN TRAINS towards London:

• Example return trains from Chichester to London Victoria:
• Departs 17:09, arrives 18:45
• Departs 17:39, arrives 19:15

Please check live schedules before travel.

💰COST:

• This is a free event (the organisers do not charge a fee).
• A short ferry crossing is part of the route and costs £3 per person, payable directly to the ferryman.

⚠️ TERRAIN, CONDITIONS AND DIFFICULTY:

• Distance: Approx. 22 km (circular route)
• Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
• Total Duration: Approx. 6 hours (including breaks)
• Pace: Steady and moderate (4.5–5 km/h). Faster than a stroll, but relaxed enough for conversation and enjoying the scenery.

🎒 WHAT TO BRING:

• Packed lunch and snacks
• At least 2L of water
• Sturdy hiking boots or walking shoes
• Layers and waterproof clothing
• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen)
• Medication and basic first aid (e.g. Compeed for blisters)
• Optional walking poles
• Fully charged phone
• Camera for scenic shots
• £3 in cash for the ferryman

📞CONTACT:

• If you have any questions, please message the event host directly via Meetup.

❗DISCLAIMER:

• By joining this event, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted the Disclaimer and General Group Policy listed on our Meetup home page. You attend this walk at your own risk.

...
We look forward to seeing you there! 🥾🌳🌞

• Distance: 31 km (19.3 miles)
• Elevation gain: Ascent: 783 m | Descent: 792 m
• Maximum elevation: 215 m | Minimum elevation 0 m
• Terrain: A mix of gravel tracks, open chalk downland, grassy slopes, farm paths, muddy fields, and occasional wooded sections.
• Difficulty: STRENUOUS - This is a long-distance hike with undulating hills, some very steep sections, and open plains.
• Average moving pace: ~4.2 km/h (brisk on easy flat sections)
• Approx walking time: 7.5 to 8 hours
• Approx total duration: 9 hours including breaks
• Participants must be confident in their ability to walk distances of up to 35 km, accounting for potential route diversions. These may include re-routing to avoid livestock, navigating around flooded low-lying sections, and undertaking steep ascents.
• Fitness Gauge: If you’ve completed the Surrey Three Peaks Challenge (around 37–40 km with 1,000+ m of ascent), you’ll find this Lewes–Eastbourne hike slightly shorter but with less total climbing. However, the exposed South Downs ridges (little or no tree cover, exposed to the elements) and a steady pace (average ~4.2 km/h over the full day) could make it feel just as demanding. If Surrey 3 Peaks left you struggling to keep pace, this route may do too.

🥾 The journey kicks off with a steady climb over the Lewes Downs, where the horizon suddenly opens to sweeping views across the Ouse Valley. It serves as a gentle reminder that this is only the warm-up. You then drop into the quiet charm of Glynde, just long enough to wonder if you should quit while you’re ahead.

From there, the trail rises again over Mount Caburn and onward to Firle Beacon, one of the crown jewels of the Downs. This is where the world feels huge, the air feels cleaner, and the breeze hits like nature’s own round of applause. It is also where you might swear you have reached the top three times before you actually have.

A gentle descent leads into the postcard-perfect village of Alfriston, before the path pulls you back onto higher ground towards Jevington. One final push takes you over Willingdon Hill, where the reward is a glorious downhill roll into Eastbourne with the sea shimmering ahead. It is a finish line you can see long before you reach it, just to taunt you a little.

As we enter Eastbourne, we will head straight to the station, where you can choose to hop on the train home, grab a pint, or wander down to the seafront and let your legs know they have earned it.

.....
✅ Who Can Attend
This is a very small group for fit and fast hikers. To ensure fairness and group safety, we will not admit individuals to the event if they:

• Have a history of no-shows or frequent last-minute cancellations
• Are unfamiliar to the organisers
• Do not appear to meet the required fitness level

How to Join
Please sign up via the waitlist. We will review all requests and manually add approved participants to the event.

• If approved: ✅ You’ll be moved from the waitlist to the going list.
• If not approved: ❌ You’ll remain on the waitlist or be marked as not going.

Thank you for your understanding.
.....

🛑 IMPORTANT: THIS HIKE IS STRENUOUS AND NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS OR SLOW WALKERS. PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR FITNESS LEVEL BEFORE JOINING TO AVOID FALLING BEHIND.

🚑🚕 EXIT POINTS:
If someone becomes injured or is unable to keep up and complete the route, the following locations are suitable exit points where you can get a taxi to the nearest train station: Glynde, Alfriston, Jevington.

🚆 TRAIN COSTS FROM LONDON:

• Standard Return: £29.20 from London Victoria to Eastbourne with a NetworkRailcard discount.

📍MEETING POINT:

• 08:15 – Meet at London Victoria railway station, ticket office
• 08:35 – Walk to platform and board train
• 08:47 – Train departs London Victoria
• 10:08 – Arrive at Lewes

🚶WALK STARTS:

• Meeting point to be confirmed closer to the time.

🥪 FOOD:

• Bring a packed lunch and plenty of snacks and water

🚻 TOILETS:

• Facilities en route are courtesy of Mother Nature, choose your bush wisely and watch for nettles! 🌿

🏁 WALK FINISHES:

• Approx. 19:00 at Eastbourne railway station

🔁 RETURN TRAINS towards London:

• 19:05 – Departs Eastbourne, arrives London Victoria at 20:36

🎒WHAT TO BRING:

• Packed lunch & snacks
• At least 2 litres of water
• Sturdy hiking boots (comfortable for long distances)
• Layered clothing & waterproof jacket
• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
• Basic first aid (blister plasters, pain relief)
• Personal medication
• Optional: walking poles
• Fully charged phone

📞CONTACT:

• If you have any questions, please private message the event host directly via Meetup.
• A contact phone number will be provided on the day.

❗DISCLAIMER:
By joining this event, you confirm that you have read, understood, and accepted the Disclaimer and General Group Policy listed on our Meetup home page. You attend this walk at your own risk.

• 🚆 Direct train from: London Victoria ( 1hr 10minutes)
  🚆 Direct train from Brighton (20 minutes)
  🚆 Direct train from Eastbourne (20 minutes)
• Check National Rail for train times and prices

MEETING POINT & TIME:

• Walk begins: 10:30 from the main entrance to Lewes railway station
• Walk finishes: Falmer Station approx. 16:00-17:00

DISTANCE AND DIFFICULTY

• Total distance: approx 17 km (10 miles)
• Ascent: 366 m
• Max elevation: 199 m | Min elevation: 3 m
• Grading: EASY/MODERATE
• Time: Approx. 5 hours (with breaks)
• Pace: 4–5 km/h (~3 mph)

GUIDE:

• See attendee list

WHAT TO BRING:

• Water (2 litres recommended)
• Snacks and packed lunch
• Rainproof (ideally waterproof) clothing
• Sturdy shoes or hiking boots

⚠️ SAFETY :

• Take extra care on rougher sections, especially during or after rain, and be mindful of livestock in active farmland. Sturdy, appropriate footwear is essential.
• As adults, you are fully responsible for your own safety and decisions throughout the walk.

NOTES:

• This is a group hike led by volunteers. Everyone is welcome to join.
• A few wrong turns in the woods? 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.
• The steepest ascents are between Westdean and Beachy Head.
• Food options are limited en route, bring lunch.
• Be prepared for strong coastal winds and sudden changes in weather. Check forecasts in advance.

✅ Who Can Join
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Adults aged 21 and over are welcome to join our hikes.
👶 We do not allow children on our hikes.
🐾 No pets are permitted, including dogs. Why? For the safety, comfort, and enjoyment of all participants, dogs are not permitted on group hikes. Large group walks can include individuals with allergies, phobias, or discomfort around dogs, and even well-trained dogs may cause anxiety, disruption, or safety risks on narrow or uneven trails. Dogs can also pose challenges when encountering livestock, wildlife, or other trail users. To ensure our hikes remain inclusive, safe, and manageable for everyone, we maintain a strict no-dog policy on all group hikes. Members who choose to disregard this rule will not be welcome to join our large group hikes.

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.

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.

Final Acknowledgement
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.