FREE HIKE 27km | The Kentish Downs Garden & Woodland Trail

📈 Grade: 🥾🥾🥾 🥾Level 4/5

Set out on a scenic, tough 27 km (17 miles) history-rich adventure from the charming town of Oxted. The route leads through rolling commons, nationally protected landscapes, picturesque villages, and sweeping viewpoints. Blending woodland trails, open countryside, and panoramic ridges, it promises a rewarding day out across the Surrey Hills and the Greensand Ridge on the Kent border.

We begin in Oxted, a town full of character and history, where timber-framed buildings and Victorian façades tell stories from centuries past. From here, we cross Limpsfield Common and wander into the countryside around Westerham, passing landmarks such as Tenchleys Manor, a striking Elizabethan house dating back to 1599, and the colourful Edwardian gardens of Emmetts.

Bring your National Trust card if you’d like to explore Emmetts garden during the lunch break. (Last time, I was able to enter without needing to show my card, but this may vary.)

The trail continues past Chartwell, the much-loved home of Sir Winston Churchill, where he painted many of his landscapes. We also visit Crockham Hill, where Octavia Hill, social reformer and co-founder of the National Trust, is buried, before climbing to Toys Hill, one of the highest points on the Greensand Ridge, offering the sweeping views that helped inspire the founding of the Trust.

This isn’t just a hike, it’s a journey through a changing landscape. One moment you’re walking beneath woodland canopies alive with birdsong; the next you’re crossing open commons or pausing to take in far-reaching views across the Weald. The constant variety makes every step rewarding.

Our hike ends back in Oxted around 16:30–17:00 with the option of a celebratory pub stop before boarding the train home, a fitting close to a day well spent. 🌇 Sunset ~18:00 (bring a head torch in case the group is delayed).

🛑 IMPORTANT: THIS HIKE IS NOT SUITABLE FOR BEGINNERS.

✅ WHO CAN JOIN:

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Adults aged 21 and over
• 👶 For safety reasons, no children
• 🐾 No pets (some members have allergies or phobias)

📅 RSVP POLICY:
Please RSVP only if you can attend, and update your response if your plans change. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations could limit your ability to join future events. On the day, we will check in attendees individually to confirm attendance; anyone who does not turn up will be marked as a no-show.

🚆 TRAIN COSTS FROM LONDON:

• Super Off-Peak Return: £15.20 (or £10.10 with a Network Railcard) from London Terminals → Oxted (OTX).
• We don’t arrange group tickets (there is little cost saving on this route), but if you arrive early you may be able to team up with others who have a Railcard. Buying your own ticket gives you flexibility to return at a time that suits you. If you hike regularly, a Network Railcard costs £35/year and pays for itself within a few trips.

📍 MEETING POINT OPTION 1 - (London departure):

• 08:00 – Meet at London Victoria station ticket office
• 08:10 – Leave the meeting point and board the train
• 08:20 – Train departs London Victoria (direct to Oxted)
• 09:01 – Train arrives Oxted

📍 MEETING POINT OPTION 2 - (Join at Oxted):

• 09:01 – Regroup at Oxted station entrance (Station Road East)

🚶 WALK STARTS:

• 09:05 to 09:15 – Oxted station entrance (after check-in is completed)
• We start early to make the most of the available daylight.

🏁 WALK FINISHES:

• Approx. 16:30–17:00 – Oxted station entrance

↩️ RETURN TRAINS TO LONDON:

• 17:23 – Direct to London Victoria (arrives 18:02)
• Additional direct trains also run to London Bridge

🍔 LUNCH:

• Bring a packed lunch and snacks. We’ll stop at Emmetts tea room (café, toilets, indoor and outdoor seating) around 12 km / ~3 hours into the walk.

😌 BREAKS:

• There will be short breaks throughout the walk to allow everyone to regroup, usually at major junctions, viewpoints, and other natural pause points, so that nobody gets left behind. Bring extra snacks.

🚻 TOILETS:

• On the train before we begin walking
• Emmetts tea room at lunchtime
• “Nature facilities” during the hike as needed

👣 STAYING TOGETHER:
Stay in sight of others. If you’re in front, pause at junctions; if you’re at the back, keep someone ahead in view. We all share responsibility for staying together.

⚠️ TERRAIN, CONDITIONS AND DIFFICULTY

• Distance: 27 km (≈17 miles)
• Difficulty: MODERATE/STRENUOUS
• Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous
• Ascent/Descent: 521 m ↑ / 508 m ↓
• High/Low: 244 m / 77 m
• Average pace: 4.5–5.5 km/h — steady and brisk (fast enough to keep warm, slow enough to chat)
• Walking time: ~7 hours
• Total time incl. breaks: ~8 hours

🎒WHAT TO BRING:

• Packed lunch and snacks
• At least 2 L of water
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Layers and waterproofs
• Sun protection
• Medication and basic first aid
• Fully charged phone & battery pack
• Head torch

📞CONTACT:

• Message the event host directly via Meetup with any questions.

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⚠️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.