Hike For Charity

Easter Saturday walk ~ 17Km/11 miles

Sat, Apr 4 · 10:40 AM BST

Goring and Streatley Train Station, Goring, RG8 9EE, Goring, GB

Do this Easter Saturday walk because - its good exercise before or after you eat Easter Eggs.

(We're doing this hike with Variety is the Spice Meetup group.)

Carl R will lead the walk.

Walk facts
Distance: Approximately 17 km / 11 miles
Duration: Walking time circa 5 hours.
Grade: Moderate/difficult. We will maintain a steady pace over varied surfaces. There are quite a few hills with a total ascent of 354m.
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
This walk gives us some great views over the North Wessex Downs and Goring Gap. We’ll walk some of the popular parts of the Ridgeway National Trail and some lesser-known paths.

Our reward is a drink at the Bell at Aldworth. Famed for its beer and quirky ambience, it has been run by the same family for generations.

Meeting at
Goring & Streatley railway station. We'll be outside the station exit.
Meeting time: 10.40 am. We'll leave at 10.45 am.

TRAVEL
by train
The day starts & finishes at Goring & Streatley station.
Plan your route: TFL and The Trainline

If you're driving there is a car park at Goring & Streatley railway station.

Limited spaces will be available in a car traveling from Reading to Goring & Streatley railway station. 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 😊

Cotswold walkabout Up to 13km / 8 miles

Wed, Apr 8 · 10:30 AM BST

Location not specified yet

Do this walk because - You are welcome to join us for a walk in the Cotswolds.

We will be walking with another Meetup Group called 'Variety is the Spice' so this is a good opportunity to make new friends.

Carl R will lead the walk.

Walk facts
Form: Circular walk from Batsford Park visitor centre.
Distance: Approximately 8 km / 5 miles
Duration: actual walking time, circa 3 hours.
Hike grade: Easy with some hills. Total ascent of 225m.
What to take: A packed lunch and plenty of water.
Moreton in Marsh - BBC Weather

Also, we're not insured, so please have your own insurance for this type of activity.

Walk description
From Batsford Park we'll take the 'Monarch's Way' and 'Heart of England Way' to the village of Blockley
At one time no fewer than six silk mills, with over 500 employees, were driven by Blockley’s fast-flowing stream. The village has also been used for filming the TV series 'Father Brown'. An unusual feature of Blockley is its raised footpaths, running along the main street. At the south-western end of the High Street is Rock Cottage where the prophetess, Joanna Southcott, lived.
We'll have a walk round Blockley and have the opportunity to eat our snacks or buy refreshments before heading back to Batsford Park.

Walk start location
Batsford Park visitor centre GL56 9AT
The walk will start promptly at 10.30am.

Transport options
There will a 7 seater vehicle from Reading (return)
(Please contact Carl to reserve a seat). Pick up from Reading Central railway station at 8.30am. Please message Carl to reserve a seat.
or
Pick up from Moreton-in-Marsh railway station at 10.20am. Please message Carl to reserve a seat.
or
Make your own way to the walk start location at Batsford Park visitor centre GL56 9AT @ 10.30am.

Costs
The walk is free of charge. On this occasion we are not raising money for charity.
£5 donation towards Meetup costs for passengers in our 7 seater vehicle from Reading (return).
£2 donation towards Meetup costs for passengers from Moreton-in-Marsh (return).

The organisers provide this event for the enjoyment of the participants, not for profit.

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
On this occasion we are not raising money for charity.

The London Loop ~ Hatton Cross > Uxbridge (19 km, 12 miles)

Sat, Apr 11 · 11:30 AM BST

Hatton Cross Station, Great South West Rd, Longford, Hounslow TW6 3PF, London, GB

Do this walk because – its the 10th & 11th Section of the London Loop and 'Spring has Sprung'.

(We're doing this hike with Variety is the Spice Meetup group.)

Walk facts (Section 9)
Length: Approximately 19 km /12 miles.
Duration: actual walking time, circa 5 hours.
Walk grade: Moderate.
Weather: London - 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 10 of 24: Hatton Cross to Hayes & Harlington
London Loop section 11 of 24: Hayes & Harlington to Uxbridge

Pushed for time?
Public transport options are fairly good if you need to bail out along the way.
It is possible to shorten the walk at West Drayton after about 12 km either by taking a train from the station or a bus from the High Street.

Facilities along the route

• Pub and cafés at the A4 Bath Road crossing and Hayes.
• Toilets in the Tesco superstore just before descending to cross the canal.
• Café & toilets at the Tesco Superstore in Yiewsley.
• Toilet at Little Britain Lake in Packet Boat Lane.

Meeting at
Hatton Cross railway station. We'll be outside the station at 11.30 am. We'll start walking at 11.35 am.

TRAVEL
by train
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 😊

Bluebells and Sunday lunch 7 km / 4 miles

Sun, Apr 12 · 9:30 AM BST

Reading Railway Station, Meeting Point, Reading, GB

Do this walk because - we'll look for some bluebells & have Sunday lunch at The Packhorse, Mapledurham

Walk facts
Form: Circular walk
Distance: Approximately 7 km / 4 miles
Duration: actual walking time, circa 2 hours.
Hike grade: Easy with some hills. The walk has a total ascent of 176m.

Donation to GOSH: £5 cash on the day.

What to take: Plenty of water.
Also, we're not insured, so please have your own insurance for this type of activity.

Walk description
Our walk will take us in and around a Nature Reserve that has been described as ‘A hidden wildlife gem nestling in the Chiltern Hills, rich in wildlife that will lift your spirits whatever the season’.

Sunday Lunch
After the walk we'll go to the Packhorse.
If you wish to have lunch please let Carl know so that he can reserve a space on the table for you.
If you prefer not to have lunch you could sit inside or outside with a drink, or go for a walk in the countryside.

Walk start location
This will not be disclosed until nearer the walk date. It is intended that people will travel in a 7 seat vehicle from Reading (return). Please contact Carl to reserve a seat.
Pick up location is Reading. Central Railway station at 9.30am.

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 😊