Hikes to Remember

This circular hike starts from Wendover, a market town at the foot of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in Buckinghamshire.

As we walk across the beautiful countryside, we reach the summit of Coombe Hill at 260m, which provides panoramic views of Aylesbury Vale. In the distance, you will see a section of the Chiltern Escarpment from Wendover Woods to Aston Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon, a prominent viewpoint at 233m.

The Coombe Hill Monument (the Boer War Memorial) at the summit of Coombe Hill is an iconic landmark and one of the largest examples of a war memorial. It was built in 1904 to commemorate those who died during the war in South Africa (1899-1902).

The hike continues through the surrounding hills and forest to Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat. There is a farm shop here where we can rest for a bit if required (and if it's open). We then continue onwards through the forest to reach Wendover station and complete the loop.

Cost: £4 organiser fee payable on RSVP

Start time: 9:00am

Start location: Wendover station, Station Approach, Buckinghamshire HP22 6BN (my mobile: 07951673142)

End location: Wendover station

Length: 14km

Ascent: 390m

Time: approx 6 hrs. It’s not possible to guarantee what time we'll finish as it depends on the weather, pace of the group and our breaks along the way.

Pace & Difficulty: a reasonable moderate pace; we will not be zooming along in a mad rush. The aim is to enjoy the outdoors and have a fun, friendly day. You need to be reasonably fit; we will cross some hills and there is a moderate level of ascent.

Transport (train): The 7:34am train from London Marylebone reaches Wendover station at 8:58am (with one change at Amersham). The journey takes 1hr 24min. Check the trains before travel. There are trains every 1hr for the return journey later in the day from Wendover to London Marylebone.
As of 22 February 2026, an Off Peak Day Return costs £10.60.
Please do your own research.
You can reduce the train cost by one third with a Network Railcard, where applicable.
You could also coordinate with other participants and buy a group saver ticket.

Transport (car): If you're driving, there is free parking on the side streets close to the station (not the main road). Check the signs.

Transport (car share): I'll be driving from Ealing, West London and have space for 3 passengers. Contact me directly if you'd like to car share.

What to bring:
Check the weather and bring appropriate gear. A comfortable backpack, waterproof jacket, sufficient food, snacks, and water along with suitable socks and footwear (waterproof hiking boots) are some essentials. Walkways and trails can be steep, muddy, and slippery and boots with ankle support will be useful, as well as hiking poles. Gaitors are handy when its muddy and wet. Carrying waterproof socks in your backpack is a good idea in case your boots get wet from the inside. Don't wear inappropriate clothing such as jeans and sneakers. Remember to carry any medication you may require. If it’s sunny, don’t forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen!

Cost: £4 organiser fee payable on RSVP
(Meetup charges me to maintain this group!)

Transport and cost (train):
The 7:45am direct train from London Charing Cross reaches Frant station at 8:45am. The journey takes 1hr. There are trains every 1hr for the return journey later in the day from Frant to London Charing Cross.
The cost for a return is £15.89 (2 Advance singles) as of 22 February 2026.
Please do your own research.
You can reduce the train cost by one third with a Network Railcard, where applicable.
You could also coordinate with other participants and buy a group saver ticket.

Hike description:
We commence the hike from the village of Frant which is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty in East Sussex. We'll hike through the High Weald National Landscape, passing woods, forests and lakes.

Explore Eridge Rocks - the sandstone rocks at this reserve are a distinctive feature of the High Weald , stretching for over 800m and reaching 10m high. Surrounding the rock is a semi-natural ancient woodland. The rocks are a popular location for climbing and bouldering.

Start time: 8:50am

Start location: Frant station (my mobile: 07951673142)

End location: Frant station

Length: 17km

Ascent: 325m

Time: approx 7-8hrs. It’s not possible to guarantee what time we'll finish as it depends on the weather, pace of the group and our breaks along the way.

Pace & Difficulty: a reasonable moderate pace; we will not be zooming along in a mad rush. The aim is to enjoy the outdoors and have a fun, friendly day. You need to be reasonably fit as there are some ascents along the way but nothing overly strenuous.

What to bring:
Check the weather and bring appropriate gear. A comfortable backpack, waterproof jacket, sufficient food, snacks, and water along with suitable socks and footwear (waterproof hiking boots) are some essentials. Walkways and trails can be steep, muddy, and slippery and boots with ankle support will be useful, as well as hiking poles. Gaitors are handy when its muddy and wet. Carrying waterproof socks in your backpack is a good idea in case your boots get wet from the inside. Don't wear inappropriate clothing such as jeans and sneakers. Remember to carry any medication you may require. If it’s sunny, don’t forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen!

This is part of my series of leisurely London walks aimed at exploring and getting to know the city better. They are largely flat, easier, and shorter in length than my countryside hikes.

We start from Paddington and walk through Little Venice, an affluent residential district in West London which forms the meeting point of the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal and the Regent's Canal, and the entrance to the Paddington Basin.

Boat watching or ‘gongoozling’ in Little Venice has always been popular….try some ‘gongoozling’ yourself as we walk along the picturesque canal that is home to quirky waterside cafes, cosy pubs and charming restaurants! A fascinating mix of historic and modern buildings makes the area a perfect backdrop for movies - Bourne 5 and Mission Impossible were filmed around here.

Regent’s Canal offers an oasis of calm in the middle of central London’s hustle and bustle. Feel the difference – leave the streets behind and get onto the canal towpath! It’s like stepping into a hidden world!! The grand mansions along the canal provide a stunning backdrop. We'll explore Regent’s Park with its Boating Lake and Primrose Hill, which provides spectacular views of the London skyline. It is one of London’s protected viewpoints, with the trees kept low so as not to obscure the view.

Once we reach Camden Town, you’ll be greeted by the quirky shops and stalls of Camden Market, the largest market in London and one of the capital’s top attractions – it is a veritable melting pot of eclectic experiences, food, fashion and music.

The walk ends at Camden Lock Market - feel free to explore the market on your own and the numerous food options.

Cost: Free

Start time: 10:30am

Start location/meeting point: Zizzi restaurant - Paddington Central. 17 Sheldon Square, W2 6EP. If coming from Paddington station, look out for signs to the Grand Union Canal exit. Please take the correct exit and give yourself plenty of time to locate the meeting point, which is outside the restaurant and next to the water at Paddington Basin. My mobile: 07951673142

End location: Camden Lock Market (Camden Town tube station is a few minutes by foot)

Length: 8.5km

Ascent: approx 55m

Time: approx 3 hrs. It’s not possible to guarantee an exact end time as it depends on the weather, pace of the group, and our breaks along the way.

Pace & Difficulty: a relaxed and leisurely pace - we will not be zooming along in a mad rush. The aim is to enjoy being outdoors and have a fun, friendly walk. This is an easy walk, largely flat (with a slight ascent to get to the summit of Primrose Hill) and suitable for beginners.

Transport: The walk is in London and accessible by rail and tube. Paddington station has overground and underground links (check the status of the train/tube before travel). Camden Town tube station is on the Northern line.

What to bring:
Check the weather and bring appropriate gear. Walkways and trails can be muddy and slippery. A comfortable backpack, waterproof jacket, sufficient food, snacks, and water along with suitable socks and footwear (sturdy shoes with good grip/waterproof hiking boots) are some essentials. Remember to carry any medication you may require. If it’s sunny, don’t forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen!

This stunning walk starts inland from South Downs National Park to the dramatic chalk sea cliffs of the coast.

The Long Man of Wilmington is a 235ft high chalk figure of a man holding two sticks. This mysterious giant guardian of the South Downs has baffled archaeologists and historians for hundreds of years – no one really knows who or why he was carved out of the earth. He continues to remain shrouded in myths and folklore and is one of Sussex's greatest mysteries.

The Long Man is Europe’s largest portrayal of the human form and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. It used to be visible only under certain light conditions in the past, until its outline was marked with concrete blocks to make it clearly visible from a distance. During the Second World War, it was painted green to avoid being used as a landmark by enemy aircraft.

Finally we reach Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain at 162m from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the awesome coastline…. we descend from here to the seafront at Eastbourne admiring the picturesque scenery along the way.

Cost: £4 organiser fee payable on RSVP

Start time: 9:30am

Start location: Berwick (Sussex) station BN26 6TB. My mobile: 07951673142

End location: The seafront at Eastbourne

Length: 22km

Ascent: 468m

Time: approx 8-9hrs. It’s not possible to guarantee what time we'll finish as it depends on the weather, pace of the group and our breaks along the way. Please be prepared to dedicate the entire day as the return time cannot be guaranteed.

Pace/Difficulty: reasonable and moderate pace; we will not zoom along in a mad rush. There will be breaks. The aim is to enjoy nature and have a fun, friendly day. This is a long hike across hills with a moderate level of ascent and it may not be suitable for absolute beginners.

Transport (train): The 7:54am train from London Victoria reaches Berwick (Sussex) station at 9:25am (with one change at Lewes). The journey takes 1hr 31min. An Advance Single cost £8 as of 22 February 2026.

There are regular trains for the return journey from Eastbourne to London Victoria. The journey takes 1hr 33min. An Advance Single cost £8 as of 22 February 2026.

Check the trains before travel. Please do your own research.
You can reduce the train cost by one third with a Network Railcard, where applicable.
You could also coordinate with other participants and buy a group saver ticket.

What to bring:
Check the weather and bring appropriate gear. A comfortable backpack, waterproof jacket, sufficient food, snacks, and water along with suitable socks and footwear (waterproof hiking boots) are some essentials. Walkways and trails can be steep, muddy, and slippery and boots with ankle support will be useful, as well as hiking poles. Gaitors are handy when its muddy and wet. Carrying waterproof socks in your backpack is a good idea in case your boots get wet from the inside. Don't wear inappropriate clothing such as jeans and sneakers. Remember to carry any medication you may require. If it’s sunny, don’t forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen!