What we’re about
This is a group for anyone interested in meeting like-minded people and socialising by participating in hiking adventures. All skill levels are welcome. We started this group in 2018 to help people get connected, travel together and explore amazing natural wonders.
With us you get to:
🚌 Discover destinations that are not easily reached by public transport. London Social Hiking is the ONLY hiking group that holds the licence to operate minibuses. All our experiences are unique!
🗺️ Be part of a small group (max 15 people). A lot of you guys agree that small-group tours offer a more rewarding experience, more flexible itineraries and better opportunities to connect with fellow hikers and nature.
🥾 All trips are led by qualified and knowledgeable Mountain Leaders and Lowland Leaders.
💰 London Social Hiking is a not-for-profit group, therefore you get an amazing value too! The price of the hikes covers the running costs of the group and is significantly lower than what a commercial operator would charge for similar trips.
Upcoming events
7
- £78.00
🧙 (Halloween Special) Hiking Glastonbury: The Land of Myths, Magic & Holy Grail
Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR, London, GB#################
Come and join us for a special day in Glastonbury! We'll enjoy some easy hiking while exploring the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was later adopted by Christians and became Halloween.
The Samhain procession attracts many visitors to Glastonbury, featuring drummers, dancers, and a parade led by two huge dragons – one red and one white! Samhain is a very important date in the Pagan calendar, marking the division of the year between the lighter half (summer) and the darker half (winter). Pagans believed that during Samhain, the veil between this world and the otherworld was at its thinnest, allowing spirits to pass through.
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Come and join us on a special trip to Glastonbury, possibly the quirkiest town in England, and home to the famous Glastonbury Music Festival! This city is at fascinating crossroads of various religions and spiritualities, from Christianity and paganism, to Druidism and witchcraft, and is unusually rich in legends and mythology. Glastonbury Tor, which we're going to climb, took centre stage in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, celebrating the ‘idyllic, mythical England’.
Our 4-mile route will follow the Glastonbury Way around the town and its beautiful surroundings, taking in the most significant places. After the hike, you'll have free time to explore Glastonbury's weird and wonderful shops – here you can buy crystals (and learn about their healing properties), tarot cards, jewellery, lotions, potions, incense, herbs and even wizard hats and magic wands! 🌟🔮🃏 There are also over 50 spectacular street art works (murals) decorating the city centre, which you'll be able to find by following the interactive Glastonbury Mural Trail map.
ITINERARY
07:45 Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station)
08:00 Sharp departure
11:15-14:00 Hike to Glastonbury Tor, 2000-year-old oak trees of Gog and Magog and the White Spring
14:00-15:00 Free time for lunch and to explore Glastonbury's quirky shops
15:00 Border Morris (energetic English folk dance) at the Market Cross
16:00 Procession starts. The Glastonbury Red and White Dragons joined by Dragon Drummers will process down Glastonbury High Street to the Market Cross, where the Glastonbury Dragons will ‘battle for the season’. The winning Glastonbury Dragon will be crowned by the Mayor of Glastonbury.
17:00 Departure
20:00 London, HammersmithDISTANCE & DIFFICULTY
Distance: 4 miles (7km).
Ascent: 220m.
Difficulty: Easy.LEGENDS OF GLASTONBURY
There are many legends surrounding Glastonbury. Below are the most famous ones.
Jesus and Joseph of Arimathea
Jesus is said to have come to Glastonbury as a boy, travelling here with his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph was a tin merchant and had travelled to England's south west for this valuable metal. After the crucifixion of Jesus, Joseph travelled to Britain with the Holy Grail (the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper), which he buried under Glastonbury Tor.
The Holy Thorn
Joseph is said to have arrived in Glastonbury by boat over the flooded Somerset Levels. On arriving, he climbed up Wearyall Hill (a 15-minute walk from Glastonbury centre). Exhausted, he thrust his staff into the ground and rested. By morning his staff had taken root and grown into a miraculous thorn tree, known as the Holy Thorn. A flowering sprig of the Holy Thorn is cut every year and presented to the monarch, where it resides on his Christmas Day breakfast table.
The Isle of Avalon and King Arthur
For many people, Glastonbury represents the Isle of Avalon, the mythical island of Celtic tradition, believed to be a gateway to the underworld. Glastonbury is said to be the final resting place of the legendary King Arthur.
TRANSPORT
As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.
SAFETY
This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader.
BOOKING
As we have 2 groups on Meetup, to confirm your place, please head to our main group. RSVP to the event you're interested in and complete the payment. Here is the link:
https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/
You're welcome to show interest and RSVP here too, however, to keep all the confirmed participants in one place/group, please follow the instructions above.
THE PRICE OF £78 INCLUDES
- Transport throughout the trip
- Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver
- Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader
- Professional event organisation
- Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
- Admin fee
- 20% VAT
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
- Food
HOW TO CONTACT US
For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at info@lshiking.co.uk We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours.
Your guide will be Anna (07596844467, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip.
WHAT TO BRING
- Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
- Sunscreen (if sunny)
- Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers (if there is a chance of rain)
- Water (min 1L)
- Packed lunch (optional)
- Walking poles (optional)
REVIEWS ⭐
We have hosted over 500 events on Meetup, you have left us a huge number of positive reviews! We’re very proud to have achieved 4.8 out of 5 average event rating. Please keep sharing your feedback to help us make trips even better!
JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next!
Facebook group link and Instagram
REFUND POLICY
You can check our refund policy here.
17 attendees - £78.00
🐚 (Beginners) Hiking the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR, London, GB#################
The number of places on this trip is strictly limited to 15 (passenger seats in the minibus).
As we have 2 groups on Meetup, to confirm your place, please head to our main group. RSVP to the event you're interested in and complete the payment. Here is the link:
https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/
You're welcome to show interest and RSVP here too, however, to keep all the confirmed participants in one place/group, please follow the instructions above.
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Join us for a very special trip as we head to Dorset to discover the dramatic and famous Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage coastline! Stretching 95 miles between Old Harry Rocks and Orcombe Point, the Jurassic Coast – England’s first Natural UNESCO World Heritage Site – is the most geologically diverse coastline in the world. The exposed cliff sections allow us to look back across 185 million years; dinosaur remains have been found here, and it’s a fossil-hunter’s paradise.
On this magnificent coastal hike, we'll visit the iconic natural limestone arch of Durdle Door and the famous scallop-shaped Lulworth Cove with its white pebble beach and crystal clear waters. On our way, we'll see many lovely bays and beaches and enjoy excellent views of the Isle of Portland, which was host of the sailing events of the 2012 Olympics. Most of the route follows the cliff-top trail, with stunning panoramic views of sweeping bays, folded cliffs and the sea. There will be a few steep ascents and descents, but all of your efforts will be well rewarded by the jaw-dropping beauty around you!
We have kept the distance shorter (5 miles / 8 kilometres) to have the difficulty of this trail on the Easy/Moderate border. We'll walk at a slower pace and take many breaks on the uphill sections, as needed. This trip is therefore suitable for all reasonably fit BEGINNERS – a great way to experience hiking before joining our more difficult hikes! 🤩
DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY
Distance: 5 miles (8km).
Ascent: 350m.
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate.ITINERARY
07:45 Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station)
08:00 Sharp departure
11:15-14:30 Hike along the Jurassic Coast from Ringstead Bay to Durdle Door, Man O'War Beach and the chalk headland of Bat's Head; free time on Durdle Door Beach
14:30-15:00 Walk from Durdle Door to Lulworth Cove
15:00-16:10 Free time to explore Lulworth village; (if there is time) short walks to Stair Hole (small cove with extravagantly-folded strata) and Lulworth Cove viewpoint
16:15 Departure
19:00 London, HammersmithTRANSPORT
As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.
SAFETY
This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader.
BOOKING
As we have 2 groups on Meetup, to confirm your place, please head to our main group. RSVP to the event you're interested in and complete the payment. Here is the link:
https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/
You're welcome to show interest and RSVP here too, however, to keep all the confirmed participants in one place/group, please follow the instructions above.
THE PRICE OF £78 INCLUDES
- Transport throughout the trip
- Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver
- Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader
- Professional event organisation
- Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
- Admin fee
- 20% VAT
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
- Food
HOW TO CONTACT US
For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at info@lshiking.co.uk We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours.
Your guide will be Anna (07596844467, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip.
WHAT TO BRING
- Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
- Sunscreen (if sunny)
- Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers (if there is a chance of rain)
- Packed lunch
- Water (min 1L)
- Walking poles (optional)
REVIEWS ⭐
We have hosted over 500 events on Meetup, you have left us a huge number of positive reviews! We’re very proud to have achieved 4.8 out of 5 average event rating. Please keep sharing your feedback to help us make trips even better!
JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next!
Facebook group link and Instagram
REFUND POLICY
You can check our refund policy here.
13 attendees - £78.00
🗿 (Halloween Special) Hiking Avebury UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR, London, GB#################
Join us on one of the UK's spookiest walks to get into the Halloween spirit! 🎃👻🍁 The ancient sites have one of the highest rates of paranormal reports, among the top 10, with 390 recorded sightings. Close by is the Red Lion pub, where you can warm up after the hike with a pint, but be warned: the pub is said to be home to at least four ghosts!
📸 Avebury featured on one of the first episodes of the Most Haunted TV show, check it out!
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2blg31#################
Travel back in time with us 6,000 years! This weekend we're off to Avebury UNESCO World Heritage Site to hike one of the greatest surviving concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in Western Europe! Listed together with Stonehenge as a single UNESCO World Heritage Site, Avebury presents a much more intimate experience compared to Stonehenge as you can see the stones up close and actually touch them, and it's completely free! Avebury stone circle is older and far, far larger than Stonehenge!
On this hike, we'll pass the world-famous Avebury stone circle – the world’s largest known stone ring, the West Kennet Avenue of standing stones, the West Kennet Long Barrow – one of the most impressive and longest in the British Isles burial mounds, and mysterious Silbury Hill – the largest man-made prehistoric mound in Europe. Most of our route will follow the ancient Ridgeway trail, often described as Britain’s oldest road, having been used by travellers, armies and herdsmen for nearly 5,000 years.
This trip is suitable for BEGINNERS – a great way to experience hiking before joining our more difficult hikes! 🤩
HIKE HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit the world-famous Avebury stone circle – the world’s largest known stone ring and (fun fact!) the only stone ring in the world to contain a pub inside it! Built around 2,600 BC, the stone circle measures 330 metres across and is 16 times larger than Stonehenge.
- Walk along the West Kennet Avenue – a ceremonial avenue of standing stones, nowadays about 800 metres long, that used to connect the stone circle at Avebury to the Sanctuary.
- See Silbury Hill – the largest man-made prehistoric mound in Europe, at around 37 metres in height, 30 metres in width across its top and about 500 metres around its base. It was built around 2,400 BC.
- Discover West Kennet Long Barrow. Built around 3,650 BC, it is one of the largest and most impressive Neolithic chambers in Britain.
- Have a drink at the Red Lion pub - one of the most haunted pubs in Britain!
- Enjoy fantastic panoramic views from the high grounds of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
- Hike along the Ridgeway National Trail, following Britain's oldest road.
DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY
Distance: 10 miles (16km).
Ascent: 160m.
Difficulty: Easy.ITINERARY
07:45 Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station)
08:00 Sharp departure
10:00-16:00 Hike from Barbury Castle Iron Age hill fort to Avebury stone circle
16:00-16:45 Drinks and refreshments inside Avebury stone circle, at the Red Lion pub (one of most haunted pubs in Britain!)
16:45 Departure
19:00 London, HammersmithTRANSPORT
As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.
FOOD
We'll stop for a snack lunch halfway through the hike. Please bring a packed lunch with you.
SAFETY
This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader.
BOOKING
As we have 2 groups on Meetup, to confirm your place, please head to our main group. RSVP to the event you're interested in and complete the payment. Here is the link:
https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/
You're welcome to show interest and RSVP here too, however, to keep all the confirmed participants in one place/group, please follow the instructions above.
THE PRICE OF £78 INCLUDES
- Transport throughout the trip
- Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver
- Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader
- Professional event organisation
- Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
- Admin fee
- 20% VAT
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
- Food
HOW TO CONTACT US
For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at info@lshiking.co.uk We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours.
Your guide will be Anna (07596844467, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip.
WHAT TO BRING
- Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
- Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers (if there is a chance of rain)
- Packed lunch
- Water (min 1L)
- Walking poles (optional)
- Gaiters (optional)
REVIEWS ⭐
We have hosted over 500 events on Meetup, you have left us a huge number of positive reviews! We’re very proud to have achieved 4.8 out of 5 average event rating. Please keep sharing your feedback to help us make trips even better!
JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next!
Facebook group link and Instagram
REFUND POLICY
You can check our refund policy here.
12 attendees - £78.00
⛵ Hiking the Isle of Portland & Sunset by the Sea
Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR, London, GB#################
The number of places on this trip is strictly limited to 15 (passenger seats in the minibus).
As we have 2 groups on Meetup, to confirm your place, please head to our main group. RSVP to the event you're interested in and complete the payment. Here is the link:
https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/
You're welcome to show interest and RSVP here too, however, to keep all the confirmed participants in one place/group, please follow the instructions above.
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London Social Hiking is off to discover the Isle of Portland, the southernmost point of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site and the venue for sailing events during the 2012 Olympics!
The Isle of Portland is 6 kilometres long by 3 kilometres wide and is connected to the mainland by the breath-taking sweep of the shingle ridge of Chesil Beach. On this walk, we'll explore dramatic, rugged limestone cliffs and hidden coves, and enjoy stunning coastal views and landscapes shaped by centuries of military activity, farming, fishing and quarrying. Did you know that the world-famous Portland stone has been quarried here since Roman times, and many famous buildings – including St Paul's Cathedral, the British Museum, Tower Bridge and the United Nations headquarters in New York – were built using it?
The hike will finish at the fishing village of Chiswell, where we'll enjoy well-deserved drinks and refreshments next to Chesil Beach – one of the best sunset locations in Dorset (sunset at 16:44)! 🌅
HIKE HIGHLIGHTS
- Breath-taking clifftop views along Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon
- Small secluded beach at Church Ope Cove
- Pulpit Rock and Portland Bill Lighthouse
- Dramatic views to the cliffs of Purbeck and Portland Harbour
- The ‘Spirit of Portland’ sculpture which depicts a fisherman and a quarryman to represent the two main industries of the Isle
- Tout Quarry Sculpture Park – a former quarry that is now home to over 60 sculptures, carved from Portland stone
- The Olympic Rings sculpture, created to celebrate the 2012 Olympics, in which Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy hosted the sailing events
DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY
Distance: 9 miles (15km).
Ascent: 290m.
Difficulty: Easy.ITINERARY
07:45 Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station)
08:00 Sharp departure
11:30-16:45 Isle of Portland circuit walk
16:45-17:15 Drinks and refreshments by the sea (sunset at 16:44)
17:15 Departure
20:00 London, HammersmithTRANSPORT
As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus.
BOOKING
As we have 2 groups on Meetup, to confirm your place, please head to our main group. RSVP to the event you're interested in and complete the payment. Here is the link:
https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/
You're welcome to show interest and RSVP here too, however, to keep all the confirmed participants in one place/group, please follow the instructions above.
THE PRICE OF £78 INCLUDES
- Transport throughout the trip
- Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver
- Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader
- Professional event organisation
- Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders
- Admin fee
- 20% VAT
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance)
HOW TO CONTACT US
For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at info@lshiking.co.uk We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours.
Your guide will be Anna (07596844467, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip.
WHAT TO BRING
- Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support
- Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers (if there is a chance of rain)
- Packed lunch
- Water (min 1L)
- Walking poles (optional)
- Gaiters (optional)
REVIEWS ⭐
We have hosted over 500 events on Meetup, you have left us a huge number of positive reviews! We’re very proud to have achieved 4.8 out of 5 average event rating. Please keep sharing your feedback to help us make trips even better!
JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next!
Facebook group link and Instagram
REFUND POLICY
You can check our refund policy here.
7 attendees
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