Day Trips

A quick intro Join us on Wednesday 3rd June for a gentle and scenic 13.3 km (\~8.3 mile) loop walk from the quiet village of Shipbourne, starting beside the historic St Giles Church and green. This relaxed route explores a peaceful stretch of the Kent countryside, meandering through open farmland, hedgerow paths and woodland edges. It’s almost entirely flat and perfect for a calm, social-paced midweek hike. Highlights: Starts at the historic St Giles Church Easy-going paths through picturesque rural Kent Great for relaxed walking, chats and connecting with nature Schedule Date: 3 June 2026 Meet and Start Time: 10:00 meet for 10:15 am start Walking time: 3-4 hrs (incl. lunch break) Walk Leader: Rachel Stockey Location Meeting point: Car Park on Upper Green Road, Shipbourne what3words: ///means.cable.work Car Parking: Charges not included Route Terrain: Flat (minimal elevation change) Distance: Approximately 13.3 km (8.2 miles) Difficulty: Easy Elevation Gain/Loss: Minimal (flat terrain) Walk Type: Circular Your kit list Suitable footwear (preferably walking boots or sturdy shoes, no flip-flops) A waterproof coat (and waterproof trousers, if you have them) for rainy days Drinking water and a packed lunch Personal medication (Let us know confidentially about any medical conditions) Suitable walking attire Important Notes We welcome friendly dogs on our walks, provided they remain on a lead at all times. The owner is fully responsible for their dog throughout the walk. We take photos during our walks for promotional and training purposes. If you prefer not to be included, just let us know on the day. Cancellation policy states: Full payment becomes due if a user cancels within 4 days of the activity. Any person cancelling outside of 4 days, will receive a credit available to use within 90 days. Cancel at least 4 days before the event to receive a credit note for a future walk, valid for 90 days.

Our classic pub crawl! You will meet your pub crawl buddies at Liverpool Street Station (meet at the Pin!) before making your way to these pubs. Make sure to show our meeting point photo so that you can find all members! Start at: Hamilton Hall: Liverpool St, London EC2M 7PY (Closes at 11.30pm) Next stop Dirty Dicks: 202 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4NR (Closes at 12am) End your night at Commercial Tavern: 142 Commercial St, London E1 6NU (Closes at 1am)

Join us for our weekly Fems and Thems Climbing Social, a welcoming space for women and non-binary climbers to connect, climb, and have fun! Whether you're new to climbing or a seasoned pro, this social is all about building a supportive community and celebrating our shared love for the sport. This is a relaxed, no-pressure environment designed to help you enjoy climbing while meeting like-minded people. Open to all women and non-binary folks aged 18 and over. Cost: £16 regular peak time entry at Bethwall Climbing centre (£2 registration fee might apply) + £4 rental shoes (chalk is provided Come solo or bring a friend – everyone is welcome! Let’s climb, chat, and share some good vibes. We can’t wait to see you there! For any questions or accessibility inquiries, feel free to contact us in advance.

I strongly suspect this recurring event no longer takes place, but I have never received any information about it since I first heard years ago and have never had any enquiry. ======= Blow the cobwebs away and get active at lunch time with a bike ride around Central Park to perk you up for your afternoon's work. Aimed at workers in the area, but all welcome. It may be possible to borrow a bike, by prior arrangement. Contact Nick [dot] Davies [at] lbbd [dot] gov [dot] uk.

VANDOME CYCLES is resuming social cycling (learn to ride and rider development) at Jim Peters Stadium, Mayesbrook Park RM8 2BB every Wednesday from 2 September 2020 at 4pm. For more information and to make a booking email : info@vandomecycles.co.uk

**Meeting Point:** Outside Wimbledon Chase Station at 10:30 am and start at 10:45 am sharp! **Difficulty:** Moderate - medium paced hike **Distance:** 14 to 16 miles **Elevation Gain:** approx., 450 m **Transport:** Wimbledon Chase Station is accessible via train services. If driving, you can park in nearby streets or car parks around Wimbledon Chase Station. Please make sure to reach early to find parking. **Description:** We will explore the scenic beauty of Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park during this hike in London. Starting from Wimbledon Chase Station, the route takes through iconic landmarks such as Wimbledon Windmill Museum, Queensmere, Treebox Wood, Pen Ponds, and the vibrant Isabella Plantation. The trail offers stunning landscapes and opportunities to observe local wildlife, including birds and deer. Expect mixed terrain, with forest paths, grassy trails, and sections that cross a golf course and busy roads. We will go to a pub close to the station and socialise after the hike. **What to Bring:** * Comfortable hiking shoes or boots * Weather-appropriate clothing * Water (recommend 2 liters) * Snacks and lunch * A good positive spirit (preferably the kind that laughs when there are any uphill sections) **Important Notes:** * Ensure you are physically prepared. * Be mindful of busy road crossings and golf course sections. * Respect fellow walkers, wildlife, and other natural surroundings. **Additional Notes:** * RSVP to secure your spot. * Update your RSVP if your plans change so others can join. * **Rules:** Please make sure to read the about us section of the group before joining - https://www.meetup.com/free-hiking-outdoor-fitness-and-social-activities * **Stay Together**: Please stay with or behind the hike leader to maintain group pace and cohesion. * **Safety Reminder**: This is a voluntary activity. Participants are responsible for their own safety and for respecting fellow walkers, wildlife, and the environment. No risk or liability is inferred or accepted by the organizer. Looking forward to hiking with you and exploring this adventure together. 📱 For any issues, contact me via mobile/WhatsApp at 07830374629.

################# **This hike is now FULL.** **We’ve created a list of [FAQs](https://drive.google.com/file/d/12gIZWTLfA3zQsx1fb0lpv1zOWP2vC5tq/view?usp=drive_link) to help answer your questions.** ################# The Lake District is England's largest national park and by far the most popular in the UK. Every year, some 19 million people pitch up to explore the region's mountains and countryside, and it's not hard to see why. Its postcard panorama of craggy hilltops, mountain tarns and glittering lakes has been stirring the imaginations of visitors for centuries. In 2017, the Lake District was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, joining the likes of the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon on the illustrious list. It was the UK’s first national park to be given such status. On the first day of our trip, we'll summit Scafell Pike – the highest mountain in England, rising to 978 metres above sea level. We'll do our walk from Wasdale valley, which offers the shortest and the most popular approach to the peak. The route starts at almost the sea level, by ascending alongside Lingmell Gill. After crossing the river, the path then leads to Hollow Stones and Lingmell Col, before the final rocky ascent to Scafell Pike. Throughout the whole hike, we'll enjoy superb views of Wast Water, England's deepest lake, the surrounding peaks and dramatic crags. After the hike, we'll drive to our hotel, where we'll have dinner and rest. Sunday will be much more relaxing! Today's walk is low-level, and will take us around two of the prettiest lakes in the Lake District – Grasmere and Rydal Water. We'll visit the large cavern of Rydal Cave, with its stepping stones. This famous Lakeland beauty spot is actually man-made, and is the result of slate quarrying over 200 years ago. We'll climb Loughrigg Fell (335m) and enjoy amazing panoramic views (it's often from the lower hills that you get the best views!). The hike will finish at Grasmere village, where we'll have lunch and visit the famous Grasmere Gingerbread Shop – an absolute must-do in the Lakes! **ITINERARY** **Saturday:** **06:45** Meet outside Hotel Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR (a five-minute walk from Hammersmith Station) **07:00** Sharp departure **07:00-14:30** Transfer, with two stops at services (30 and 15 minutes) **14:30-19:00** Hike to Scafell Pike from Wasdale Head (difficulty: [Difficult](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BMjvqhAAdSeCdyzLPHs0z04_e2TiKdci/view?usp=sharing), distance: 9km, ascent: 910m) **20:00** Check-in at Premier Inn Whitehaven Hotel, dinner and free time **Sunday:** **07:00** Breakfast **08:00** Departure **09:00­-13:30** Rydal Water and Grasmere circular walk, via Rydal Cave and Loughrigg Fell (difficulty: [Moderate](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BMjvqhAAdSeCdyzLPHs0z04_e2TiKdci/view?usp=sharing), distance: 11km, ascent: 530m) **13:30-15:00** Lunch in Grasmere, one of the prettiest villages in the Lake District; free time to visit the famous Grasmere Gingerbread Shop and buy souvenirs **15:00** Departure **19:00** Stop at services for dinner **21:00** London, Hammersmith **DIFFICULTY & EQUIPMENT** Please note that this trip requires a good level of fitness. Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support and waterproof clothing are essential. **PRIVATE ROOM** The default option is a shared twin room at the hotel (you'll share your room with somebody from our group of the same gender). A small number of private rooms, for your own use, is available for £30 extra – let us know if you would like an upgrade! **TRANSPORT** As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus. **LUGGAGE** You can bring two small bags with you: one cabin size personal item bag (up to 10kg) and one smaller hiking backpack to fit under the seat. During the hike, you can leave your luggage in the minibus. **BOOKING** To keep ticket prices down and avoid PayPal/Meetup fees (£20 extra per ticket), we kindly ask for payment by bank transfer. Please include your Meetup name and the trip as the payment reference (e.g. John Lake District). As places are limited, we can hold your place for 24 hours. Business Account Name: London Social Hiking Limited Sort Code: 20-17-20 Account Number: 63116514 We'll let you know by changing your status to “Paid” as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the [attendees list](https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/313570314/attendees) of the event. You don’t need a paid Meetup subscription to do this – just close any pop-up windows and continue. **THE PRICE OF £278 INCLUDES** * Transport throughout the trip * Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver * Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader * One night's accommodation at a hotel in shared twin rooms (you'll share your room with somebody from our group of the same gender) * 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 * Gloves/hat/cap * Water bottle (min 1L) * Nuts and energy snacks to last you during the trip * Walking poles (optional) * Gaiters (optional) * Second pair of comfortable (non-hiking) shoes for minibus journeys * Comfortable clothes to change after the hike **REVIEWS ⭐** We have hosted over 600 events on Meetup and received an incredible number of positive reviews from our community. We’re proud to have achieved an **average event rating of 4.8 out of 5**. Please keep sharing your feedback – it helps us continue to improve and make every trip 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](https://www.facebook.com/groups/220802492121957) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/london_social_hiking/) **REFUND POLICY** You can check our refund policy [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ny-b2NmMzBlpCiKjzkqC2vJEisxlORpn/view?usp=drive_link).

THE TRIP IS NOW FULL, IF YOU WISH TO ATTEND, ADD YOURSELF TO THE WAITING LIST AND I WILL CONTACT YOU IF A PLACE BECOMES AVAILABLE. Come along on Saturday 6th June for a coach trip to some pretty towns and villages in North Essex. We won't be able to do the Tiptree Jam Tour, as they only carry out tours on Wednesdays and Fridays. **About the day** Essex is a historical county due east of London. Its history back thousands of years and when the Roman's invaded in 43AD, they setup their capital in the north of the county called *'Camulodunum'* (now the city of Colchester). From the 5th century onwards, the Anglo Saxons settled here and the name Essex today translates as 'East Saxon'. **St. Michael's Church, Copford** St. Michael & All Angels Church in the village of Copford in a Norman church featuring rare, extensive wall paintings from the 1140's. The church inside is decorated with a variety of religious themed wall paintings, painted figures, the signs of the zodiac, complex decorations, inclduding flower, leaf patterns and scrollwork. The wall paintings were white washed in the 1530's during Henry VIII's split from the Catholic Church and rediscovered during the 1870's. **Coggeshall** Described as a lovely little 'olde worlde' village, Coggeshall lies just south of Colchester on the River Blackwater and on the Roman road of Stane Street. It has over 300 listed buildings, with the earliest dating from the 14th century and has had a market since 1256. Bizarre and obscure events in the past have been attributed to ley lines crossing in the town. **Great Bardfield** Henry VIII is said to have given Bardfield to his fourth wife Anne of Cleves as part of his divorce settlement in 1540 and a number of buildings in the village are associated with Anne of Cleves. Bardfield was the home of many important twentieth-century English artists who hosted a series of important 'open house' exhibitions in the village during the 1950s. The village has 102 listed buildings and a windmill which dates from 1754. **Braintree** Braintree gets its name from the River Brain and also sits on the Roman road of Stane Street. From the 14th century onwards, the town was known for processing and manufacturing of woollen cloth and then in the 19th century for silk manufacturing. The wealth from cloth is reflected in the many medieval properties in the town. **Coach seating** * If you wish to reserve a seat on the coach in advance, after you pay please look at the seating plan in the photos [here ](https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/35971905/534128713/)and then email me - [general@cultureseekers.org](http://general@cultureseekers.org), with the seat number/s you wish to reserve. Its first come first served. * The seat you sit on when you board the coach is yours for the day. If you wish to change seats on the coach during the day, you will need to get permission from the individual who is seated there. **Cost** Cost is £27 per person for Full Members and £33 per person for everyone else. After you RSVP: You will need to make payment (its not automatic), so either: \- send a bank transfer: TSB Bank plc\, sort code: 77\-66\-65\, account no: 00030809\, Account name: Cultureseekers \- Pay via credit card in advance \([https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QDOWSSXO](https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QDOWSSXO)) \- go to PayPal \- [https://www.paypal.com/uk/](https://www.paypal.com/uk/), then click on 'Pay & Get Paid‘, then click on 'Send Money’, put in the email address: [general@cultureseekers.org](mailto:general@cultureseekers.org) in the 'Send Money' box, then 'Next' and then enter the amount to pay. Click 'Next', then 'Goods & Services', then 'For Friends & Family', then 'Continue'. Once you RSVP and then pay, I will confirm your place. You have 3 days to make a payment, if no payment is received within 3 days, your place will be offered to the first person on the waiting list. **Become a Full Member** To become a Full Member (£14 a year) either: \- Pay cash at an event \- Pay via Bank Transfer \(email me – general@cultureseekers\.org for details\) \- Pay via credit card on the day or in advance \([https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QLAX8AUI](https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QLAX8AUI)) \- go to PayPal \- [https://www.paypal.com/uk/](https://www.paypal.com/uk/), then click on 'Pay & Get Paid‘, then click on 'Send Money’, put in the email address: [general@cultureseekers.org](mailto:general@cultureseekers.org) in the 'Send Money' box, then 'Next' and then enter the amount to pay. Click 'Next', then 'Goods & Services', then 'For Friends & Family', then 'Continue' Benefits of becoming a Full Member [here...](https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/531979527/) **Food & drink** Its up to you whether you wish to bring your own food and drink or purchase items whilst we are there. If you can't see us on Tothill Street, please text. Please note, we only wait for 10 minutes after the advertised meeting time, so please be early or on time. The coach has to leave at a specific time. Look out for the red and blue 'London Cultureseekers' group sign. Hope to see you there! Robert 07905 901 834 (prefer text) or email: [general@cultureseekers.org](mailto:general@cultureseekers.org) ***On the day, if you can’t make the visit, just change your RSVP to No or text me to say you can’t make it. Please don’t post any messages in the comments that you can’t make it, as this generates spam for everyone else.*** ***Please make sure you are aware of the group rules here before RSVPing - [https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/523578875/Group_Rules/](https://www.meetup.com/london_cultureseekers/photos/22974682/523578875/Group_Rules/)***

**🌄 Wales Snowdonia Hiking Camping Adventure Weekend 🏕️.** **⛰️ Mount Snowdon Hiking & Luxury Camping Experience 🔥** **✨ Free Campfire Experience Included ✨** Join us for an unforgettable weekend adventure in beautiful North Wales as we explore the breathtaking landscapes of Snowdonia National Park, hike the highest mountain in Wales, enjoy a relaxing luxury campsite experience, and spend the weekend surrounded by mountains, lakes, forests, waterfalls, and incredible scenery 🌿🌄📸 This event is designed for friendly, adventurous people who enjoy hiking, nature, camping, photography, and exploring the outdoors in a small well-organised group 😊 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📍 **EVENT OVERVIEW** 🏕️ Luxury official campsite booked 🚿 Hot showers & toilets available 🔥 Campfire experience included ⛰️ Mount Snowdon summit hike 🥪 Breakfast & packed lunches included 🚐 Transfers in Wales included 📸 Amazing photo opportunities 👥 Small group size: Maximum 5–6 people ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ **🌟 ABOUT THE CAMPSITE** We have booked what we believe is one of the BEST official campsites in Wales for this event ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is NOT wild camping. You will have access to: 🚿 Proper hot showers 🚻 Clean toilets 💧 Water refill points 🏕️ Safe official camping facilities 🌌 Beautiful mountain surroundings All camping equipment provided by us is high quality equipment only — no cheap low-quality gear. ⛺ Our tents are spacious, reliable, weather-resistant, and designed for comfort and durability. 🛏️ The air beds provided are also high quality for a much more comfortable night’s sleep outdoors. We take pride in making the camping experience enjoyable, organised, comfortable, and beginner-friendly 😊 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🏔️ **ABOUT SNOWDONIA & MOUNT SNOWDON** Snowdonia National Park is one of the most spectacular natural areas in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧🌿 The park is famous for its dramatic mountains, glacial lakes, waterfalls, forests, valleys, and rugged landscapes. It covers more than 800 square miles of protected natural beauty and attracts hikers and adventure lovers from all over the world 🌍 ⛰️ Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) is the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 metres high. On clear days, the summit views are absolutely incredible and can stretch across Wales, England, Ireland, and even the sea 🌤️📸 Snowdon has become one of the most iconic hiking destinations in the UK and completing the hike is a fantastic achievement 🥾🔥 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🚆 **TRAVEL PLANS** We have 2 groups travelling to Wales on Friday: 🚆 TRAIN GROUP Leaves London around 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM Friday evening Arrives at Bangor Station around 9:30 PM 🚗 CAR GROUP Leaves North London at approximately 8:00 AM Friday morning ⚠️ Limited spaces available in the car group. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📅 **WEEKEND ITINERARY** 🟢 FRIDAY EVENING 🏕️ Arrive at campsite ⛺ Pitch tents 🔥 Relax and settle in 🌌 Prepare for Saturday’s main hiking adventure ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🟢 **SATURDAY – MAIN MOUNT SNOWDON HIKE** 🥣 Breakfast served between 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM 🥾 Hike starts from campsite at approximately 9:30 AM 📏 Total hike distance: Approximately 9 miles ⬆️ 4.5 miles ascent ⬇️ 4.5 miles descent ⛰️ Hiking Difficulty: Moderate to Energetic 🕒 Estimated hiking time: ⬆️ Around 4 hours uphill ⬇️ Around 4 hours downhill 📸 Additional time for breaks, lunch, photography & rest stops Total day duration approximately 10 hours. This is a circular route, meaning we descend using a different scenic path from the ascent route 🌄 ⚠️ Please follow the hike leader at all times for safety and organisation purposes. 🍽️ After the hike we finish at a local pub where everyone can relax and enjoy dinner together. ⚠️ Dinner is NOT included in the package price. 🍺 Alcohol purchases are entirely between you and the pub. We do not organise or purchase alcohol for participants. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🟢 **SUNDAY – RELAXED EXPLORATION & DEPARTURE** 🥣 Breakfast in the morning 🎒 Packing away camping equipment 🌿 Short easy local walk nearby 🏞️ Possible visit to a nearby Welsh village or town depending on time Sunday’s walk will be short and easy — less than 3–4 hours before departure. 🚍 Train group participants will be transferred to Bangor for their journey home. 🚗 Car group participants will travel back by car. 🥪 Breakfast and packed lunch are included on Sunday. 🍽️ Dinner is not included. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 💰 **EVENT PRICES** 🚆 Train Group: £250 (Train tickets NOT included) 🚗 Car Group: £295 (Return car transport included) 🎫 We may be able to help you receive approximately 30% discount on train tickets if you contact us BEFORE booking your tickets. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ✅ **WHAT IS INCLUDED** ⛺ High quality tent rental 🛏️ High quality air bed rental 🏕️ Campsite rental fees 🥣 Breakfasts 🥪 Packed lunches 🚐 All Wales transport & transfers during the event 🥾 Qualified hike leader guidance 🧭 Logistical support throughout the weekend 🔥 Campfire experience ☕ Camping gas stove for hot drinks & hot meals ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ❌ **WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED** 🚆 Train tickets 🛌 Sleeping bag 🍽️ Evening pub dinners 🍺 Alcoholic beverages ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎒 **IMPORTANT ITEMS YOU MUST BRING** 🛌 Sleeping bag 📸 Camera for amazing photos 🔋 Power bank 🔦 Head torch or handheld torch 🥾 Waterproof hiking boots/shoes 🧥 Waterproof jacket 👖 Waterproof trousers 🧦 Spare socks 🧤 Gloves 🧢 Waterproof hat 🧥 Thermal layers for cold nights 🧼 Soap & shampoo 🛁 Towel 🩴 Slippers for showers 💊 Personal medication 🥤 Water bottle 🥪 Lunch box ⚠️ No WiFi signal at the campsite. 💻 Please do NOT bring laptops. This is only a 2-day trip so travel light 😊 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🥣 **FOOD PROVIDED** ✅ Vegetarian & non-vegetarian options available BREAKFAST: 🥣 Cereal 🍊 Orange juice ☕ Tea & coffee LUNCH: 🥪 Sandwich selection 🍎 Fruit 🍫 Snacks 🥤 Drink included 💧 Plenty of water refill opportunities available at campsite. 🍽️ Dinner is your responsibility at the pub after the hike. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 👤 **AGE REQUIREMENTS** ⚠️ This event is age restricted. Participants must be between 19–43 years old. 🪪 You must provide valid photo ID such as: ✔️ Passport ✔️ Driving Licence ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🩺 **SAFETY & EXPERIENCE** 🥾 Your hike leader is experienced, qualified, first-aid trained, and a trained Mountain Leader. 🩹 A first aid kit will be available throughout the trip. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📲 **BOOKING & CONTACT** ⚠️ Deposit payment required to secure your place. 📱 WhatsApp ONLY: 07590 919391 Please message via WhatsApp if you would like to join the trip or ask any questions 😊 📖 Please read our Meetup group terms & conditions on the homepage before contacting us. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⚠️ **DISCLAIMER** This is a hobby hiking group and NOT a commercial business. By joining this event, participants understand and accept that they are personally responsible for their own health, fitness, safety, and wellbeing during the trip. The organiser and hike leader accept no liability or responsibility for personal injury, illness, loss, accident, or any other issue that may occur during participation in this event. By attending, you acknowledge and agree to this disclaimer. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🌄 Small group • Beautiful mountains • Great atmosphere • Amazing memories • Adventure awaits 🏕️🔥⛰️

**Key Info:** • Distance: 9 miles (15km) • Grading: [Beginner](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/HikeGradings.pdf) but it has 2 long steep hills, we take these gently and wait at the top • Ascent: 290m • Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours • Cost: £31 (includes guided hike + return train) • Refunds: Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you follow our [[Resale Process](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/FAQ.pdf)] and your place is rebooked, we’ll issue a refund. • Toilet breaks: On the train, at the lunch stop, and at the end pub **Meeting Point** • Location: Victoria station. Meet between WHSmith (no 34) and Nero Express (no 29) - [MAP](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/StationPhotos/Victoria.jpg) & [PHOTO](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/StationPhotos/VictoriaPhoto.jpg) • Time: Meet 8:20am, leave 8:40am for the 8:55am train • Return: 5:33pm arrival back in London (you’re committed until then) **Highlights** • Admire **Lullingstone Castle** and its tranquil lakeside setting • Walk a scenic stretch of the **Darent Valley Path** • Pass the site of **Lullingstone Roman Villa**, dating back to around 100 AD • Explore **Lullingstone Country Park**, home to 800-year-old trees • Visit the ruins of **Eynsford Castle**, a Norman fortification from 1088 • Hike beneath the striking **Eynsford Rail Viaduct**, with its 22m-high brick arches • Stroll through three charming **Kentish villages** — Otford, Shoreham and Eynsford **Hike Description** We begin in the historic village of **Otford**, occupied for at least 3,000 years. Through the ages, it has been home to Iron Age farmers, Romans, royalty and archbishops. From here our route leads into the tranquil woods and grasslands of the Kentish countryside, reaching **Shoreham** before following the **Darent Valley Path** into the heart of the valley. The trail takes us into the beautiful **Lullingstone Country Park**, internationally important for its collection of ancient trees. Beech, ash, oak, sweet chestnut and hornbeam all thrive here, with some specimens thought to be over 800 years old. Emerging from the woodland, we arrive at **Lullingstone Castle**, set beside its peaceful lake, before continuing to the site of **Lullingstone Roman Villa** — a rare survival of a Roman estate house first built around 100 AD. From here we continue through rolling Kent fields, rewarded with views of the impressive **Eynsford Rail Viaduct**, its nine red-brick arches towering 22 metres above the valley floor. Our hike concludes in the charming village of **Eynsford**, where we explore the evocative ruins of **Eynsford Castle**, a Norman stronghold built in 1088. With its riverside setting, ancient remains and traditional cottages, the village provides a perfect finale to a day steeped in history and countryside beauty. **Guide:** • Leader: [JOHN](https://www.outdooraholics.co.uk/MeetTheOutdooraholics.pdf) • Contact (hike day only): 07508 511026 ️ **Food:** • Bring a packed lunch • Pub visit after the hike (drinks optional) **What to Bring** • Hiking boots/shoes • Water (2 litres minimum) • Packed lunch • Waterproofs (jacket and trousers) • Hat and gloves if cold • Train tickets are arranged – just meet us at the meeting point ⚠️ **Safety** Your guide is a trained hike leader and Outdoor Activity First Aider ❓ **Want to Know More?** • [New to Our Trips?](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/new_to_our_day_hikes.pdf) (perfect for first-timers, answers “what to expect”) • [About Us](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/about_us.pdf) (who Outdooraholics are, credibility, history) • [FAQs](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/FAQ.pdf) (covers common queries) **Explore More &** **Stay Connected** [Day hikes list](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/hikesbygrade.pdf) [Calendar - All trips](https://www.meetup.com/outdooraholics/events/calendar/) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/outdooraholics/) [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/Outdooraholics) & [Photos group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/Outdooraholics) **Terms and Conditions** By signing up or attending you agree to our [Terms and Conditions](https://outdooraholics.co.uk/TermsConditionsOutdooraholicsHikingUK.pdf) © Outdooraholics Hiking UK Ltd 2026 E & OE

The day is a chance to visit a famous London landmark, famous park, historic venue, and a new mustsee plant shop! Have you visited New Covent garden Market at Battersea? It is where many London based plants and flower suppliers buy their plants to sell. So imagine the bargain plants and accesories you'd find during this planty adventure ;) Come join other plant enthusiasts for a day trip around Battersea Park, Power station, and the newest plant shop by Not Another Jungle. Newbies and seasoned all welcomed. It will be a morning of planty fun. Itinerary: 7AM - Meet outside Battersea Park Underground station. 7:15 - 5mins walk to New Covent Garden Market 8:45 - Exit and walk 15 minutes to... 9:00 - Sendero Speciality coffee for brunch or jungle coffee 9:30 - 5 mins walk to Not another jungle shop 10:30 - Walk through Battersea Park before checking out the Battersea Power Station Feel free to drop in and join at any point in this session. You can bring a friend, just let me know. :-)

Join us for a relaxing brunch at Shawnee Station Tap Room Kitchen! Come enjoy great food, good conversation, and a chance to connect with new friends in a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re new to the group or a familiar face, we’d love to have you there! Grab your favorite brunch drink, meet amazing people, and spend a laid-back morning together. Please RSVP so we can plan seating accordingly. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville](https://www.crimsoncup.com/about/location/clintonville)!

Ladies, join us for a fun Women’s Night Out at VASO Rooftop! Come enjoy rooftop views, delicious food, cocktails, live music, and great conversation in a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re looking to meet new friends, unwind after a long week, or simply enjoy a night out, this is the perfect opportunity to relax and connect with other amazing women. Dress cute, bring your positive energy, and get ready for a fun evening of laughter, music, and rooftop vibes overlooking Dublin! Please RSVP early so we can plan seating accordingly. Looking forward to a great night out together!

**History** The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood. In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio. A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization. In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden. Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community. **Maps of the Conservatory** Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below). **Summary** For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year. Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now. **Tickets and pricing** On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20. Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4. Parking is always free. If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000. **Where we'll meet** We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather. **Your GPS is stupid!** Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you. The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road. If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West. You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive. \* Don't really do this. **After the event** After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu). The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event. We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.

Join us as we take a short summer road trip to downtown Delaware and the historic Strand Theater to see the latest from director Steven Spielberg and what’s likely to be one of the better films we see this year: DISCLOSURE DAY! We’ll pair this fun film with an equally fun dinner at nearby SON OF THURMAN! Should be a great movie, a tasty dinner, and a fun day in beautiful downtown Delaware! Here are details, a trailer and our plan for this event: DISCLOSURE DAY: This epic sci-fi action-drama follows a whistleblower and a meteorologist attempting to reveal proof of extraterrestrial life as they face some unexpected opposition. The film is directed by Steven Spielberg which automatically puts it in the Oscar conversation! The stellar cast includes Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Wyatt Russell and Colman Domingo. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCYT8vb2siQ MOVIE PLAN: We’ll plan for a 1pm-ish showing and will meet in the lobby area starting at 12:30pm. Exact showtime will be confirmed/announced as the date gets closer! You can purchase your ticket in advance here. But before you do, be sure to check out the CMG Movie & Popcorn Deal below! Strand Theater Tickets: https://strandtheatreoh.com/tickets CMG MOVIE + POPCORN DEAL: The Strand has what many consider to be the Best Popcorn in the State! They open their concession window for festivals and many are known to stop by for some, whether they’re seeing a movie or not! For our event, the Strand is offering a special deal so you can see for yourself! The CMG Special Deal includes a Movie Ticket, Small Popcorn and Small Drink for just $10! To receive the deal, purchase your ticket when you arrive and let ‘em know you’re with the Columbus Movie Group! ABOUT THE STRAND THEATRE: The Strand Theatre is located at 28 East Winter Street in historic downtown Delaware! Operating for more than 100 years, the Strand Theatre is one of the 10 longest-operating movie theaters in the United Status and one of the few remaining independent movie theaters showing first-run films! The theater offers a variety of programming, including first-run, art house, ongoing events and fun film series! If you missed last year’s event there, haven’t been there (or haven’t been in a while), you are in for a treat! In addition to the historic theater, the entire downtown area has been completely revitalized with lots of great restaurants and shops! ABOUT SON OF THURMAN: Family-owned since 1942, The Thurman Café in Columbus is a legendary local restaurant that has received national acclaim for their legendary Thurman Burger, great food and fun atmosphere! Son of Thurman is part of that family of restaurants that brings the Thurman experience to Downtown Delaware and will be our dinner location for this event! In addition to their namesake burger, their menu features a huge array of appetizers, sandwiches, subs, wings, pizza, vegetarian options (like the Thurman Veggie Burger), and more! We’ll have a table reserved for the group! When you RSVP, please indicate if you plan to join us for the dinner portion of the event. You can check out their menu here: https://sonofthurman.com/ OFFICIAL CMG T-SHIRT EVENT: Did you get one of our CMG 2024 Tour of Columbus T-Shirts or 2025 Road Trip T-Shirts? While you can wear them any time, we’ll make certain events Official CMG T-Shirt events where we’ll ALL try to wear them! This is one of those events, so wear ‘em if you got ‘em! Look forward to seeing you at this fun Summer Road Trip Adventure, Dan