About us
Trails and Ales is a friendly and welcoming hiking group for anyone who wants to explore the great outdoors, discover new trails, and enjoy the simple joy of putting one foot in front of the other. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just getting started, you’ll find encouragement, good company, and plenty of awe-inspiring views.
All hikes are published on the Event Pages - see the event pages for all the details!
Communication
There'll be a chat group set up to be in touch on the day.
Transport
Transport to and from the walk is at your own cost. We will start and finish all walks at train stations, ensuring easy access from central London transport hubs. Information about train times will posted on the event page and communicated via the Whats App group. Indicative train times below – subject to any rail timetable changes.
Kit
Please note that I am not a qualified walk leader (yet), although I do have a lot of experience and will carry a first aid kit for the basics.
I would recommend decent hiking shoes and lots of layers. You will be responsible for bringing your own kit, any personal medications, and food/ snacks/ drinks.
A basic kit list:
· Hiking shoes/ boots
· Hiking socks (and spares in case of rain)
· Waterproof Jacket
· Fleece
· Base layer
· Hiking trousers – no jeans!
· Rucksack
· Hat & Gloves
· Water bottle – at least 2 litres or water bladder
· Head Torch
· Optional: Gaiters (especially if there has been a lot of rain)
· Optional: Walking poles (I find these help on the hills!)
Other Information
These walks will not be a race to be accessible to as many people as possible, that said I will be conscious of finishing the walk at a time which gives us opportunity to try the local ales at the end of the walk at a local pub.
RSVP and Fees
If you rsvp and can no longer attend, please amend your booking or inform me on the whatsapp so others on the wait list can come.
Walks are restricted to max 20 people to ensure that we have a pleasant walk, get to know each other and walk at a pace which suits the ability of the group.
Fees are charged at a modest £4.50 per walk to cover organiser time.
Fees are strictly non-refundable unless the event is cancelled
See the Events pages for the details of each walk.
Upcoming events
3
- £4.50
Trails and Ales: Hever Castle Circular 27km
East Croydon Station, George Street, London, GBHever Castle and a surprisingly remote part of the High Weald combined with attractive Kent villages and manor houses.
This walk takes in a quiet part of the High Weald on the border of Kent and East Sussex. At its centre is the sleepy village of Cowden, whose surprisingly industrial past is preserved in some evocative local names: The Old Forge, Furnace Pond, etc. The village did indeed have a blast furnace from 1573 and the region's plentiful supplies of iron ore supported a thriving industry until the 18thC, when coke from the northern coalfields replaced charcoal from local trees as the preferred fuel.
The walk wends its way through an undulating landscape of the High Weald, through low hills and wooded valleys, notably Heathersome's Wood and Coomb Wood and passes several attractive old manor houses as well as the beautiful villages of Penshurst and Chiddingstone, before ending in Hever.
Penshurst Place is a well-preserved medieval manor house with an attractive formal garden, the home of the Sidney family since the 16thC.
Chiddingstone Castle is a castellated manor house rebuilt in the 19thC, containing an unusual collection of art and curiosities left behind by its late owner, Denys Eyre Bower.
Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, was restored in the early 20thC by William Waldorf Astor and features some spectacular gardens.TRANSPORT: 09.23 East Croydon to Hever
STARTING POINT: 09.50 Hever Station
*** ENDING POINT: Hever Station (around 5.30-6pm)Join the WhatsApp group to meet your fellow hikers and get all of the up to date information: send me a DM to get the link.
What to bring Essentials:
🥾Hiking shoes
🧥Warm layers
🧃Lunch, snacks & drinks
💊Any personal medicationA basic kit list:
· Hiking shoes/ boots
· Hiking socks (and spares in case of rain)
· Waterproof Jacket
· Fleece
· Base layer
· Hiking trousers – no jeans!
· Rucksack
· Hat & Gloves
· Water bottle – at least 2 litres or water bladder
· Head Torch
· Optional: Gaiters (especially if there has been a lot of rain)
· Optional: Walking poles (I find these help on the hills!)
Disclaimer: I am not a qualified walk leader (yet), although I do have a lot of experience and will carry a first aid kit for the basics.Transport
Transport to and from the walk is at your own cost. We will start and finish all walks at train stations, ensuring easy access from central London transport hubs. Information about train times will posted on the event pages and communicated via the Whats App group - subject to any rail timetable changes.
Come hike, explore, and make new friends on this iconic trail!
How to find us: End of the platform/ 1st carriageFees are strictly non-refundable unless the event is cancelled
1 attendee - £4.50
Trails and Ales: Thames Path Teddington - Battersea 25km
Clapham Junction, St John's Hill, Greater London, London, GBThe Thames Path is a long distance walking trail, following England’s best-known river for 185.2 miles (298 km) as it meanders from its source in the Cotswolds through villages and cities to the Thames Barrier and on to Woolwich.
We'll be hiking just a small section on the south side of the river from Teddington lock. This section has a surprisingly rural feel, taking us past an amazing succession of parks, fields and gardens including the nature reserve of Hamlands, cattle-grazed Petersham Meadows just below Richmond, Richmond’s famous Old Deer Park and Kew’s even more famous Royal Botanic Gardens. This route also passes the spectacular 17th century Ham House, the lovely town of Richmond-upon-Thames, pretty Barnes, and the Wetlands Centre as well as the views across to Marble Hill House, Syon House and picturesque Strand-on-the-Green.
Towards the end of the walk we begin to witness the development which has taken place providing wide, modern promenades for walkers alongside the river before jumping off the path to head into Clapham to the finish.
TRANSPORT: 09.27 Clapham Junction to Teddington
STARTING POINT: 09.55 Teddington Station
*** ENDING POINT: Clapham Junction Station (around 5-5.30pm)Join the WhatsApp group to meet your fellow hikers and get all of the up to date information: send me a DM to get the link.
What to bring Essentials:
🥾Hiking shoes
🧥Warm layers
🧃Lunch, snacks & drinks
💊Any personal medicationA basic kit list:
· Hiking shoes/ boots
· Hiking socks (and spares in case of rain)
· Waterproof Jacket
· Fleece
· Base layer
· Hiking trousers – no jeans!
· Rucksack
· Hat & Gloves
· Water bottle – at least 2 litres or water bladder
· Head Torch
· Optional: Gaiters (especially if there has been a lot of rain)
· Optional: Walking poles (I find these help on the hills!)
Disclaimer: I am not a qualified walk leader (yet), although I do have a lot of experience and will carry a first aid kit for the basics.Transport
Transport to and from the walk is at your own cost. We will start and finish all walks at train stations, ensuring easy access from central London transport hubs. Information about train times will posted on the event pages and communicated via the Whats App group - subject to any rail timetable changes.
Come hike, explore, and make new friends on this iconic trail!
How to find us: End of the platform/ 1st carriageFees are strictly non-refundable unless the event is cancelled
1 attendee
Past events
14
