Join us for occasional longer walks in the countryside around London (between 10-15km) which often include lunch in a country pub
details from Angela
Next walk – to be confirmed
Past Walks
Saturday 23 September – Oxford circular: Port Meadow
We were lucky with an unexpectedly beautiful sunny day for our walk from Oxford Station, taking us up the Thames to Godstow and then through Lower and Upper Wolvercote before stopping for a delicious lunch in the Plough. The weather was even warm enough for us to eat outside! After lunch we made our way back to the station along the Oxford canal, where we tried not to feel too envious of all those lucky enough to have stunning houses/gardens backing onto the water! A record twelve of us enjoyed this lovely walk and we particularly enjoyed the incredible views across Port Meadow. Thank you to Catherine for a great day out!
Saturday 15 July – Tonbridge circular via Tudeley
Nine of us set off from Tonbridge Station on a very blustery day making our way east along the Medway. We made it to the Poacher and Partridge country pub in good time for lunch where we were joined by one more (who had driven down to enjoy the lunch and churches). After an excellent lunch we walked/drove the short distance to All Saints Church in Tudeley where we were met by Madeleine, who gave us a fascinating talk about the story behind the famous stained glass windows by Chagall, which were absolutely stunning. Another hour’s walk through fields and orchards brought us back to Tonbridge. A wonderful day out enjoyed by all.
Saturday 17 June – Liphook to Fernhurst
On a cloudy but warm Saturday morning we set out from Liphook to explore the ancient woods on the Surrey/Sussex border, meandering our way through ancient woodlands and past Shulbrede Priory. Lunch was in the shade of trees by the cricket pitch in Fernhurst although some of us took advantage of the very pleasant café in the cricket pavilion. Afterwards we climbed back up to the main road to catch the bus back to Haslemere, purchasing local honey en route. An added bonus was a fleeting sight from our train of the Flying Scotsman on its centenary tour!
Saturday 27th May – Shiplake to Henley
A lovely Summer’s day for our walk from Shiplake to Henley-on-Thames. In the morning we benefitted from the shade of many wooded footpaths before arriving at the cool and spacious Maltsters Arms for lunch. After lunch, we applied sunscreen, donned hats, topped up our water bottles and set off for Henley enjoying pastoral views over the Oxfordshire countryside as we went. With memories of scrumptious ice-creams from a previous walk, we took a detour to the ice-cream shop and had our ice-creams by the river before catching the train home. A grand day out!
Saturday 22 April – Wendover – Princes Risborough
Four of us set out from Wendover, slowly climbing up Coombe Hill to the monument where we had our first taste of the spectacular views. We followed the Ridgeway, through the woods and past Chequers before stopping for lunch at the Plough at Casden which was very popular with the many walkers we encountered. Another steep hill after lunch, but again rewarded by wonderful view of the Vale of Aylesbury. There were lots of signs of spring with the woods filled with blossom, violets, primroses and bluebells and even some sunshine along the way!
Sunday 19th March – Chislehurst circular
We finally made it to Chislehurst for the oft-postponed circular walk, although there were only four of us in the end. After a short walk from the station we soon arrived in Petts Wood and then on to Scadbury Park and thanks to Angela’s navigation skills we managed not to get lost (well not really!). Lots of interesting things to see along the way, including bears carved out of old oak trees, monuments, a moated manor and all around were the signs of spring. Still a lot of mud around, but the weather held and the sun even appeared occasionally!
Saturday 18th February – St Margaret’s circular
Eight of us enjoyed a lovely day out in Hertfordshire, although at the beginning of the walk there were two groups as three arrived on a later train because of delays. But thanks to the first group walking very slowly and the second walking very briskly, we were re-united in time for lunch at the Chequers Inn at Ware (where they had a very clever device that put plastic covers on muddy boots). A bit of a grey day, but a lovely country walk with lots of signs of spring, especially the beautiful swathes of snowdrops. After eight miles or so, we made our way back to St Margarets along the river Lea, and had time for a reviving cup of tea before catching the train back to London.
Sunday 15 January 2023 – Balcombe to Haywards Heath, West Sussex
After Saturday’s trip to Chiselhurst was rained off, five of us met on a sunny Sunday morning to walk from Balcombe to Haywards Heath, under Angela’s skilful navigation. The going was heavy, but the beautiful trees and the first tiny signs of spring more than made up for the extremely muddy conditions underfoot. Highlight of the trip was the magnificent Ouse Valley railway viaduct, built in the mid-nineteenth century to carry the London to Brighton line across the River Ouse.
Saturday 3 December – Princes Risborough to Wendover
Five of us braved the cold and walked from Princes Risborough to Wendover, taking in some of the Icknield Way and Ridgeway in the Chilterns. Some steep climbs, but worth it for the amazing views. After walking round the perimeter of Chequers, we stopped for our picnic at the base of the Coombe Hill Monument where the sun came out briefly, but where the wind was bitingly cold! After a short descent we stopped for a welcome and warming cup of tea in Wendover.
Saturday 29 October – Kenley Common, Happy Valley and Farthing Down
We had a lovely walk across some south London commons managed by the City of London with some spectacular views back to the city. We had a little detour to the RAF airfield at Kenley which has some interesting history. Happy Valley is particularly green and we enjoyed the fast fading autumnal colours on the trees.
Saturday 24 September – Circular walk from Oxshott Station
Nine of us enjoyed a lovely walk from Oxshott. Only yards from the station the path emerged onto Oxshott Heath where we enjoyed the views from the war memorial before entering the woods where we followed the paths (mostly the right ones!) to the bridge across the A3 leading us to Esher Common. We emerged in West End where we enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Prince of Wales. Then back through the woods, via the Black Pond, reaching the station in good time for the return train. Despite a rather gloomy forecast, the sun shone all day and we all agreed that Angela had come up trumps with this walk!
Saturday 9 July – Wargrave to Henley
Phew, what a scorcher! Nine of us braved the blazing sun to walk along the Chiltern Way from Wargrave to Henley. We set off from Wargrave station and walked for a couple of hours, enjoying the dappled shade in woods before reaching Crazies Hill where we had a welcome stop for lunch in the Horns pub. After lunch it was even hotter as we made our way to Remenham where we encountered rare white deer in the deer park. The walk continued above the Thames until we descended into Henley for a well earned ice-cream before the train back to London.
Saturday 21 May – Denham Circular
The sun shone for our circular walk starting from and returning to Denham. On leaving the station we soon found ourselves in the Colne Valley Nature Reserve alongside Denham golf course and then reached the Grand Union Canal. After stopping for lunch at the River Garden pub in Harefield we crossed the canal and returned on the other side through the woods. Our final stop was for coffee/tea/cake/ice cream in the Swan in Denham where we were able to rest our legs in their lovely garden. Many thanks to Angela for organising such a lovely (and flat) walk!
Saturday 23 April – Princes Risborough to Great Missenden On a mild St George’s Day, perfect for energetic walking, 7 members led by Angela gave new meaning to “up hill and down dale” in the Chilterns. Our walk from Princes Risborough to Great Missenden via The Gate pub in Bryant’s Bottom followed parts of the Chiltern Way and took in the windmill at Loosely Row, Grimm’s Ditch and Parslow’s Hillock, crossing at least three mountain ranges. We saw sheep and cows and calves and chickens and ponies and donkeys; bluebells and primroses and wild garlic and….. Excellent pub lunch, and a completed distance which at least one walker hadn’t covered on her own feet for about 20 years. We ended up in Roald Dahl Town for coffee & cake before the train home.
Saturday 12 March – West Ruislip to Northwood The day started with travel problems and unexpected rain, but by the time we all met at West Ruislip station, the sun had came out and we enjoyed a lovely walk through Bayhurst Wood Country Park and Ruislip Woods Nature Reserve, stopping for lunch at the café next to Ruislip Lido which was sparkling in the sunshine. Lots of mud and fallen trees to contend with along the way, so walking poles were well used!
Saturday 26 February – Saunderton to Princes Risborough: The sun shone for a spectacular walk along part of the Chiltern Way with stunning views, some gentle hills (and a fair amount of mud!). Red kites kept us company along the way and there was plenty of evidence of the effects of storm Eunice. After a delicious lunch in the Lions of Bledlow, we made it back to Princes Risborough station with minutes to spare!
Wednesday 5th January 2022 – Capital Ring in NE London
The day dawned bright and sunny for our first long walk of the year. We started at Crouch Hill and walked along Parkland Walk to Finsbury Park, carefully avoided the muddy banks of the New River and strolled onto Clissold Park, where we stopped for coffee. We avoided the retail opportunities in Stoke Newington and continued on through Abney Park, noting William Booth’s grave before arriving at Walthamstow Marshes where we availed of a well-positioned picnic table to have our packed lunches. We continued along the river Lee, past the Olympic Park to Hackney Wick for the train home and well-earned cups of tea.
Saturday 11th December 2021 – Wargrave to Henley
We had a good walk last Saturday from Wargrave (Berkshire) to Henley-on-Thames – approximately 8 miles. A wise decision by Angela to make an early start meant we missed the rain later in the afternoon & even had the bonus of a beautiful sunrise. The walk took us via lovely villages, part of the Chiltern Way, and through a deer park populated by rare white & fallow deer at Culham Court. Although bit muddy in parts it was mostly good walking on leafy tracks. It was even mild enough to eat our packed lunches on a bench overlooking a field which was being patrolled by a few pairs of enormous Red Kites. We made the 2pm train from Henley and were back in London before dusk – which comes so early at this time of year.
