Past Day Walks - Summer 2006
General
A series of walk near London, reached by train. Hence, no need to pre-book, just turn up at the time specified below.
You need to bring waterproofs in case it rains, packed lunch and some water to drink. Some places may be muddy so walking boots or old trainers are appropriate footwear. Smart shoes, flip-flops or denim jeans are not suitable.
We meet outside the ticket office at the station specified and also can be found sitting in the front carriage of the train. Ticket prices are from central London with a young persons' railcard. If you don't have one, add 50 %. If we can get a groupsave ticket prices will be slightly less. Also, if you have a London Underground season ticket or day travelcard, you can buy a ticket from its boundary saving more money.
Contact details for walk leaders click here
This Saturday I am organising a day hike from Hampton Court to Heathrow beer festival via Hatton Cross. It is, of course, possible to come along to one or the other if you cannot make/don't want to go to both. The plan is to meet at London Waterloo and catch the train to Hampton Court, from here we'll walk around the Palace grounds, then head East along the Thames. We'll keep following the Thames Path untilit meets up with the London Loop. We'll then head North up the loop, make a diversion off it to drop non-beer festival walkers at Hatton (this should be around 3.30), before heading back to the Loop at up to the festival. For those non-walking beer festival goers, you'll need to make your own way to meet us at the venue - instructions for how to get there and the address can be found on this site http://www.heathrowbeerfestival.co.uk/, the address is also on this site http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=258041. If you plan to meet us at the festival, we should be there around 4pm. Please bring a coat, a packed lunch and, if your beer-swilling, some money!
Travel
details:
Outward train: 10:06 from London Waterloo to Hampton
Court. Arrives at 10.42.
Return: For those heading home at
Hatton Cross, there are regular underground trains from Hatton
Cross back to central London. For those coming to beer festival
there is a station nearby at Hayes and Harlington, Hounslow
station is also nearby.
Cost: Best bet for this one ticket wise
is to buy a zone 1-6 travelcard at your point of departure (i.e
before you get toWaterloo), so you've got a ticket back from
Hatton (or from the beer festival). This costs £7,00 (less
with a railcard). Failing that thereare single tickets you can buy
for each leg.
Meet: In Waterloo station at 9.40, by the ticket
office. If you can't spot me give me a ring on my mobile:
07806565375
Contact: Paul (07806565375)
Sunday 26th October Wimbledon to Richmond
This 'tourist' route will pass through a green part of posh suburban South London. For those new to London, or those who are just interested, it will take in some of London's most famous sites including the All England Tennis Club, Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park. Starting at Wimbledon, we will walk through Wimbledon Park, around the lake, pass the 'tennis courts' and onto the 'wilderness' of the Common. From here, we shall take a circular route, passing some more golf courses, before entering Richmond Park. Here we will take in some woods, a few more ponds, before making our way up to Richmond Station.
This short walk of around 8-10miles should take around 4 or 5 hours and is suitable for those who have never walked anywhere. Please bring a coat, some sturdy shoes, and a packed lunch.
Travel
Details
Outward train: 9.57 from London Waterloo, arrives at
Wimbledon 10.13.
Return train: 16.05 from Richmond, arrives
16.29 London Waterloo.
Cost: £2.25 for singles each way
with a railcard (total £4.50).
Meet: London Waterloo at
9.30, by the ticket office.
Contact: Paul
(07806565375)
Sunday
7 Januaruy. North Downs
A
walk for this Sunday to remove some Christmas pies! It will be in
the North Downs, which are south of London.
Starting from
Knockholt station, we'll go south through patches of woodland to
the North Downs Way. There should be views over Sevenoaks and the
Weald. We'll then follow the North Downs way for a few miles
before heading back to the station, possibly passing Pratt's
Grove. Approximately 10-12, basically depending on the
weather.
Travel
Details:
Outward: 9:50 train from London Bridge to Knockholt.
Arrives 10:26.
Return: 15:50 train from Knockholt, arrives
London Bridge 16:20
Cost: A cheap day return to Knockholt is
£3.75 with arailcard. It is also in Zone 6, so a
paper zone 1-6travelcard would be valid.
Meet: 9:35 at the
ticket office at London Bridge station
Contact: Mike
(07717 392304)
Sunday
19 November. Surrey Country Squires
This
week we're finally going to my favourite South-East walking venue
that is the Surrey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, known as
the Surrey Hills. This attractive 17.4 kilometres (10.8 miles)
route should take around 4-5hours. We'll walk along the Greensand
Way, across Sandhills Common, through farmland and past a medieval
moated site to the village of Grayswood, a route which will
include spectucular views of the hills. For those of you that
visited Graywood last year, don't worry, we are approaching it
from the other side, so the walk will be entirely different. It's
advisable to bring decent boots/shoes for this walk as it
primarily in the countryside and so could be a bit wet. Please
bring a coat and lunch.
Travel
details:
Outward train: 10:00 from London Waterloo to Witley.
Arrives at 11:02.
Return:
Either
the 15:48 or 16:48, depending on how fast we walk. They both take
57 mins to get back to Waterloo.
Cost:
£13.00
for a cheap day return from London Waterloo to Witley.
Meet:
At
London Waterloo station at 9:40. I'll be stood outside the ticket
office, but if you can't spot me give me a ring on my mobile:
07806565375
Contact:
Paul
Sunday
29 October. Eden Valley Walk
We'll
walk from Penshurst station around Eden Valley through rolling
Kent countryside, across fields, meadows and through orchards and
vineyards. On our way we'll pass a mighty manor house and
Chiddingstone Palace. We'll then take a different way back to
Penshurst station. This walk is quite short (9 miles or 14km) and
should take around 4 and half hours. It's advisable to bring
decent boots/shoes for this walk as it primarily in the
countryside and so could be a bit wet. Please bring a coat and
lunch.
Travel
details:
Outward train: 10:02 train from London Bridge to
Penshurst. Arrives at 11:01
Return: 15:31 or 16:31 to London
Bridge from Penshurst. Arrives 16:28 or 17:28.
Cost: £9.80
for a cheap day return from London Bridge to Penshurst.
Meet:
At London Bridge station at 9:40. I'll be stood outside the
ticket office, but if you can't spot me give me a ring on my
mobile: 07806565375
Contact:
Paul
Saturday
14 October. 'Freshers Day Walk', Oxshott to Oxshott!
Get
the train from London Waterloo to Oxshott Station in South London.
From here we will walk through Esher Common, Oxshott Heath and
West End Common and back to Oxshott station. Together these 3 are
known as Elmbridge Commons and are remnants of the extensive
heathlands that used to cover much of Western Surrey. The rural
wilderness should provide a good break from the chaos of London
city life.Details Length and difficulty: As
this is the freshers walk, it is designed for absolute beginners
who have never done any hiking before.
The terrain is quite flat and shouldn't pose a problem. We are
only going
to do a short walk of 8 miles (or 12.9km), which
should take around 4 hours.
Travel details:
Outward
train: 10:03 train from London Waterloo to Oxshott. Arrives at
10:30
Return: 15:00 from Oxshott to London Waterloo, arrives in
Waterloo at 15:37. If we miss this train, there are trains every
30 mins.
Cost: £6.00 for a cheap day return from London
Waterloo to Oxshott.
Meet: At London Waterloo station at 9:40.
I'll be stood outside the ticket office in my ULMC t-shirt, but if
you can't spot me give me a ring
on
my mobile: 07806565375
Contact: Paul