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
Sunday 23 April. Greensand Way, Hills & Heather Circular
(Note: Website previously had the wrong day but correct date.)
Attractive route with dramatic views across the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty starts and finishes at Haslemere Station. The route will take us through some trees and then up the ‘mighty?Gibbet Hill, standing at a ‘tall?272 metres, providing a nice lunch spot with a view ?so as usual, bring lunch. We’ll then walk through some more forest, a few fields then over a river to Grayswood. After Grayswood there is yet more forest, followed by fields, then forest, then fields, then back over the river to Haslemere. The route is approximately 13 miles, so we'll be doing a half marathon, rather easier (and at slower pace) than for those running the London marathon on this day. For those who are pushed for time or tired there is a main road between Grayswood and Haslemere that provides a much quicker route back. There are also bus services available between Grayswood and Haslemere.
Travel details:
Outward: 10:00 train from London Waterloo to Haslemere, arrives 11:09.
Return: From Haslemere 17:17 or 17:42, arriving back at Walterloo at 18:22 or 18:52.
Cost: £9.40 for a cheap day return to Haslemere
Meet: 9:40 at London Waterloo station
Contact: Paul
Saturday 06 May. Sewage and Celebrity
Starting from Liverpool Street station, we shall walk to Regents canal junction with Kingsland Road, follow canal along through Victoria Park down to Mile End Park to the Thames/Limehouse basin, then along Limehouse Cut to Bromley by Bow past Three Mile Studios, Big Brother House and along the Greenway. From there, we'll head back to Victoria Park along the Hertford Union Canal, and back along to Liverpool Street. Distance 11 miles. As always, bring a packed lunch
We will visit pubs if requested by participants.
Meet:
As this walk is in London, there isn't any train travel. However, Liverpool Street station is a convenient meeting place. Meet outside the ticket office at 11 am.
Cost: Your own travel to Liverpool Street and possibly a bus at the end.
Contact: Flora
Saturday 13 May. Thames Estury Walk (aka. Essex - you know you'll love it)
Starting in the small town of Stanford-le-Hope, we'll be passing through lovely towns like Fobbing, through glorious Fobbing and Vange marshes (do bring suitable walking shoes!), making a small visit to English Heritage Hadleigh Castle... finally, ending at a splendid pub in Leigh-on-Sea. One of the best pubs in England, so quotes my boss, an Aussie who likes his drink! If we have time, and we're all feeling ambitious enough, we can walk the extra 4 km to the larger town of Southend-on-Sea and have another drink! Distance: easy-peasy 18 km across very flat ground, ranging from 5-10 m above sea-level
Travel details:
Outward: 09:50 train from London Fenchurch Street, arrives 10:40 Stanford-le-Hope
Return: 17:12 departing Leigh-on-Sea, arrives 18:13 London Fenchurch Street
Cost: £7.20 for cheap day return from London to Southend
Meet: 9:30 at London Fenchurch Street Station
Contact: Cyndi
Saturday 27 May. Hitchin to Ashwell & Morden
Seems a long while since I've led a day walk, so here is an offering. Starting from Hitchin station, we'll leave the town, passing the site of a Roman settlement. As well as some trees and rolling countryside, we should pass a windmill, before decending the chalk scarp to Ashwell & Morden station. 14.5 miles.
An optional extension is to catch the train from Ashwell & Morden to Cambridge where there is a beer festival on. Assuming it isn't raining, this is a marquee full of beer, with grass outside to sit and drink on. Possibly 4th biggest beer festival in the country. Food is available. Entry £2.50 See: http://www.cambridge-camra.org.uk/2006/cbf.html
Travel Details
Outward: 10:09 Train from London Kings Cross to Hitchin. Arrives 10:44. Also calls Finsbury Park at 10:14.
Return: 17:17 train from Ashwell & Morden, arrives Kings Cross 18:13
(For those going to the beer festival, the last train from Cambridge leaves 22:58, arrives 00:13)
Cost (with railcard) £9.70 for a cheap day return to Ashwell & Morden (or if going to the beer festival £11.60 to Cambridge)
Meet: On train (near the front) or in Kings Cross at the ticket office by platforms 9-11 at 9:50.
Contact: Mike
Saturday 10 June. Berkhamsted Common
Starting from Berkhamsted we shall pass Berkhamsted castle, then up to Grim's Ditch and possibly seeing a Vineyard in England! We can then explore Berkhampsted Common, an area of National Trust Woodland. We will finish by walking along part of the Grand Union canal path to Tring Station.
Travel Details
Outward: 10:54 train from London Euston to Berkhamsted. Arrives 11:23
Return: 17:25 train from Tring to London Euston. Arrives 18:10
Cost: £7.00 for a cheap day return to Tring
Meet: 10:30 at London Euston
Contact: Mike
Saturday 24 June. Epping Forest
Starting from Manor Park station, East London, we will walk north right through the forest for a total of 15 miles finally reaching Epping, Essex. At Epping there is a central line tube station from where people can make there way home. It might sound far, but most of the walking will be on tracks and we will never be more than a mile or two from a tube or suburban rail station. Therefore there will always be an opportunity to escape for those who don't want to go the whole distance. On our journey we will pass a number of exciting stops, including the distinctive Queen 'Elizabeth Hunting Lodge' and 'Green Ride' a cut through the forest made in 1880 so the Queen could go on a commemorative carriage ride. We then pass an Iron Age defensive structure dating from arond 500BC where, according to legend, a British uprising was crushed by the Romans in 60AD. Finally we walk over the top of the M25 - which, to protect the forest, runs right underneath it - and reach Epping tube station.
Travel Details
Outward: 10:02 train from London Liverpool Street to Manor Park. Arrives at 10:14.
Return: Central line trains from Epping, make your own way home from here, around 17:00-17:30.
Cost: £2.00 for a standard day single from London Liverpool Street to Manor Park (which is in Zone 3/4). For the return journey, Epping tube station is in zone 6.
Meet: 9:40 at London Liverpool Street.
Contact: Paul
Sunday 02 July. Saffron Walden
A walk in North Essex, which is actually very nice. (Forget the usual Essex stereotypes, they are not expected on this walk!) So from Audley End station, taking in Audley End House, Saffron Walden maze and hopefully some nice sunshine! Approximately 10 miles.
Travel Details
Outward: 09:58 train from London Liverpool Street to Audley End, calling Tottenham Hale 10:10. Arrives at 10:57.
Return: 17:09 train from Audley End to London Liverpool Street, arrives 18:13 (Tottenham Hale 17:57)
Cost: £10.55 (£7.90 from Tottenham Hale) for a cheap day return to Audley End
Meet: On the train or at London Liverpool Street.
Contact: Mike
Saturday 15 July. Kew Gardens, Thames Towpath and Richmond Park
Walk from Kew Gardens, through the Royal Botanic Gardens and into Syon Park. Then walk along Thames Towpath into Old Deer Park. From here walk through Richmond into Richmond Park then into Wimbledon Common and Wimbledon Park finally finishing in Wimbledon High Street, where we will walk past Wimbledon station (for district line services and national rail back into central London) onto South Wimbledon station, which is just down the road, for Northern line services. Distance: Approximately 12miles.
Travel details
Outward: Train to Kew Gardens (District line)
Return: Make your own way home from Wimbledon station or South Wimbledon station.
Meet: Kew Gardens at 9:45am.
Contact: Paul
Saturday 22 July. Berrylands to Richmond via Hampton court and Thames Towpath
Get the train from London Waterloo to Berrylands. From here we will walk through Berrylands, past a sewage works, over the Thames and along the Thames footpath to Hampton Court. We will then head north and east through Hampton Court Deer park back over the River Thames and then up north along the river until we reach Richmond. The walk will be approximately 12 miles long, please bring lunch
Travel details
Outward: 10:06 train from London Waterloo to Berrylands. Arrives at 10:30
Return: Make your own way home from Richmond at around 16:30 (District line and national rail services).
Cost: £2.40 for a standard day single from Waterloo to Berrylands and a similar price back from Richmond
Meet: London Waterloo at 9:45.
Contact: Paul