What we’re about
Welcome to Chiltern Explorers a walking social group aiming to do a wide range of guided walks across the Chilterns and further afield exploring other fantastic British countryside.
Most of our walks start at a convenient tube or railway station and aim to get the best deals on any group save tickets for trains and try when possible to look for free car parking giving you as many travel options as possible.
All our walks are well researched, leaving you free to relax and enjoy the lovely scenery or urban views in the company of other like-minded individuals and of course you will be keeping fit. Most walks end with a well-deserved pub stop with a strong social ethos.
The walks are very varied with a relaxed feel, mainly around ten miles and at the weekend but some short walks from seven miles to longer faster paced walks of up to 20 miles and some mid-week walks. We are enthusiastic about photography and encourage sightseeing.
We are twined with a more city urban walking group London Explorers and often do events together. Chiltern explorers is based to the west of London in the gorgeous Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and also does a wide range of weekends away to other UK National Parks and other AONBs.
Chiltern Explorers is unusual for many outdoor meetup groups in that it currently only arranges the walks and leaves the accommodation up to the members giving members the option to go on the days they want and stay according to their budget, many members also car share for trips away. The weekends have a good social atmosphere and comradery.
The country walks have covered the Chiltern and Surrey hills, the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head and the Lake District amongst many others.
IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT WORLD HEALTH CRISIS I AM HOSTING SOME LIVE VIDEO EVENTS ON LONDON EXPLORERS & CHILTERN EXPLORERS MEETUP GROUPS.
I hope you decide to join us!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Farthing Downs, Happy Valley & Bluebells – Afternoon Country HikeUpper Warlingham Railway Station, Surrey£7.00
Walk length 12miles/19km approx. Linear.
A medium in length but hilly at times linear hike from Upper Warlingham to Oxted exploring the Farthing Downs, Happy Valley and sections of the North Downs Way and a few short urban sections.
Some sections of this hike goes through woodland sections that may display the spring delights of bluebells..
Lunch and Finish
Please bring a packed snack pack lunch and water for the hike. We should finish before 5.30pm, however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace (this is a complete day event and you are advised not to have definite events planned in the evening).
This is a medium hike in length and with undulating terrain as well as some short urban section sections, please ensure you are happy with this.
Transport & meeting
Meet outside Upper Warlingham Train Station for hike to start at 12.25pm, after the train arrives from London. The organizer is coming by train.
Train from London:
Meet from 11.20am at London Victoria to give us time to get tickets.
Meeting point the official meeting point symbol directly opposite the Upper Crust shop & the Gatwick Express entrance close to platform 13 & 14 (see photo below).The 11.50am from London Victoria gets to Upper Warlingham for 12.22pm. This is a linear hike but get a return to Oxted and we get off for the hike start at Upper Warlingham.
Cost
Train from £14.70 return from London to Oxted but with a group save (3 or more and must travel together) or individual network railcard could cheaper.
Walk Cost: £7 cash on the day organizer fee (For paypal it is 'colin45@hotmail.co.uk' Please send as friends and family to avoid charges. For bank transfer message organizer.
Car
Parking: close to Upper Warlingham train station or Oxted train station. This is a linear hike so you will have to collect your car from either the station at the start or the end station which are both on the same line.
We will use a classy pub very close to Oxted Station at the end, there are regular trains back to London.Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681..
Walking Safety
Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking shoes, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Chiltern-Explorers/pages/Terms_and_Conditions/)
COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE ME. MANY THANKS.
- Goring, Moulsford Downs & Thames – Long Hilly Country HikeGoring & Streatley Station Car Park, Reading£7.00
Walk length 15miles/24km approx. Circular.
A very scenic walk from Goring to Moulsford using a mixture of landscapes from woodland trails to river paths.
The hike starts from the small Chiltern Town of Goring-on-Thames, which has many historic buildings dating back to the 16th century before entering Streatley across the river and exploring the Mousford Downs and the Thames path.
The hike uses parts of a number of important national trails including the Ridgeway and the Thames Path. The Ridgeway is an ancient trail described by many as the oldest road in Britain and is about 87 miles long. The Thames Path follows the Thames River from its source near Kemble to the Thames Barrier at Charlton and is about 184 miles long.
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL HIKE WITH A NUMBER OF HILL CLIMBS AS WELL AS FLATTER RIVER SECTIONS.
Lunch and Finish
Please bring a snack lunch and water for the walk. The walk should finish at about 4.30pm and include a 30 min snack lunch stop and pub at the end, however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace.
Transport and meeting
Meet Outside Goring and Streatley station for the hike to start at 10.40am (after the train from London arrives).
By train: The 9.47am train from London Paddington (one change at Reading) gets to Goring and Streatley for 10.37am.
I would suggest you meet from 9.15am next to the WHSmith shop at London Paddington to give you time to get a group save/buy tickets (see photo below). The organizer will not be catching the train from London but will meet you at Goring.
£7 cash payable on the day guided walk & meetup costs. You can do paypal (colin45@hotmail.co.uk) please use friends and family with paypal to avoid charges. Bank transfer if you prefer, please contact the organizer.
Train price should be approx. £20 return with a groupsave or national railcard discount.
Please make a note of the organizers numbers - Colin 07709305681.
Walking Safety: Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You must wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking boots, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Chiltern-Explorers/pages/Terms_and_Conditions/)
COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE ME. MANY THANKS.
- Ditchling Beacon, Hollingbury & Brighton Seaside Swim – Country HikeBurgess Hill Train Station - Southern Railway, West Sussex£7.00
Walk length 13miles/20 km approx. Linear.
A very picturesque route from Burgess Hill via Ditchling Beacon to Brighton.
Ditchling Beacon commands a place as the third highest point on the South Downs at 814ft (American designations define a mountain as 1000ft!, getting close) with panoramic views, because of its defensive position it was also the site of an early Iron Age Hill fort.
The hike has a nice mixture of fields, ridge sections, hillforts as well as some urban sections into Brighton.
We pass Brighton station on the way to the seaside and at Brighton you have the option of seeing the seaside, shopping or having a social drink and maybe having a swim!
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL BUT MEDIUM LENGTH HIKE HIKE WITH A NUMBER OF GRADIENTS.
Lunch & Finish
Please bring a packed lunch & water for the hike. We should finish before 5pm which will include a 30 min snack lunch stop (rustic lunch stop in fields, no facilities) however the time may be earlier or later than this depending on the weather and pace (this is a complete day out and your are advised not to plan definite events for the evening).
Various meeting points see below..
The hike is linear and start from Burgess Hill Station at 11am.
Meeting at London: Meet from 9.30am at London Bridge Train station to get the 10.05am train arriving at Burgess Hill at 10.58am (get off at Burgess Hill but we return from Brighton so get a return ticket to Brighton.At London getting group saves at 9.30am (may have to queue, please be prompt so we can get tickets and board the train when announced they can get busy).
The meeting point is London Bridge Train Station. Meet next to the main ticket office opposite the WHSmith. See photo below.
Cost: Train £16.50 (Super Off-Peak Return) or less with a group save, network railcard or ordered online.
If driving to Burgess Hill be aware this is a linear hike and you will need to collect your car after the hike to Brighton, short single train journey.
Walk Cost: £7 cash on the day organizer fee (the host is a qualified London guide). For paypal it is 'colin45@hotmail.co.uk' Please send as friends and family to avoid charges. For bank transfer message organizer.Please make a note of the organizers number Colin 07709305681
Walking Safety
Walking is a great way to keep fit and generally very safe; however it does contain an element of risk. Before going on any of these walks you need to be reasonably fit and be prepared to be responsible for your own safety. You should wear appropriate clothing such as proper walking shoes, warm and wet weather clothing and carry sufficient food and water. Please see our Terms and Conditions (https://www.meetup.com/Chiltern-Explorers/pages/Terms_and_Conditions/)
COULD EVERYONE PLEASE AVOID COMMENTS BELOW THAT ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO THE EVENT AS THIS GENERATES SPAM, JUST CHANGE YOUR RSVP IF YOU CAN'T GO. YOU CAN MESSAGE ME. MANY THANKS.
