Outdooraholics London, Hiking & Adventure Travel 25 to 49ish

TRIP FULL AND SOLD OUT, however, anyone who posts below in the comments to sell their space if they appear on the attendee list then they have a fully paid space. Please purchase it from them direct and also let us know: info@outdooraholics.co.uk

Outdooraholics have hosted over 32 trips at this iconic mansion since 2013, making it the most popular hiking weekend of any Meetup groups in all of Europe. Let us show you why!

Welcome to the Lake District - a UNESCO World Heritage landscape that has captivated artists, poets, and adventurers for centuries. Our home for the weekend is a breathtaking Victorian mansion nestled on the banks of Lake Derwent. From here, we’ll explore England’s largest and most spectacular National Park, where rugged peaks reflect in pristine lakes, and every trail unveils stories of natural beauty and human creativity. Join us and discover why the Lake District is the birthplace of British mountaineering, attracts 18 million visitors annually, and has inspired legendary figures like Turner, Wordsworth, and Beatrix Potter.

HIGHLIGHTS

• A long weekend adventure – make the most of the Bank Holiday
• Stay in a historic Victorian mansion surrounded by lush woodland near Lake Derwent. We have hired this mansion exclusively for our group
• ALL hikes circular directly from the hostel – NO CARS required!
• Later Sunday start with a gentle hike after our party night
• Fully catered trip with delicious meals, including a group barbecue on Sunday
• Experience England’s largest National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visit iconic spots like Catbells and Causey Pike with breathtaking views
• Discover diverse landscapes: rugged peaks, tranquil lakes, and lush valleys
• Explore the Newlands Valley, backdrop to Beatrix Potter’s tales
• Walk in the footsteps of mountaineering pioneers and Romantic poets
• Party on Saturday night with disco lights and speakers

This is a great hike for seeing bluebells which are typically out by this time of year :-D

PLEASE NOTE - this is a shortened and less hilly version of our hike to the North Downs near Guildford. It is ideal for anyone new to hiking or those who would like a gentler, shorter hike that returns to London late afternoon so you have time to go home, smarten up and hit the town to enjoy your evening after a great day's hiking, exercising and socialising.

It is the shortest hike Outdooraholics does - please only sign up if you're happy with this shorter distance...

We’re off to the North Downs in Surrey - an area so spectacular it’s been designated an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This hike starts at the charming medieval town of Guildford which has a long and varied history dating back thousands of years to the Bronze Age and to the castle that the Normans built 1000 years ago.

Our hike reveals lush countryside, bright and open woodlands and follows the River Wey Canal which takes us up onto the stunning hill ridges of the North Downs Way. We visit an enchanting ancient church nestling on St Martha’s Hill with breathtaking panoramic views almost as far as the sea and of 7 counties. We finish in Guildford, passing the castle to get a glimpse of this picture postcard town.

This hike was designed and written by your guide Graham who was born and lived in Guildford to show you its undiscovered gems.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore the beautiful Surrey countryside Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Admire the far reaching views of St Martha's hill with its historic church
• Visit Guildford - Surrey's most significant ancient town with Bronze Age roots and see for yourself why it has attracted many famous residents.
• Follow the tranquil River Wey as it gently flows past willow trees
• Visit the enchanting ruins of the 14th century St Catherine's Chapel - which attracted the artist Turner to paint it in 1807 and 1808
• Hike along part of the North Downs Way - the 2nd most acclaimed long distance route in South East England
• Pass Guildford castle - dating back nearly 1000 years

HIKE DESCRIPTION

Guildford is best known for being a picturesque and quaint market town near London, but the countryside has far more to offer than most visitors discover beyond the cobbled streets and historical buildings. Famous past and current residents include Lewis Carroll - author of Alice in Wonderland, Jodie Kidd, Alan Turing, Terry Jones (the Monty Python writer) and Yvonne Arnaud. William Turner came to paint St Catherine's Church in 1707 and 1708 and his paintings now hang in the Tate Gallery.

Once in Guildford we hike along the picturesque River Wey canal where the nestled boat houses sit on this tranquil waterway leading us to the ruin of St Catherine's church. We then hike into Bluebell Woods where we join the ancient North Downs Way path along a ridge which has far reaching views. At the top of the hill we come to the remote and isolated St Martha’s church built in the 12th century.

MEETING POINT

We’re off to explore a stunning and ancient bit of the Kent countryside connected with two historical figures - Sir Winston Churchill and also the social activist and co-founder of the National Trust - Octavia Hill. Both of these giant figures had a lifelong love of the outdoors and we’re going to show you why with this fantastic hike through a gorgeous part of Kent (a county known as the "Garden of England").

We pass by Churchill’s family home along with other historical estates such as Emmetts Garden and Tenchleys Manor. Our trail takes us through several charming villages including Crockham Hill where Octavia Hill lived and we also visit Toys Hill (235m) which has far reaching views and the site of a former vast mansion with a few reminders reminders remaining that it was here.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the charming town of Oxted
• Pass the historical Country Houses of Tenchleys Manor and Emmetts Garden
• Pass the country mansion of Sir Winston Churchill - Chartwell
• Hike through Crockham Hill - the village where Octavia Hill lived and is buried
• Visit Toys Hill - the place which inspired Octavia Hill to found the National Trust
• Enjoy the countryside and rural beauty of Limpsfield Common and Westerham

HIKE DESCRIPTION

We start off in Oxted, a small town with pretty timber framed buildings, where the Greenwich meridian passes through the local school. From there we continue on to the Greensand Way, which goes across grassy meadows and leads to Limpsfield Common and the historic Tenchleys Manor built in 1599. We then continue onto Crockham Hill - home to Octavia Hill where she chose to be buried. Much of the land in the area was acquired for the National Trust through Octavia's efforts.

From the village we progress onto Chartwell to see the splendid adulthood home of Sir Winston Churchill. Following the picturesque views across the weald , we continue on to Toys Hill (235m) - a hamlet situated on the steep scarp slope of the Greensand Ridge which inspired Octavia Hill to create the National Trust. After admiring the views from Toys Hill, we hike to Emmetts Garden - an Edwardian estate located on Ide Hill and from there we return back to Oxted passing the quaint village of Westerham.

MEETING POINT

This hike is based mainly within the Royal Windsor Great Park and is a gorgeous hike with some history too plus we get to admire Windsor Castle - the largest inhabited castle in the world dating back nearly 1000 years. We explore the King's park surrounding the castle and its stunning 5,000 acres - home to more than 500 deer, some dreamy lakes and picture postcard flower gardens.

We hike along one of the most well known images of the royal grounds - the iconic view down the tree lined Long Walk towards Windsor Castle. Add to this sweeping deer lawns, ancient oak trees, far reaching hill views (you can see central London), tranquil rivers, several lakes and ponds and of course the enchanting flower gardens.

This is a hike we ONLY host in late April/early May - either month can be great for seeing Spring in and the stunning colours of the blossom and flowers.

Please note, this is less rural than our usual hikes and is based entirely within a landscaped Royal Park, often on tarmac tracks.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pass the mighty and ancient Windsor Castle
• Explore the exquisite Windsor Great Park home to magnificent ponds, lakes and a deer park
• Discover the spectacular 17th century architecture of Cumberland Lodge
• See the picturesque Virginia Waters Lake - designed to serve as a royal pleasure ground
• Experience the iconic views of “the Long Walk” towards Windsor Castle, where the funeral procession carriage entered Windsor Castle

HIKE DESCRIPTION

Our royal exploration begins in the town of Windsor as we hike right past the spectacular Windsor Castle. We then head along the tree lined 'Long Walk' in the Royal Estate's Windsor Great Park towards the 17th century Cumberland Lodge. The park is full of ancient houses and mansions which act as Grace and Favour homes for members of the family or loyal supporters.

A stroll through a forest then takes us to Obelisk Pond and Wick Pond and and on towards Virginia Water - a stunning lake originally created as a Royal pleasure ground. It is here that we discover the magnificent flowers and blossom of Spring.

Our way back takes us through the deer park and back onto the suitably named “Long Walk” offering truly iconic views towards the castle. We hike along the spectacular mile long tree lined avenue back to Windsor Castle.

MEETING POINT