Sat 6 Mar A view of the Medway Circular 20ml. Start 8.45 Sole Street stn Kent. Depart London Victoria 7.58. Long morning via Wealdway, Shorne woods, Cobham Park with lunch c1.30 at the White Hart in Cuxton or picnic. Expect mud. Aim to finish for 16.49 return train. Joint walk with LDWA Kent. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sun 14 Mar Eastbourne circular 20ml. Start Eastbourne stn 10:13 (Meet at the ticket barriers on the station concourse). Depart London Victoria 8:47. Through historic Eastbourne inland on the South Downs Way to Jevington, Cuckmere valley for lunch, Friston Forest, panoramic viewpoint above Exceat, Seven Sisters, Birling Gap (tea), Beachy Head, returning inland to the railway station. Brisk pace. 45-minute picnic lunch; tea stop, time permitting. Estimated time of return trains departing 6:00/6:30. At the Chalkface. Map OS Exp 123. Ldr Clare Kirkbride 

Sun 21 Mar Hurst Green Circular c20ml. Start Hurst Green stn 9:45. Depart London Victoria 8:34 (direction Horsham, change at Purley). Return trains 32 mins past hr. Map OS Exp 146. Lunch at The Castle Inn, Outwood. Ldr Nick Marshall

Sat 27 Mar Cooling and the Hoo Peninsula Circular 23ml. Start Higham stn 8.43. Depart London Charing Cross 7.39. A walk round the Northern end of the Grain Peninsula, via Cliffe Fort, Cooling and the Saxon Shore Way. Lunch stop at High Halstow. Map: OS Exp 163. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Summer time. Sun 29 Mar Clocks go forwards 0:00 -> 1:00

Sat 3 Apr Glynde circular 20ml. Start Glynde stn 10:14 (or 10:37 if Easter Sat follows Sunday rail timetable). Meet at the ticket barriers on the station concourse. Depart London Victoria 8:47, change at Lewes. Southwards to the South Downs Way, along the crest of the downs, lunching in the Cuckmere valley, then west to Cradle Hill and Norton village, afterwards north to Firle and Glynde. Brisk pace. 45-minute picnic lunch; tea stop, time permitting. Estimated time of return trains departing 6:00/6:30. Glyndingly beautiful scenery compensating for glindingly undulating route. Map OS Exp 123. Ldr Clare Kirkbride

Sat 10 Apr A promenade from Pangbourne 22ml. Start Pangbourne stn 9:02. Depart London Paddington 8:15, change at Reading. Lunch at the Red Lion, Upper Basildon. Ldr Steve Singleton

Sat 17 Apr Forest Way 25ml. Start Loughton stn (Central Line) 09:00. A route following the footpaths and ancient green lanes between Epping Forest and Hatfield Forest. Possible pub stop. At finish buses to Chelmsford or Bishops Stortford or walk with leader to Stansted Airport. Ldr Rob Myers

Sat 24 Apr Selling, Chilham and Wye Circular 26ml. Start Selling stn 8:51. Depart London Victoria 7:33. A walk round East Kent via the Stour Valley and the North Downs Way. Lunch Stop at Hastingleigh. Train users buy returns to Selling. Map: OS Exp 137 and 149. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sun 2 May Polegate circular 22ml. Start Polegate stn 9:35 (Meet at the ticket barriers on the station concourse). Depart London Victoria 8:17. Along the Cuckoo Trail briefly, then through Abbot's Wood, taking the Vanguard Way to Chiddingly (late lunch), Wealdway to Hellingly, part of the Cuckoo Trail skirting Hailsham back to Abbot's Wood and Polegate. Brisk pace. 45-minute picnic lunch; tea stop, time permitting. Estimated time of return trains departing 6:00/6:30. Pretty as a picture in deepest Sussex. Map OS Exp 123. Ldr Clare Kirkbride 

Sat 8 May High Weald Woodland c. 20ml. Circular from Robertsbridge stn. Start 9:07.  Depart London Charing Cross 7:45 Pub or picnic lunch. Map Exp 124. Ldr. Jerome Ripp

Sun 16 May Hitchin Circular 18ml. Start Hitchin stn 9.21.  Depart London Kings Cross 8.52.  Lunch in small cyclist's cafe or bring a picnic.  Two fast and 1 slow return trains per hour. Ldr Kathy LoRaso

Sat 22 May Ham Street to Rye Linear 25ml. Start Ham Street stn 8.39. Depart London Charing Cross 7.00. Change at Ashford. Train users buy returns to Rye . A walk through east Kent into East Sussex via The Saxon Shore Way, The High Weald Landscape Trail, The Sussex Border Path and River Rother. Lunch stop at Wittersham. Map: OS Exp 125. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Mon 31 May Lewes Circular 20ml. Start Lewes stn 9.58. Depart London Victoria 8.47. Southwards beside the Ouse to Southease, then inland uphill to Telscombe and Pickers Hill, lunchtime picnic 45 minutes at Kingston in the valley. Jugg's Track north uphill to Housedean and Blackcap, descend to Offham and Lewes. Possible tea stop in Cliffe/Lewes. Map OS Exp 122. Ldr Clare Kirkbride

Sat 5 Jun "Brighton Rock" Circular 24ml. Start Brighton stn 9.00. Bring picnic lunch. Another long summer day with several hills to climb. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sat 19 Jun Redhill circular 23ml. Start Redhill st 9:15. Walk eastwards along the Greensand Way. Visit famous musicians' graves at Limpsfield church. Return along North Downs Way to Redhill. Regular trains to/from London Victoria and London Bridge stations. Pub lunch at The Barley Mow, Tandridge. Maps Exp 146 and 147. Ldr Sally Adams 

Sat 26 Jun Fishersgate to Ferring Linear 25ml. Start Fishersgate stn 9:03. Depart London Victoria 7:47. Finish at Goring by Sea stn. A walk along The South Downs via Fulking Hill, Truleigh Hilland Highdown Hill. Lunch stop at Washington. Maps: OS Exp 121 & 122. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sun 4 Jul Battle to Hastings 20ml. Start Battle stn 10:38. Depart London Waterloo 9:17. Along the 1066 Country Walk and the Saxon Shore Way. Lunch in Icklesham. Ldr Peter Buchwald

Sat 10 July Alton circular 22ml. Start Alton stn 09:38. Depart London Waterloo 08:30. Two return trains per hour. Hangars Way to pub lunch at Hawkley then return by a different route. Map OS 133. Ldr Lonica Vanclay

Sat 17 July Hassocks to Shoreham by Sea c24ml. Linear walk over the South Downs. Start Hassocks stn 9.27. Depart London Victoria 8.26 direct or London Bridge also 8.26 and change at Haywards Heath  for 9.17 to Hassocks. Buy a return ticket to Shoreham by Sea. Drivers may also wish to park at Haywards Heath and catch the 9.17 train to Hassocks as there are no direct return trains from Shoreham by Sea to Hassocks . There  are frequent connections via Brighton  which take slightly longer. Pub lunch in Upper Beeding or bring a picnic. Ldr Margaret Romanski

Sat 24 & Sun 25 Jul Summer on the Downs - Plumpton Green to Eastbourne Linear 62ml (100km). WARNING: UNSUPPORTED WALK. All participants must imperatively register with Mike prior to undertaking the walk. We won't accept anyone who just turns up at the start without having previously been duly selected for this walk, as it involves an entire night walk without any support provided whatsoever. Start Plumpton stn 9.45 Saturday. Depart London Victoria 8.47. Finish at Eastbourne stn on Sunday morning. A 100km day and night walk on the Sussex Downs. Early trains on Sunday from Eastbourne back to London and Plumpton. Picnic lunch on Saturday. Main stop at Rottingdean (25miles) for evening meal and provisions. Free 24 hour parking at Plumpton Station for drivers. Maps: OS Exp 122 and 123. Joint walk with LDWA Kent. Ldr Mike Ratcliff.

Sat 31 Jul Greensand Way Linear Walk Part 4 19ml. Start Oxted stn. Depart London Victoria. Frequent return trains from Sevenoaks to Charing Cross. Lunch Emmetts Gardens (National Trust. Ldr Susanne Waldschmidt. This is the fourth of a series of walks Susanne will lead over the next few years covering the entire Greensand Way

Sun 8 Aug Circular around Caterham 24ml. Start Woldingham stn 8.42. Depart London Victoria 7.34. A walk through the Surrey Hills via the Vanguard Way, the North Downs Way and the London Loop. Lunch stop at Chelsham. Map: OS Exp 146. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sun 15 Aug East Croydon to Oxted 20+ml. Meet East Croydon stn 9.00. A walk in Surrey through rural coutryside but also some less delightful urban walking! Lunch TBA. Ldr Dave Williams

Sat 21 Aug Chiltern Choice c15ml. Start Wendover stn (Chiltern Rail) 9.45. Depart London Marylebone 8.57. Via Dunsmore, Hampdens, Bledlow, following Icknield way and Ridgeway via Ellesborough and Coombe Hill back to Wendover. Pub lunch Gt Hampden or Lacey Green. Hilly and quite possibly muddy. Ldr Julian Mason

Sat 28 Aug "The Western South Downs" 22ml. Start Winchester stn 8.40. Depart London Waterloo 7.35. Circular walk covering parts of South Downs Way, Monarchs Way, Itchen Way and Kings Way. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sat 4 Sep Ardingly and Weir Wood circular 24ml. Start Balcombe stn 8.21. Depart London Bridge 7.41. A walk through West Sussex via two reservoirs, The Ouse Valley Way and The High Weald Landscape Trail. Lunch stop at West Hoathly. Map: OS Exp 135. Ldr Mike Ratcliff
 

Sat 11 Sep Chappel Beer Festival Walk 22 ml. Start Colchester stn 09:00 Depart London Liverpool Street 08:00. A morning walk around Colchester is followed by a pub lunch at the Forresters, and an afternoon walk to Chappel and Wakes Colne. After the walk there will be an optional visit to the Chappel Beer Festival at the East Anglian Railway Museum with choice of 450 Real Ales. Buy return tickets to Colchester. Ldr Rob Myers

Sun 26 Sep Founders Challenge Marshal's walk. Ldr Don Newman

Sat 2 Oct John Merrill's Epping Forest Challenge Walk 23 ml. Start Waltham Cross stn 09.01. Depart London Liverpool Street 08.28. A walk around Epping Forest past places associated with Queen Boadicea followed by a stretch of River Lea Navigation. Pub Lunch High Beach. Ldr Rob Myers

Sat 16 Oct 1066 circular 24ml. Start Battle stn 9.11. Depart London Charing Cross 7.45. A walk in East Sussex via Darwell Reservoir and The 1066 Country Walk. Lunch stop at Woods Corner. Map: OS Exp 124. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sun 24 Oct Founders Challenge

Sat 30 Oct Around Goring Ldr Steve Singleton

Winter time. Sat 30 Oct Clocks go backwards 1:00 -> 0:00

Sat 4 Dec Biggin Hill circular 22ml. Start Knockholt stn 8.48. Depart London Cannon St 8.15. A walk in west Kent via the North Downs Way. Head torches just in case. Lunch stop at Downe. Map: OS Exp 147. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

Sat 11 Dec Linear Bexley to Docklands 20ml. Start Bexley stn 8.40 London Loop, Green Chain walk and Thames path. Finishing in Docklands. Ldr Jerome Ripp

Sun 19 Dec Thames Path - Abbey Wood to Westminster linear 20ml. Start Abbey Wood stn 9.05. Depart London Charing Cross 8.24. Finish back at Charing Cross stn. Regular trains back to Abbey Wood for drivers. A riverside walk through East London to the heart of the capital. Lunch stop at The Cutty Sark, Greenwich. Maps OS Exp 162 & 173. Joint walk with LDWA Kent. Ldr Mike Ratcliff

2011

Challenge Walks Full programme on National Site. We encourage all members to have a go at a challenge walk, if they haven't already. These are good fun and not necessarily competitive. You do need to be able to read a map and compass, though. There are several local challenge walks that have become something of an institution for London Group members. These are run by adjacent groups and are worthy of our support. Consequently we normally don't schedule a social walk to clash with any of these. Details of all these walks can be found in Strider or the Future Events section of the national website.

Leaders Please email any late changes and updated train information at least one week before the walk to the Walks Secretary and they will be posted onto the LDWA website.

Walkers If you diary an event in advance please check programme changes.
The site will be updated if walk leaders provide the information to the webadministrator in good time but this is no guarantee. Be sure to check for schedule changes and engineering works with National Rail or National Rail Enquiries Tel 08457 48 49 50

As there has been a spate of engineering works recently with significant alterations and delays to trains, please be sure to check for schedule changes and engineering works beforehand.

If you are travelling to a walk by train, why not register for your free BiTE card - this gives you a permanent 20% discount off food and drink at many catering outlets at railway stations in the UK - go to http://www.bitecard.co.uk/