Some upcoming themed walks and cycle rides

 Themed Winter Walks in 2023

• 18 February - Up the Creek without an Oar - Faversham
• 4 March - Terrible Tudors - Sittingbourne to Teynham
• 1 April - Charing Crossroads - Charing near Ashford

More of the Midweek Hidden London series of walks (distances 3 to 5 miles) based on the following simple concept:  
Meet at around noon or 1pm from a tube station
Partway through the walk, we stop for a late lunch/afternoon tea/coffee or whatever at a cafe/eatery.  

These will include:

• Notting Hill Walk 
• Islington Walk
• Highgate Walk
• Brixton and Brockwell Park Walk
• Inns of Court Walk Walk
• East Rotherhithe Walk
• Spitalfields and Whitechapel Walk
• Lost City Walk
• Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia Walk

Summer cycle rides

Martello Towers and 12th century Abbey Cycle Ride 23 miles

Crab and Winkle and Thanet coast cycle ride 24 miles  Woods, Cliffs, Sea and Sky

Surrey/Sussex lost railway cycle ride Christ's Hospital to Shoreham 23 miles

Lost Sussex railways cycle ride: Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells 23 miles

Surrey/Sussex lost railway cycle ride Christ's Hospital to Guildford

Lost Railway, Tudor Tower, Jam Factory and Cycle Ferry Ride (from Rowhedge across the River Colne)

Low Weald of Kent cycle ride: beautiful countryside to the west of Ashford around Pluckley and Smarden

Dedham AONB Cycle Ride  Manningtree to Bures

Cycle to the sea (actually the Blackwater estuary but it looks like the sea)

Cycle Canterbury to Deal  Across Kent from the Cathedral city of Canterbury to the beautiful olde-worlde seaside town of Deal via Fordwich (Britain's tiniest town) and historic Sandwich

Exploring the mysterious 5th Continent  by bike v1 Ashford to Folkestone

Exploring the mysterious 5th Continent by bike v2 Appledore to Rye

Highlights of a few recent walks and cycle rides

Martello Towers and 12th century Abbey Cycle Ride 23 miles 

We cycled out of Great Bentley south to St Osyths where we stopped to look at what remains of the great abbey of St Osyths, then further south to the coast at Seawick and then followed Cycle Route 150 through Clacton and Frinton to Walton on the Naze passing 5 Martello Towers. When we got to Walton explored the Naze nature reserve and admire the fantastic views and the old sea mark tower.

Lost Sussex railways cycle ride: Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells 23 miles

We cycled out of Three Bridges along the Worth Way to East Grinstead  then along Forest Way which is within the High Weald AONB  to Groombridge. Both cycle paths follow the lost railway that once ran between Crawley and Tunbridge Wells. 

Canterbury Bridges. A walk round Canterbury crossing over 30 bridges and looking at islands and watermills.

Pill Box Safari. A walk tracing the history of wartime pill boxes along the River Medway before exploring the scenic countryside round Hildenborough.

Isle of Harty  A walk exploring the remote Isle of Harty.

Stairway to Heaven. A walk round Haysden Country Park, Barden Lake, the Bidborough Ridge, the Straight Mile and Haysden Water reservoir. 

Socially distanced outdoor recreation restarts on 29th March!

What is currently planned and more provisional events are likely to be added to the list as we get closer to the end of lockdown so keep coming back to check!

 

  

 Cycle Rides

 

• Beginners half day cycle ride: Shenfield to Harold Wood. Lovely quiet Essex woods and lanes and a country park with a huge herd of wild deer. This ride is aimed at people  interested in doing easy day rides (see below) but not sure about mileage or keeping up with a group.
•  Easy day ride: Shenfield to Harlow Mill Quet Essex woods and lanes, wide skies and old churches
•  Easy day ride: Sawbridge to Ware: Quiet Herts lanes and rivers
• Easy day ride: Ingatestone to Harold wood: Lovely quiet Essex woods and lanes and a country park with a huge herd of wild deer 
• Chesham to Albury Cycle Ride
• Cold Christmas on Easter Sunday Cycle Ride 

 

   Walks

 

 Taste of Freedom series

• Friday 2nd April, Woolwich to Falconwood 7.3 miles
• Saturday 3rd April Grove Park to Crystal Palace 8.1 miles
• Sunday 4th April Highgate to Hackney Wick 9.6 miles.

 

 Kentish Variations series

Each month there will be a walk in the footsteps of medieval knights - or to be more honest, a 21st century attempt to roughly walk where knights riding out from Tonbridge Castle in the Middle Ages had more sense and rode horses to avoid the mud. These walks will all be centred on the area around Tonbridge which is easy to get to by train. The rough plan for these is as follows:

• April. Penshurst and Chiddingstone. 9-10 miles linear from Penshurst to Leigh
• May. The Darling Buds of May. 12-13 miles figure-of-8 from Paddock Wood
  
• June. Shipbourne and Fairhill. 14-15 miles circular from Tonbridge.
  
• July. Plaxtol and Fairlawne. 13-14 miles circular from Tonbridge
  
• August. Somerhill and Tudeley. 11-12 miles circular from Tonbridge
  
• September. Leigh and Bidborough. 11-12 miles figure-of-8 from Leigh
  
• October. Hildenborough and the history of pillboxes. 10-11 miles circular from Tonbridge

Each month there will also be a walk a bit further afield in Kent (or Sussex). The rough plan for those is as follows:

• April. Great Expectations (North Kent Marshes). 11 miles circular from Higham
• May. The Darling Buds of May. 13-14 miles from Pluckley
• June. Rewilding Rewind. 11 miles circular from Wadhurst
• July. The Hoo Peninsula. 11 miles circular from Strood. Subject to tides 
• August. Broadwater Warren and the Sandstone Rocks of the Weald. 10 miles circular from Tunbridge Wells
• September. Isle of Harty. 10 miles from Leysdown-on-Sea. Subject to bus travel becoming easier
• October. Canterbury Bridges. 6 miles circular from Canterbury

When social distancing has eased, it is hoped that there will be a Great Plague day walk and a couple of evening walks in London.

 

 

London Country Way - a lost orbital walking route around London

Many of you will be familiar with the Capital Ring and the London Loop, but how many know about the London Country Way, an older and longer orbital walking route around London?

Despite the name, the London Country Way is entirely outside Greater London and runs through the counties surrounding London. The second edition to guidebook to the route was published in 1981 and is long out of print.

We are planning to do the London Country Way over the next couple of years starting in Spring next year loosely following an updated guide to the route published online by http://desdemoor.blogspot.co.uk/p/london-countryway.html.

There are 22 stages, each one easily accessible by public transport from London.  

The route includes: 3 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 2 National Nature Reserves, 2 Community Forests, 1 Regional Park plus numerous other green spaces, nature reserves, heritage sites.  As you would expect the scenery is incredibly varied ranging from downs to fens to Chilterns to forests.

Details to follow in due course.

What sort of walks do we do

Walks, hikes, rambles, whatever you call them, are the backbone of our outdoor calendar (highlighted in grey).  We normally have around three walks every week.

Many are day walks ranging from 8 to 16 miles while others are shorter afternoon or evening walks

Some day walks are in the countryside surrounding London in the Oyster Card Zones and others further out in South east England:  North and South Downs, Chilterns, Sussex and Kent coasts.  We normally use public transport to access the start and of walks as this makes it easy to organise and get to from any part of London.  It also enables us to do many linear walks rather than being restricted to circular walks.

Sometimes we stop at pubs for lunch, but you are welcome to bring your own sandwiches.

Many of our trips away are based around walks - walking weekends or longer to the Lake District, Scottish and Welsh mountains, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District and coastal and moorland areas.  We usually have several walking trips abroad to places such as the Dolomites and alps.  

Why not try us out?  Non-members can come on up to three walks (or other outdoor events) to try us out for FREE.

So check out our events calendar, choose a walk, cycle ride or other type of event and come along and find out what you've been missing.  Photos of various various walks, cycle rides and trips away 

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New Members Walk: Windsor (Central) to Cookham via Thames Path – 11 (flat) miles, April 1st

New members walks are a great way for existing, prospective and new members to find out more about CLOG.

This walk heads away from Windsor (Central) (NOT Windsor & Eton Riverside) and it's dominating Castle out to open fields alongside the Thames. The walk follows the riverside path.

After about 6 miles of open countryside the Thames comes into Bray and on into Maidenhead, with its many large houses and its famous railway bridge.

 This bridge is thought to be the one painted by JWM Turner in his painting ‘Rain, Steam, Speed’.  We’ll try out its ‘singing arch’ before taking lunch either by the river or at Blue River Café (Main courses from £10 to £15 e.g. Roast £10.95 with lighter meal options).   Those wanting a shorter walk can depart for Maidenhead Station.

 Beyond Maidenhead, cliffs line the North Bank of the river as the Thames Path heads briefly away from the river into the attractive village of Cookham where we’ll take Tea.

Trains:  Take the 09:50 from London Paddington to Slough (arrives 10:06 at platform 5) and change for the 10:12 (departs platform 1) to Windsor (Central) arrives 10:18.  We’ll be returning from Cookham trains at XX:21 past the hour. 

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Walk Leading for Newbies

Never led a walk before?   Perfect!  This is a great opportunity to give it a whirl.  

Don't know where to go or unsure of navigational ability?  No problem!  

How about the Thames path?   

You will be following a big river so getting lost is not an option. Here are the route descriptions for the various stages: 

Or the Lee Valley walk?  

You are following a different river/canal so ditto.  Here are the route descriptions for the various stages: 

Don't like walks following water?  

How about the Green Chain (a waymarked route for the hills, fields commons, parks, woods, and other open spaces in SE London).  As some of these sections are fairly short, you may need to string a couple together.

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/green-chain-walk   

Other suggestions can be found at  https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/walking/top-walking-routes

Our links page contains yet more links to different websites with walk descriptions/ideas

LOOP Led By As Many People As Possible Project (LBAMPAPP)

The London Loop (aka London Outer Orbital Path) is a 150 mile signed walk along footpaths, through parks, woods and fields around the edge of Outer London. It combines beautiful open spaces like Hainault Forest Country Park and Bushy Park with historic buildings such as Hall Place and Black Jack's Lock & Mill)

Starting just before last Christmas and and continuing through 2017 (the 80th anniversary year of CLOG, founded in 1937), we have a project to complete the whole walk with the sections led by different people. 

Erith Pier

The project kicked off with an 8.5 mile starting at Erith on the river Thames in south-east London, and following the Darenth and Cray rivers to Old Bexley, with a stop at Hall Place Tudor mansion on the way where we finished with a Christmassy drink in a lovely pub with a roaring fire. 

Another pier at Erith

The second segment  was  just over 7 miles from Bexley High Street to Jubilee Country Park, following the river Cray for part of the route, then parks and open areas, Footscray meadows and church, towards Sidcup where we had lunch at 18th century Sidcup Place.  From there we walk through Scadbury park, and into Jubilee Country Park, finishing at Petts Wood station.

Scadbury manor surrounded by a moat of ice

The third stage is on 25th February and goes from Petts Woods to Hayes.  This 10 mile section passes through attractive countryside with strong links to Charles Darwin who described the countryside around the village of Downe as 'the extreme verge of the world'.  

Jubilee Country Park

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New Members Walk: Magna Carta walk 8 miles, January 28th

New members walks are a great way for existing, prospective and new members to find out more about CLOG.

Our walk heads out from Staines Station along the redeveloped riverside to the meadows of Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was signed. The meadows soon give way to residential properties of Wraysbury where we will take lunch either packed by the river or, if they can accommodate us, at the Harvester, Old Windsor. We then head along the edges of Windsor Great Park crossing the river twice (who knows who we might see) through the attractive village of Datchet and finally into Windsor itself for tea. Train home from Windsor and Eton Riverside. Buy a return to Windsor and Eton Riverside as this covers you for both journeys. 

Where: We’ll meet at Staines Station on the platform.

When: 10:40

How to get there: Get the 09:52 train from London Waterloo which calls at Clapham Junction at 10:00 and Richmond at 10:09 arriving at Staines at 10:25.

For more information including any updates, see our event calendar

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Country walks near London - Lazy Tuesday walks

The clocks have gone back and the shorter days are with us again but don't think of hibernating during the winter months. 

The Lazy Tuesday walks are restarting for the months between November and March.  These are country walks near London starting and finishing at stations within Zone 6 or just outside.  They are in the range of 5.5 to 8.5 miles with nice pub lunches and/or tea and cakes in cafes.

The idea is to NOT to get up at the crack of dawn and (if possible) to have "bail out" options in case of bad weather (not guaranteed).  These walks will also be subject to a Weather Check on Monday evening.  If the forecast is too dodgy, the walk will be rescheduled until later in the week. so if you are planning to come one one of these, always check our web calendar after 9pm the day before.

These are another good opportunity for prospective members or those just thinking about joining to meet existing members and find out more about CLOG

The following are planned for November and December - these are repeats of walks I did last winter and in the New Year I will be trying out some new Lazy Tuesday walks.

Banstead Downs, Oaks Park and Woodmansterne:  6 miles

A pleasant Autumn walk along Banstead Downs, 2 golf courses, a prison, Oaks Park, Woodmansterne and back to Bansteadstation by field paths.   Starts and finishes in Banstead so you can use your Oyster Card.

6 Commons Walks (circular walk from Esher) 6 miles.  

This walk includes Littleworth Common, Arbrook Common, Oxshott Heath, Esher Common, Fairmile Common, West End Common as well as Sandown Park Race Course and the Scilly Isles.  Starts and finishes at Esher (just outside Oyster zones, so you need a cheap day return)

Surrey Valleys and the ladder of salvation 5.5 miles

A hilly circular walk from Caterham, taking in the ancient and unusual church of St Peter and St Paul at Chaldon, Coulsdon Common and Kenley Aerodrome.  The Norman church contains the oldest known wall paintings in Britain, dating from the 12th century which vividly portray theLadder of Salvation which souls must climb to reach paradise. http://www.chaldonchurch.co.uk/chaldon-mural.  These wall paintings really are as amazing as the website picture shows.  The church is supposed to be open daily so we should be able to see murals.

Starts at Caterham and finishes at Whyteleafe on the same line (both in Oyster zone 6)

Dollis Valley Greenwalk 5miles
A linear walk from Totteridge & Whetstone tube to Hampstead Heath.  We mostly follow the Dollis through parks and woods, including a nice view of the Mill Hill viaduct.   The walk is either paved or else firm underfoot so hopefully no deep quagmire.

The walk officially finishes at the Hampstead Heath Extension and then we drop down to Golders Green station and Cafe Persia for afternoon tea near the station.

Lost Railways in North London walk 5 miles
A lost railway, overgrown platforms, disused stations, and abandoned Tunnels.

Meet Finsbury Park tube station at 6:30 main exit (Station Place exit near National Rail entrance). Finsbury Park has 3 exits so make sure you are at the correct exit.

We will be walking through a green corridor following the course of railway lines that once ran from Finsbury Park through Stroud Green, Crouch End, Highgate, and Muswell Hill to AllyPally.  It is London's longest Local Nature Reserve complete with bats, squirrels, wildflowers, butterflies, and even the occasional munjac deer.

Bentley Priory and 2 commons walk 6.5 miles
This walk takes in the glorious birchwoods of Harrow Weald and Stanmore Commons, and Bentley Priory, the 18th century mansion where the Battle of Britain was masterminded, with its deer park

Lunch will be at The Hare in Old Redding.  There is also the possibility of a coffee and cake at the end at one of the many coffee in Stanmore, possibly Browns Cafe (which has good reviews)

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150 mile London Loop walk Led By As Many People As Possible Project

The London Loop (aka London Outer Orbital Path) is a 150 mile signed walk along footpaths, through parks, woods and fields around the edge of Outer London. 

It combines beautiful open spaces like Hainault Forest Country Park and Bushy Park with historic buildings such as Hall Place and Black Jack's Lock & Mill)

I'm sure many of you will know something about the London Loop but how many of you have actually done it?

Starting this Winter and continuing through next year (our 80th anniversary year) we have a project to complete the whole walk with the sections led by as many different people as possible - and yes that does means you!

A link is included on the weekly Hotline Email so that members can bag your favourite section(s).

Hazel is kicking off the project with an 8.5 mile walk in December starting at Erith on the river Thames in south-east London, and follows the Darenth and Cray rivers to Old Bexley, with a stop at Hall Place Tudor mansion on the way. Hall Place will no doubt be decked for Christmas, as will Bexley village, where we will finish with a Christmassy drink in one of the cosy pubs.

For details of this segment and all the others, see our web calendar.



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New Members Walk: Wimbledon and Richmond walk 8 miles

Meet at Wimbledon Park (District Line Wimbledon Branch) station entrance at 11am. We will walk across Wimbledon Park, Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park ending at Richmond Station. You can buy  Lunch at the cafe in Wimbledon Common by the windmil lor bring a packed lunch).

It is a good opportunity for prospective members or those just thinking about joining to meet existing members and find out more about CLOG

If time allows  and the group agrees we may stop for tea in or before  Richmond.

This walk is 85% over open country. WE are likely to see deer in Richmond Park. Please note that there are very limited opprtunities to drop out of this walk before the end. 

The distance is about 8 miles

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