Members must not attend CEDu3a walks if they or a close contact have recently been diagnosed with or shown any COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting test results or are self-isolating under Government guidance applicable at the time of the walk
| Date | Walk | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 30 June | North Downs Way : Bearsted to Lenham | Booking open |
| 7 July | Tring Gap Circular | Fully booked |
| 14 July | Lea Valley Park | Booking opens 27 June |
| 21 July | Lenham to Wye | Booking opens 4 July |
| 28 July | Lea Valley Park | Booking opens 27 June |
No bookings accepted before the stated dates and times
When booking a walk please only specify a date if there is unavoidable clash in your diary
Thursday 30 June 2022
North Downs Way #9: Bearsted to Lenham
11 miles / 17.5 km
N.B. Cumulative ascent of 368 metres (1200 feet)
We are unlikely to be back in central London before 6/6:30pm.
Fares approximately £16.75 with Senior Rail Card and Freedom Pass
Booking open
Priority will be given to members who have completed previous sections of this walk
From Bearsted Station, we retrace our steps to the village of Thurnham where we re-join the North Downs Way, continuing to climb until we reach the top of the escarpment near Thurnham Castle. In the morning there are numerous steep descents and ascents with about 50 steep steps each up and down. This makes the first half of the walk quite tiring and we can stop to replenish with water and snacks. Lunch will be approximately halfway through the route at about 2 p.m. After lunch the walk continues along the ridge, descending to go through the village of Hollingbourne. The next section is relatively level as the NDW shares the route with the Pilgrims Way Track. There is a final slight descent as we leave the NDW and drop south to Lenham Station, from where we return to London Victoria.
▷ Walk itinerary
Thursday 7 July
Tring Gap circular
11 miles / 17.6 km
Fully booked
Tring in west Hertfordshire is located at a low point in the Chiltern Hills known as the ‘Tring Gap’. This has been used as a crossing point since ancient times, being at the junction of the Icknield Way and under the Romans Akeman Street, the major Roman road linking London to Cirencester. In more recent times it has provided a route for the Grand Union Canal, the West Coast mainline railway and the A41. This walk uses three long distance paths to explore the countryside around the Tring Gap. To begin with we follow the Ridgeway national trail as it climbs from the lowlands to follow the crest of the Chilterns through Tring Park ( spectacular views) and on to Hastoe. After leaving the Ridgeway, we pick up the Chiltern Way just to the south and head north-east along the line of an ancient earthwork called Grim’s Dyke. In the afternoon we descend back down into the ‘Gap’ at the delightfully named settlement of Cow Roast, where we cross the Grand Union canal for the second time. The final stretch of the walk takes us long the base of the Chilterns to the village of Aldbury, where we meet the Hertfordshire Way as we return to Tring station.
▷ Walk itinerary
Thursday 14 July and 28 July 2022
Lea Valley Park
11 miles / 17.6 km
Booking open from mid-day 27 June 2022
We start in Broxbourne, following the New River north to Rye House, where we turn to face south and follow the Lee Navigation past Dobbs Weir to the large gravel pits known as Nazeing Meads. Nowadays, these form part of the Lee flood relief system and are something of a haven for wildlife, especially waterfowl. Our walk takes us between and around the Meads and on into Lower Nazeing. Here we encounter our only climb of the day, ascending to an altitude of 75 metres to reach the top of Clayton Hill, where we will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the Lea Valley. Our route continues southwards before curving round to the west to return to the River Lea. After crossing the flood relief channel as it exits Nazeing Meads, we reach the Navigation once more and take the towpath north to return to Broxbourne.
▷ Walk itinerary
Thursday 21 July 2022
North Downs Way #10: Lenham to Wye
12 miles / 19 km
N.B. Cumulative ascent of 200 metres (650 feet)
We are unlikely to be back in central London before 6/6:30pm.
Booking open from mid-day 4 July 2022
Although long, there is much less cumulative ascent and descent on this leg of our journey, compared to previous sections.
Starting from Lenham Station we pass through Lenham village then climb gently for approximately 50 metres to re-join the North Downs Way. We continue largely on the level, with the North Downs Way following the route of the Pilgrim’s Way. Shortly after skirting the village of Charing we continue to the south-east often walking through a ‘tunnel of trees’. We shall stop for lunch at approximately 1.30pm, after which we descend very gradually to our destination of Wye. After passing through the small village of Boughton Lees the NDW divides into two branches. We shall follow the south-eastern branch which heads to Dover via Folkestone, rather than the north-eastern branch which leads to Canterbury.
From Wye we take the train back to London Victoria.