The Saturday Walkers Club
The Saturday Walkers Club (SWC) is a London and Southeast England based walking group.
Southeast England is criss-crossed by public footpaths, it includes the chalk cliffs of the South Coast, the gentle hills of the North, South and Wessex Downs, the blubell woodlands of Kent and Surrey, the Chiltern beechwoods, the Thames, the secluded valleys of the Weald, ancient forests, remote heathlands, fields full of wildflowers, and Purbeck's dramatic coast.
There is also plenty of historical interest - from towns (Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury, Rye, Chichester) to castles and palaces in landscaped parks (Arundel, Windsor, Blenheim, Knole), from gardens (Nymans, Wakehurst, Kew) to more intimate pleasures such as unspoiled country villages, cosy pubs, medieval churches, ancient hillforts and Roman remains.
All of this countryside is an hour or 2 from London via an excellent rail network.
This Week's Walks
The club organises several walks each week in South East England, about an hour by train from central London. The walks are public transport friendly (but you are welcome to drive), and stop at a pub for lunch (but you are welcome to bring a picnic).
All club walks are free, and everybody is welcome, especially visitors to London. Just turn up!
As there walks have no leader, we do ask however, that you bring a copy of the route - either the appropriate Time Out book or a printout.
Free Walks
The club is creating new walks, over 80 so far, which you can download and print
The walks:
- are public transport friendly - they start and finish at train stations about an hour from London
- pass through glorious countryside, with historic sites and fine views.
- stop at country pubs for lunch and finish at places for tea or a drink afterwards.
Most of the walks contain detailed walking instruction (no OS map required). A few however, do require an OS map, but there are links to websites where OS maps can be printed for free.
There are over 3,000 walks photos to give you an idea of what a walk is like.
Each walk has a feedback facility - read what others have said, or if something has changed, please let us know
Volume 1
Volume 2
Time Out Country Walks near London, volumes 1 and 2
The club wrote and maintains the 2 Time Out Books of Country Walks near London.
- Volume 1 contains 53 walks (1 for each week of the year, and 1 to spare) from 7 to 14 miles in length.
- Volume 2 is more car friendly, and contains 30 walks, most of which have shorter options for new walkers.
Due to copyright, we regret that the walking instructions for most of the Time Out book walks are not online. However, besides photos and a feedback page, the following are available:
- Revised Volume 1 walks : We are currently in the process of fully revising Book 1 - these walks are online to download and print.
- New walk options : These are alternative routes or endings to the book walks.
- Updates : These are changes since the books were published - before doing a book walk, we recommend you check its updates page (especially for book 1)
The Nicholas Albery Foundation, a registered charity, publishes the 2 walking books. Royalties from sales pay for this website, and help the charity's other projects.
Walking in Southeast England
Walking in the southeast is safe and easy, and doesn't need too much expensive equipment. Besides an introduction to walking, and using 'detailed walking instructions' rather than maps, there are features on the many long distance paths in the southeast and even naked walking.
In the summer, many of the coastal walks are great for swimming - the Southeast Coastline stretches from Essex, via the Thames and London, via Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire (not forgetting the Isle of White) to Dorset
Nature and Weather
A monthly almanac of the seasons
British Mountains
There are over 3,000 British and Irish hills and mountains. There are lists, and an OS map of each one.
Besides Munros (Scottish hills over 3,000 feet - about 1000 metres) and Wainwrights are 'Humps' and 'Marilyns' and Humps. These are relatively high hills, of which there are many, even in the Southeast.
Historic Houses and Gardens
Many of the walks pass historic houses, gardens and ancient sites. There is a Google map of all English Heritage and National Trust properties, and many independent (HHA) ones as well.
Complete List of Walks
Last Updated: Mar-09
