Background
Our group is wonderfully balanced; some join walks regularly, others less frequently. To help the leader in their duty of care and to ensure safety we have a few rules. In summary the rule is 'respect others and stick together' but see the fuller version here

To join the group, please either drop me an email (address as above) or register through Beacon. Having joined the group, to join a particular walk click on the relevant date below. If you are not a member of Islington U3A then you must firstly join this before joining any Group. Go to the Join Us page and there click on the Membership Form.

Walks coming up
Our full programme of walks in 2019 is shown in the Members' System ('Beacon'). The link is here. Log in then look up 'Schedule'. Add the dates to your diary now! The near term walks are also highlighted below. A week or so before the specific walk date, we'll make available the full walk details (including the meeting point) on this web page.

Please sign up individually below for each walk you plan to join. You can sign by clicking on the walk date (when sign-up is open the date is in blue), then a Sign-up Form will open. To drop out of a walk, please return to the form, and enter your details again but with a 'No' instead of a 'Yes'.

Friday 02 August (sign up open) — Wivenhoe: please note change of walk destination. The previously advertised walk to Bures will take place at a later date. Wivenhoe is an attractive boating and fishing village on the River Colne in Essex and this will be a figure of eight, 9.6 mile. Opt out possible after/ at lunch stop - earlier train back from Wivenhoe.  Details here.

Thursday 08 August — details to follow
Wednesday 14 August  — Summer Social: details to follow

Extended Walk 2019 — might seem way in the future but we need to start planning this now. For 2019 we are proposing Newfield Hall, Malhamdale, Yorkshire Dales. See details here. This booking is now closed. If you want to go on a waiting list for a room cancellation, please email me at the above address.

Lookahead
The full lookahead date information is now visible in the new 'Beacon' members' system. The link to Beacon for iU3A members is here. Once you've clicked there, sign in with your personal details; on the Home page click on 'Calendar of meetings and events'. You'll see all groups listed there, or at the top line next to 'Group', in the gap select the drop-down menu arrow; scroll down to Walks — Longer; click that, then only the dates for Walks — Longer will be shown.

Photo Gallery and Walk Map
Launching new features: you can now see many of our photos from our photo library. Click on the year you want below. They will scroll through automatically and you can see the walk number and title at the bottom.

• 2017
• 2018

2019 to follow

If you want to find photos from a particular walk you can click on the year below then select from the thumbnails the one you want then click on it.:

• 2017 specifics
• 2018 specifics

2019 to follow

Also if you want to see on a map where we have walked (and have selected a particular walk's details) then click here.

Useful Infomation
Travel link — if you are going on a walk outside the Freedom Pass areas, here is a link to help decide which station to buy your ticket from online: Freedom Pass Map

Discounts — if you are buying from Cotswold at the Angel, say you are with iU3A (Longer Walks group) and you'll get 10% discount. 

Ticks — there have been reports of increased population of ticks in the UK. If you are worried about catching a tick bite while out walking, for more information see here.

Recent Walks
Watton-at-Stone: we suspected there wouldn’t be too many other walkers in the area when we were the only ones getting off the train. That proved to be the case on this tranquil and varied 12-mile ramble through the Hertfordshire countryside, enjoyed by a group of eight regulars. Although it was a fairly hot summer’s day, light cloud cover and a gentle breeze made for very pleasant walking conditions during the afternoon. The terrain alternated between farmland, wheat fields, woodland and country estates. We also passed through several rural churchyards, one of which proved a good spot for a picnic lunch. Frustratingly, we contrived to pass three closed pubs en route, so it was something of a relief to find two that were open within a hundred yards of each other near the end, which enabled the group to enjoy some well-earned liquid refreshment before catching the train home. Details here.


Sevenoaks: a lovely day out in the beautiful Kent countryside. This walk covers a bit of everything, from the magnificent historic buildings of Knole House and Ightham Mote (both perfectly placed for lunch and tea), through fields of the bluest lavender, past traditional Kentish oast houses to the far-reaching views across the Weald to be seen from up on the Greensand ridge. We were thankful on such a warm day (especially when tackling one or two quite steep uphills!) that there were plenty of well shaded paths, and even some with an occasional well placed bench. Details here.



Berwick to Eastbourne (on the Vanguard Way and then the South Downs Way): disruption on the Victoria line threw us into a panic, how to get to Victoria by alternative means. In the end all made it — other than the Leader, how embarrassing! There needed to be a bit of quick re-planning. In the end the solution was simple — do the walk in the reverse direction — then only half an hour was lost. So we stayed on the train(s) and started at Eastbourne. There was a steady climb out of the town up on to the South Downs Way to see the glorious views all along the south coast. The weather forecast said it was going to be hot but there was a bit of cloud cover, making it perfect. We had an early lunch down in the valley at Jevington, then it was a haul back up to the ridge again and down to the pretty village of Alfriston in time for an ice cream. We pressed on to the rail halt at Berwick (and even managed a quick pint while waiting for the train). All's well that ends well! Details here.

Dartford to Shoreham/Otford:  this walk followed the Pilgrims' Way along the River Darent which was, despite heavy rain the night before, surprisingly mud-free; but the humidity was high. We passed through South Darenth with its landmark chimney and 10-arch railway viaduct, lunching at Horton Kirby, where some enjoyed a two-course lunch for £9.99. We continued through picturesque Farningham, climbing slightly to follow an ancient path with wild orchids plus good views across the valley and the remains of Eynsford Castle. At Eynsford two walkers opted out with the remaining nine valiantly taking the higher route to Lullingstone Castle and Visitor Centre for tea and ice cream. We then passed lavender fields, some of which were in full flower, across farmland to rejoin the riverside path into Shoreham. After a brief visit to the church to admire the Burne-Jones window, we finished the walk there. After 11½ miles we opted for the air-conditioned comfort of the train, leaving Otford for another day. Details here.

Burnham-on-Crouch: this was a 10 mile walk along the river Crouch following the estuary sea wall through areas of SSI. Unusually for a linear walk we started at the mid point (Althorne) and walked eastwards to lunch in the attractive small town of Burnham-on-Crouch (coincidentally featured recently in The Sunday Times ‘Great British Breaks’ column). There a local tried, unsuccesfully, to sell us a rusting up-turned tub of a boat! At the pub we chose (out of many) we were given a good welcome and hearty food. After lunch we all caught the train one stop back to Althorne where the walkers got off and those opting out stayed on. We then walked westwards along the river to end at North Fambridge. Details here.

Richmond Park & Barnes: this was an 11 mile (18 km) walk starting and ending at Richmond. The forecast was for rain all day but 13 still joined the train. We were rewarded with a dry and even warm morning at least. After climbing up from the river to Richmond Park, pausing to take in the superb views and get our breath back, we zigzagged through the park visiting Henry's Mound to take in the protected view to St Paul's. We saw red and fallow deer in the park before reaching our exit at the Sheen Gate. Then we wove our way through the back streets of Barnes — some streets but often quaint paths past old railway cottages or allotments. We popped out right at Barnes railway station. After crossing this we stopped for lunch at Strand on the Green, where the bonhomous landlord soon got us all organised. By the time we came out the rain was quite heavy so we lost a few but seven headed on in their wet gear. We followed the Thames Path passing by Key Gardens and taking in the view of Syon Park before reaching Richmond. Disruption on the Overground didn't prevent us from making a speedy return by train. Details here.


Burwash and Bateman’s:  a very pleasant and tranquil 10-mile circular walk in the High Weald, from the rather remote Stonegate station: we spotted just one other (dog) walker all day. The weather turned out less wet than the forecasts suggested — it rained much of the morning, but nothing torrential, and was dry most of the afternoon, with quite a bit of sunshine. We went through the well-preserved village of Burwash and most of the small group opted to visit nearby Bateman’s, Rudyard Kipling’s former house (pictured) now owned by the National Trust. The leader managed to miss one turn, so we arrived in a somewhat disgruntled gentleman’s back garden — but fortunately his dog proved to be rather friendly. Details here.


Farnham to Guildford: lovely walking weather for this first stage (just over 10 miles) of the 153-mile North Downs Way from Farnham to Dover. Less hilly than most sections, so relatively easy walking, mainly through varied and attractive woodland areas (with one rare sighting of a badger), then along the River Wey navigation for the last stretch into Guildford. Outdoor garden pub lunch for the 10 of us at the fairly aptly named Good Intent pub in Puttenham. Brief afternoon stop at the Watts Gallery (where some visited the rather eclectic chapel while others enjoyed tea and cakes). Details here.


 
Past Walks
We are now in our sixth year.
To see details of our sixth year so far (October 2018 - May 2019) look here.
To see details of our fifth year (October 2017 - Sept 2018) look here.
To see the details for walks in the previous year (Oct 2016 - Sept 2017) look here.
If you want to see details of the walks we completed in our third year (Oct 2015 - Sept 2016) then look here.