🍂 Autumn colours and Arboretums | Free hike 25k (15.5 mi)

📈 Grade: 🥾🥾🥾🥾 Level 4/5 (Moderate, due to hills)
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🧠 How it will feel
Regular hikers → comfortable overall, with a few steep ascents
Casual walkers → challenging, especially on the climbs
Newcomers → a tough and demanding day
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Step into autumn with a sociable hike through the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

Starting in Farncombe, we’ll walk through varied countryside and enjoy scenic autumn viewpoints along the way. One of the highlights will be Winkworth Arboretum, where we hope to see the autumn colours among its lakes, woodland and diverse collection of trees and shrubs.

There’ll be a stop at Winkworth for facilities before we continue to Chinthurst Hill, where we’ll pause for lunch and take in the views.

After lunch, we’ll make our way through Blackheath and head towards St Martha’s Church via a gentler ascent. From there, we’ll loop back towards Guildford, following sections of the North Downs Way.

This is a moderately paced hike through mixed woodland and varied terrain, with a few manageable hills to get the legs moving.

At the end, anyone who’d like to can join us at Wetherspoons for a drink and a chance to chat with the friends they’ve made along the way before heading home.
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HIGHLIGHTS
🍂 Autumn scenery at Winkworth Arboretum, among the lakes and woodland
🚻 A facilities stop at Winkworth before lunch
🥪 Lunch with views from Chinthurst Hill
🌳 Varied countryside through Blackheath and along sections of the North Downs Way
⛪ St Martha’s Church and its hilltop setting
🍻 A relaxed social finish with an optional drink in Guildford
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OVERVIEW
📏 Distance: 25 km (≈15.5 miles)
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate
📈📉 Elevation: 524 m ascent and 545 m descent
🚶 Pace: around 5 to 5.5 km/h (a steady pace throughout, not a race but not a slow stroll)
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MEETING POINT AND TIMINGS
📍 Meet: Farncombe railway station entrance at 09:30
▶️ Start: as soon as check-in completed (around 09:40)
🏁 Finish: Guildford town centre approximately 17:30
⏱️ Estimated walking time: Approximately 6.5 hours
🕒 Estimated total duration: 7.5 hours, including breaks and stops

🌅 Sunset is at 17:51. A head torch is recommended in case we are delayed and finish around dusk.
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📍 OPTIONAL LONDON GROUP TRAVEL
For those travelling from London: A return ticket to Farncombe costs £17.00 with a Network Railcard or £25.60 without. We’ll finish in Guildford and catch the train back to London from there.

08:15 Meet at London Waterloo (next to ticket office)
08:30 Walk to platform
08:45 Depart London Waterloo
09:30 Arrive Farncombe
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🚗 BY CAR
Parking in Guildford and Farncombe railway station
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FOOD AND FACILITIES
🍔 Lunch: Bring a packed lunch, snacks and water, around 1pm
🚻 Facilities: Limited. Toilets are available at Winkworth Arboretum around 11am
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🎒 WHAT TO BRING
Packed lunch and snacks
At least 2 litres of water, and more in hot weather
Proper hiking boots or shoes with good grip
Weather-appropriate clothing and waterproofs
A fully charged phone
Personal medication and basic first-aid supplies
Optional trekking poles
More snacks than you think you need
A smile, good vibes and a sense of adventure
🔦 Head torch
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✅ WHO CAN JOIN
Adults aged 21 and over
No children
No pets
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📅 RSVP & ATTENDANCE
Please RSVP only if you genuinely plan to attend. If you can no longer come, cancel as early as possible so someone else can take your place.

A no-show means RSVPing but not attending, or cancelling shortly before the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal from the group.

If you are stuck on the waitlist and would like to attend, please message the event host directly.
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👣 GROUP PACE & PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
This is a social group hike, and everyone is expected to stay reasonably connected with the group rather than rushing far ahead or falling behind.

Please keep the group in sight and remain within a reasonable distance, as a back marker may not always be present. Faster walkers should wait at junctions, and organisers may stop at suitable points to allow the group to regroup.

If you choose to leave the group structure or continue at a significantly different pace, you will be considered to be hiking independently and will be responsible for your own route and safety.

By attending, you agree to follow these guidelines.
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EXIT POINTS
Chilworth railway station.
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📞 CONTACT: For questions, please message the event host via Meetup. On the day of the walk, you may contact AdrianB via WhatsApp on +44 (0) 7438 812 663.
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
You are responsible for deciding whether this hike is suitable for you and for taking reasonable care of your own safety. Please read the group policy before attending. The host and group accept no responsibility for injury, loss or damage.