The Canterbury Circular takes you through charming Kent countryside, passing ancient villages, historic churches, and cosy pubs before looping back into the heart of Canterbury. After the hike, you’ll get to soak up the festive atmosphere at the Canterbury Christmas Markets — the perfect way to end a winter walk! 🎄🚶♀️🍷
📐 DISTANCE: 22.56km
👣 TERRAIN: Rough unsurfaced paths that may become muddy!
🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 143m
⚖️ DIFFICULTY: Moderate 🔵 (See Difficulty Grading Scale (🟢🔵🔴⚫) below)
💰 TRAIN TICKET COST: approx. £28.70 with a 16–25 Railcard (recommended)
⌚ MEETING INFO: Morning departure from London St Pancras Station (exact details after ticket sign-up)
👉 Grab a FREE SU event ticket 💫 to see full travel details - but cancel if you can’t attend 🚨
⏱️Expected Day Schedule :
- Morning departure from London St Pancras Station (exact details after ticket sign-up).
- Around 59 minutes travelling together to Canterbury West. Take the time to get to know others on the hike!
- Around 7 hours on the trail🚶including stops for snacks and lunch!
- Finish the hike near Canterbury West station, return to London by late afternoon (~16:30-17:30).
- Optional: local pub/café stop 🍻☕ to relax after the hike - everyone welcome! Grab a cold beer or maybe even a hot chocolate to wind down at the end of the day.
👟Difficulty and Fitness Level:
- Moderate 🔵: Moderate distance or slightly more uneven ground (15–25 km, rolling hills, varied terrain). Great for those who’ve done a couple of hikes and are ready for the next step. (See Difficulty Grading Scale (🟢🔵🔴⚫) below)
- Our Walk Leaders will guide the group, keeping everyone together and helping with navigation from front to back 👣
- ❓Common Questions and ℹ️ Useful Info:
🎒 WHAT TO BRING:
- Hiking boots 🥾 or good waterproof shoes/trainers you don’t mind getting muddy
- Raincoat 🌧️ / sunscreen 🌤️ depending on weather
- Packed lunch 🍴, snacks 🍪, 1.5–2L water 💧, and a rucksack/bag 🎒 to carry it all
- Train tickets 🎟️ (with Railcard if you have one)
👥 Group Size & Leaders
- We could get anywhere from 20 to 100 attendees on the walk/hike, depending on the season and weather!
- We have multiple Walk Leaders on every hike to keep things safe, help with directions, and make sure no one gets left behind 🦺
🚻 Facilities & Food
- Facilities along the way are limited, so pack your own lunch, snacks, and plenty of water 💧
- Toilets are usually available at the meeting station and on the train only 🚻
- Some towns/villages have cafés and shops, but stops aren’t guaranteed – plan to be self-sufficient!
🚂 Travel & Train Tickets
- We usually meet at a London station and travel together, but you’re welcome to make your own way if that’s easier 🚂
- A 16–25 Railcard is highly recommended (1/3 off tickets) if you’re aged 16–25 or over 25 but still in full-time education! 🎟️
- Get the anytime or off-peak train tickets we recommended in your event ticket, as the hike return time may vary
🌦️ Weather & Cancellation
- Walks/hikes go ahead rain 🌧️ or shine ☀️, unless conditions become very unsafe 🌩️.
- We will also be keeping an eye out for train and tube strikes and will aim to plan around these!
- If we need to cancel due to weather or other last-minute issues, you’ll always try to give everyone at least 36 hours’ notice ⏰.
- For this reason, we recommend only getting your train tickets the day before the hike! (Don't worry, the train prices usually don't change with demand.)
- Sign-ups for our walks/hikes will only open if we have enough Walk Leaders to run the hike safely.
- 💬WhatsApp Chat and 📢 Updates:
🙋 Community & Questions
- If you have purchased a full membership, do join our WhatsApp community where members chat, ask questions about our weekend hikes, share photos, and coordinate their own plans together.
- Difficulty Grading Scale (🟢🔵🔴⚫):
🟢 Green – Beginner
Short, gentle walks on easy terrain (5–15 km, low elevation). Perfect for first-timers and anyone wanting a relaxed introduction to hiking.🔵 Blue – Moderate
Moderate distance or slightly more uneven ground (15–25 km, rolling hills, varied terrain). Great for those who’ve done a couple of hikes and are ready for the next step.🔴 Red – Challenging
Challenging routes with longer distances (20–30 km), bigger climbs, or sustained hills. Best suited to hikers with good fitness and some prior experience.⚫ Black – Difficult
Demanding residential hikes with mountain terrain, technical sections, or long days (30–40 km). Previous hiking experience is essential.⚫⚫ Double Black – Extreme
Rare, “epic” challenges such as marathon-length days, exposed mountain ridges, or multi-day treks with tough conditions. Only suitable for highly experienced and well-prepared hikers.
You can read our full list of FAQs here! Please also feel free to text us in the Members WhatsApp chat or via email or Instagram - but don't leave it last minute!