This route takes you from Wimbledon through peaceful woodland and lakeside paths before opening out into the wide grasslands and rolling scenery of Richmond Park. It’s a varied, calming walk that blends forest trails, gentle climbs, and sweeping parkland views, making it feel surprisingly rural despite being in southwest London. 🌿🚶♂️✨
📐 DISTANCE: 13.52km
👣 TERRAIN: Rough unsurfaced paths that may become muddy!
🏔️ TOTAL ASCENT: 153m
⚖️ DIFFICULTY: Beginner 🟢 (See Difficulty Grading Scale (🟢🔵🔴⚫) below)
💰 TRAIN TICKET COST: approx. £6.50 with a 16–25 Railcard (recommended)
⌚ MEETING INFO: Morning departure from London Wimbledon 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 Wimbledon Station (exact details after ticket sign-up).
- Around minutes travelling together to . Take the time to get to know others on the walk!
- Around 4 hours on the trail🚶including stops for snacks and lunch!
- Finish the walk near station, return to London by (~-).
- 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:
- Beginner 🟢: Short, gentle walks on easy terrain (5–15 km, low elevation). Perfect for first-timers and anyone wanting a relaxed introduction to hiking. (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!