FREE Outdoor Trips From London

Hell - light, helle - bright. The light of the north. Nordhelle is 662m / 2,175ft and the highest point of the Ebbe mountains in northern Germany. The summit is equipped with a viewing tower to aid the vista even more, as well as the warm hospitality of a gaststätte.

When not hiking to Nordhelle, Cologne's Christmas markets start this weekend, and is the best place to get the festive spirit off to the best possible start. Including on Monday 17th the cathedral market. Details here:
https://www.cologne-tourism.com/experiences-lifestyle/christmas

The hike will be on Sunday 16th. Two walk lengths: 15 or 20 miles. The plan is to take the 08.24 train to Meinerzhagen. A circular walk of 14-15 miles will get us to Nordhelle and back where you can end the walk. Or I'm planning an optional extra 4-5 miles on to Marienheide

Most famous for its cathedral - the world's tallest - Cologne has been a important city since Roman times, and there are still Roman remains

How to join?

• The walk is entirely free of charge;
• You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses;
• Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part);
• Understand how to stay safe outdoors, as you will be responsible for yourself. See our quick safety tips:
  https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section!

IMPORTANT
Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organized by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes.
Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is no business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader".
Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen.
Despite this, we take extreme precautions and all trips we plan are very safe, fun, highly educational and popular. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone :-)
By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer.

Here are our tips on staying safe during outdoor trips:
https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/

TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, INSURANCE
Although we provide detailed suggestions, each participant is expected to arrange their own travel and (if required) accommodation - this gives everyone the freedom and choice to join from wherever they want and stay wherever they want. Anyone interested in travel or outdoor insurance should also arrange this on their own. As mentioned above we always take extreme precautions, but some people may still feel safer if covered.

There is no need to travel far to reach the sea. Start the day with sea air fresh amid the cries of seabirds, before turning inland over remote marsh and through autumnal woods, to a medieval village of Cobham, whose church houses a finest collection of brasses of the Brooke & Cobham family.

The transition from Tudor to Stewart dynasties was marked by resentment, suspicion and plot. Whether Henry Brooke's brother George invented stories of Henry conspiring with a Dutch count and the Kingdom of Spain to have an army invade and dethrone James I, in the hope of saving his own head on account of his own Bye Plot; or Henry was in fact guilty of the Main Plot; George lost his head regardless. George did however achieve making Henry trade life in the elegant Cobham Hall we pass on the hike, for a less hospitable Tower of London.

A frequent country walk visitor to Cobham was Charles Dickens. See Pickwick Papers for his TripAdvisor praise for the village:

“And really,” added Mr. Pickwick, after half an hour’s walking had brought them to the village, “really, for a misanthrope’s choice, this is one of the prettiest and most desirable places of residence I ever met with.”

Finally, the Main Plot leads us back to the sea, where another implicated in George's tall tale was legendary sailor Sir Walter Raleigh, also slung in jail before acquittal at trial. We'll end where we started - by the near sea.

Outward Travel: Take the train departing 9.48 AM from London Bridge to GRAVESEND. The return train fare with a Network Card or GroupSave is only £11.55.

Walk start: 10.50 AM from Gravesend rail station. Bring a packed lunch. Village / pub stop. Circular walk.

🔦The walk is likely to finish a little after dark, so pack a torch 🔦

How to join?

• The walk is entirely free of charge;
• You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses;
• Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part);
• Understand how to stay safe outdoors, as you will be responsible for yourself. See our quick safety tips:

https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/

What to bring

• Plenty of water, 1-2 litres recommended
• Enough snacks and packed lunch to keep you energized along the walk
• Extra snacks and an extra packed lunch just in case
• Rainproof (ideally waterproof) clothing, sturdy shoes/boots you don't mind getting muddy
• Spare socks
• Walking poles and/or an umbrella :-)
• Yourself...
• ...and your camera!
• Cash for train ticket
• Cash for pub at the end of the walk?

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section!

IMPORTANT

Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organized by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes.

Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is no business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader".

Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen.

Despite this, we take extreme precautions and all trips we plan are very safe, fun, highly educational and popular. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone :-)

By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer.

Here are our tips on staying safe during outdoor trips:

https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/

TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, INSURANCE

Although we provide detailed suggestions, each participant is expected to arrange their own travel - this gives everyone the freedom and choice. Anyone interested in travel or outdoor insurance should also arrange this on their own. As mentioned above we always take extreme precautions, but some people may still feel safer if covered.

As most of our trips are confirmed or postponed very close to the event date - heavily depending on the weather forecasts - we advise not to buy this until the last minute. People getting tickets from the same station are encouraged to meet early on the day to benefit from discounts such as GroupSave.