Walking in East Sussex : Rambling in East Surrey : socialising with Group Guided Walks : Nordic Fitness Walks : Weekday Walks : Weekend Walks : and : Weekends of Walking
Admin and Walk Planning : 01323 871554
mobile : 07930 738034
Founded in 2004, the primary objective of the Oakleafe Rambling Club is to offer guided, half-day walks in the countryside between the North Downs (East Surrey and Kent); the Weald through Surrey and Kent; and in the South Downs and Wealden areas of East Sussex. Our primary base is now in East Sussex for administration/planning etc.
CONTACT US : telephone 01323 871554 mobile : 07930 738034
email : nigel@lifeafterforty.com
If contacting us for more information > please DO let us know which area of activities you are most interested in (i.e. in Surrey or E.Sussex)
WALKING into 2010
The Winter Edition (October 09 to end April 2010) of EXPLORING EAST SUSSEX is still available from East Sussex County Council; and is also viewable online at the East Sussex County website.
In the Winter issue we have 7 Nordic walking fitness events listed; and 3 guided rambles. (3 NW and 1 Guided Ramble remain).
We have just submitted 6 Nordic and 4 Guided rambling events for their Summer Edition (May to end September).
From late March we will be running a regular 60-minute Wednesday evening (7 to 8 pm) outdoor CLASS on the seafront at Seaford :
NORDIC FITNESS ~ a combination of Nordic Walking and a mix of body-weight resistance exercises and flexibility. Contact us for more information.
The next Sussex event is : Sunday morning 21st February 2010 in East Sussex : Nordic Walk listed in Exploring East Sussex : a taste of Nordic Walking starting on The Salts at Seaford. Initial short Taster session for beginners and then along the promenade and over Seaford Head.
Each month through the winter we are arranging a group Nordic event in Sussex. The January Nordic walk in Seaford, East Sussex was cancelled due to weather conditions; as were all Surrey walks from 9th to 12th January (inclusive).
24 - 27 September 2010 (inclusive): The Oakleafe offers Ramblers Four SWANAGE WALKING DAYS : great walks on the Dorset (Jurassic) coast and inland to Corfe. Planning NOW in progress. More details below ...
We are currently working on the first of a series of 8 volumes of Oakleafe Walking Guides. These will eventually cover our walking areas in East Surrey, the west of Kent and in the South Downs, and Ashdown Forest, for East Sussex. Each volume will offer about 40 walks. The eight volumes will comprise 6 compilations of Pub walks and 2 (possibly 3) of walks from those so-elusive, good tea-rooms.
MEETING TIMES ETC
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Afternoon walks start shortly after 2 pm, meeting at 1:50 pm, unless otherwise stated.
Morning walks start shortly after 10 am, meeting at 09:50 am.
BUT : U3A (Caterham walking group in Surrey) Tuesday morning walks have a first meeting point at 09:45 am in the Caterham area at Queens Park Road, just passed the Bowling Club on the edge of the Park. The meeting time at the pub venue varies according to the distance to travel from that first meeting time.
The OS map references given for our meeting points can be entered into www.streetmap.co.uk ~ without spaces between the TQ and the numbers.
The site should give you a precise location map if you enter the OS reference exactly as provided in our briefing, and then use their SMART SEARCH facility.
WALK SUBSCRIPTIONS
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Guided Ramble Walk Subs : £5 per person per half-day walk. (U3A Caterham Walking group members : concessionary rate £4)
Day Walk £10 per person
Nordic Events : £8
Nordic Fitness (60 minute classes) : £5
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Events coming up :
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BY GROUPS and DAY and County
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OAKLEAFE Rambling Events coming up (newly extended : and with some changes in the near future to accommodate our (slightly-delayed) CHRISTMAS SOCIAL on 6th March):
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FOR SURREY
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Saturday Afternoon Surrey Rambles : typically 5 to 6 miles
Saturday afternoon 6th February in Surrey : from The Sportsman at Mogador, beside Walton/Banstead Heath (as Above)
Saturday afternoon 20th February in Surrey : from the Ramblers Rest in Chipstead Valley
Saturday afternoon 6th March for Surrey group : (note amended walk venue) now from the Brickmakers Arms, Crowhurst Lane End between Tandridge and Blindley Heath : and afterwards at that pub for our Club Social Evening (postponed from 19th December due to the snows and ice) The pub now has a general booking from us, but we would like to know if you are definitely coming for the evening (say 5:30 to approx 8 pm), and most especially if you will not be walking that afternoon with us. We need to confirm rough numbers with the pub over the next 3 weeks. Nigel will be along on the walk, so is now hoping that the mud will have dried up a bit !!
Saturday afternoon 20th March for Surrey group : from the Old Eden at Edenbridge in Kent
Saturday afternoon 10th April in Surrey : from the Sportsman on Walton/Banstead Heath
Saturday afternoon 24th April in Surrey : from the Barley Mow in Tandridge Village
Saturday afternoon 8th May from the Fox and Hounds on Toys Hill in Kent
Saturday afternoon 22nd May from Ide Hill area in Kent
Saturday afternoon 5th June from Hay Waggon in Hartfield
Saturday afternoon 19th June from Ship at Tatsfield
Saturday afternoon 3rd July from Leaves Green close to Biggin Hill airfield *(pub to be decided)
Saturday afternoon 17th July from The Jolly Farmer at Horne
Saturday afternoon 31st July from The White Bear at Fickleshole
Saturday afternoon 14th August from the Harrow-on-the-Hill, Caterham
Saturday afternoon 4th September : a DAY WALK around Bewl Valley reservoir (East Sussex and Kent borders) This will be the second time that the Oakleafe Ramblers will have walked around the reservoir, parking not far from Wadhurst for the day, and a really great pub stop for lunch.
Saturday afternoon 18th September from The Brickmakers Arms at Crowhurst
Sunday Afternoon shorter Surrey Rambles : typically 3 to 3.5 miles
Sunday afternoon 14th February in Surrey : Sunday Group walk from Wray Lane car park (by J8 of the M25) up onto Colley Hill
Sunday afternoon 14th March from the Tea Room at Godstone Vineyard
Sunday afternoon 18th April in Surrey : Sunday Group walk : a springtime walk from Fannys Farm (between Gatton Bottom Lane and Chipstead High Road)
Sunday afternoon 16th May in Surrey : Sunday Group walk from Farleigh Church Hall tea rooms
Sunday afternoon 13th June in Surrey : Sunday Group walk from Tatsfield Church Hall tea rooms
Sunday afternoon 11th July in Surrey : Sunday Group walk from Westerham Green
Sunday afternoon 8th August in Surrey : Sunday Group walk from Godstone Vineyard tea room
Sunday afternoon 12th September in Surrey : Sunday Group walk from Farleigh Church Hall tea rooms
Caterham U3A Tuesday morning Surrey Guided Walks : typically 3.5 to 4.5 miles
Tuesday morning 9 February 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : Toys Hill from The Fox & Hounds (Kentish Chart lands)
Tuesday morning 23 February 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : Westerham Green from The Grasshopper-on-the-Green
Tuesday morning 9 March 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : The Wattenden Arms by Kenley airfield and Common
Tuesday morning 23 March 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : The Ship at Tatsfield
Tuesday morning 6 April 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : Tuesday immediately after Easter : The Inn-on-the-Pond at Mercers Park
Tuesday morning 20 April 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : The Royal Oak at Merle Common for some Staffhurst Wood bluebells
Tuesday morning 2 May 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : The Skimmington Castle pub on Reigate Heath (Bonnys Road) – returned to the programme after cancellation due to January snows
Tuesday morning 18 May 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : returning to The Old Cage at Lingfield for our second walk in this area
Tuesday morning 1 June 2010 : Day Walk for Caterham U3A Walking Group : from Withyham near Hartfield, via the Forest Way, the Medway valley and the edges of Ashdown Forest. Lunch in Hartfield at The Hay Waggon pub.
Tuesday morning 15 June 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : The Old House at Home, Dormansland
Tuesday morning 29 June 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : The Bull Inn, Chelsham Common
Tuesday morning 13 July 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : Fannys Farm, Gatton Bottom and Chipstead High Road
Tuesday morning 27 July 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : Godstone Vineyard tea rooms and the North Downs Way
Tuesday morning 10 August 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : The Anchor Inn, Wisley – a riverside walk by the River Wey
Tuesday morning 24 August 2010 : Caterham U3A Walking Group : The Harrow-on-the-Hill, Caterham
Surrey Nordic Fitness Walks : typically 6 to 7.5 miles in length
Saturday afternoon 13th February NW : from The Wheatsheaf at Marsh Green between Edenbridge & Lingfield/Dormansland
Saturday afternoon 27th March NW (date revised) : Hever (in Kent!) from the Henry VIII pub
Saturday afternoon 17th April NW : from The Fox on Coulsdon Common
Saturday afternoon 15th May NW : from The Royal Oak pub at Merle Common
Saturday afternoon 12th June NW : from The Old Eden pub at Edenbridge : on the Eden Valley Walk
Saturday afternoon 10th July NW : from The Ramblers Rest, Chipstead Valley
Saturday afternoon 7th August NW : from the White Bear at Fickleshole
Saturday afternoon 11th September NW : from The Barley Mow at Tandridge village (but this walk will probably require a volunteer leader if it is to go ahead)
FOR EAST SUSSEX to end September 2010
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Weekend Guided Rambles in East Sussex
Sunday afternoon 28th March in East Sussex : a repeat of the popular Battle Great Wood walk from Battle rail station (1066 country) 4.5 miles in 2.25 hours as listed in Exploring East Sussex
Sunday afternoon 9th May in East Sussex : Arlington reservoir from the Old Oak Inn; with Abbots Wood
Sunday afternoon 30th May in East Sussex : River and Downland walk from Alfriston - to the South Downs Way via some hidden valleys
Saturday afternoon 26th June in East Sussex : River and Forest from Litlington (The Plough and Harrow pub)
Saturday afternoon 21st August in East Sussex : Seaford Head to Cuckmere Haven from The Martello Tower
East Sussex Nordic Fitness Walks : generally about 6 to 7 miles in length
Sunday morning 21st February in East Sussex : Nordic Walk listed in Exploring East Sussex : a taste of Nordic Walking starting from The Salts recreation ground behind Seaford rail station and then over Seaford Head to Cuckmere Haven and back. 5.5 miles in 2 hours 45 mins
Saturday afternoon 13th March in East Sussex : Nordic Walk listed in Exploring East Sussex : around Mount Caburn and adjacent downland from Glynde (meet at Glynde rail station) 5.75 miles in 2 hours 45 minutes (over 1100 feet ascending)
Saturday afternoon 24th April in East Sussex : Nordic Walk listed in Exploring East Sussex : over Blackcap on the South Downs Way from Cooksbridge (meet at Cooksbridge rail station) 6.75 miles in 2 hours 45 minutes
Saturday afternoon 22nd May in East Sussex : Windover Nordic Training Park in Milton Street and then up to Folkington Down
Saturday afternoon 19th June in East Sussex : Circuit from The Tiger pub at East Dean old village ~ including Crowlink, Belle Tout, and views of Beachy Head light
Saturday afternoon 17th July in East Sussex : from Firle Beacon Hill (meet in the down-top car park) to the radio masts and down to Poverty Bottom
Sunday afternoon 1st August in East Sussex : High Ashdown Forest – Clumps walk meeting at Four Counties car park
Saturday afternoon 14th August in East Sussex : Glynde and Mount Caburn
Sunday afternoon 19th September in East Sussex : Windover Nordic Training Park in Milton Street and then to edge of Lullington Heath
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Details can also be found and are updated at www.oakleafe.co.uk; and on our facebook websiteunder our Group there : OAKLEAFE Rambling
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NOTE : Any of the pubs listed above may be changed at the last minute in the current climate; where pubs have been closed at short notice with either landlords moving away, leases being broken or finance withdrawn. SO, if you have not walked with us regularly and do not receive the email briefings a day ahead, please do contact us directly by phone or email to check the last-minute details.
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BIRTHDAY or SPECIAL EVENT WALKS : We seem to be developing a line of Special Event Walks for small parties. So, if you would like to chat with us about arranging a special walk of 5 to 7 miles in distance on a specific date, then do contact us to enquire. We will see if it is possible to co-ordinate diaries to accommodate your needs . . .
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RAMBLING CLUB WEEKEND 2010
Friday 24th to Monday 27th September 2010 > This coming year our long weekend of guided walking will take place in the Swanage : including coastal rambles, walks on Arne Heath and to Corfe Castle, Studland in Dorset. More details as soon as possible
View from the North Downs Way near Tatsfield in Surrey, looking over the Weald towards the Greensand Ridges of Limpsfield
(from the Oakleafe's guided walk of 28th January 2006)
The intention being that such shorter Guided Rambles seem to appeal to many who either do not have the time, or feel they do not have the endurance yet for a whole day of walking.
Since September 2005 our programme of walks has been extended to include fortnightly afternoon walks and a few Day Walks ... and we now include some Sunday afternoon walks as well as the local U3A Thursday morning rambles.
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We currently have a membership of approx 50 walkers in East Surrey ~ of which our Saturday walks usually now attract about 15 participants. The membership in East Sussex is growing > but the Nordic events are more consistent in numbers.
In August 2008 we started a facebook Group for OAKLEAFE RAMBLING. Interested in walking with us . . . then, search for us at www.facebook.com and request to join. We currently have 18 members in that Group, some of whom do join in our walks . . . and we have a gallery of additional photos there to share pictures from the walks.
Four years ago (in Jan 2006) we launched our Sunday Afternoon Group offering shorter Guided Walks planned specifically for families with children under 10 years of age, or for those only just getting back to health or into walking. These are open to all, but the length and route are planned on the basis of suitability for younger walkers. They are also ideal for a novice, older or overweight walker, too. Typical length of these events : 3 to 3.5 miles. 10 people took part in our May 2009 Sunday Walk from Tatsfield Church Tea Room.
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Our Oakleafe Nordic Walking Training Group (for Health and Fitness) is running regular Taster Sessions of approx 2 hours duration in East Surrey and from our own 10 acres Training Park comprising fields and woodland in the Cuckmere valley of East Sussex ~ together with a monthly Guided Fitness Walk in a larger Group. This technique employs the twin pole "summer-training" style originally developed in Finland for cross-country skiing. It uses specifically designed Nordic Walking poles ~ for details see www.nordicwalking.co.uk ~ regarding EXEL poles and LEKI poles.
This fitness walking system uses up to 30% more energy per hour, gives upper body and core muscles a full workout and saves some of the stresses on hips, knees and ankles associated with conventional walking. It is suitable for any age, and is great as a part of an anti-osteoporosis exercise regime. For more details of the Oakleafe Nordic Walking Group, our Taster sessions and short courses ~ click here ~ NOW to visit www.nordic-walking.me.uk
In October 2009, the Oakleafe Ramblers completed
their first multi-stage trek : 35 miles along the
southern coastal path on the Isle of Wight.
10 walkers plus a leader (and 3 dogs) took part.
Our thanks to the Shanklin Mayfair Hotel and
also to Alpha Coaches from Newport on the
Island for making the event possible.
For 2010 we are now planning a weekend at the end of September in Dorset on the Jurassic Coast > based from SWANAGE.
Our Walk Leaders :
Nigel Bentley (Founded the Club : and still plans and promotes all of the walk activities we run in two counties)
Nigel is a YMCA FIT trained Walk Leader. He is a registered Nutritional Therapist and Personal Trainer (REPS Level 3), with own personal training studio set in a beautiful part of the South Downs. He has some 6 years experience of leading walking groups in the North Downs of East Surrey and a wide knowledge of local walks, ways and wildlife both in Surrey and in East Sussex. Since summer 2007 we have established WINDOVER FITNESS as our base of operations to run activities from our East Sussex base in the Cuckmere Valley; as well as continuing in East Surrey. WIndover Fitness has an indoor training studio and outdoor training fields and woodland. It provides an all-year-round facility with great options for Gym of the Outdoors.
We strongly believe in the "Exercise Anywhere..." philosophy; and especially Green Exercise in the outdoors.
Nigel is an International Nordic Walking Technique Instructor ~ Nordic Walking being a fitness walking speciality that he has developed with many clients to give a total body workout in the fresh air. He is a member of the International Nordic Walking Association ~ through Nordic Walking UK.
Jeff Jeffery and Colin Packington
Volunteer walk leaders based in East Surrey for guided rambling event. They usually lead Saturday walks together when this is possible. Jeff also leads our Sunday series walks. They started walking with the Oakleafe Rambling Club in 2004, and have been regular walkers throughout the south-east for much longer.
Jeff is a North Downs Way ranger, responsible for the Woldingham section of the Way. Colin is a warden monitoring the condition of footpaths within the Woldingham area.
For more information on any walk in the Club's programme, or just to make contact ... telephone 07930 738034; or send an e-mail to :
© 2010 : OAKLEAFE RAMBLING CLUB
