SOC Walks - 2008

SOC Walks Programme 2008

Early April - Leith Hill - Near Dorking

We start the season with an excellent walk through pleasant woodland and very attractive valleys sloping gently up to Leith Hill Tower on the crest of the Greensand Ridge. The top of the tower is 1000ft (317m) above sea level and the highest point in South East England.

Read the report of the walk

Late April - Patching - Near Angmering

Wooded slopes where the South Downs run gently down to the sea offer shelter in attractive country as we work our way around Angmering Park, but we also break out on to the downs before following a Gallop down a delightful winding valley. Bristol Gardens health club in Brighton offers a naturist retreat should the weather be against us.

Early May - Quainton - Near Aylesbury

Quainton Hill rises out of the Vale of Aylesbury offering fine views of the surrounding countryside. Later, we descend from a second high ridge into quiet fields and woodlands. This route is not a closed circle, and it is necessary to park some cars at the far end to ferry us back to our pub on the village green.

Read the report of the walk

Late May - Ashdown Forest

Despite getting extremely wet and failing to complete this old favourite last October, we will hope for better fortune this year. Different routes have been tried over the years to increase the proportion of nude walking, and there may be a further variation this year. The aim always is to find less popular paths while enhancing the scenic quality.

Early June - Graveley - Near Stevenage

This walk across the Hertfordshire Downs is unusual in having the start and finish points several miles apart, which means moving some cars to the far end, but in compensation the second half in particular offers wide and pleasant views. In poor weather, The Maltings Spa health club in Baldock, which is naturist only in the wet areas, offers a possible retreat.

Have a look at the photos of the walk

Mid June - Sugar Hill - Near Hungerford

We visit the Ridgeway Path on its way from Ivinghoe Beacon to Avebury during this walk, though not for long this time. In 2005 we extended the walk to include Liddington Castle, an impressive ancient earthwork on which we now have lunch - and in 2006 year watched hang gliding on the slope just below. We then follow a fine route along a west facing escarpment parallel to The Ridgeway.

Have a look at the photos of the walk

Late June - Broad Chalke - Near Salisbury

We follow one of the lesser known ridgeways to the west of Salisbury, including the ancient earthwork of Chiselbury. There are fine sweeping views as we follow the lip of a steep escarpment for 4 miles. Be aware that, in some respects, this is our toughest walk and rough underfoot in places, but it has nevertheless attracted record numbers and we can be nude for more than 85% of the time.

Early July - Ackling Dyke - Near Salisbury

Our new walk for 2008 is quite close to Broad Chalke, but we start from an adjacent village 2 miles to the east and head south instead of north. Ackling Dyke is a name bestowed locally on the Roman road between Sarum (now Salisbury) and Poole harbour, which we follow for several miles. The scenery may be less dramatic than Broad Chalke, but it is still beautiful with lunch in a secluded Alpine meadow.

Late July - Whiteways Cross - Near Arundel

This walk starts from a car park rather than a pub, though refreshments are available. An old favourite featuring in our first 1993 programme, it passes through forested downland west of Arundel but also includes some fine open country and another Roman road. We often end up swimming in the sea at Climping naturist beach west of Littlehampton, although its status is contested by Arun District Council. This year high water is at 18.25. We then dine at The Black Horse near the beach.

Late July - Giant's Grave - Near Marlborough

After a steep ascent from Oare to Giant's Grave, we enjoy a fine view for an early lunch before heading north and then west through attractive woods and fields to Knap Hill, site of a Neolithic camp. The finest part of this spectacular circuit takes us back to the pub along the broad open summit of the south-facing escarpment of the Marlborough Downs.

Mid August - Shepherd's Rest - Near Swindon

This is a fine walk with vast fields of wheat, butterflies and many wild flowers - idyllic! It is all wide open apart from sections along The Ridgeway path. Last year we reversed the direction and had an early lunch in a most unusual secret valley, and a tea break on the ramparts of Alfred's Castle close to the Ashdown Park stately home.

Mid August - Harting Down - South of Petersfield

Downland walks are always popular and this circuit starts at the southernmost point. We head north-east gradually ascending the dip slope to the crest of the South Downs where we enjoy splendid views over the countryside around the village of South Harting. After heading west along the ridge, we close the loop through rolling fields and woods.

Late August - Friston Forest - Near Eastbourne

This varied and beautiful area also featured in our first programme and is still a favourite, with forest, open downs, precipitous chalk cliffs and a naturist beach. This is not a closed circuit, so we board a double-deck bus to start walking at Exceat in the Cuckmere valley. After passing through the hamlet of Westdean, the naturist walk starts properly as we climb gradually up through a winding valley to emerge on top of the downs. Heading back towards the sea, we finish up by striding across closely cropped turf along the top of the famous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs. If the weather is kind, we can then swim at the foot of the same near-vertical cliffs. High tide is at 18.55.

Early September - Red Shoot - New Forest

This is the third year our New Forest walk has appeared in our programme. We set out from Linwood on the western edge of the forest through Red Shoot Wood, but the trees soon open up and we walk through heath land for several miles, sometimes finding our own paths through the heather.

Mid September - Bury Down - Near Didcot

This wonderful walk over the downs also starts on The Ridgeway path heading west. In due course, we turn south to drop down through a winding valley to make a wide circle through beautiful chalk downland. For the customary evening meal we drive to The Swan in East Ilsley 2 miles away.

Late September - Charlbury - Near Oxford

An attractive circuit through the rolling Cotswold Hills with woods and hedgerows providing plenty of opportunities to walk nude, except perhaps where our route takes us through the impressive grounds of Ditchley Park. This former stately home is now an international conference centre.

Early October - Mereworth Woods - Near Wrotham

This year we are starting from The Queens Head in Mereworth village. The walk takes us through extensive woodland but there are open stretches where the broad Medway valley through the North Downs can be seen. As it is well sheltered we walk here early or late in the season when the weather can be less benign, and if it is very poor we can drive to Silverleigh in West Kingsdown for some indoor naturism.

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	Early April - Leith Hill - Near Dorking We start the season with an excellent walk through pleasant woodland and very attractive valleys sloping gently up to Leith Hill Tower on the crest of the Greensand Ridge. The top of the tower is 1000ft (317m) above sea level and the highest point in South East England. Read the report of the walk
	Late April - Patching - Near Angmering Wooded slopes where the South Downs run gently down to the sea offer shelter in attractive country as we work our way around Angmering Park, but we also break out on to the downs before following a Gallop down a delightful winding valley. Bristol Gardens health club in Brighton offers a naturist retreat should the weather be against us.
	Early May - Quainton - Near Aylesbury Quainton Hill rises out of the Vale of Aylesbury offering fine views of the surrounding countryside. Later, we descend from a second high ridge into quiet fields and woodlands. This route is not a closed circle, and it is necessary to park some cars at the far end to ferry us back to our pub on the village green. Read the report of the walk
	Late May - Ashdown Forest Despite getting extremely wet and failing to complete this old favourite last October, we will hope for better fortune this year. Different routes have been tried over the years to increase the proportion of nude walking, and there may be a further variation this year. The aim always is to find less popular paths while enhancing the scenic quality.
	Early June - Graveley - Near Stevenage This walk across the Hertfordshire Downs is unusual in having the start and finish points several miles apart, which means moving some cars to the far end, but in compensation the second half in particular offers wide and pleasant views. In poor weather, The Maltings Spa health club in Baldock, which is naturist only in the wet areas, offers a possible retreat. Have a look at the photos of the walk
	Mid June - Sugar Hill - Near Hungerford We visit the Ridgeway Path on its way from Ivinghoe Beacon to Avebury during this walk, though not for long this time. In 2005 we extended the walk to include Liddington Castle, an impressive ancient earthwork on which we now have lunch - and in 2006 year watched hang gliding on the slope just below. We then follow a fine route along a west facing escarpment parallel to The Ridgeway. Have a look at the photos of the walk
	Late June - Broad Chalke - Near Salisbury We follow one of the lesser known ridgeways to the west of Salisbury, including the ancient earthwork of Chiselbury. There are fine sweeping views as we follow the lip of a steep escarpment for 4 miles. Be aware that, in some respects, this is our toughest walk and rough underfoot in places, but it has nevertheless attracted record numbers and we can be nude for more than 85% of the time.
	Early July - Ackling Dyke - Near Salisbury Our new walk for 2008 is quite close to Broad Chalke, but we start from an adjacent village 2 miles to the east and head south instead of north. Ackling Dyke is a name bestowed locally on the Roman road between Sarum (now Salisbury) and Poole harbour, which we follow for several miles. The scenery may be less dramatic than Broad Chalke, but it is still beautiful with lunch in a secluded Alpine meadow.
	Late July - Whiteways Cross - Near Arundel This walk starts from a car park rather than a pub, though refreshments are available. An old favourite featuring in our first 1993 programme, it passes through forested downland west of Arundel but also includes some fine open country and another Roman road. We often end up swimming in the sea at Climping naturist beach west of Littlehampton, although its status is contested by Arun District Council. This year high water is at 18.25. We then dine at The Black Horse near the beach.
	Late July - Giant's Grave - Near Marlborough After a steep ascent from Oare to Giant's Grave, we enjoy a fine view for an early lunch before heading north and then west through attractive woods and fields to Knap Hill, site of a Neolithic camp. The finest part of this spectacular circuit takes us back to the pub along the broad open summit of the south-facing escarpment of the Marlborough Downs.
	Mid August - Shepherd's Rest - Near Swindon This is a fine walk with vast fields of wheat, butterflies and many wild flowers - idyllic! It is all wide open apart from sections along The Ridgeway path. Last year we reversed the direction and had an early lunch in a most unusual secret valley, and a tea break on the ramparts of Alfred's Castle close to the Ashdown Park stately home.
	Mid August - Harting Down - South of Petersfield Downland walks are always popular and this circuit starts at the southernmost point. We head north-east gradually ascending the dip slope to the crest of the South Downs where we enjoy splendid views over the countryside around the village of South Harting. After heading west along the ridge, we close the loop through rolling fields and woods.
	Late August - Friston Forest - Near Eastbourne This varied and beautiful area also featured in our first programme and is still a favourite, with forest, open downs, precipitous chalk cliffs and a naturist beach. This is not a closed circuit, so we board a double-deck bus to start walking at Exceat in the Cuckmere valley. After passing through the hamlet of Westdean, the naturist walk starts properly as we climb gradually up through a winding valley to emerge on top of the downs. Heading back towards the sea, we finish up by striding across closely cropped turf along the top of the famous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs. If the weather is kind, we can then swim at the foot of the same near-vertical cliffs. High tide is at 18.55.
	Early September - Red Shoot - New Forest This is the third year our New Forest walk has appeared in our programme. We set out from Linwood on the western edge of the forest through Red Shoot Wood, but the trees soon open up and we walk through heath land for several miles, sometimes finding our own paths through the heather.
	Mid September - Bury Down - Near Didcot This wonderful walk over the downs also starts on The Ridgeway path heading west. In due course, we turn south to drop down through a winding valley to make a wide circle through beautiful chalk downland. For the customary evening meal we drive to The Swan in East Ilsley 2 miles away.
	Late September - Charlbury - Near Oxford An attractive circuit through the rolling Cotswold Hills with woods and hedgerows providing plenty of opportunities to walk nude, except perhaps where our route takes us through the impressive grounds of Ditchley Park. This former stately home is now an international conference centre.
	Early October - Mereworth Woods - Near Wrotham This year we are starting from The Queens Head in Mereworth village. The walk takes us through extensive woodland but there are open stretches where the broad Medway valley through the North Downs can be seen. As it is well sheltered we walk here early or late in the season when the weather can be less benign, and if it is very poor we can drive to Silverleigh in West Kingsdown for some indoor naturism.