Open Walks

In addition to bespoke, guided walks, Rural Strides curates and leads a variety of scheduled walks around the Western Weald. These are designed to spark curiosity and deepen your connection to the area by weaving together threads of geology, history, nature, and human stories. By the end of a Rural Strides walk, you won’t just have explored the Western Weald, you’ll feel like a local. Most walks are offered at £5 or less per person.

Each year, some of our open walks follow a theme. In 2026/27, this will be Legacy of Belief. We’ll explore the Western Weald’s churches, pilgrimage paths, and stories of faith, uncovering the footprint of belief in the landscape as we walk.

Open walks Image by Rachel Husdon Illustration

The beauty of these walks is that:

You don’t need to be a member of Rural Strides.
You can dip in and out of the programme whenever it suits your time and interest.
They are open to all – from seasoned hikers to curious newcomers.
You’ll never feel obliged to lead a walk…that’s my job!

We like to think of a leg stretch with Rural Strides as being more ‘netwalking’ than plain old walking. Our pace is purposeful but relaxed, and along the way, you’ll meet a mix of like-minded people as we enjoy the countryside, good company and support the local community together.

Take a look at the walk list below to see if any tickle your toes’ fancy! All scheduled, open walks have limited capacity and must be booked in advance.

To be the first to hear about new walks as they’re added, sign up for our free, short monthly newsletter.

The beauty of these walks is that:

You don’t need to be a member of Rural Strides.
You can dip in and out of the programme whenever it suits your time and interest.
They are open to all – from seasoned hikers to curious newcomers.
You’ll never feel obliged to lead a walk…that’s my job!.

We like to think of a leg stretch with Rural Strides as being more ‘netwalking’ than plain old walking. Our pace is purposeful but relaxed, and along the way, you’ll meet a mix of like-minded people as we enjoy the countryside, good company and support the local community together.

Take a look at the walk list below to see if any tickle your toes’ fancy! All scheduled, open walks have limited capacity and must be booked in advance.

To be the first to hear about new walks as they’re added, sign up for our free, short monthly newsletter.