The Flamingo Hiker

It had been sunny all week… and then, as soon as the Bank Holiday weekend arrived, the UK decided to return to its factory settings: 4 seasons in 1 day ☀️🌧️

For a hiker, this means one thing: wear everything you own 😂

👕 Start in a T-shirt
🧥 Add the fleece
🌧️ Put on the rain jacket
🥵 Get too hot
🧅 Take everything off layer by layer like an onion
🔁 Repeat approximately 47 times throughout the hike

The joys of hiking in the UK! 🥾🇬🇧

So tell me: are you happy to finally see some rain, or are you already missing the heat?

Living in London might actually be one of the BEST things for hikers 👀🥾

Hear me out…

🚆 You can leave the city and be in the countryside within an hour
🌳 You have hundreds of trails accessible by public transport
🗺️ You could explore a completely different area every weekend
🥾 And you don’t need to wait for a holiday or travel across the country to have a proper outdoor adventure

Kent, Surrey, Sussex, the Chilterns, the Cotswolds… there’s so much more within reach of London than you might think.

And if you don’t know where to start, that’s where I come in 👋

I’m Lily, a qualified hike leader and the person behind The Flamingo Hiker.

🥾 I share 100+ self-guided hikes near London, with free GPS maps to help you plan your next adventure
👣 I lead beginner-friendly guided hikes if you’d rather come along and explore with a group
🚆 And everything I share is focused on helping Londoners get outdoors without needing a car

So maybe living in London isn’t stopping you from hiking after all… you just need to know where to go 😉

Follow me and let’s get you out of London and onto the trails.

Looking for an easy escape from London this weekend? 🌿 These 3 beginner-friendly walks prove you don’t need to travel far — or be a seasoned hiker — to enjoy a proper day out in nature 👇

🌊 Margate to Ramsgate
🗺️ 15 km
⏱️ 3 hrs 30
Swap London for the Kent coast with a scenic walk featuring sandy beaches, cliffs and beautiful sea views.

🌳 Epping Forest Oak Trail
🗺️ 10.4 km
⏱️ 2 hrs 40
Perfect when you want nature without travelling far. Think ancient woodland, leafy paths and a peaceful escape from the city.

🌿 Darent Valley Walk
🗺️ 7 km
⏱️ 1 hr 40
Head into the Kent countryside for rolling fields, riverside trails and pretty villages along the Darent Valley.

🚆 No car? No problem. Each walk is accessible by public transport from London.

➡️ Which one will you do first?

Want to start hiking but not sure where to go? These 3 walks are perfect for getting out of London and into nature without needing to be an experienced hiker 👇

🌊 Margate to Ramsgate
🗺️ 15 km
💪 Easy
A coastal walk taking you along the Kent coast, with beaches, cliffs and plenty of sea views along the way.

🌳 Epping Forest Oak Trail
🗺️ 10.4 km
💪 Easy
One of the easiest ways to escape into nature without going far from London. Expect ancient woodland and peaceful forest trails.

🌿 Darent Valley Walk
🗺️ 7 km
💪 Easy
A beautiful escape through the Kent countryside, following the Darent Valley through rolling fields, riverside paths and a castle.

And the best part? You don’t need a car 🚆 All three can be reached by public transport from London.

➡️ Which one will you do first?