Why we walk
We were struck by how little time most Londoners spend on the city’s edge. The M25 is famous as a ring road, but around it lies a necklace of rivers, woods, commons and small towns that rarely make the guidebooks.
The Orbital exists to explore that in-between landscape at human speed. Our walks are:
- Social: plenty of time to chat, no racing.
- Accessible: we use public transport start and end points.
- Curious: we enjoy local history, ecology and everyday details.
Each stage starts near a café so you can grab a drink and meet the group without rushing. We finish near a pub or relaxed rest stop, where people can stay for a meal or head straight home – no pressure either way.
Group in numbers (fictional)
- 👣 Over 120 different walkers since 2018
- 🗺️ 3 full circuits of the Orbital completed
- ☕ Roughly 500+ café visits logged
- 📸 One shared photo album per stage
What walkers say
“I joined for ‘just one stage’ and ended up doing the whole orbital. The mix of rivers, woods and odd bits of suburbia is strangely addictive.”
“The café-to-pub format is brilliant. It feels organised but never too serious, and I've met some lovely people I now walk with outside the group.”
“I’m not a ‘hardcore hiker’ at all, but the pacing is gentle and there are always options to bail out at a station if my energy dips.”
Contact & community
💌 Email: hello@theorbitalwalks.org
📸 Photo album (demo): @theorbitalwalks on fictional social media
We send a simple monthly email with upcoming Sunday stages and transport notes. No spam, no tracking, just walking.
The Orbital is run by volunteers and is not a commercial guiding company. We plan routes carefully and share information, but each walker is responsible for their own safety and fitness. Think of it as a friendly, organised outing with new friends rather than a formal tour.