Dadima’s June Walk 2026 Guided walk

Start time: We will start at 9am prompt from Lewknor (please note that we are starting at 9am and not 10am as usual).

Expected end time: Around 12.30/1pm depending on our pace, rest pauses and coffee break. Please allow till 1pm to be safe.

Intensity, distance & pace: Moderate pace and intensity and you need to be reasonably fit to walk approx. 7 miles of countryside-style walking at a casual conversational pace, with some pause points. Most of the walk will be fairly flat along the Ridgeway. There is a medium incline to walk up Hill Road for Watlington Hill, and once we are the top there will be the walk down highlighted with stunning views.

Possible adaptation (less intense): If you do not wish to do the Watlington Hill part of this walk with an incline, once we arrive at the end of the Ridgeway, Hill Road, you could go to the Spire & Spoke café down the road and relax over a coffee and snack, and we can collect you en-route back. This means you get to join the Ridgeway walk there and back with the group and chill at the half way point.

Route Overview: Lewknor-Ridgeway-Watlington Hill walk. From Our Lewknor starting point, we will walk up a short incline and then along the Ridgeway till we get to Hill Road in Watlington. We will then walk up Watlington Hill and down to Spire & Spoke for coffee if the majority of us wish to – if no one is keen for a coffee stop-off/toilet break, we will carry on back. When we get to the top of Watlington Hill, we can enjoy some light snacks and drinks (do pack some light refreshments for yourself please).

Theme: In what ways can we encourage children to connect with nature in simple ways? How do children inspire us as adults to connect with nature?

If you have time, take a skim read of this article to stimulate conversation around children, walking and health, building simple connections with nature. Dutch children are unusually happy and healthy. Is it because of this walking ritual? | Health & wellbeing | The Guardian. Subash and I will share some ways in which we have tried to do this with our children and three grandchildren, and would love us to share ideas as a group. In the last Dadima’s walk, I signposted the ‘Ageing Well’ series and we had a great discussion around what ‘ageing well’ means and requires us to do, and how ageing well starts young. See link below as a reminder:
Ageing Well Public Talks series | Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies

Directions
Starting Point: We will start at the Lewknor/Watlington ‘usual’ meeting place. Useful postcode: OX49 5TJ (this is near the Lewknor bus-stop). This is the M40 Junction 6 layby, signposted Watlington/Princes Risborough in Oxfordshire.
If travelling Northbound: Get off the M40 at Junction 6, signposted Watlington/Princes Risborough. As soon as you exit the slip road, you’ll come to a T-junction. Turn immediate left (towards Watlington) and park in the free lay-by area where you’ll see several cars near a bus-stop. I’m usually standing there with my husband, around 10-15 minutes before the start time of the walk.
If travelling Southbound: Get off the M40 at Junction 6, signposted Watlington/Princes Risborough. As soon as you exit the slip road, you’ll come to a T-junction. Turn right (towards Watlington). Drive approximately 300m (you’ll drive under the motorway bridge) and you’ll see the lay-by for parking.

Walk leader details: Dadima’s (Geeta and Subash Ludhra). We will be in the layby parking area from 8.45am to greet you. Geeta’s mobile number if needed: 07946 527630. Please plan ahead to arrive on time.

Cost: Free

Booking/contact details/whatsapp group: No need to book for this walk but it is really helpful to know who is attending in advance. You can text Geeta on 07946-527630, or email Subash on subash@dadimas.co.uk. We can add you to the one-way traffic Dadima’s whatsapp group for ease of keeping up-to-date on our monthly nature events.

Please bring/wear:

• • Suitable walking shoes and clothing for the weather. Shoes should be sturdy and provide enough support for uneven walking surfaces, with some grip.
  • Sun-hat/cap, sunglasses if needed, sunblock.
  • Please bring a flask of water/soft drink, hot drink, light snacks as needed to suit your personal needs.
  • Any medication that you may need to stay comfortable (hayfever medication, asthma inhaler for example). We do carry a basic first-aid kit and are both qualified first-aiders as walk leaders.
  • Walking pole sticks maybe useful for this walk if you have them – not essential at all. We have 2 sets spare so will bring them along for anyone to borrow.

Facilities: There are sadly no toilet facilities along this walk but we will stop at the Spire & Spoke café in Watlington at the half-way point.

Dogs: Dogs are welcome and we always emphasise following the Countryside Code guidance: The Countryside Code: advice for countryside visitors – GOV.UK

Date of next walk for your diary: Sunday, 23 August. Details TBC.