More ideas this week for active days out from the capital. Guest blogger Richard Garland from Ellis Brigham, their outdoor clothing specialist, suggests some wild swimming at Gomshall, or cycling and a sea swim at Beachy Head.

7.Walking and wild swimming, Gomshall to Guildford, Surrey

If you fancy a good long walk followed by a dip in a river then catch a train from Victoria (55 mins, 1 change), Paddington (1hr 35mins, 1 change) or London Bridge (1hr 10mins, 1 change) and alight at the village of Gomshall. This 15.6 km (9.7 miles), walk takes in ancient, beautiful and surprising scenery and ends up with a spot of wild swimming in the River Wey near Guildford. It starts in Gomshall, passing Shere and its 15th and 16th Century timber-framed buildings, past massive gnarled trees in Albury Park and through the pine woods of Blackheath Common, before joining the Downs Link path and the River Wey. When you are about 1km from Guildford look out for the red life saving ring which identifies the place for wild swimming. Its a beautiful spot, with a sand pit that cascades down the west bank of the river creating a little beach.

8.Cycle (or get on a train) to Beachy Head for a sea swim, London to Sussex

This day long cycle ride from Lambeth Bridge to Beachy Head on the south coast is nearly 80 miles (130 km) and will rely on you using your own pedal power to escape the city. Make sure you take a towel and a swimsuit as there’s a great place to swim at the other end. The ride follows a relatively quiet route of London, then out over the Sussex Weald and South Downs to Beachy Head, finishing at Eastbourne Railway Station, for return to London. There’s a few stiff climbs but if the going gets too tough you could cut the route short at one of the many train stations on route.

There’s plenty of places to stop and eat on the way and a particularly good pub in Blackboys called The Blackboys Inn (45 miles out of London). Once you get to Beachy Head stretch your legs along the short coastal walk to Birling Gap, with its wonderful backdrop of panoramic white cliffs, and cool off in the sea at the most scenic place to swim in the south east. Trains back from Eastbourne to London Victoria take around an hour and a half.

Next week… walking and canoeing

(pics c/o www.flickr.com/photos/abridgeover and www.flickr.com/photos/owlhere)

Related posts:

Related posts:

1. Active days out from London – part three
2. Are you up for a great swim?
3. The Big Blue
4. Ever swum under the light of a full moon?
5. Is this the ultimate Boxing Day hangover cure?