Gay Outdoor Clubs

'The Gay Outdoor Club is a members club - no one is paid for their role in it and no-one makes a profit from it. Every member is welcome to play a part in running the club, perhaps by organising an event, by helping to run a group or serving on the committee ... To many of our members, GOC is more than just a walking group - they have found enduring friendships and the opportunity to get out and do events that they otherwise wouldn't have had the chance to.'

'OutdoorLads is first and foremost an outdoor activities group. It is designed with gay and bisexual lads in mind to help them enjoy the outdoors, countryside and the pursuits that can be found there, in a friendly, supportive environment ... As an outdoor pursuits group, every month we run a wide range of activities. There’s something for everyone no matter what your interest! ... All over the country people with different ages and backgrounds are joining OutdoorLads – the Group has over 19,500 members and is growing.'

'The Berkshire & Mid Thames Group generally walk on the 3rd Sunday of each month and the 1st Saturday evening from May to September.'

'The Cambridge Group generally walk on the 1st Sunday of each month. We're a friendly group and always look forward to seeing a new friend joining us. Sometimes a new friend may be nervous being their first time along, but everyone will be welcoming and you'll soon be at ease ...'

'The Cornwall group generally walk on the 2nd Sunday of each month. We also organise cycling, canoeing and surfing occasionally.'

'The Devon group generally walk on the 1st Sunday of each month.'

'Organises walks throughout the year, usually on the 2nd Sunday of the month. During the summer there is occasionally an additional walk. The typical length is 6 to 9 miles.'

'The East Kent Group generally walk on the last Sunday of each month 8 -10 miles all day walks, bring your own luch with pub / cafe stops for drinks.'

'The Hertfordshire Group walks on the 2nd Saturday of each month. The Group covers all of Hertfordshire and sometimes organises invasion parties into neighbouring counties.'

'The Lincoln Group organise regular monthly walks and meet all over the county. Several of the regular Lincoln walkers also join in East Midlands GOC events. Due to this fact we occasionally decide to combine events. Always check out the East Midlands events, walks, camping weekends, canal trips etc.'

'Thank you for showing an interest in our area. We are mainly a walking group, with the additional attraction of a few invited suppers, BBQs, Christmas events, etc. Most of our regular members are males over forty, but we do attract and of course welcome younger males and ladies ... We are a fairly new and small group formed from the much larger BERKS & MID THAMES GROUP (hereafter referred to as "BERKS") to focus on the Oxford area. Many of our members contribute to BERKS events and vice versa.'

'We pride ourselves in delivering a full and varied programme of events - from gentle walks to hill-walking expeditions and cycle trips. We offer both day events and weekend trips and welcome men and women, young or old, beginners or experienced.'

'We meet on the last weekend of the month.'

'The Suffolk Group generally walk on the 2nd Sunday of each month.'

'GOC Surrey had its 1st walk on 29th January 1995 and has walked on the 4th Sunday of each month since. We usually have over thirty men and women turn up, so you are sure to find someone to share the beautiful Surrey views with and plenty of interesting conversation ...'

'We usually go out on the second Sunday of the month, including occasional forays with our neighbouring GOC groups ... Walks are normally 6 to 10 miles and designed to cover a range of abilities and tastes. We often bring our own packed lunches or stop for a pub lunch ... Most afternoons end with fresh tea and coffee at the meeting point plus a range of delicious cakes supplied by our members.'

'Transpennine is a large and highly active GOC group based in the North of England. Our region encompasses a vast swathe of fascinating and diverse landscape stretching coast to coast from Lancashire & Cheshire in the west to Yorkshire in the east and taking in much of the Pennines, Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors plus all the lesser-known vales and hills in between and including Greater Manchester & Merseyside ...'

'We are fortunate to have some of the UK’s best scenery virtually on our doorstep and our walks cover a huge area including Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Brecon Beacons and The Gower.'

'The Club organises a regular programme of walks in the West Midlands, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire, the Cotswolds, and occasionally further afield.'

'From the rolling Cotswolds with their quaint, mellow, honey-stone villages and grazing sheep, to the fern-draped combes of the Mendips and the mysterious broad open chalk downlands of Wiltshire, intersected by winding rivers including the mighty Severn, the upper Thames and the Bristol Avon flowing through lush pastures in their valleys, along with the heritage-rich Forest of Dean and a short but extremely varied coastline ... '