The Walk of 2022
2nd to 6th July

In 2022 Refugee Tales are walking from Merstham to Winchester from July 2nd to 6th

On Friday 1 July 2022 Refugee Tales walkers will begin gathering in Merstham, Surrey and as ever we will walk and share tales. We will celebrate our world wide community and we will continue to take steps towards our collective destination: a future without immigration detention.

The 2022 ticket prices are as follows -

5-day walkers: £190
5-day walkers with concession*: £125

Day walkers: £27
Day walkers with concession*: £17.55
*concession is 35% discount applied via a code shared on Eventbrite page.

We do not wish to discourage anyone from joining us on financial grounds. If you would like to join us but the cost is not affordable please get in touch with us. We may be able to help. Please contact: anna@gdwg.org.uk for details

Booking is now open on Eventbrite - HERE

Below is the route from Merstham to Winchester in Hampshire with overnight stops in Dorking, Guildford, Farnham and Alton.

Friday 1st July

Meet at Canada Hall, All Saints Church, 362 Battlebridge Lane, Merstham, Surrey Redhill RH1 3LH
A buffet meal to share and register 5-day walkers.

Once registered there is accommodation at the Hall for 5-day walkers.

Canada Hall is c.15 minutes walk from Merstham Train Station which has services from London and Brighton.  

Saturday 2nd July

 Day 1 of the Walk
Merstham to Dorking,
c.10.5miles/17km

09:00 - Registration:
Merstham Train Station, Station Road, Merstham, Surrey Redhill RH1 3ED

Lunch: Day walkers please bring a packed lunch today.

Full Walkers’ accommodation:
Dorking United Reformed Church, 53 West St, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1BS

Evening event at 7pm:
St Martin’s Church, Church St, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1DW

Host: Amelia Gentleman

The Host’s Tale by Tessa McWatt
The Advocate’s Tale by JB

Music with pianist Margaret Fingerhut

An A4 POSTER for this Dorking event is available here.

An A5 FLYER for this Dorking event is available here.

Dorking URC and St Martin’s Church are c.15 minutes walk from Dorking Main and Deepdene Train Stations which have services from London, Guildford and Redhill.

Day Walkers may like to book accommodation in Dorking at Travelodge, Reigate Rd, Dorking RH4 1QB, White Horse Hotel, High St, Dorking RH4 1BE and Airbnb

Sunday 3rd July 

Day 2 of the Walk
Dorking to Guildford,
c. 13 miles/21 km

09:00 - Registration:
Dorking United Reformed Church, 53 West St, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1BS

Lunch: Day walkers please bring a packed lunch today.

Lunch: Shere Village Hall, 1 Gomshall Lane, Shere, Surrey, GU5 9HB

Full Walkers’ accommodation:
Holy Trinity Church, High St, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3RR

Evening event at 7pm:
Holy Trinity Church, High St, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3RR

Host: Tim Robertson

Prologue of the Time Traveller’s Tale by Shami Chakrabarti
The Outsider’s Tale by Bidisha.
Poems by Kyon, written out of detention in Canada.

Music: Greg Russell, folk singer - “extraordinary voice”

with special thanks for this evening to
 Mobilities in Literature and Culture @SurreySLL
University of Surrey

An A4 POSTER for this Guildford event is available here.

An A5 FLYER for this Guildford event is available here.

Holy Trinity Church is c.12 minutes walk from Guildford Main Train Station which has services from London, Redhill, Reading and Hampshire.

Day Walkers may like to book accommodation in Guildford at Travelodge, Woodbridge Meadows, GU1 1BD Asperion Hotel, 73 Farnham Rd, GU2 7PF Acacia Villas Guest House, 29 Woodbridge Rd, GU1 1ED The Mandolay Hotel, 36-40 London Rd, GU1 2AE Addison, 12 Addison Rd, GU1 3QP – Contact via 01483 533448 Airbnb accommodation in Guildford

Monday 4th July 

Day 3 of the Walk
Guildford to Farnham,
c. 12 miles/19 km

09:00 - Registration: Holy Trinity Church, High St, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3RR

Lunch: Day walkers please bring a packed lunch today.
Lunch: St John the Baptist Church, The Street, Puttenham, Guildford GU3 1AR

Full Walkers’ accommodation:
Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QR

Evening event at 7pm:
Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QR

Host: Niamh Cusack

The Stowaway’s Tale by Amy Sackville
The Tale of the Person Seeking Asylum by Daljit Nagra
The Teenager’s Tale by Maurizio Veglio

Music: Rihab Azar “virtuosic oud player”
also from Hear Me Out “music from detention”

An A4 POSTER for this Farnham event is available here.

An A5 FLYER for this Farnham event is available here.

Farnham Maltings is c.5 minutes walk from Farnham Train Station which has services from London, Woking, and Alton.

Day Walkers may like to book accommodation in Farnham at Premier Inn, Guildford Rd, GU9 9QJ Bishops Table Hotel, 27 West St, GU9 7DR Park House, 1B Park Row, GU9 7JH – Contact via 07880 541120 Airbnb accommodation in Farnham

Tuesday 5th July

Day 4 of the Walk
Farnham to Alton,
c. 11 miles/17.5 km

09:00 - Registration: Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QR

Lunch: Day walkers please bring a packed lunch today.
Lunch: St Mary’s Church, Bentley, Hampshire, GU10 5NA

Full Walkers’ accommodation:
Alton Community Centre, Amery Street, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1HN

Evening event at 7pm:
St Lawrence Church, Church Street, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2BU

Host: Ridy Wasolua

The Prisoner’s Tale by Christy Lefteri read by Megan Cusack
The Chef’s Tale by Simon Smith

Music: Pollito Boogaloo “Afro-Colombian roots music”

An A4 POSTER for this Alton event is available here.

An A5 FLYER for this Alton event is available here.

St Lawrence Church is c.10 minutes walk from Alton Train Station which has services from London.

Day Walkers may like to book accommodation in Farnham at Alton House Hotel, 57 Normandy St, GU34 1DW The Crown Hotel, High St, GU34 1BN Swan Hotel, High St, GU34 1AT Airbnb accommodation in Alton

Wednesday 6th July 

Day 5 of the Walk
near Alton to Winchester,
c. 8.5 miles/13.5 km
(transport provided)

09:00 - Registration: Alton Community Centre, Amery Street, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1HN

Since we will walk from Alresford on this day a coach will leave Alton at 9.30am.

If you prefer to meet us in Alresford and register there, please come to: The Cricketers Pub, Jacklyns Lane, Alresford SO24 9LW. Arrive by 10.00am as we will set off walking at 10.15am.

Lunch: Day walkers please bring a packed lunch today.
Lunch: Workshop/talk on Walking Inquiry

Walkers’ accommodation: none

Evening event at 6pm:
The Stripe Theatre, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 4NR

Host: Aida Edemariam

The Waiting Man’s Tale by Rachel Seiffert
The Translator’s Tale by Khodadad Mohammadi

Music: Quartet from Chineke!

with special thanks for this evening to
Migration and Movement Signature Research Theme
University of Kent

An A4 POSTER for this Winchester event is available here.

An A5 FLYER for this Winchester event is available here.

The Stripe Theatre is c.15minutes walk from Winchester Train Station which has services from London and Southampton.

Walkers may like to book accommodation in Winchester at Bridge Street House, 5 Bridge St, SO23 0HN The Westgate, 2 Romsey Rd, SO23 8TP Winchester Royal Hotel, St Peter St, SO23 8BS