Nine of us started with a short walk along the Stort navigation. Turning right we went off down a lane and across large fields of young wheat and rape seed, seas of yellow! Our boots got caked in mud but got lighter again as we went through woods with bluebells and lots of birdsong. We arrived for lunch at the pretty village of Hunsdon with typical Essex white weather boarded houses, old style water pump and lamp post.  Here we stopped for lunch at The Crown, eating our sandwiches in the pub garden.  The heavens opened soon after we left the pub, waterproof trousers were quickly put on and brollies up. We sheltered for a few minutes and moved on as it lightened. Soon the rained stopped and we made our way back to catch our train where we viewed a family of goslings making their way downstream, our second goslings of the day.

Jackie

I was joined by eight Poly Ramblers at King’s Cross to get the 10.27 Cambridge train. We were joined at Welwyn North by two walkers who had got on at Finsbury Park and one who had parked his car at Knebworth and travelled one stop down the line.

We set off from Welwyn North through the village of Digswell, and I at least was wondering when the forecast heavy rain would start. Turning off the road we went up a track beside the quaintly named River Mimram, which was hidden by trees and bushes. I had decided to shorten the original route by about a mile and we turned left on to a field path. Unfortunately it was not the track I had intended to take but fortunately it shortened the walk by a few more minutes and allowed us to arrive at the pub right on time.

Being quite high up we enjoyed extensive views of the Hertfordshire countryside, which looks especially attractive at this time of year. We soon arrived at the village of Burnham Green, which does in fact have a large village green. We paused for a few minutes on the green before going on to Woolmer Green, whose village green I have never seen. Before reaching Woolmer Green we had to negotiate the intriguingly name Robbery Bottom Lane. Apparently it was a haunt of highwaymen in days gone by. One of these was James Whitney of Stevenage who plied his trade around 1750.

Shortly after leaving Robbery Bottom Lane we reached Woolmer Green and stopped to look at the aviary at the Chequers pub. Budgies and other birds came to say hello, or perhaps they were just looking for food. Leaving Woolmer Green we passed under the East Coast Main Line and ascended Wych Elm Lane, which was the inspiration for this walk. I used to see it when I travelled regularly on the ECML and planned the walk around it. At the top of the hill we crossed the A1(M) by which time people were telling me they were hungry and asking if the pub really did exist.

They were soon happier when we arrived at the Robin Hood and Little John in Rabley Heath to find two tables under canopies reserved for us. Drink was taken, in moderation, and meals ordered. These came in generous portions and the omelettes looked especially tasty. It was a bit chilly but all seemed to enjoy their meal, although one person complained that there were no desserts on the menu. Rabley Heath comprises a pub and about six houses so it is a hamlet rather than a village.

After lunch we had a half hour walk to Knebworth station. We walked along the side of a field of rapeseed and joined the road from Old Knebworth. We crossed the A1(M) again and carried on downhill. While we were waiting on the station the sun tried to come out. Thankfully the heavy rain which was forecast didn‘t arrive till I was leaving Barons Court station on the way home.

Thanks to all who joined me for the walk. I hope you enjoyed it.

Sandy

Photos by Hilary

Fourteen Poly Ramblers and Daisy the dog set off from Northwood on Sunday morning faced with an very unpromising weather forecast.  The question was not if it would rain but for how long the rain would hold off.  My weather app suggested that an hour in the dry was the best we could hope for.  Crossing the A404 we entered the woods and then skirted Haste Hill golf course before taking a path behind some impressive properties.  In Copse Wood there were bluebells and we took a gently uphill path eventually taking us to Ducks Hill Road where we crossed into Mad Bess Wood.  Mad Bess was apparently the wife of an 18th century gamekeeper who prowled the woods at night looking for poachers.  “Beware Mad Bess” was the poachers’ motto.  We found the outer perimeter of the wood and walked round it, eventually reaching the back of Breakspear Crematorium.  We emerged back onto Ducks Hill Road and headed for Ruislip Lido, pausing to admire a very creative crotcheted postbox topper (one of many in Ruislip).  As we entered the Lido, light rain started to fall as predicted.  We decided to stop for a quick picnic on the benches by the deserted ‘beach’ but as soon as we sat down the sun came out and it was really lovely.  Martin had brought cakes along to mark his birthday – thank you Martin.

Back to the woods, this time Park Wood, after lunch, heading north towards Northwood Hills.  By this time it was  quite warm, the route was slightly uphill and our progress was impeded by very slippery mud.  A few of us slipped over but Daisy had a great time.  Eventually we reached the ‘summit’ and took a made path above the golf course and down to Northwood Hills recreation ground and then the station.  We had barely reached the platform when the predicted rain arrived, in spades.  Excellent timing but I can’t claim any credit.

Gillian

The weather forecast was for heavy rain until midday and when 10 Polyramblers set off at Hadley Wood station it was absolutely tipping it down.  I was impressed that everyone had turned up and no one had cried off because of the weather.  It goes to show just how tough we Polyramblers are.   It takes more than a drop of rain to deter us.  The footpath from the station took us into the village of Hadley Wood where we came out on to a road lined with neat and individual homes built to look like miniature palaces which I had heard were popular with some north London footballers.  Someone pointed out that they did not have enough privacy for footballers.  I said that may be these footballers were championship rather premier league players.

The first part of the walk took us across fields and over busy roads and, until we got beyond the M25, we were conscious of the constant drone of heavy traffic in the background, even in the midst of an otherwise tranquil wood.

By now the rain had eased off and we were able to put our umbrellas down.  We stopped for lunch in the peaceful Northaw wood and although the ground was sodden it was a lovely place to have our picnic.  The path out of the wood led into the charming quiet village of Northaw.  It was a good thing we had not relied on the pub for lunch as it was not open though an Indian gastropub further up the road seemed to be doing a roaring trade.

After a short stretch of road walking we turned off on to  a footpath.  This was the footpath that was so muddy and slippery when I did the walk-over in January.  After heavy rain it was muddy still.  Probably the most unusual feature we encountered on the walk was a folly arch.  Built in the eighteenth century to look like a medieval castle, it was in fact a gated arch.  This is all that remains of the buildings of the Gobions estate which once contained a large manor house and a pleasure garden.  The Gobions estate is now a nature reserve with a very pleasant lake and wood.  Emerging the other side, it was a short walk into the town of Brookman’s Park and the end of our walk.  A number of us decided to treat ourselves to liquid refreshments in a nearby pub garden before going to get train back to London.

Mary King

As anyone who has walked in a forest knows, every time is different. It depends on the weather, the time of year. The paths can be different, the trees, the birds, the ground, the sky, the traffic in the background, the planes flying overhead.

This time the leaves were just coming out – that special springtime green. The birds were singing to each other. It hadn’t rained for ages so the ground was cracked and baked hard like concrete and the beech leaves looked less colourful than in autumn. We paused in Loughton Camp, the dip in the crest of the hill where the Romans, medieval farmers and even, allegedly, Dick Turpin had, in their time, camped and kept their animals rounded up  or hidden from the law! The trees can’t have been as impressively tall then as they are now! The birds were more in evidence than in the autumn chirping to each other, not that we spotted any of them. There were fewer planes flying overhead because of the coronavirus lockdown, perhaps a helicopter from the nearby police depot going out on patrol. Blue sky, not even a breeze to rustle the leaves. And no people came by to disturb the peace! We stood and soaked up the atmosphere. Refreshed, we walked on, over the Epping New Road, with caution and speed, and made our way off the path, amongst the trees, kicking through the carpet of last autumn’s leaves, to High Beach, where there were more people, cars, facilities and hurly-burly. We found some large logs on the green in front of the King’s Oak where we could sit and eat our picnic lunch, observing the socially distanced queues at the pub and take-away cafe, the families and scouts going about their Sunday activities, picnicking, walking their new dogs, packing up their camping gear, getting back on their lambrettas or Harley Davidsons, speeding past, making as much noise as possible.

Rested and restored, we set off again back into the peace and quiet of the forest. We didn’t see many other walkers all day, considering it was a Sunday. Then the promised rain started to fall, first of all a few drops and more and more. It wasn’t torrential but it brought out the forest aromas, the beech leaves sprang to life, the birds sang more enthusiastically. We crossed a forest road near the bikers’ tea hut, thronged with leather, shiny metal and petrol fumes, into a part of the forest where the trees are not as tall and imposing. More grassy open spaces. More cyclists powering past. No horned cows munching the grass this time. We stopped at a pond with several colourful friendly  mandarin ducks and a grumpy, outshone mallard.  And so back to Loughton High Street and the Wagon Boulangerie where we were given a warm welcome and two tables under the awning, in case the rain came back, so that we could round off the afternoon with tea and delicious cakes! The ideal way to complete a walk!

Pam