With the rival attraction of Barbara and Hazel’s walk, I was pleased that 8 of us turned up at Waterloo Station. It was the first day of the major upgrade of the station, involving closing 10 platforms. The normally fast trains to Alton were making additional stops so it was well after 11.00 am by the time we started our walk. The weather was dry and pleasantly warm but rain was forecast for later. A short climb from the station soon brought us to a fine view to the south, from where  our route took us to West Worldam and towards Selbourne before turning west. It became quite overcast with spots of rain so we had an early picnic with shelter near at hand. In fact the sun came out and we enjoyed a very pleasant stop, until Pam was stung by a bee. Fortunately Irene was on hand with the necessary supplies and expertise to render prompt first aid. Continue reading Saturday 5th August. Alton circular →

16 Polyramblers set out from Amersham station on what was a sunny morning, but with heavy rain forecast for later in the day.  We walked downhill through woods to Old Amersham and from there across wheat fields to the village of Coleshill.  Unfortunately, lack of concentration on my part meant  that we took the wrong path but thanks to Stuart’s local knowledge we got back on track and rejoined our path outside the village of Winchmore Hill.  From here we walked through woods and more beautiful rolling wheat fields which I think show off the Chilterns at its best and eventually reached the village of Penn Street where we an excellent pub lunch.  Continue reading Saturday 29th July. Amersham circular →

From the station, we walked uphill to Manningtree church where we joined the Essex Way which we followed most of the day. We reached the waterfront and followed the Stour estuary to Mistley, famous for its twin church towers and its witch finder. We left the riverside to walk across pastures, woodlands – passing old oaks including Old Knobbley – and wheat fields. We had our picnic lunch Continue reading SATURDAY 22 JULY: MANNINGTREE to WRABNESS (ESSEX) (LINEAR) →

After leaving Chigwell we enjoyed a relaxed walk through Roding Valley Meadows Local Nature Reserve and its lake onwards up through Buckhurst Hill and then up through the edge of Epping forest and its famous oaks, then onwards to the white timber-framed Elizabethan building which is Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Hunting Lodge, built for King Henry VIII in 1543. Continue reading SATURDAY 15th JULY: CHIGWELL to ENFIELD LOCK (LINEAR) →

This was pretty much the perfect walk, nearly 15 miles & neatly divided into 3 parts. We left Lewes via a lovely walled garden where children rehearsed for what appeared to be a mediaeval pageant or perhaps, being Lewes something more alternative, & an unusually easy-going cat allowed itself to be played with by a small child & then seemed to join its family on a blanket for a picnic. We then flew – well, something like that – up the first mighty incline onto the South Downs Way & our first glimpse of the sea. The path curved around Continue reading SATURDAY 8 JULY: LEWES (CIRCULAR) →