Lovely walk from Petts Wood to West Wickham, despite the drizzle, through wooded areas, meadows, a nature reserve and Elms Country Park where we stopped for lunch near the Green Roof Cafe there.

After lunch we traversed the site of a great mansion which had burned down in 1967 and, after a bit of climbing, stopped to view the remains of the Wilberforce Oak which has an interesting history (bill calling for the abolition of slavery discussed here)

Onwards to The Keston ponds which were teaming with life, including lots of cute ducklings being closely guarded by parents. As Hayes station didn’t have trains running, we stood under a bus shelter, dodging drips from leaks in the roof, until the 353 arrived and took us on the 15 min journey to Orpington station, a journey Geoffrey was quite familiar with, having lived in that area many years ago. After a short wait we were off on the train towards London.

Jackie.  Photos by Hilary and Ian

I am so thankful that the weather was no-where near as dire as predicted for my Henley walk on 15th July. We all assembled at Henley station (seventeen of us) via bus, car, the Liz line and GWR. I gave a short talk and then we set off over the bridge and then along the east side of the Thames. Most of the grandstands and hospitality tents and general what-not were still there after the annual regatta a couple of weeks before and were slowly being dismantled. Inwardly I am conflicted between feelings of resentment because I don’t belong to the privileged social class that goes to the regatta and the fact it looks like it was a lot of fun. Anyway it’s a lovely walk by the river, which is very beautiful and is surrounded by green fields. We pass swans fishing for breakfast and Canadian geese all in a line like we are! The weather is fresh and invigorating. We got to Hambleden Lock more quickly than I expected and after a group photo crossed over the river. This section of the river is very different, no longer gliding serenely along but roaring loudly as it rushes through the weir with us on the bridge a few feet above it. Ducks and geese are feeding happily in the midst of the rushing water. I love this sort of thing, it’s exciting! Continue reading HENLEY CIRCULAR – 15 JULY →

On the hottest day of the year to date, eleven Poly Ramblers assembled at the Angel for a leisurely walk to Regents Park. We first wandered through Chapel Market with its variety of stalls before heading to the Regents Canal. We joined its towpath close to the headwall of the Islington Canal Tunnel and walked westwards. We soon came to the Battlebridge Basin which was constructed in 1820 and is now a narrowboat mooring and the home of the London Canal Museum. Battlebridge is the old name for the King’s Cross area which has been transformed in recent years with a plethora of new buildings, bars and restaurants. Of particular interest is Gasholder Park which is housed in the frame of a gasometer constructed in the 1850s. Three similar ones alongside now contain apartments. The next stretch was fairly peaceful but that changed when we reached Camden Lock with crowds visiting the various markets in its vicinity. We stopped here for refreshment at the Ice House Wetherspoons before carrying on to the vicinity of Primrose Hill where we left the canal for lunch at a cafe. Geoffrey joined us here having being delayed on his rail journey from Bedfordshire by signalling problems. Some of our number climbed the hill for its impressive views of the London skyline but the majority decided to stay cool in the shade. For the final part of the walk, we entered Regents Park and headed for the lake and its bandstand. We listened to some jazz numbers by the KIX orchestra before finishing at Baker Street where a few of us felt the need for further refreshment at the Wetherspoons above the station.

Danny
Photos courtesy of Rajesh Patel & Nita Patel

Ten polyramblers took the train to Ascot which was full of rather more elegantly dressed people on their way to the races. After changing trains, we were soon on our way to Bagshot Heath and Swinley Forest, a vast area owned by the Crown Estate which was once part of Windsor Forest. Most of the country scenes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 were filmed here. Much of what was once moorland, Daniel Defoe described Bagshot Heath as ‘being full of wast and barren land’, is now covered by modern plantations of Scots Pines. It is popular with mountain bikers and we passed an ambulance attending to an unfortunate rider who had come off their bike. 

We were able to use the picnic tables and facilities at the Look Out Discovery Centre which also offered some welcome shade.  Unfortunately, the queue for refreshments proved too long so we set off having at least refilled our water bottles. The afternoon took us through a more varied, undulating part of the forest where the pines often gave way to broadleaf trees where we could hear the activity on the nearby Barossa firing range. We had to share the path for a while with rather a lot of Belted Galloway cows, but they were more interested in going to the watering hole than in us. On our return to Bagshot Heath, three members went straight to the station while the rest of us finally got our refreshments at the Kings Arms pub.

Susan

Photos  by Ida

Eighteen polyramblers, twice the number of last year, gathered on the seafront at Seaford for this magnificent walk along the Sussex coast and inland into the beautiful South Downs.  

It promised to be a hot sunny day though with the possibility of thunderstorms and showers, making it rather humid.  The train down to the coast was absolutely packed with groups of mainly young walkers, who were walking along the cliff top path.

After a briefing, we tackled out first ascent, up over Seaford Head and on to a relatively flat walk along the cliff tops where we experienced very welcome sea breezes and gazed on the spectacular views across to the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs.  Patricia had brought her sketch pad with her and decided to stay and enjoy the views, penning a wonderful sketch which she later posted, rather than continue with the walk.  The rest of us took the Vanguard Way inland along the Cuckmere Valley reaching at the bridging point a very busy main road, and the Seven Sisters country park centre.  We made out lunch time stop here, perching on the top of a hill overlooking the scenic Cuckmere Valley and its large meanders.  

Continue reading SEAFORD TO BERWICK VIA ALFRISTON – 17th JUNE →