Fifteen people assembled at Dorking station, including 3 new potential members.
The sun was shining and after a bit of confusion finding the right path, we walked through woods crossing the River Mole at various points, interspersed with open fields and lovely views. After a couple of miles, we stopped at a very nice garden centre for a comfort break before carefully crossing the A25. We heading up through Betchworth Golf Club., between the greens so avoiding flying golf balls!
11 of us arrived at Maze Hill station, right next to the entrance to Greenwich Park hoping to visit the Queen’s Orchard but, unfortunately, it was shut. Then, passing the herbaceous border, we went to the Queen’s House. The architect Inigo Jones was commissioned to design a new palace for Queen Anne in 1616. Supposedly, the manor of Greenwich had been a gift from King James I as an apology for losing his temper after Anne had accidentally shot one of his favourite dogs while hunting.
Continue reading WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2026 – THE QUEEN’S HOUSE AND THE GARDENS OF GREENWICH PARKA walk from Cookham to Maidenhead, where we ‘had the weather for it’. Cooler and much more tolerable for a longish walk.
16 arrived on the shuttle between Maidenhead and Cookham, Geoffrey (our back marker) and I by car, and Pam joined us at the pub near Bourne End.
The walk is a figure of 9 – a circular walk back to Cookham High St and then linear down to Maidenhead – much researched and recce’d and Chris had his trusty app just in case. Continue reading Cookham to Maidenhead – 22 August 2026
I had been concerned that following recent high temperatures in London the walking conditions might have been uncomfortable especially as there was no shade. But I needn’t have worried. The temperatures were already on the way down after the latest heatwave and the gentle sea breeze made the conditions just perfect for walking.
12 Poly Ramblers assembled at St Pancras and made the journey down to Rye. After the briefing, we began with a short tour of the main highlights of the town. Rye is a very old town with evidence of existing since Anglo-Saxon times. It is one of five ports (including Winchelsea) or ‘Cinque Ports’ on which were conferred a special status and tax privileges by the Crown in medieval times in return for defending the coastline from invasion. After admiring the old buildings, particularly in Mermaid Street, we made our way out of Rye and along the extensive salt flats that lie between the town and the sea two miles away. It’s hard to imagine that, until a succession of massive storms between the 13th and 16th centuries, both Rye and Winchelsea were on the coast. Continue reading Rye Circular via Winchelsea – 15th August 2026
Fully booked. Enquiries to Gillian
Photo: Philip Halling / Kleve Walk, Worcester / CC BY-SA 2.0
