It was quite hot and England was playing Ghana in the World Cup that evening so only 8 of us turned up at Great Portland Street Station. We made a detour to see the Royal College of Physicians’ Garden of Medical plants before entering Regent’s Park, one of the Royal Parks of London. The park was at its best with a riot of flowers. We started with the Avenue Gardens and its fountains, Victorian-style borders and shade. Then we went to the Queen Elizabeth II Garden which was opened in April this year. It has a pond, lovely flowers and prairie planting. The restored water tower acts as a viewing platform and, hopefully in the future, will host swifts. We all agreed it is a lovely garden. We tried the benches which are quite comfortable. Next was secret no St John’s Lodge Garden with its entrance arbour covered with clematis and honeysuckle. With beautiful flower beds, it is one of London’s finest surviving Arts and Crafts gardens.

We saw some of the 8,000 roses in 85 rose beds in Queen Mary’s Rose Garden, London’s largest collection of roses and smelled a few of them. We made our way around the lake to see the waterfall, saw more beautiful flower beds and the Triton Fountain which was being cleaned. We walked past the Open Air Theatre – more rose beds – crossed the Inner Circle, past Holme Green Bandstand, crossed the bridge over the boating lake and finished at Baker Street tube station. It was quite pleasant in the park with a gentle breeze. Many people were enjoying a picnic in the shade. Maybe we could do this leisurely walk next year with a picnic at the end? I will check my crystal ball to make sure the walk is not programmed during a heatwave.

Dominique.  Photos by Nita and Peter

The walk was long but almost all in green spaces, forest, woods and parks. Everyone was pleased that the route had so much tree coverage and some breeze, as it was such a hot day. Occasionally we crossed an open area, not wasting anytime getting across into trees again. Lots of water stops were in order. We passed a few ponds and, a bit later, about half way on our walk, we arrived at Connaught Water, our picturesque lunch stop, by the lake.

After lunch, another mile or two took us to a cafe, Butler’s Retreat, where we took another break and indulged ourselves with ice cream and other treats. Between that point and Wood Street station, two of our group decided to divert off towards stations more convenient for their return journey and those of us remaining continued past Wood Street and halfway way from there to Walthamstow Central. Another split, one of our group continued straight ahead to the station and four of us sloped into a lovely pub, The Nags Head, where, soon after, a band started to play. We found a good seat in the garden and rewarded ourselves with hard earned liquid refreshments. A good day was had by all!

Jackie.  Photo by Rochelle

I met the party at Berwick Station, where their appointed train arrived punctually. Thirteen Poly Ramblers all descended from just one pair of doors onto the platform, and so the party of 14 was now fully united!

I had only been able to do a walkover the previous day when it was very overcast and ground temp some 6 or 7 degrees cooler, that I had to wear a pullover plus warm fleece. Not so today, as there was bright sunshine, plenty of blue sky, that, above waistline, only a T-shirt 👕 was necessary. Continue reading BERWICK TO EASTBOURNE VIA JEVINGTON – SATURDAY 13 JUNE →

Like my Easter Monday walk, the weather came up trumps, this time with a record May temperature. Despite the predicted hot weather, thirteen members started off from Alton Station for a five mile walk in the Hampshire countryside. We soon reached the King’s Pond where we were greeted by a family of Canada Geese, including numerous cute goslings. Accompanied by the sound of a steam train on the adjacent Watercress Line, we continued waterside to a long flight of steps. These took us up Windmill Hill, although sadly there was no sign of such a structure when we reached the top. A narrow road took us down again and then under the Alton by-pass to a quiet lane heading south. We soon passed Kiln House, a grand converted oast house indicative of the time Alton was renowned for hop growing. Turning west, we spotted a peacock in the grounds of Westbrook Grange. Then fields with lots of lambs and ewes took us to the Greyfriars pub in Chawton for some well-earned refreshment. The village is famed for its association with Jane Austen and her house could be seen opposite the pub. The route back to Alton took us past many locations connected with the author. Reaching the station was when things went awry. Signalling problems meant our return journey to London was greatly protracted with some of us sitting in a stationary train for over three hours, fortunately in air-conditioned comfort!

Danny
Photos courtesy of Ann Munn & Joyanna Lovelock

On  Sunday morning at the tail end of the late May heatwave, 23 Poly Ramblers overcame various travel challenges to gather at St Albans Abbey station for the Three Burys walk (bury  meaning manor). I was relieved to be walking in lower temperatures than when we did the walkover a week earlier.

We headed through Verulamium Park, passing the lake with a family of geese and goslings and then through the lovely St Michaels area of the city and north towards the first bury, the attractive estate hamlet of Childwickbury.   After walking through a wood and down a long estate drive we ate an early picnic lunch in the 19th century St Mary’s churchyard. We continued to cross Harpenden Common and down a mile long country lane to eventually reach the River Ver and Redbournbury Mill, the second bury and the last working watermill on the River Ver. We availed ourselves of the ice creams and cold drinks on offer in the mill shop and many of us bought loaves of bread and viewed the small museum.  As we sat outside we were surprised to be joined by Joyanna, who had missed the train but, with admirable determination, managed to catch us up.

The last stage of the walk took us south on the River Ver trail and then through the Gorhambury Estate (the third bury) back to St Michaels. We enjoyed great views of St Albans Abbey as we approached the gate house and from there it was a short step back to the museum where the group dispersed.   Later we heard of the challenges for some of group in getting home due to the Arsenal victory parade!

Gillian.   Photos Ida, Jane and Stephen