Six Poly Ramblers travelled to Forest Row by train on one of the hottest days of the year, to begin section 5 of the Vanguard Way. The route now passed through some of the best and most isolated scenery with a route through the Ashdown Forest. We began our walk skirting the Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Course, we had a
temporary setback when we took a wrong path but quickly rectified our mistake. We eventually emerged from the golf course. Crossing a road, we followed the route circling Coleman’s Hatch cricket club and after some deliberation we followed a steep winding track walking along a road to start our climb up a broad rutted ride.

We stopped for a late picnic to have a much-needed break in woodland, before starting the long climb. The top of the ride was well worth the effort with amazing views on a clear day. We were now in Winnie the Pooh territory and standing in the spot in those stories known as the Enchanted Place. We entered a fenced
enclosure where there was a monument to AA Milne. We then headed to Gills Lap Clump where there was a magnificent Scots Pine. We went along a narrow footpath to see the Heffalump trap. Before continuing our route, we stopped to admire some very unusual sheep with four horns, unfortunately a member of our group stumbled, and the sheep scattered before we could use our cameras!
On our way to the bus stop in Poundgate we passed the halfway point of the Vanguard Way. We were rewarded with ice creams before increasing our strides in order to get to the bus stop in time to catch the train back from Eridge.

Hilary.  Photos by Chris and Hilary

We had great weather for our 9.5 mile walk from Hatch End to Borehamwood, sunny with a breeze. 17 walkers in total. There were lots of lovely open areas and tall grasses to enjoy some sun, and woods to cool down. In the grounds of Grim’s Dyke house, once the home of W. S. Gilbert, from Gilbert and Sullivan, we passed green ponds, with ducks and their trail of ducklings, and a reservoir. Arriving on Grim’s Dyke Golf course, one player paused his shot to let us go across and 10 of us made our way over together. He did look rather surprised when, getting ready to go again, the other part of the group appeared from the trees! On crossing Old Redding Road, we found ourselves in a picnic area with great views southwards, and Geoffrey was able to name the distant hills and buildings, thanks G. We sat under trees to eat before entering Stanmore Common. Passing Stanmore Riding School, we came across some beautiful young horses and paused for photos. Having walked about two thirds of our way, we rested, overlooking a campsite with Teepees and pods. When we got on the move again, we made our way down the hill and through the field, with tall grass either side. Arriving quite early at Elstree and Borehamwood station, we rewarded ourselves with glasses of cider and beer at a lovely pub nearby, before catching the train home.

Jackie McCartan.  Photos by Les, Chris, Nita,  Suzanne

Eleven Poly Ramblers came on this 3-mile linear walk between Marble Arch and Queensway weaving in and out of Bayswater Road. We passed newly renovated Marble Arch designed by John Nash for Buckingham Palace but moved to this site in 1851. Then we saw the site of the Tyburn gallows, the principal place of public execution between 1388-1783 and went to see the Tyburn Convent where an order of nuns perpetuates the memory of the 105 Catholic martyrs. At No 10 Bayswater Road is London’s smallest house. The beginning of the walk was in the Hyde Park Estate which covers 90 acres bordered by Sussex Gardens, Edgware Road and Bayswater Road. Most of the freehold interests within the Hyde Park Estate (approximately 1,700 residential, commercial and retail properties) are owned by the Church Commissioners for England.

We passed the parish church of St John the Evangelist where the Horseman’s Sunday service used to be held every September. The last service took place in 2017. It was a Christian Blessing by the vicar of St John’s Church, and it followed morning service at the church (for pedestrians only!). The horses assembled outside the church entrance and the vicar performed his Blessing on horseback.

Then we continued to Bathurst Mews which still has two stables for those who want to ride in Hyde Park. We saw a few horses settled for the night in their stables – an unexpected sight in London. For those who are interested, private lessons are £145 ppph. Weight limit is 80kg/13 stones.

We stopped for a break at the Memorial to Reginald Brabazon 12th Earl of Meath which commemorates his philanthropic work. He is responsible for many of London ‘s public parks and the Green Belt around London. Next to it is the Lancaster Gate Memorial Cross which commemorates the residents of the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington who sacrificed their lives during the First World War.

We continued to Leinster Terrace where numbers 23 & 24 are only facades as the houses behind were pulled down when the Metropolitan Railway (now District and Circle Line) was constructed in 1868. These “fake houses” were built to cover the view of the underground railway. In Porchester Gardens is the statue of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg (1405-1468) who was an Albanian feudal lord and military commander who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. The statue was installed as part of the City of Sculpture initiative created by the City of Westminster and was unveiled in 2012 on the 100th anniversary of Albanian independence. However there appears to be no Albanian connection to explain the choice of this site.

After Whiteleys (London’s first department store) – which has been redeveloped again and is now luxury flats, a luxury hotel and future luxury shops – we passed the Cathedral of St Sophia (Greek Orthodox), the church of St Matthews and the New West End Synagogue.

During the walk, we saw a few blue plaques telling us where William Makepeace Thackeray, WH Smith and Winston Churchill lived.

After joining Bayswater Road one last time, we arrived at Queensway Underground Station where the walk finished.

Dominique

Twelve Poly Ramblers gathered at Aylesbury Vale Parkway on a warm Saturday at the end of May for a walk to the north east of the market town of Aylesbury. This is an area we visit rarely and, according to Geoffrey, the first time we have used this station. After an initial walk alongside the A41 we were soon in a meadow of spring flowers alongside the River Thame, later passing the remains of a medieval village and some sheep shearing. Pam enquired and was told that two shearers were aiming to get through 250 sheep in a day.

We negotiated a field of lively and curious cattle and reached the delightful hilltop village of Weedon (village pond, thatched cottages and thatched pub). After an early picnic lunch and one of Stephen’s delicious cookies we continued. After a loop with views of the Chiltern Hills we headed east across a series of fields towards the village of Rowsham. Early on we encountered our second field of excitable cattle who enjoyed rushing backwards and forwards in front of us as we made our way across the field. Disconcerting, although they were not aggressive. Then we had a series of mainly arable fields, some with no discernable paths and a few overgrown and poorly maintained stiles. Eventually we made it to Rowsham and then through more meadows, an orchard, a nursery until finally we reached the prize of  Bierton Coffee House, delightfully situated in an old chapel.  Thankfully it was still open just after 4pm.  By that time we had done about ten miles.

After rest and refreshment, four people decided to catch the bus into Aylesbury. The rest of us continued past St Osyth’s Well through more meadows, the new development of Oakfield Park and eventually reached the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union canal. We managed to keep up a brisk enough pace along the canal and through the town to catch our train with 2 minutes to spare. Comparison of step counters on the train indicated we had done at least 13 miles.

Gillian.  Photos by Pam

Poly Ramblers met up with the London Blind Ramblers at the station and walked to Kew Gardens to meet up with Jennifer, our Poly Rambler and Kew volunteer guide. There were 36 of us in all.

Our visit started in the café, where we were able to feel the mural sculpture made out of wood from some of the 700 trees brought down by the Great Storm of 1987, depicting the god of the wind Aeolus, trees and the lion statues and vases in the Gardens.

Then we set off along between the Palm House and the lake, remarking on the stone copies of the “Queen’s beasts”, heraldic animals that were displayed outside Westminster Abbey Annex during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. We turned left into the steamy atmosphere of the Palm House and out the other side, into the rose garden, stocked by David Austin, to smell roses.

From the rose garden we proceeded into the Woodland Garden, and felt the metal sculpture of a large face, made by the imprint of maple leaves, near the Princess of Wales conservatory, named after Princess Augusta, mother of George III and founder of the Gardens. From there it wasn’t far to the Ice House, a small brick store where George III’s family kept ice for culinary purposes, and onwards to the humming of the Hive and homage to the bee, which has become a permanent intriguing visitor attraction.

Those of us who had done a walkover when the Great Broad Walk Borders were more or less bare, were delighted to see them full of flowers, leading us to a lunch break at picnic tables and bench near the Orangery. Refreshed we set off across the grass to Kew Palace and the herb garden behind where there were lots of herbs for us to feel and smell.

Jennifer left us to carry on back down the Great Broad Walk to the Camellia walk, past the Winter Garden and then we nipped into the Marianne North Gallery as suggested by Jennifer, to visit the amazing collection of Marianne North’s paintings of plants from all over the world, waiting for Chris to catch us up! I have since come across an article in the Kew magazine (Spring 2020) about Marianne and just how untypical she was as a Victorian gentlewoman! Here is a link to her on Wikipedia

Across the grass for a brief visit to the Temperate House and group photo, then along the Cherry Walk, full of blossom earlier in the year, followed by tulips, now also past their best, over the lake by the bridge and on to the Minka House and Sacred Bamboo, which dispels bad dreams, then into the Rhododendron Dell full of stunning blossoms. A brief glimpse of the River Thames and into the Woodland, turning off to the Redwood Grove where we joined hands in a big circle to give us an idea of the circumference of an average redwood tree trunk. There were just enough of us! Chris took a video but unfortunately it is too large to share online.

As time was getting on the group picked up a little speed at last to head towards the facilities near the Victoria Gate where we went our separate ways at the end of a very pleasant, fragrant, warm, sunny day. Our thanks to Jennifer for her explanations of the history and botany of Kew Gardens.

Pam. Photos by Chris