Ten Polyramblers assembled at Blackheath Station on a sunny morning for a five mile walk meandering along the Prime Meridian to the Millennium Dome, travelling through time across historical parkland and past the Royal Observatory before tracing the story-soaked shores of the Thames to reach ultra-modernised Greenwich Peninsula.
First we crossed Blackheath, scene of several insurrections in the Middle Ages. Then we entered Greenwich Park and soon passed the site of a Romano-Celtic Temple. Next was Queen Elizabeth’s oak, the remains of a tree from the 12th century. After enjoying the view from the Observatory terrace, we headed down to Greenwich town centre and had a wander through the market before reaching the Cutty Sark.
We then joined the Thames Path which took us past the Royal Naval College to our lunch stop at the Pelton Arms pub. We sat in its garden enjoying the sunshine and excellent food & drink. Suitably refreshed we set off past myriad blocks of new flats and a few remaining vestiges of the industry that once lined the river banks. We skirted the Dome past various art installations before finishing the walk at North Greenwich Station.
It was a grey morning with hints the sun was trying to break through when 18 Polyramblers assembled at Princes Risborough station for a circular walk around the edge of the Chilterns. Amongst the 18 were 4 new faces, all potential new members.
The walk first took us out of the town and on to the Ridgeway an ancient trail that runs along chalk downs from Ivinghoe beacon to Marlborough. It soon had our hearts beating fast and our jackets being removed as it took a steep gradient over the chalk escarpment up to a trig point where we were rewarded with a wonderful view over Princes Risborough and the vale of Aylesbury. By this time the sun was fully out and made it a perfect setting for our first group photo.
From here we walked through woodland until we reached our lunchtime stop, the Hampden Arms. The trees, mainly beech, were showing off their magnificent autumn colours and fallen leaves carpeted the ground. We walked passed Hampden House owned by the Earl of Buckinghamshire and which today is an exclusive up market wedding venue. From here it was a short hop to the cosy Hampden Arms where we made our lunchtime stop with 12 of us eating at the pub. We had a long wait for our food but the small friendly team who were working flat out and the quality of the food when it arrived made it a positive experience.
The afternoon walk took us through more woodland, this time more muddy and puddle strewn than before lunch but nonetheless still beautiful. Eventually the path started to make a steep descent as we came to the edge of the woodland and back down from the escarpment to the rolling fields so typical of the lovely Chilterns landscapes.
After walking across fields we eventually rejoined the Ridgeway and our path back into Princes Risborough and the station. We’d certainly had the best of the weather as it was coming on to rain heavily as we reached the station.
Seven Strollers left Moorhill House on Saturday and were joined by one more person at the YHA and two more at the White Buck. After a minor route finding problem on the outskirts of Burley we made good progress until we came to a boggy area where we spent some time choosing the place to cross which wouldn’t be too wet. Eventually we came to a path which ran alongside the A35 and Wilverley Inclosure. The rain which had been forecast finally arrived in the form of a heavy shower which fortunately did not last too long. By this time I was worried that we would miss our booking at the Old Station Cafe at Holmsley and in my distraction failed to read the map properly and got into a muddle. Fortunately they kept our table for us and we enjoyed our lunch, the Welsh Rarebit proving to be popular. Holmsley station was on the line from Brockenhurst to Ringwood and the line was closed in 1964. After lunch we followed the disused trackbed till we turned off to return to Burley by ascending Turf Hill. This was a gradual climb with one steep bit. On reaching the outskirts of Burley we said goodbye to the people from the YHA and the White Buck and returned to Moorhill House to get ready for dinner at the Carpenter’s Arms in Bransgore.
Twelve of us came out of Kingston station to a cool but bright morning. Through the town and into the heath and woodland of Bushy Park. We saw and heard a number of Stags roaring whilst quite a few Does were quietly munching the grass, looking up now and then. We walked through a few plantations, the Oval, Pheasant and Waterhouse, passing Leg of Mutton Pond and Heron Pond, surrounded by some lovely old weeping willow trees. In the distance we spotted the Diana Fountain and Hampton Court Palace but we didn’t divert off our route to visit these.
After a bit of road walking, mostly residential streets, we followed the River Crane until Shot Tower came into sight, our lunch stop. The van selling drinks and cake next to the tower was decorated for Halloween and had tables and chairs out. The tower was open for visitors, with information on the local flora and fauna and Chris M was able to tell us a bit of the history of the tower.
The Crane Park Shot Tower is a Grade II listed building. Built in 1828 it is believed that the 25.3m tall tower was used, for the manufacture of lead shot. Molten lead was poured, through a sieve and formed shot as it fell to the bottom of the tower, where it was cooled in a tank of water.
After lunch, and a bit more road walking, we found ourselves on Hounslow Heath. We rejoined the River Crane and made our way to Brazil Mill Woods, then Donkey Wood, where we followed a winding timber causeway and, for the remainder of the route we could hear the planes overhead as they landed/took off from the airport nearby. The sky was overcast so not many were visible, but the few we did spot going up into the clouds were quite dramatic. Finally, a half-mile walk along the A30 took us to Hatton Cross station.
Eight hardy walkers met bright and early at Marylebone Station ready to board the 09:07 train to Beaconsfield and then take the rail replacement service to Great Missenden. Unfortunately, the train had a technical fault, and was cancelled. We then boarded the 09:37 (in theory a faster service so all appeared to be going well). Once again, a technical fault prevented this train from leaving the station!
Third train lucky, Yay, we were finally on our way. On arriving at Beaconsfield, after a short wait, we boarded the rail replacement service, arriving an hour later than anticipated and met up with two more ramblers at Great Missenden Station. Thankful they waited and hoped that we would make up the time and provide a walk worth waiting for. We gave the safety briefing and walk details and finally set off with the sun on our backs.
The walk began, through Great Missenden to find the South Bucks way path leading to fields towards Cobblershill Farm. There were several school groups taking their Duke of Edinburgh award training also following some of our route.
The South Bucks way led us to Dunsmore. Walking through fields and woodland we arrived in Little Hampden, at the seat, a bench with a crown dedicated to HRH Queen Elizabeth on her Accession to the throne in 1952.
After a short water/snack break, we carried on following the Chiltern Way towards Great Hampden, Hampden House. Opposite Hampden House at the church of St. Mary Magdalene, we walked through the church yard and left by the back gate following a footpath straight ahead leading to fields. There would have been a prize to the person who guessed the breed of sheep in the field. However, the vegetation was so overgrown, following the rains that the sheep were barely visible!
The sheep had white faces and light brown woolly coats. Any suggestions?
The exit from the fields led us across to a tarmac access road leading to a crossroads and open fields. This was our lunch spot with the option to picnic in the fields or head to the Hampden Arms for refreshments.
After lunch our walk continued towards Bryant’s Bottom. Finding the path leading to Bryant’s Bottom we encounter our first stile, and the old oak tree planted to commemorate HRH Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. We continued through the common and into Great Hampden common, leaving the common via another stile. At the end of the common we turned right, into the gate marked Denner Farm, and followed the driveway, which led to another stile and into undulating fields. Crossing another field, we turned left, through a gate to a road, where we picked up a gravel track, to double gates leading to a house. Behind the house, we followed a footpath leading to a field to another highish stile, into fields with grazing horses and another gate. Once through the gate a right turn led to an overgrown narrow path., which we managed to negotiate by walking in single file, until we came to the road. Crossing the road, we accessed another gate into a field which climbed towards another gate. Through this gate a short woodland walk brought an exit into the first of three fields which eventually led to the Wycombe Road. Some residential walking followed, through Sixty Acres Road, Honor Road and Nairdwood Lane and a path to New road. Here we heard a kite whistle, looking up into the trees we saw a kite perched and then soar into the sky, beautiful & graceful. At the end of New Road, we picked up the Chiltern Heritage Trail along the verge, admiring the topiary snail and other shapes at a local house, before turning left by Andlows farm. We followed the path which led to Angling Spring Wood, keeping to the main path, walking down hill until we met the road. Here on turning right we headed downhill towards Great Missenden Station, just in time to see the rail replacement bus pull up. We said farewell to two ramblers and boarded the bus to Beaconsfield Station. Our return rail service to Marylebone was on time and thankfully uneventful.
Mission accomplished and in fine weather!
Carol
Photos by Hilary and Geoffrey
The Polytechnic Rambling Club – Walking with friends
