It was a dry somewhat dull day with a fresh breeze when twelve Polyramblers gathered at Hadley Wood station for a walk to Brookmans Park in Hertfordshire.  After the usual safety briefing, we set out across wet fields crossing over two busy roads taking traffic out of London to the M25.  After walking under the M25, we started to leave behind the constant drone of traffic and the landscape became more peaceful and countryfied.  It also became more wooded as we entered into Northaw wood, part of an ancient wood stretching back to Norman times.  From here it was a short walk into the village of Northaw where we stopped for lunch.  Most of the party decided to have lunch at a pub and restaurant called Judges.  I had been a little unsure of Judges as a suitable venue for a group of walkers with muddy boots because it was more of a gastropub serving proper sit down meals restaurant style, rather than the pub grub we are normally used to.  And of course the prices were more than we usually like to pay.  But I need not have feared as everyone enjoyed their food, which was good and tasty, and the service was efficient and friendly.  We were unable to use the pub just down the road as I had originally intended as it had closed over the Christmas period, but we were lucky there was a second pub alternative, even if it was a gastro pub and things worked out just fine.  

Refreshed and full, we joined those who had had packed lunches in the bar, reunited ourselves with our boots and set out on the rest of the walk.  There was still no sign of the sun but at least the weather was remaining dry, something to be grateful for after all the recent rain.  Our route took us along the main road out of the village until, on a bend in the road, we reached a footpath sign for the Hertfordshire Way.  We took this path, glad to get off the main road.  It took us into another wood with a fast running stream running alongside our footpath.  Eventually after crossing over another main road, and walking along a lane, we reached a famous local landmark, the Folly Arch, so called because its function was a gateway and not a castle which it gives the appearance of being.  It marks the entrance to the former extensive grounds of the Gobions Estate house and ornamental gardens built in the eighteenth century.  These have long since disappeared with the arch and lake in Gobions Woods all that remains.  From here we had our first encounter with serious mud as our footpath took us across a ploughed field into Gobions woods.  By the time we came out of the wood and into Brookmans Park our boots were caked.  This did not stop some of us from stepping into a lively pub for hot drinks and beers before going to get the train to take us back to London.  

Mary King
Walk Leader

Photos by Mary, Melida, Nita and Chris

A walk followed by a carol service was a regular entry in the pre-Xmas Club programme from 2004, when Dominique arranged a trip to Ely. The last was in 2019. just before the pandemic. It was a popular event so it was reinstated for 2023. St Albans was the venue for the third time, the first one in 2010 being particularly memorable for the amount of snow that fell on the day.

Thus, twenty two members assembled at the Abbey Station for a figure of eight circuit around the city. We first followed the River Ver, a chalk stream, reputedly only one of about 200 on the planet. Enroute, we stopped at the remains of an old nunnery before crossing over to the north bank via a disused railway bridge. Here we visited a wildlife nature reserve, once a commercial watercress beds and a market garden. Threading our way through quaint streets, past a decorated post box, we reached the midpoint of our walk by the cathedral. We then crossed Verulanium Park to a nondescript building which housed a very impressive Roman mosaic. Returning via the village of St Michaels and the Abbey mill stream we reached the Cathedral for lunch.

Some used the cafe while others picnicked outside. To finish the day, the majority of us then joined an intimidating looking queue to get seats for a half-hour carol service featuring many traditional favourites, lustily sung by some of our number.

Danny

Photos courtesy of Ida Kwan and Nita Patel  

This walk was from the book ‘Beyond the End of the Line’ by Jeff Lock.

Nineteen people attended this walk including existing members and some potentially new members.  We set off from Aldgate to the Tower of London walking along waterways to St Katherine’s Dock and onwards to Spirit Quay and Shadwell Basin, Wapping Market and Woods.  

After stopping for a group photo at London’s oldest waterway pub (the Prospect of Whitby) we continued through King Edward Memorial Park to Lime House Basin where we stopped for an hour at the Yurt Cafe to warm ourselves with home cooked food in a cosy atmosphere.

After lunch we walked back to the river coming off at Canary Wharf to join the Island Waterways which lead us to Millwall Dock and Basin.  From there we went to Mudchute Park and Farm which is a large open space and working farm for the local community.

Coming out of Mudchute Park, we walked through Millwall Playing fields exiting under the Docklands Light Railway bridge at Island Gardens Station. 

With our eyes firmly on the end of the walk (the Cutty Sark ship) we approached the Greenwich Tunnel (east side).    While still clutching my guide book I was stopped by a passer-by who stated ‘I wrote that book’.  It was Jeff Lock, the author,  who seeing the copy in my hand, stopped us for a chat! After a very pleasant encounter, he signed my copy and we parted ways,  chuffed at the chance encounter.

Cathy

Nineteen Polyramblers arrived at Northolt Station for a prompt start. We walked through old Northolt village of which only the old Manor House, a few cottages, a pub and St Mary’s Church still remain. We then made our way to the four hills at Northala fields. The hills were constructed using rubble from the demolition of the original Wembley Stadium, which was closed in 2000 and demolished in 2003. We climbed the main hill to enjoy the view of London. Behind the hills lie several man-made lakes which have been constructed to encourage wild life.

Then we made our way along the Grand Union Canal heading towards Horsenden Hill farm. Steve kindly lead about half the group to the Ballot Box pub for lunch and the rest of us enjoyed a picnic, tea and cakes near the farm shop.

After lunch both groups met at the top of Horsenden Hill from where we made our way back to the Station. 

Sunita

Photos by Ida.