The week before my walk had been very hot and there were heat health warnings in the run-up to the date. According to the Met Office it was the fifth warmest July since records began in 1884 (i.e. above average)! I was worried participants might be affected or deterred! But it was Wimbledon Finals week so there was always a chance of rain! I was bitten by a wasp the day before (through my gardening glove!) while putting my compostables in my compost bin and my hand had swollen up and gone purple (It is still discoloured and causing occasional splurges of red blotches and agonising itching all over my body!).  What if I got anaphylactic shock and couldn’t lead the walk?!! There had been a shooting incident opposite the Park Gate Inn in Hollingbourne the Monday before (according to the Metro), including armed officers, life-changing injuries and a bomb disposal team! Would the whole village be cordoned off?!

As it turned out, the weather continued to be hot but as we walked up the slope from the village above the North Downs Way there was a pleasant, light breeze to keep us from boiling over. The village of Hollingbourne itself was quiet apart from pilgrims getting ready to continue on the Pilgrims’ Way towards Canterbury. We didn’t see the Park Gate Inn and the Dirty Habit pub is currently barricaded with builders’ scaffolding as it undergoes restoration.
We made our way up the hillside, pausing occasionally to admire the views and the wonderful countryside. After taking time to admire the wild boars and cooling shade of a wood, we carried on to the
highest point of the walk where we paused for our lunch break, either at a picnic table and bench or in the shade of some trees, after which we availed ourselves of the facilities at the Hook and Hatchet pub, Hucking, and slaked our thirst.
Suitably refreshed, we set off westwards and then down the hillside, now empty of sheep and lambs that we saw on our last visit two years ago, without incident this time. Our route took us under the highspeed and standard railway lines and the A20 and into Moore Meadow. Miss Pauline Moore lived in Bearsted all her life, running her own riding school, and donated the land to Bearsted Woodland Trust “for the recreation and enjoyment of everyone”, to prevent it falling into the hands of developers. Thank goodness the Kent International Gateway Group’s plans to build a large freight and logistics depot in the area were rejected by the local planning authority, following significant objections raised by local residents,
including Miss Moore!
On leaving the Woodland we passed the Holy Cross village church where I always pause to reflect on the stone in the churchyard in memory of a villager, John Dyke, the last person to be hanged at a public execution in Penenden Heath (in 1830), for burning a hayrick, of which it later emerged he was innocent!
And so to the village green, where cricket was in progress, and the White Horse pub where some of us paused for refreshment and others proceeded to the station for the train back to the heat and stress of London. What a lovely walk it turned out to be! I hope my eight walking companions enjoyed it as much as I did!

I have since been reminded that on the North Downs Way we met a solitary man coming the other way. He was walking the whole NDW which apparently takes about two weeks. We wished him well and continued on our way. It made me think of the pilgrims who, over the centuries, have trodden the same path on their way to Canterbury and also that I prefer walking with friends, rather than alone!

Pam

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