Eight Poly Ramblers set off from Coulsdon South station to the grassy plains of Farthing Downs encountering a small friendly herd of cows, which was a surprise, as they didn’t put in an appearance on the recce last Saturday! A trig point a bit further on helped us identify some of the buildings on the horizon. We carried onto the Happy Valley going through woodland and out through to open pasture along the valley to Coulsdon Common. A slight uphill struggle on loose stones lead to welcome refreshment at the Fox pub. We could only stop for a drink as the pub manager wouldn’t let us eat outside despite the lack of people and probably cost him 2-3 potential meals from the group!

Suitably refreshed we began our return route to Coulsdon stopping to have lunch after a brief shower with some great views into the valley. We carried on for 2.5 miles along the top of the valley past a nature reserve eventually rejoinng Farthing Downs and on to the railway station.

Thanks to those who joined my midweek walk.

Kim.  Photos by Ida and Joyanna

Ten Polys set out from Rochester station on a chilly but fairly sunny day. We briefly visited the splendid cathedral, before walking through the Castle grounds and along the River Medway to Borstal. We had stopped to look at the magnificent Restoration House,
where Charles II stayed and on which Dickens based Miss Havisham’s house in Great Expectations, and the site of the last Justice Tree in England near the castle. We stopped to read about the Short brothers, who founded a successful aviation company,
which held the UK rights to build copies of the Wright brothers’ aircraft. We crossed the long bridge which carries the noisy M2 and were soon following the North Downs Way with beautiful views. We left this long-distance route and stopped for our picnic overlooking a tranquil valley. The walk took us up to Cobham Woods and Park, passing the handsome Darnley Mausoleum. It was built for the 3rd Earl Darnley as their tombs in Westminster Abbey were full. However, it was never consecrated as the local bishop didn’t approve the design and decorations, so it was actually never used for burials. We were just able to spot some beautiful stained glass through a window and resolved to come back another time as it is only open in the summer months. Further down the path, two splendid Highland cattle were busy munching chestnuts and took no notice of us!

We arrived in Cobham and stopped for a welcome drink at The Leather Bottle, Dickens’s favourite Ale house built in 1629 and featured in The Pickwick Papers. The last leg of our walk took us through an enormous apple orchard where we stopped to watch them being harvested. On the return from Sole Street we discussed the many interesting things we would like to return to visit, including the Dickens festival the first weekend in December, and that another walk in this beautiful countryside would not go
amiss!

Susan.  Photos by Ida and Patricia

Despite transport problems 19 Poly Ramblers gathered at Bookham station for a gentle ramble in the Surrey countryside, a walk characterised by stunning woodland, numerous often very shaky stiles and little bridges over dried out streams.

We soon entered the ancient woodlands of Bookham Common mentioned in the Doomsday Book and managed by the National Trust, an area very popular with dog walkers but we soon left them behind. Emerging from the woods our path led us through meadows, one of which was being used for clay pigeon shooting, and pastures of horses and cows. We passed a paintball centre where we could hear pop guns firing in the woods. Continue reading Bookham to Effingham. 19 September 2026 →