Thirteen Poly Ramblers met at Chipstead Station for a short walk around magical Banstead Woods. After a short climb we saw Narnia sculptures of Lucy Pevensie by the Lamppost , a bit further along was Aslan the Lion, the White Witch and the Wardrobe. The wood was covered with English bluebells that were at its best, pity
Jennifer was unable to join us after perfect planning.
We made our way towards Stagbury Downs and onwards to Shabden Park. We had a picnic with views of Long Plantation in the distance. We made our way back to Chipstead station after tackling couple of tricky slopes and fallen trees. Most of us decided to end the day by having tea or coffee at a very pleasant café where they
roasted their own coffee beans from India; that surprised me.
Undulating countryside and quiet country lanes via hamlet of Stalkers Lane and Chiddingly village to reward you for the necessary early start. Buy single to Uckfield Dep. London Bridge 09.05 arr. E. Croydon 09.18/dep. E.C. 09.33 arr. Uckfield 10.33 and bus to Blackboys. Return – buy single Berwick (Sussex) to London Bridge. See email for more details of train tickets
Bring a picnic. Possible drink stop en route.
EX. OL25 Leaders : Hilary and Susan (07763131145)
Photo from the last leg of the Vanguard Way in November 2025
3 rivers- Thames, Darent and Cray. Mostly easy, level walking- firm paths and tracks, one stile, passing Queen Elizabeth II bridge, Darent flood barrier, Littlebrook power station and Hall place park. Dep. London Bridge 10.06 arr. Erith 10.44. All travel within zone 6. Lunch tbc. EX 162. Leader : Jackie McCartan
Photo: Claire Stretch / Queen Elizabeth II Bridge / CC BY-SA 2.0
The day did not start well because of a train cancellation but 13 Poly Ramblers all met half an hour later than planned at Welwyn North Station which, by the way, is not in Welwyn but in Digswell. This was the only hiccup of the day. After leaving Harmer Green Lane, we crossed Lockleys Wood and followed an undulating path between fields that have been left fallow to benefit the wildlife. We went under the A1(M) via the Clock Roundabout and reached Danesbury Park, a historic parkland once linked to Danesbury House. Continue reading WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL: WELWYN NORTH – FERNERY AND CHOCOLATE SHOP→
On Saturday 28 March we held our AGM at St George’s Campden Hill with 34 attendees
Following the meeting and a plentiful buffet lunch, 16 walkers set off to amble through the Royal Parks. The sky was a mixture of brilliant blue and a few grey clouds. Luckily we didn’t have a repeat of lasts year’s deluge. We passed through beautiful flower beds along the side of the Albert Memorial, crowds of tourists taking in the afternoon sunshine and heard the shouts of the demonstrators on what looked to be a peaceful march through the Hyde Park area.
A few walkers dropped out at Green Park. In St James Park we spotted one pelican and a heron. Pam went on a hunt for a Metropolitan water trough around the Whitehall area – sadly no sign of it as the seating area for Trooping the Colour blocked any view. The rest of us finished our walk at Westminster Tube station.
