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 →

HIGHLIGHTS:  Cuffley | Home Wood | Hertfordshire Way | Celtic Harmony Camp |Broxbourne Woods | Bourne Wood | Hertford |River Lee | Ware

Many of our 13 walkers agreed that the walk felt far away from London. It covered many woodland tracks as it rose up the Hertford hills. We indulged in home-made Polish apple pie and coffee at a Padel cafe early in our walk and had lunch in the woods before reaching Harmony. We were disappointed to find the Harmony Camp closed, though still advertised as being open to the public at weekends. We were looking forward to exploring the visitor centre, thatched huts and reading about their calendar of activities. The walk might need to be repeated on a future programme to visit the camp.

Beyond the camp, we followed the route through open fields to Hertford, tip toeing through the one with ‘beware of the bull’, or suchlike notice, on the gate. At one point we spotted a single large emu-like bird in an adjacent field (see photo). Google lens identified it as a rhea. One walker phoned the nearby Hertfordshire Zoo to ask if they had lost one but they had not.

One of our group parted ways to return home via Bayford, another to catch a train from Hertford North. Another few walkers jumped on a train at Hertford East. Those remaining completed the last section, along the River Lee. It was a lovely section surrounded by meadows and canal boats to enjoy, and took us right up to Ware station.

Jackie McC.  Photos by Ida