All posts by Gillian

Cookham to Maidenhead – 22 August 2026

A walk from Cookham to Maidenhead, where we ‘had the weather for it’. Cooler and much more tolerable for a longish walk.
16 arrived on the shuttle between Maidenhead and Cookham, Geoffrey (our back marker) and I by car, and Pam joined us at the pub near Bourne End.

The walk is a figure of 9 – a circular walk back to Cookham High St and then linear down to Maidenhead – much researched and recce’d and Chris had his trusty app just in case. Continue reading Cookham to Maidenhead – 22 August 2026

Rye Circular via Winchelsea – 15th August 2026

I had been concerned that following recent high temperatures in London the walking conditions might have been uncomfortable especially as there was no shade.  But I needn’t have worried.  The temperatures were already on the way down after the latest heatwave and the gentle sea breeze made the conditions just perfect for walking.

12 Poly Ramblers assembled at St Pancras and made the journey down to  Rye.  After the briefing, we began with a short tour of the main highlights of the town.  Rye is a very old town with evidence of existing since Anglo-Saxon times.  It is one of five ports (including Winchelsea) or ‘Cinque Ports’ on which were conferred a special status and tax privileges by the Crown in medieval times in return for defending the coastline from invasion.  After admiring the old buildings, particularly in Mermaid Street, we made our way out of Rye and along the extensive salt flats that lie between the town and the sea two miles away.  It’s hard to imagine that, until a succession of massive storms between the 13th and 16th centuries, both Rye and Winchelsea were on the coast. Continue reading Rye Circular via Winchelsea – 15th August 2026

GREEN LONDON WAY – RICHMOND TO BOSTON MANOR 6 AUGUST

It was  ideal weather – sunny but not hot – for this 7-mile walk continuing our circle around London on the Green London Way. Fourteen Poly Ramblers met at Richmond tube station and made their way to the Thames through busy shopping streets. We followed the shaded river path northbound along the Old Deer Park, the Royal Mid-Surrey Gold Club and Kew Gardens. There were quite a few walkers and cyclists, some with bells and some without (the cyclists – not the walkers announcing they were lepers!). We walked at different speeds and met at Kew Bridge where two speedy walkers were already having lunch in a café. We crossed the bridge and some of us had a picnic, others went to a café or a pub. I lost three walkers after lunch; one who could only do a short walk and two who had planned to stay in the pub. Continue reading GREEN LONDON WAY – RICHMOND TO BOSTON MANOR 6 AUGUST

SATURDAY 5th SEPTEMBER BENFLEET to LEIGH-on-SEA /SOUTHEND-on-SEA with the LONDON BLIND RAMBLERS (Linear) 4-8 miles

Mileage depending on choice of LBRs. 4 miles to Leigh on sea, some may want to continue to Chalkwell, Westcliff or Southend, plus the pier. Mostly by the sea, at sea-level. Gravel, grassy and, later, metalled paths.

Buy SUPER-OPDR to Leigh-on-Sea or Southend-on-Sea, depending on how far you want to walk. Dep. Liverpool St. 10.15 arr. Benfleet 11.00. Lunch pub, cafe in Leigh on Sea or bring a picnic. EX 175. Leader Pam

PLEASE let Pam know in advance that you will come to help guide the LBRs and which walk length you prefer, bearing in mind that our route(s) on the day will depend on the LBRs’ preferences.

Photo:  The Waterfront at Old Leigh. Chris Wood