A select group of five Poly Ramblers met at Berwick Station to begin our final stages of the Vanguard Way.  We crossed fields following the line of a Roman Rd, passing through the village of Berwick we entered the South Downs national Park. We stopped at Berwick Church to admire the Bloomsbury group paintings by artists Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell, and Quentin Bell. The murals were commissioned in the hope that there would be a golden age for painted churches.
Continue reading Berwick to New Haven 13 miles Section 9/10 of the Vanguard Way – 6 June 2026 →

On another hot day, nine members met at Mill Hill East station for a circular walk of just over five miles in the London Borough of Barnet. After a stop at a nearby Waitrose for use of their facilities, we headed along a suburban road to the thirteen arch Northern Line viaduct, the highest point above ground level on the London Underground network. As it towered above us, we joined the Dollis Brook trail for a pleasant shaded walk through woodland. Soon we branched off left through a golf course for a stretch of road walking. After a small altercation with a driver who appeared to be unaware of pedestrian priority at a turning, we reached an enclosed track with horses greeting us in an adjacent field. This took us in due course to Totteridge Green with its delightful duck pond. After skirting some cottages and large houses, we reached the Orange Tree Inn. Here we stopped for drinks and where some of our number ate a picnic lunch at the lovely pond opposite. Refreshed we headed up to the attractive village church where we joined another track down the long slope of the Totteridge valley. Extensive views opened up as we left woodland with the Mill Hill medical research institute dominating the skyline. Passing a cricket match in progress, we headed uphill to the Adam & Eve pub where the group split. Some headed down Bittacy Hill to complete the walk while the rest delayed their departure down the hill to partake of drinks in the pub. Fortunately there were no transport delays returning home, unlike my recent Alton walk.

Danny
Photos courtesy of Les Filby.

It was quite hot and England was playing Ghana in the World Cup that evening so only 8 of us turned up at Great Portland Street Station. We made a detour to see the Royal College of Physicians’ Garden of Medical plants before entering Regent’s Park, one of the Royal Parks of London. The park was at its best with a riot of flowers. We started with the Avenue Gardens and its fountains, Victorian-style borders and shade. Then we went to the Queen Elizabeth II Garden which was opened in April this year. It has a pond, lovely flowers and prairie planting. The restored water tower acts as a viewing platform and, hopefully in the future, will host swifts. We all agreed it is a lovely garden. We tried the benches which are quite comfortable. Next was secret St John’s Lodge Garden with its entrance arbour covered with clematis and honeysuckle. With beautiful flower beds, it is one of London’s finest surviving Arts and Crafts gardens.

We saw some of the 8,000 roses in 85 rose beds in Queen Mary’s Rose Garden, London’s largest collection of roses and smelled a few of them. We made our way around the lake to see the waterfall, saw more beautiful flower beds and the Triton Fountain which was being cleaned. We walked past the Open Air Theatre – more rose beds – crossed the Inner Circle, past Holme Green Bandstand, crossed the bridge over the boating lake and finished at Baker Street tube station. It was quite pleasant in the park with a gentle breeze. Many people were enjoying a picnic in the shade. Maybe we could do this leisurely walk next year with a picnic at the end? I will check my crystal ball to make sure the walk is not programmed during a heatwave.

Dominique.  Photos by Nita and Peter

The walk was long but almost all in green spaces, forest, woods and parks. Everyone was pleased that the route had so much tree coverage and some breeze, as it was such a hot day. Occasionally we crossed an open area, not wasting anytime getting across into trees again. Lots of water stops were in order. We passed a few ponds and, a bit later, about half way on our walk, we arrived at Connaught Water, our picturesque lunch stop, by the lake.

After lunch, another mile or two took us to a cafe, Butler’s Retreat, where we took another break and indulged ourselves with ice cream and other treats. Between that point and Wood Street station, two of our group decided to divert off towards stations more convenient for their return journey and those of us remaining continued past Wood Street and halfway way from there to Walthamstow Central. Another split, one of our group continued straight ahead to the station and four of us sloped into a lovely pub, The Nags Head, where, soon after, a band started to play. We found a good seat in the garden and rewarded ourselves with hard earned liquid refreshments. A good day was had by all!

Jackie.  Photo by Rochelle