Ten members met up at Manor Park station on Sunday 27^th November for a figure-of-eight pleasant meander along the borders of Epping Forest. Initially, the route skirted the perimeter of the Grade-1 listed City of London Cemetery, one of the largest municipal cemeteries in Europe. It was established in 1826 and covers 200 acres. Bobby Moore amongst many others is buried there. The River Roding then came into view and the group followed it until we reached the entrance to Wanstead Park. Soon the welcoming sight of the Tea Hut appeared where we stopped for some refreshment. The park was a formal landscape surrounding Wanstead House but now only contains fragments of the estate. These include two follies. One called the Temple which is now a visitor centre. The other is a grade 11 listed building called the Grotto which was patially destroyed by fire in 1884. It is now being restored along with its landing stage. Both were seen before we passed the Tea Hut again and continued our walk alongside Heronry Pond. Leaving the park, we soon crossed Wanstead Flats to the Golden Fleece pub where most of the group had an excellent late-lunch. It was the venue of the Club’s Xmas Lunch in 2011. A short walk then took us back to Manor Park station.

Danny.  Photos courtesy of Fiona Thomson

On arriving at Northwick Park Station my heart sank to discover the toilets were closed due to a blockage. We set off, walking through Northwick Park with the hospital on our right. Turning right we followed the path between the golf course and hospital to Watford Road and along Pebworth Road. Continuing behind the farm, past the playing fields of the Harrow School, to St. Mary’s Church. Poly Ramblers dispersed into the church and back courtyard as there was the Christmas fair, a chance for tea, cake and a comfort stop. After taking in Byron’s grave and views from the viewpoint we made our way to the Ballot Box Pub, passing John Lyon School, and Perivale station, a drop off point for some, after lunch. I had not booked the pub as I was assured it should be ok. On entering, the barman was a bit cold but once the orders were placed, our food & drinks arrived quickly with good service. On leaving the Barman said ‘enjoy the rest of your walk’, and we did. We went to the top of Horsenden hill and viewpoint. Horsenden Hill: 2,500 years ago, Iron Age people settled on the hill, leaving behind large amounts of pottery. The Iron Age settlement is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. During WW1, the summit came to the fore with a sighting of an anti-aircraft gun pulled by a horse- a defence against German airships.  Today at around 84 meters (275 feet) it provides a natural viewpoint in London & is a popular kite flying spot.  A stop at the farm provided another opportunity to buy cakes and drinks. From here we followed the Paddington Arm of the Grand Junction Canal: In the 1800’s the opening of this junction enabled hay, the area’s main product, to be shipped into London in great bulk. In return London sent Horsenden ‘Mack’- an unpleasant mix of street sweepings, fish, meat offal & horse dropping – to be used as manure for the fields. The final stretch along the canal led us through woodland to Greenford Station.

Carol & Sunita.  Photos by Stuart

Glad of a slightly later start, 18 Polyramblers gathered at Chessington South Station at 10.20 to begin the 9 mile walk to Cheam.

The first section traversed several nature reserves following the Bonesgate Stream into Horton Country Park and then into the woods of Castle Hill Nature Reserve, Hogsmill Riverside Nature Reserve and followed part of the London Loop.  The path was strewn with yellow leaves, flat and easy to follow and not too muddy. This is a varied walk, mainly in open spaces with plenty of historical interest and all within the zone 6 boundary.

After crossing Moor Lane and a comfort stop at the William Bourne Pub the walk continued on the Hogsmill Walk Path through woods and fields and finally entering Ewell Court Park.  After a slight overshoot the walk picked up the path again and left the park passing the 18 century Pack Horse Bridge which is a listed building.  We crossed the Hogsmill river on some man-made stepping- stones and then went under the railway line through a low tunnel and on until we reached Chessington Road.  After a tricky crossing we entered Bourne Hall Park where we stopped for a picnic lunch and a hot drink at the coffee shop in the museum/library. The Library was built in 1970 and granted Grade II listed status for its ‘space age flair’. ^{Continue reading Chessington to Cheam – 19 November →}

Despite the challenges of a rail drivers’ strike on some lines and signal problems at Kings Cross, 17 poly ramblers, including some new members, assembled at Hadley Wood station for the start of a 7 mile walk to Brookmans Park.  After recent heavy rain, the weather looked as though it would be dry for most of the day and fortunately it stayed that way.  Andrew joined us half-way along the walk making our numbers up to 18.  This is a walk that despite its brevity, is a varied walk and a good one to do when the days are short and the weather unreliable.

Leaving the village of Hadley Wood with its large detached houses, we set out across fields carefully navigating our way across 2 major roads taking heavy traffic out of London to the M25.  Thankfully our path went under the M25 and as we entered the ancient wood of Northaw we began to leave behind us the drone of traffic.  Although rapidly losing their leaves, some of the trees were still clinging on to their beautiful autumn colours.  It wasn’t long before we reached the village of Northaw where we stopped for lunch at the Two Brewers pub.  Both food and service were very good.  Those who had brought their own lunches, joined the rest of us at the pub for drinks.

After sitting inside a warm pub for an hour, the temperature seemed to have dropped a couple of degree when we emerged outside to re-start the walk.  Our walk initially took us along a road through the village and then we struck out along a path that thankfully was not as muddy and slippy as I’ve experienced it in the past.  We eventually reached The Folly Arch, an old fake gated brick archway, which is all that remains of Gobions Estate a magnificent pleasure gardens that existed in the eighteenth century and which is now a nature reserve with a very pleasant wood and a lake.  Walking through this we eventually came to the village of Brookmans Park and the end of our walk.  As the tea shop was shut and it was getting late, we decided to forgo stopping for a drink,and instead headed to the station and trains back to London.

Mary. Photos by Ida and Stuart