All posts by Gillian

Kew Gardens visit – Poly Ramblers and London Blind Ramblers – 10th May 2025

Poly Ramblers met up with the London Blind Ramblers at the station and walked to Kew Gardens to meet up with Jennifer, our Poly Rambler and Kew volunteer guide. There were 36 of us in all.

Our visit started in the café, where we were able to feel the mural sculpture made out of wood from some of the 700 trees brought down by the Great Storm of 1987, depicting the god of the wind Aeolus, trees and the lion statues and vases in the Gardens.

Then we set off along between the Palm House and the lake, remarking on the stone copies of the “Queen’s beasts”, heraldic animals that were displayed outside Westminster Abbey Annex during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. We turned left into the steamy atmosphere of the Palm House and out the other side, into the rose garden, stocked by David Austin, to smell roses.

From the rose garden we proceeded into the Woodland Garden, and felt the metal sculpture of a large face, made by the imprint of maple leaves, near the Princess of Wales conservatory, named after Princess Augusta, mother of George III and founder of the Gardens. From there it wasn’t far to the Ice House, a small brick store where George III’s family kept ice for culinary purposes, and onwards to the humming of the Hive and homage to the bee, which has become a permanent intriguing visitor attraction.

Those of us who had done a walkover when the Great Broad Walk Borders were more or less bare, were delighted to see them full of flowers, leading us to a lunch break at picnic tables and bench near the Orangery. Refreshed we set off across the grass to Kew Palace and the herb garden behind where there were lots of herbs for us to feel and smell.

Jennifer left us to carry on back down the Great Broad Walk to the Camellia walk, past the Winter Garden and then we nipped into the Marianne North Gallery as suggested by Jennifer, to visit the amazing collection of Marianne North’s paintings of plants from all over the world, waiting for Chris to catch us up! I have since come across an article in the Kew magazine (Spring 2020) about Marianne and just how untypical she was as a Victorian gentlewoman! Here is a link to her on Wikipedia

Across the grass for a brief visit to the Temperate House and group photo, then along the Cherry Walk, full of blossom earlier in the year, followed by tulips, now also past their best, over the lake by the bridge and on to the Minka House and Sacred Bamboo, which dispels bad dreams, then into the Rhododendron Dell full of stunning blossoms. A brief glimpse of the River Thames and into the Woodland, turning off to the Redwood Grove where we joined hands in a big circle to give us an idea of the circumference of an average redwood tree trunk. There were just enough of us! Chris took a video but unfortunately it is too large to share online.

As time was getting on the group picked up a little speed at last to head towards the facilities near the Victoria Gate where we went our separate ways at the end of a very pleasant, fragrant, warm, sunny day. Our thanks to Jennifer for her explanations of the history and botany of Kew Gardens.

Pam. Photos by Chris

 

Isle of Man Easter weekend 18 – 22 April 2025

After weeks of flawless weather the temperature dropped and the rain came in as 40 Poly Ramblers headed for the middle of the Irish Sea for the Easter trip. Over 20 brave souls ventured out from the B and Bs for the Friday evening acclimatisation for a classic Douglas stroll, with wind and rain coming in from the East across the bay. We took in the sites, including the Victorian seafront, the Tower of Refuge, (built as a warning to shipping by Sir William Hillary, who founded the RNLI) and the Bee Gees statue.

 

The next morning virtually the entire party made it to Douglas Railway station for the steam train trip south. The strollers headed straight for Port Erin, and the hikers got off at Castletown for the 12 mile coast path walk to Port Erin – arriving sometime later!

 

 

Not that the strollers took it easy: their 5 mile walk took in Mull Hill, with views to the Calf of Man, the Cregneash Manx village and part of the coastal path past the dramatic Cairns. They enjoyed the lambs in the fields and the views into Port St Mary, where the Albert pub was a welcome stopping point, later returning via Castletown.

Meanwhile 24 hikers took in Castletown’s main square dominated by Castle Rushen, originally built in 1265 for a Norse king, before heading out to the Raad ny Follian coast path round Scarlett, a dramatic rocky area of limestone and volcanic basalt. The Grange pub at Gansey was a welcome respite from the rain and we had lunch in and around the Albert in Port St Mary close to the harbour.

Four hikers took the opportunity to opt out at this half way point and the remainder set off in clearing skies. We took in the Dunkirk memorial, the lambs, the Cairns (Jo at this point failing to contain her nightmares about losing the odd Poly off the cliffs) and then the fabulous / terrifying / challenging (take your pick) cliff walk to the Sound, where the currents of the Irish sea meet in a short stretch between the Island and the Calf of Man.

We made it to the excellent café there in time for much needed toilets, rest and sustenance, and the remaining 15 set off for the last haul to Port Erin in what had become a beautifully clear and even a tiny bit sunny late afternoon, with fish and chips and Okells ale welcoming the survivors.

Day 2 the parties headed for the West and Peel, with the Strollers enjoying the castle and the cathedral and also taking advantage of the buses to visit Ramsey and see the North west coast after a somewhat foreshortened stroll up the first part of Peel hill.

Twenty three hikers meanwhile took the bus to St Johns for a bracing climb through the trees (more of them than anticipated horizontal rather than vertical after the recent storms) up to Slieu Whallian, with wonderful views to Peel and across the Irish Sea along the way. Slowed up by the elements (strong winds made climbing the high styles at the top a bit of a challenge) and other excitements including a lone bull and a party of weekend bikers who had taken over the planned lunchstop, we eventually made it through the lovely Arrisay plantation, zigzagging down (and a bit up) towards the village of Glen Maye, where 3 Poly’s gratefully opted for a lift to Peel with Jo’s mum.

The next change of scenery was the magical Glen Maye glen and beach stop before the remaining party tackled the cliff path to Peel, heeding Jo’s frequent reminders to look behind them to see the view down the coast. Like the strollers many hours earlier the hiker party wisely opted out of the last ascent to Corrin’s Tower and took the low path into Peel, where the sun shone on the harbour and fish, chips and beer were to be had.

Day 3
After 2 long walks and with rain forecast many hikers nursed their aching limbs / had a lie-in and joined the strollers for a tour of the Laxey Wheel, beach and the dramatic tram ride to the top of Snaefell, where the views stretched across the island and beyond.
7 game hikers took on Jo’s third treat, the 9 mile walk from Laxey to Ramsey over the North Barrule ridge, via the abandoned tin and copper mine for which Laxey wheel was built. It is a hilly island (did I mention that before?) so the only way was up, with a first stop at the tiny Agneash methodist church where we used the facilities, read the stories of the 19th century miners and had a cup of tea and biscuits. In the sheltered valley to the mine the party waved furiously at the trams passing on the other side, only to realise later that the strollers had opted for a later start (whoops).  After the steep climb we made it to the heathery ‘verandah’ with views to Snaefell and in all directions for the ridge walk, with the occasional sheep for company. North Barrule itself was shrouded in mist so we didn’t hang around before starting the steep descent, eventually making it in time for the bus back to Ramsey.

The club reunited for the dinner at the Empress Hotel where inevitably Manx lamb was on the menu. Quite a few Polys took the opportunity to stay a bit longer, enjoying variously the festival of plays at the Gaity theatre, the Archibald Knox exhibition at the Manx Museum and the Marine Drive walk from Douglas head.

Report from Jo, photos from Nita, Ida, Hilary, Jackie, Rochelle, Meng, Jo.

WEDNESDAY JULY 2nd HAMPTON COURT PALACE GARDENS AND BUSHY PARK WATER FEATURES (Circular) 5 miles.

Take the opportunity to visit Hampton Court Palace Gardens for free and explore Bushy Park. Discover the Diana Fountain, the Waterhouse Woodland Garden and the Upper Lodge Water Gardens.

Dep. London Waterloo 11.06 (Vauxhall 11.10, Clapham Junction 11.15, Wimbledon 11.22).   Arr. Hampton Court 11.43 (zone 6). Bring picnic or lunch at the Lion Gate Café. Ret. bus R68 from Hampton Hill to Hampton Court and walk to the station. Leader Dominique

Ockley to Warnham – 5th April 2025

Eighteen Poly Ramblers met at Ockley Railway Station and very soon found our footpath for this lovely walk through a quiet corner of Surrey featuring woods and gentle hills. We were favoured by a sunny day and no rain and although the paths were dry, they
were still quite rutted being bridleways and well churned during muddier times. There were also several stiles, some quite precarious. After about 3.5 miles we emerged through the trees at the 13th century Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Okewood
and went inside to admire the wall paintings and an unusual arrangement of roof beams. A short while after we reached the village of Walliswood where we stopped for lunch either picnicking on the village green or in the garden of The Scarlett Arms pub. Later in the afternoon we reached Warnham in good time to stop at The Sussex Oak pub for a drink before heading to the station to catch the train home.

Rochelle. Photos by Melida, Stephen and Vanessa

Post AGM walk in London Parks – Saturday 22 March

After the AGM 22 of us set off, in calm weather, for a leisurely walk through 5 parks.  Beginning with Holland Park through to St James park and ending at Westminster underground. There were numerous places to leave the walk on route which were taken advantage of.  After a slight reroute after Holland Park, to enter Kensington Gardens, due to a high police presence and demonstration, we set off again walking through the very well maintained flower garden and past the Albert Memorial.

On our way we heard very loud claps of thunder and most of us got quite damp in the heavy rain storm that followed. Those of us near the Serpentine South Gallery managed to shelter in the book shop before visiting the Arpita Singh exhibition at the Serpentine North Gallery.  A visit is recommended.

Onward then to walk through Green Park, which was full of colourful spring flowers and blossoms. Sadly the pelicans at St James park were absent due to quarantine rules, but there were lots of other wildlife on view.

On reaching Westminster Bridge we were slightly rerouted again due to the filming of a high speed car chase along Parliament Street.  Three of us finished the walk in the sunshine.

Jackie Copeland. Thanks to Ida for the photos