Eleven polys made their way in small groups to Upper Warlingham in  Surrey. Where was the 12th member of the party? The second leader had missed the train, due to the closure of the district line and was on the next one arriving in 30 minutes! While we used the facilities at the station one at a time, we regrouped and I set off with 5 members, leaving some ‘faster’ walkers behind to wait for their leader. After a fairly short steep climb up some earth steps we made our way through woods and farmland and after a while the second group had caught up. They must have bounded up the steps. We arrived at the wood in which we had got lost on the recce and triumphantly entered it by the path we had struggled to find before. Unfortunately, due to the paths being covered by fallen leaves, it was difficult to see which one to take and we proceeded on the wrong one AGAIN!! We came out at a different place and fortunately found some kind ladies who directed us back towards the old Croydon mental hospital, now a gated residential area, from where we should have been able to get back on track. However, we seemed to have approached it from a different angle and the path remained elusive! Some walkers were mentioning lunch so we partook of our picnic among the trees, all extremely rigorously socially distanced. Hilary and I searched for the path but to no avail while Jennifer gained some useful information from a passer by. Refreshed, we set off and thanks to some helpful locals we made our way towards the next landmark, the Old Bear pub in Fickleshole. From there we were back on the correct route and the rest of the walk was uneventful except for both leaders slipping on a slope! Irene brought out her always comprehensive first aid kit to disinfect Jennifer’s finger. Continue reading SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER: UPPER WANBOROUGH TO HAYES →

Fifteen Polyramblers, in two socially isolated groups with the Ramblers rules for outdoor physical activity events in place, set off for a 17km circular walk.

Our gently undulating morning route took us through woods and open pastures, including Hillyfields Park and Whitewebbs Wood, to the medieval St Mary’s Church in the old part of the Hertfordshire town of Cheshunt. Our steepest climb was over a bridge crossing the M25 from which, despite a light shower, we had views of the Shard and Canary Wharf and spied our other group in the distance. Continue reading GORDON HILL CIRCULAR – SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER →

On one of the best days of this strange year, 12 of us set out from Box Hill & Westhumble station into the gorgeous early autumn. Geoffrey & his 5 walkers took a slightly more leisurely approach & Harriet’s group went off first & bit more swiftly so as to keep an appropriate distance. It was a beautiful morning with a slightly autumnal smell in the air but still hot enough to feel that the world wasn’t yet closing down for winter. We were seduced by a refreshment van at Ranmore Common, the feeling being that we Continue reading SURREY HILLS CIRCULAR – SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER →

Leaders: Gillian Williams and Cathy Morrisroe.

We left Regents Park Tube Station in 2 groups of six with a staggered start. Turning left we admired Park Crescent which was originally planned by Nash and was renovated in the 1960’s.
The walk was varied and had some special moments, such as hearing about the “Nannie’s Tunnel” running under The Marylebone Road connecting Park Crescent with Park Square. Continue reading REGENTS PARK CIRCULAR – SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER →

12 Polyramblers set off from Otford station and after the leader missed the turning (she was talking) they found the correct path and ascended fairly steeply up to the North Downs. After passing through the woods we were able to admire some beautiful views over the valley below. Later in the day we were able to see over to Canary Wharf. The sun came out in time for our picnic in a field fortunately devoid of cattle, despite the warning sign that animals could be present. We continued up and down through woods and Continue reading OTFORD CIRCULAR – SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER →