Biggleswade: (PIchelesuuade 1086 (DB), Bicheleswada 1132.
‘Ford of a man called Biccel’.)
Sandy: Sandeie 1086 (DB) ‘Sandy Island’
Walkers arrived at Biggleswade by train and car. There was a slight delay waiting for one. Group briefing including alerting walkers to the ‘Guide for Walkers’ on the club website. Brief street walk to get out of town and under A1 and then we were crossing arable fields, which on the walkover were just bare earth, sometimes extremely waterlogged, now full of sprouting crops and in places adorned with QR codes to inform us what was growing there. Very useful for enquiring townies! First area of interest – the Broom East Wildlife Conservation Site, which is part of a former sand and gravel quarry, restored as a wildlife site after mineral extraction ceased in 2017. Here and in other areas along the walk there were quite a few ponds and fishing lakes presumably formed in the gravel pits. There were also lovely red/brown cattle moodily munching their hay, possibly not allowed to wander the soggy fields to protect their hooves. We not only heard but even saw a lark singing heartily above us. Continue reading Biggleswade to Sandy walk 20th April 2024→
The early start and length of this walk meant that we were small, keen group of walkers but our efforts were greatly rewarded with beautiful weather and a lovely long walk.
We made our way out of Oxted on familiar and beautiful paths through spring woodland with plenty of bluebells, celadines, wood anemones and wild garlic. There were views over to the South Downs & fields with sheep with lambs basking in the unexpected warmth and sunshine. At the Carpenter’s Arms at Limpsfield Chart we diverged from former trails and went into more woodland hoping to see a natural pond which, the previous year, had been heaving with frogs doing their best to pass on their genes to future generations. This year it was completely frog-free which was worrying. Possibly it had dried up last summer and was no longer a good place for them and as we know, amphibians are extremely sensitive to changes in their environment. Sadly, we continued on our way to Westerham where we sat on the Green, in the sunshine and then did our bit to keep the local tea shop going. Continue reading OXTED CIRCULAR – 13 APRIL→
Eleven ramblers gathered to partake in what had been advertised as a very muddy walk by myself after a recce earlier in the week. I was most disappointed to find two days of dry weather had made the ascent up the North Downs and a final descent much easier!
After leaving Otford we had some fine views from the North Downs Way path of Kemsing and the Weald on our way to Cotman’s Ash and the barely surviving, quaint Rising Sun pub which dispensed beer from polypins. The pub served no food, but we were able to eat our sandwiches in the pub garden that had two lovely Magnolias and several chicken hatches in its grounds.
After leaving the pub we had to negotiate a route through an abandoned overgrown golf course where my walking guide, google maps and OS map offered little help! Fortunately, Jo’s OS app rescued the day! We carried onto Romney Street towards Shoreham and enjoyed some great scenery crossing two valleys.
Geoffrey jumped ship at Shoreham station while the rest of us took the footpath along the Darent Valley back to Otford.
We are now half way round the London Loop having started at Cockfosters (clockwise), soon after we came out of Lockdown. Our most recent walk took us from Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South station. It was one of our shorter stages so far, dictated partly by the length of the following stages, and to ensure easy access to trains at start/finish. We had a really good turnout and a lovely, dry and bright day. Continue reading LONDON LOOP: HAMSEY GREEN TO COULSDON SOUTH – 24 MARCH→
I was impressed that 13 Poly Ramblers made the journey to Amersham in the rain this morning for a 4.5 mile walk with guaranteed mud. We headed down to Old Amersham through woods and fields, passing the Martyrs Memorial, last seen on a Club walk in December. We reached the River Misbourne which had burst its banks and engulfed two benches. We wandered along the High Street and admired the historic buildings. At the 17th century Market Hall there was a small market and a few of us were tempted by the cheese stall….. Eventually we headed uphill on a stony path, crossed the railway (no trains!) and entered Hervines Wood. At this point conditions underfoot deteriorated and it would have been useful to have done a walkover but eventually we found our way through the wood to Copperkins Lane. We turned onto Mayhall Farm for the field paths down into Chesham. A large body of water of uncertain depth across the path made me decide to try an alternative route. We probably should have stuck to plan A as the alternative was no better. We passed a playing field and decided to walk across it to avoid some of the mud. Getting out of said field proved to be a bit of a challenge and one member ended up with a muddy bottom! More slippery downhill work until at last we emerged into open fields with views of Chesham. What a relief. We soon hit tarmac and then Chesham town centre where we dispersed to cafes and pubs before making our way home. Thanks to everyone who turned up.
Gillian
The Polytechnic Rambling Club – Walking with friends
