Six Polyramblers were about to start the walk in Greenwich when we got a message from Hilary to say that she and Gini were arriving by boat. So we went to wait for them at Greenwich Pier. Now eight Polyramblers, we went up towards Greenwich Observatory through the park and left it at Macartney House, which used to be the home of General James Wolfe. Walking on a track lined with pretty houses, we reached a grassy plateau known as The Point with an amazing London panorama. We then descended in the valley of the Ravensbourne river which we met in Brookmill Park and Brookmill Nature Reserve. We continued to Hilly Fields where we had lunch in the cafe. We passed a nicely decorated trig point to reach Vicars Hill. We made a very short detour to see the 15th century Parish Church of St Mary’s in Lewisham with an unusual Grecian porch, probably from the 18th century, and its therapeutic garden from the 21st century. Continue reading GREEN LONDON WAY: GREENWICH TO FOREST HILL 12 JUNE →

We were joined by Poppy and Quentin from North London Ramblers at Chigwell before parting for the Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve. In the morning the weather was cloudy and there was a little mud in the wooded areas but otherwise relatively easy walking.

Unfortunately the Premier Inn near Queen Elisabeth’s Hunting Lodge was closed so we stopped earlier at ‘The Warren Wood’ public house for lunch before proceeding to Gillwell Park, the UK National Centre for Scouts. Three of us left after lunch in order to shorten their journey.

In the afternoon we had some sunny weather and really attractive views over a distant London from Yardley Hill and then over the huge King Georges Reservoir near Enfield from Daws Hill Park. Arriving about 5 minutes before the train departed from Enfield Lock, we enjoyed a swift journey back to London.

Rob H.   Photos by Nita and Chris

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.

Kim.  Photos by Ida and Jo