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

Twenty five Poly Ramblers gathered at Uxbridge station on a mild and thankfully dry Saturday morning in early February. Unusually we split into two groups. I led a 6 mile walk south on the Grand Union Canal, then cutting across via the Slough Arm and Little Britain Lake and returning to the town on the London Loop alongside the River Colne. Meanwhile Danny led a similar but shorter loop for those who preferred a stroll or wanted to avoid mud. Continue reading Uxbridge and Battle of Britain Bunker – 3 February →

I warned them it would be muddy but 22 Poly Ramblers joined me on this circular walk to the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum, which has one of the best-preserved Roman town defences in England. Calleva Atrebatum was a flourishing Iron Age fortified town, the capital of the Atrebates tribe. It then became a walled town in the Roman province of Britannia, at a major crossroads of the roads of southern Britain. Unlike most major Roman settlements in southern England, Calleva Atrebatum was never re-occupied as a substantial settlement or built over, but instead became a small medieval village until it was deserted around the 5th century, possibly because of the black death plague that devastated medieval England. The museum of Reading in Reading Town Hall has a gallery devoted to Calleva, displaying many archaeological finds from the excavations. Continue reading THE SILCHESTER TRAIL FROM BRAMLEY – 24 FEBRUARY →

After meeting at King George V DLR station, we walked to Woolwich Ferry North Terminal for our (free) cruise across the Thames.  It was over too soon; we disembarked and continued along the river to Woolwich Arsenal which has been nicely renovated.  We passed Woolwich Market and the former imposing home of the Woolwich Equitable Building Society before our first climb to reach Plumstead Common.  After the wingless windmill situated above the Old Mill Public House, we continued on Winn’s Common which we crossed. We went down the valley and up the other side to Bostall Woods where we had our picnic in a clearing on tables and benches conveniently placed there. Continue reading MID-WEEK WALK: PART THREE OF THE GREEN LONDON WAY – 5 OCTOBER →