After a safety briefing 15 Poly Ramblers set off promptly to join the Chess Valley path toward Latimer, first of four villages on today’s ramble. After a brief stop at Latimer Village Green we headed for Flaunden through Badwin Wood. We stopped to admire the church designed by Sir Gilbert Scott with beautiful stained glass window. We were a bit early for the 16 Century pub, The Green Dragon, with its own Wikipedia entry. Jennifer shared some of history and names of some of the men who drank here. We joined the Chiltern Way heading towards Sarratt, our lunch stop. We had some tricky stiles to contend with as well country lane walking made difficult by big, modern cars. Again we were grateful of the shade in Dawes Common and Sandfield Woods. After our refreshments and topping up our water bottles we descended to Chess valley with its ponds and water meadows and made our way to Chenies and on to Chalfont Latimer Station.
This was an interesting walk with lots of history and I would go back to churches at Latimer and Flaunden and stop for a drink at The Green Dragon.
Ten of us met up at Lewes station for our annual pilgrimage to The Little Cottage Tea Room at Glynde. We agreed to keep up a good pace on the flat as it’s a long way with 3 massive hills to negotiate, especially in the heat, and we absolutely needed to get to Glynde by 4.
We went past Anne of Cleves House which is a 16-century, timber-framed hall and, on another day, would be worth a visit. Apparently it was part of her annulment settlement from Henry V111 in 1551 which was an infinitely better option than having her head chopped off. It now has a cafe run by Patisserie Lewes – further inducement for a visit. Unfortunately we never have time for such delights as we have to get up that first beautiful chalk hill and down again to Rodmell in good time.
At Rodmell we had a swift drink stop and then continued along the valley floor to Southease church where Geoffrey and Lan awaited us. Lan’s train had been cancelled but she demonstrated her resourcefulness by joining Geoffrey on the train from Lewes to Southease & meeting us there.
A lovely walk along the Thames passing by the ‘Wind in the Willows’ river bank and the Cliveden Estate. Buy OPDR to Cookham. Dep Paddington 10.08 (Didcot Parkway train), quick change at Maidenhead (Marlow train) 10.30/1034), arr. Cookham 10.41. OR take the Elizabeth line. Dep. Paddington plts A&B 09.32 , Ealing Bdway 09.41, arr Maidenhead 10.12, and buy a single Maidenhead to Cookham dep 10.34, Marlow train). Lunch at a pub tbc or bring a picnic. EX172.
In this summer’s reliably hot weather, eighteen members set off from Banstead station for a circular walk of just over five miles in the countryside along the Surrey border. The group first crossed a busy road outside the station and shortly after the A217 dual carriageway, before reaching the calm environment of a golf course. Threading our way through the fairways, we came upon a junction of paths. Having only completed a recce a few days earlier, I was confident about which onward one to take.
14 Polyramblers and a guest set off for our walk, on a sunny Sunday morning. We crossed Hammersmith Bridge to walk along the River Thames via the towpath towards Barnes, we walked through the Leg of Mutton nature reserve and spotted a couple of herons patiently fishing. Just before our lunch stop we saw a family of Egyptian Geese, mum, dad and at least 10 very young goslings who were feeding and paddling on the foreshore under the watchful eyes of their parents.
