The weather was looking up when we arrived at the lovely old station with its Victorian carvings of fruit and flowers and its pillars, built to impress the travellers of that time. Geoffrey was waiting with boot laces untied, having just arrived by car. A few minutes later, with a quick glance left and right, the broken chair was safely put aside and another enlisted for the job. All laces tied, off we went, most relieved to take a different direction to a large group of teenagers doing their DoE. Continue reading Saturday 4th March; Polesden Lacy and Ranmore Common →

An impressive 22 of us assembled at Richmond Station. The weather was largely dry but there was a strong and chilly wind as we crossed Richmond Green. We have taken the path on the Ham side several times in the past, but by way of a change crossed Richmond Bridge, following the Middlesex bank. We passed  Ham house across the river, then Orleans Gallery, currently under renovation and York House with its wonderful Naked Ladies statuary. These had been acquired around 1900 by the Indian industrialist Sir Ratan Tata whose name survives in what is now a multinational company. Continue reading Saturday 26th February. Richmond to Hampton Court. →

The weather forecast had not been encouraging and there were just nine  of us who got off the train at a misty Otford. We made our way through this attractive town, with its pond and assortment of historic buildings. Continuing through woods and farmland, we passed Filston hall before a stiff climb took us up to Meenfield Wood. Continue reading Saturday 3rd February, Otford to Eynsford →

The club was offering two walks on the same day, so a turnout of seven for this the longer one was respectable. The cold snap of the preceding week had given way to much milder weather, though it was somewhat misty as we got off the train at Kings Langley. We had just passed under the M25 before the station so there was a real sense of being in the country, rather than in London. Continue reading Saturday 7th January: Kings Langley to Hemel Hempstead →

After a rather foggy train journey down, we were rewarded with the sun breaking through just  as we  crossed the Medway from Strood. The land between the railway and the river has been cleared prior to residential development and we made our way along the river wall with atmospheric views of glistening mud, decaying boats and wharves. Continue reading Sunday 18th December: Rochester and the Medway →