In spite of the best efforts of the Metropolitan Line signalling system, 13 walkers finally assembled at Chesham station on a sunny but cold Saturday morning in January.  By the time the train arrived we were nearly an hour late so we set off at pace to warm up and make sure we could complete the circuit of the town before dark. A number of valleys converge on Chesham and any walk in the vicinity involves a lot of up and down. Continue reading CHESHAM CIRCULAR – 10 JANUARY 2026 →

It is said that some plants and trees give off volatile organic compounds (phytoncides) that protect them against attacking organisms such as bacteria or fungi. And that “after only a short amount of time in the arbour of a forest, stress levels are reduced. Walking among trees decreases the body’s stress response, which in turn lowers your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. As a result, you feel calmer.” Well it worked! The group was very calm and friendly, walking through the autumn leaves and looking out for fungi. Continue reading EPPING FOREST CIRCULAR WALK – 25 OCTOBER 2025 →

Twelve Poly Ramblers and two guests gathered at Berkhamsted station on the last shopping Saturday before Christmas.  We would have been one more but Geoffrey was unable to find any parking and ended up going home. It was a lovely sunny morning and the first part of the walk took us on a loop through fields and woodland to the north of the town with beautiful views, returning through Berkhamsted Common.  A few people peeled off to attend to Christmas preparations while the rest had a picnic or a quick drink and snack in the Boat pub on the canal. After lunch we did an easy, flat circuit on the canal towpath on either side of the town and we finished up following a Blue Plaque trail along the High Street of this historic market town.  We saw old coaching inns, the impressive gothic style town hall and the childhood home of Clementine Churchill. We should have seen the birthplace of Graham Greene too but I managed to miss it in the fading light. Having had our fill of history we dispersed to the station or to tea and mince pies.  Thanks to everyone who chose walking over Christmas shopping!

Gillian.  Photos by Chris, Joyanna and Nita

Twenty of us assembled at Hampstead Station on a sunny but cold morning, preparing to alleviate any excessive indulgence during the Xmas festivities. Our route initially took us through quaint back streets which included the modernist house of the architect Enzo Goldfinger, reputedly the inspiration for a James Bond villain. We crossed over to the Heath and walked to the Hampstead Ponds which were dug in the 17th and 18th centuries to provide drinking water for Londoners. They are fed by the Hampstead Brook which downstream becomes the River Fleet. Walking between them, we then climbed up Parliament Hill to enjoy wide-ranging views of the London skyline. A steepish descent brought us to the Highgate Ponds fed by another arm of the River Fleet. We ambled alongside them until we reached the entrance to the Kenwood grounds and the fine 17th Century house, transformed by Robert Adam into a neo-classical villa. Here we stopped for refreshments before walking past different elements of a Xmas light trail. Entering the heath again, we walked down to the Vale of Health, a small enclave of houses which became fashionable in the 19th Century when the marsh here was drained. Finally we crossed into the Hampstead back streets again before some of us headed for the station and others enjoyed alcoholic refreshment in the Flask pub!

Danny
Photos courtesy of Chris Maslen, Ida Kwan and Nita Patel

Sixteen members, including a famous author and members of the victorious Alas Alsace! quiz team, braved a very cold sunny day to complete a circular walk in the wilds of Kent.

We headed off from Sole Street station through pastures to the outskirts of Henley Wood where the leader had to overcome the disappearance of the footpath under the previous days sprinkling of snow before reaching Luddesdown Court and on through the large vineyards that are now becoming a common feature of the Kent landscape.

Passing through Cobhambury Wood we continued to the village of Cobham and the welcoming Ship Inn for our lunch stop. Rested, we headed off to Henley Street with seasonal views of rolling hills covered in snow. On reaching Henley Street we proceeded to the 350 year old Cock Inn for some warming mulled wine before heading back across fields to Sole Street in time for the train home.

Kim. Photos by Kim, Siew Kee and Joyanna