When I arrived at Cannon Street Station I found just one other Poly Rambler waiting to board the train for my walk. However, by the time we reached Faversham there were twenty of us with another one joining enroute!
In bright sunshine, we set off through the town, passing a busy market by the Guildhall where we were lucky not to lose some of our number to its attractions. We continued past the Shepherd Neame Brewery to the Creek where we joined the Saxon Shore Way for a pleasant stroll alongside moored boats on one side and salt marshes on the other. The views were extensive with the Isle Of Sheppey to the north and the distinctive spire of Faversham’s parish church to the south.
After an hour’s easy walking, we reached our lunch stop at the Shipwright Arms pub. Food had been pre-ordered and it arrived speedily as we sat in the large garden enjoying the good weather. Setting off again, we followed Oare Creek back towards Faversham. A circuitous route through a trading estate was traversed and then a narrow overgrown footpath before we reached the handsome buildings of West Street which took us back to the Guildhall. Half of our number then headed for the station while the rest of us enjoyed excellent cakes at a cafe as the market packed up. And that was that for an enjoyable day!
Eighteen Poly Ramblers met at Ockley Railway Station and very soon found our footpath for this lovely walk through a quiet corner of Surrey featuring woods and gentle hills. We were favoured by a sunny day and no rain and although the paths were dry, they
were still quite rutted being bridleways and well churned during muddier times. There were also several stiles, some quite precarious. After about 3.5 miles we emerged through the trees at the 13th century Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Okewood
and went inside to admire the wall paintings and an unusual arrangement of roof beams. A short while after we reached the village of Walliswood where we stopped for lunch either picnicking on the village green or in the garden of The Scarlett Arms pub. Later in the afternoon we reached Warnham in good time to stop at The Sussex Oak pub for a drink before heading to the station to catch the train home.
We got off our train at the tiny station of Wrabness and began our walk along the Essex Way to Manningtree. There were nine of us in total. The terrain was flat and we could see long distances. I always love the wide open skies and the grand vista of the Stour estuary. This is a country that the artists Gainsborough and Constable must also have loved back in the 18th Century. The sky today however is overcast and grey and there is a chilly breeze. Good weather for a brisk pace!
After a few minutes walking towards the estuary we came to Grayson Perry’s famous ‘A house for Essex’ which can be rented as a holiday home. It is adorned with ceramic work and really does look quite unique. Then after admiring it we walked westwards along a narrow path next to the estuary which was at full tide. There were fields to our left with bright yellow flowers. In the far distance behind us were the cranes of Felixstowe Port and across the wide bay ahead of we could see the tall tower of the Royal Hospital School.
After some time we emerged from the fields next to a caravan site and headed inland for a while because this section of the estuary path has become dangerous due to erosion. We visited the medieval ‘All Saints Wrabness’ church and I was surprised to see a busy village fete in full swing. Refreshed by cake we crossed the only stile on this walk and headed back to the river along a wooded trail. We passed through the Wrabness nature reserve and then headed out along the exposed estuary to an abandoned horse box where we had a water break. On the skyline looking south, inland, we can see the distant church tower of the village of Bradfield which is our lunch stop. It was sunny and hot by now and many of us had removed an outer layer.
We climbed up to the village passing through a field of tall plants with yellow flowers and through a railway tunnel. We were in a large ploughed field and I held up an example of some large root vegetable we didn’t recognise. See photo! Definitely not swede we decided. Later, opinion settles on ‘Manglewurzle’ although not everyone agrees. We arrived in Bradfield with it’s much repaired church which is left open for visitors and has a toilet! Very civilised. The local pub was, sadly, no longer open. Most of us had our picnic lunch in the sunny grounds of the village hall.
After enjoying lunch we set off, heading towards Mistley via Mill lane. We passed over what was once a heath but is now farmland. The earth was very hard, dry and pale. Over to our right we saw the estuary shining in the distance.
After about a half an hour passing through large fields we reached a new housing development and then we entered a large wood containing some impressive old oaks and banks of bluebells. Mistley announced itself with its tall chimney and large grain silos as we left the wood. It is a rather charming old industrial area next to the river. Here we broke for a drink in the Mistley Thorn – a popular gastro pub. Although most of us went for tea or coffee in the small tea shop across the road. Nearby there was a disturbing sign about the activities of ‘The Witchfinder General’ who was responsible for nearly 90 deaths back in the 17th C in Essex. Leaving Mistley behind we walked along the wide river bank passing an old church and saw distant white swans feeding in the mud flats. Manningtree is not far away and my guide book says the town is rumoured to be the smallest in England!
Whether the smallest or not the centre of the old town is charming. We climbed a dyke and walked along a path on the top of it which snaked along by the river until we left the town. The last (two mile) section of the walk was before us. We walked in single file along a path with sheep and spring lambs bleating noisily to the left of us in alarm and tall phragmite reeds and the river to our right. The air is also filled with the sound of oyster catchers and other birds. It’s a lovely section of the walk and a delight after leaving the busy town behind us. Eventually we loop back past fields with more sheep and arrive at Manningtree station just in time to catch a fast train back to Liverpool Street. I think everyone enjoyed the day, at least I hope so!
Chris
Photos by Jackie McCartan, Jackie Copeland, Jane and Chris
We met at London Bridge for a 10 mile walk through the lovely Kent countryside on what turned out to be a beautiful sunny day with a cold breeze to begin which dissipated as the day wore on. Two more polyramblers joined us at East Croydon and we arrived at Hever Station 20 strong. It was pleasing to have such a good turn out. A lot of other folk (not polyramblers) disembarked at Hever too, all going to Hever Castle I thought.
After a briefing, we headed out through the countryside passing the entrance to the castle which was the seat of the Bullen family made famous by Anne Boleyn, the unfortunate second wife of Henry VIII. We passed through the churchyard of St Peter’s church (Anne’s father is buried within the church) and then on to the village of Chiddingstone which is owned by the National Trust. On the way, we negotiated the only stile on the walk, the rest all being gates of various kinds. There were also one or two muddy areas to get through but apart from that the going was very dry. We had our picnic lunch outside the Castle pub which was unfortunately still closed due to a collapsed medieval well somewhere on the premises! A sign said it is due to re-open later this month. A nearby cafe was useful for hot drinks as well as having handy toilet facilities.
After lunch we paid a brief visit to the Chiding stone which is a large sandstone rock where people were supposedly scolded in times past. Hence our word ‘chided’. Then off across the top of a hill with beautiful views. We descended through very dry fields heading for Penshurst village. Most of the walk was undulating with low hills and gentle gradients with a few steeper climbs occasionally presenting themselves. We had to negotiate a busy road before entering some parkland and seeing the rather magnificent view of Penshurst Place which suddenly emerged before us. Nearby we stopped to visit St John the Baptist Church, Penshurst, on the outside of which there is an old stone Dole table where food was given to the poor on special days. Stephen produced his delicious and healthy cakes and presented them on the Dole table along with a hummus salad from Lan and sweets provided by Mick and Dolly.
After this we visited the Leicester Arms pub which is only a few minutes away in the village. We enjoyed a half hour there and then set off for the final section of the walk. We were about two thirds along our route by this time and had another hour’s walk ahead of us. We climbed a steep but short hill the other side of the village and then after a while descended through fields crossing the river Medway and its tributaries several times before arriving in Leigh. Apparently this is pronounced ‘Lie’ locally. We arrived at the station and had a short wait before catching the 17.05 to Redhill from which there were services to London stations.
It had been a good day out I thought.
Chris
Photos from Ida, Lan, Patricia, Steven and Joyanna
After the AGM 22 of us set off, in calm weather, for a leisurely walk through 5 parks. Beginning with Holland Park through to St James park and ending at Westminster underground. There were numerous places to leave the walk on route which were taken advantage of. After a slight reroute after Holland Park, to enter Kensington Gardens, due to a high police presence and demonstration, we set off again walking through the very well maintained flower garden and past the Albert Memorial.
On our way we heard very loud claps of thunder and most of us got quite damp in the heavy rain storm that followed. Those of us near the Serpentine South Gallery managed to shelter in the book shop before visiting the Arpita Singh exhibition at the Serpentine North Gallery. A visit is recommended.
Onward then to walk through Green Park, which was full of colourful spring flowers and blossoms. Sadly the pelicans at St James park were absent due to quarantine rules, but there were lots of other wildlife on view.
On reaching Westminster Bridge we were slightly rerouted again due to the filming of a high speed car chase along Parliament Street. Three of us finished the walk in the sunshine.
Jackie Copeland. Thanks to Ida for the photos
The Polytechnic Rambling Club – Walking with friends
