Six intrepid walkers braving the cold met at West Ruislip Station, in bright sunshine and maybe for the first time the men outnumbered the women for this adventure. We crossed  the road to turn left into a quiet cul-de-sac, signed Ruislip Golf Centre, where the walk leader gave the safety briefing.

Proceeding past a barrier we followed a footpath signposted R145 to join the Hillingdon Trail (HT), leading us onto a footbridge over the river Pinn to cross a field. Then via a shady footpath we reach the gates of ‘Old Clack’ Farm. We turned left to follow the lane passing some houses, the first of which had a striking horse head mounted on the front wall. At a T-junction we crossed a busy road to another stile in the hedge signposted ‘public footpath U41’. Walking now via wet grasslands, farm tracks and fields we make our way towards a challenging boggy section just before a quiet road. The leader, having done a recce only a few days before, anticipated this muddy and watery impediment and came equipped with thick cardboard and wooden blocks, so we all landed on the road with thankfully dry boots! Going over and beyond the call of duty.

The walk now followed a diversion due to the ongoing work for HS2 and we eventually proceed via towering manned gates, controlled  by courteous HS2 staff. We continue to follow the U35 route to a wooden gate, leading us into a very  autumnal Bayhurst Wood Country Park. At an open space with picnic tables, we crossed diagonally to the far side to follow a narrow bramble-lined path, which led us once again to the well established HT. We continued to follow the HT via  leaf strewn woods, a bridle way and then vast open fields. Negotiating  kissing gates and stiles and an abundantly leaf strewn wood we reach a metal stile leading onto the St. Mary’s Church access road, Church Hill road, Harefield.

St Mary’s has an important connection with ANZAC. This is explained on the Church’s website as follows:

Anzac Day has been commemorated at this church on the 25th of April every year since 1921. It commemorates the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps(ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign. After World War 2, Anzac Day was broadened to include all members of the armed forces of Australia and New Zealand serving in all conflicts and peacekeeping operations. The Churchyard in St Mary’s has a war cemetery that holds the poignant graves of 112 ANZACs who were treated in Harefield on the site of the current Harefield Hospital. The war cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

Then thanks to Andrew, instead of a noisy road and a steep uphill climb, he led us on a welcome diversion which took us into grasslands and provided a panorama  of the impressive HS2 viaduct nearing completion and other related works. We rejoined the original HT into a field with views of the Grand Union canal. Descending we crossed over a humpback bridge and followed the scenic canal tow path towards the Rickmansworth Aquadrome Cafe, where the walk ended after 8 miles for a slightly late lunch. Afterwards in fading sunshine a short walk took us up to Rickmansworth Station and then home.

Carol d’S and Les

Photos by Les.

A fair number of the club were away for the weekend in the New Forest so I offered this at short notice, hoping it might appeal to those at a loose end. Unfortunately, engineering works meant that there were very few trains to Crystal Palace, so all credit to Melida and Rob for keeping Sandra and myself company.

At 5.4 miles, it’s a short walk but passes through some quite hilly parts of South London and so it is not a stroll. It follows much of the route of a disused railway which ran from Nunhead to Crystal Palace, which opened in 1865 to serve the Great Exhibition building after it was relocated in 1854. The building was destroyed by fire in 1936.

The route is easy to follow, with regular signposts. You can also follow it on Go Jauntly which has useful historical information.

We started off walking the length of the Exhibition Hall. There are only low sections of wall that survive but one is still impressed by the scale of the building. Passing the athletics stadium and the amphitheatre we exited the park and after a bit of road walking got to the attractive Sydenham Wells park. In Crescent Wood Road, we passed a substantial house where John Logie Baird stayed during his experiments on an early TV system in the 1920’s. 

We descended on to the route of the old railway, now in dense wood, soon crossing London Road, to enter the Horniman Museum and Gardens. For those of you unfamiliar with this, it’s worth a visit in itself. Apart from the restored museum, which won the Art Fund’s museum of the year in 2022, there are extensive gardens. From the terrace you can see Dawson’s Heights, a large social housing project dating from the 1960’s occupying a ridge to the north. It was designed by a young architect Kate Macintosh with the purpose of giving most of the flats, views in two directions.

We were soon passing through Camberwell Old Cemetery then a final lung busting climb to One Tree Hill with its famous view across to the north. Descending to Camberwell New Cemetery, a level stretch through Victorian terraced housing took us to  Nunhead Cemetery, one of the Magnificent Seven and a train back to London.

Thanks to Melida for most of the photos. 

I’ve added one or two of my recent trip to Sikkim India, subject to the Editor’s say so. [Ed – that’s ok I will put the Indian photos at the end]

Mike C

Photos by Melida and Mike C

A good turnout of Polyramblers met at Chingford Station. The sky was covered with greyish cloud but there wasn’t any wind to speak of. The trees were magnificent!  We thought that recent rain and relatively mild temperatures were the reason that a lot of trees were still covered in green leaves while the beech leaves on the forest floor were glorious! After the grassy area near the station, the walk was in amongst a variety of trees, including beech, hornbeam, oak, birch, rowan and holly, in all their autumn splendour. We mostly followed gravel paths, undulating sometimes steeply, with only an occasional puddle. There weren’t many other walkers or cyclists, despite being so near London. Perhaps people were more involved in Halloween, Diwali or Guy Fawkes activities!  It was mild enough to eat our lunchtime picnics at the benches provided at High Beach.  According to the Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names, the name first appeared as Highbeach-green in 1670. The Dictionary tells us that it is “Probably named from the beech-trees here” – so nothing to do with more recent spelling discrepancies or failings in modern education! While I’m talking about place names, I see that Chingford may be based on a corruption of “shingle” so perhaps the river in the valley came up higher in former times! There is a view of the valley from the green at High Beach but the trees at the top of the slope have grown up and out, obscuring the view to some extent.  Some members of the group took the opportunity to explore the Visitor Centre.     

As regards the beech trees, we learned about the pollarding which went on until it was stopped in 1878 so thereafter the trees were able to grow to a normal size but still bearing the shape formed by the coppicing. I am informed that some of these beeches are believed to be as much as 1000 years old! They are certainly very tall. After our lunch break, as the path undulated between the trees, we spent some time in a clearing on one side, carpeted with golden beech leaves, concentrating on breathing deeply and calmly, admiring the height and width of the trees, listening to the rustle of the leaves, no road or air traffic to spoil the moment. Generally being amongst trees is known  as “forest bathing” (nothing to do with dipping in water!). It is said that essential oils, known as phytoncides, are emitted by trees to protect themselves from germs and insects and, seemingly, they have a positive impact on humans too by naturally boosting our immune system. Studies show that after only a short amount of time in a forest, stress levels are reduced. Walking among trees decreases the body’s stress response, which in turn lowers our levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. As a result we feel calmer. Ideally it should be a digital detox, that is, not carrying any electronics! I must mention that to the group in the briefing next time! 

As we neared the end of the walk and the hum of the M25 got louder (even though it is ‘cut and covered’ at this point!), we passed by the area of Ambresbury Banks, the site of an Iron Age fort. At that time, 700 BCE, the views would have been clear of trees. It is pure legend that this is the place where Boudicca made her last stand against the Romans in the year 61! It is another area we will have to explore on a future visit. 

At the end of the forest we made our way to Epping High Street. Some of the party made their way to the tube station while the rest of us continued along to Belgique Patisserie, where the staff showed no amazement at the size of the group or horror at our footwear (not muddy as it happened!) and welcomed us with tea, coffee and a splendid array of enticing cakes and pastries! We agreed it was a very pleasant way to round off a very enjoyable day.

Pam

Photos by Stephen, Maggie and Hilary

After two frustrating cancellations of this walk, as a consequence of Chiltern Railways’  shenanigans, we at last, third time lucky, were able to undertake our modest eight mile stroll.

We set forth, all nineteen enthusiastic walkers, downhill from the station leaving rowdy traffic to soon join the scenic and placid tranquillity of the Wendover canal. The six mile long canal now overgrown in parts and disused, but worth exploring further was constructed in 1799 but alas has  been unnavigable since 1897. In its heyday it was a worthy conduit for all manner of barge-borne cargo including grain, timber, coal and beer connecting with the mighty north -south Grand Union canal.

Despite the pervasive gloom and mist the Polyramblers brought their own sunshine and soon we were admiring the timely vivid autumn colours reflected in  awesome clear waters  whilst passing a variety of water birds, dabbling ducks, gliding moorhens and preening swans. After a couple of miles of towpath we left the canal and started our gentle but mildly challenging ascent through the towering trees of Wendover Woods, trudging up  a fresh leafy carpet to the highest point of the Chilterns, a mere 875 feet.

As we steadily climbed  we were overtaken by many tabard clad and numbered runners surging zealously through the woods,  competing in organised events. Finally we reached the Wendover Woods cafe at the top where we gratefully took sustenance  and savoured the crisp ‘mountain’ air. Regrettably the usually awesome views were marred by the stubborn mist.

All too briefly, given the shortening hours of daylight, it was time to  return. We descended gradually via a firm path through a canyon of trees leading eventually onto a quiet tarmac road then along a narrow path between high wooden fences across a footbridge to follow a noisy but then calmingly  transparent chalk stream.

After a few more paces we emerged into the olde worlde charms of  Wendover high street and thankfully had time to partake of a well earned tea at one of several cafes before catching the vital 3.54 pm train back to London.

Les and Cathy M

Photos by Patricia, Les and Jill

 

Ten Polyramblers assembled at Blackheath Station on a sunny morning for a five mile walk meandering along the Prime Meridian to the Millennium Dome, travelling through time across historical parkland and past the Royal Observatory before tracing the story-soaked shores of the Thames to reach ultra-modernised Greenwich Peninsula.

First we crossed Blackheath, scene of several insurrections in the Middle Ages. Then we entered Greenwich Park and soon passed the site of a Romano-Celtic Temple. Next was Queen Elizabeth’s oak, the remains of a tree from the 12th century. After enjoying the view from the Observatory terrace, we headed down to Greenwich town centre and had a wander through the market before reaching the Cutty Sark.

We then joined the Thames Path which took us past the Royal Naval College to our lunch stop at the Pelton Arms pub. We sat in its garden enjoying the sunshine and excellent food & drink. Suitably refreshed we set off past myriad blocks of new flats and a few remaining vestiges of the industry that once lined the river banks. We skirted the Dome past various art installations before finishing the walk at North Greenwich Station.  

Danny
Walk Leader

Photos courtesy of Clare S