Nine intrepid ramblers, after the inevitable transport delays we seem to get nowadays, set off from Hildenborough station in search of the Club’s recently (well, fairly recently!) donated kissing gate located not far from the station.

Inscribed plaques in memory of past members to be added to the gate were still stuck in the post.  Despite this disappointment we were able to pose for photos of the gate and the pleasant surroundings on what was a very sunny day.  The occasion even afforded a chance by Danny, on one of his rare excursions outside suburbia, to explain to a small group of walkers coming in the opposite direction who we were, the gate donation and the toll they had to pay to go through it!

Pleasantries over, we headed off to Leigh (pronounced Lye by local wurzels) for a tea break and the opportunity to eat the local church’s biscuits left to feed pilgrims like us and for the leader to leave behind his map of the walk!  Fortunately, having done the recce only days earlier the leader remembered the rest of the route with only the odd referral to the OS app.

We dined in Haysden Country Park on the banks of the River Medway before heading off along part of the Eden Valley Walk to the Plough and Barn Inn which we had to reach before it closed at 2.30pm to host a wedding. Arriving 15 minutes late the leader pleaded, nay, begged bar staff to allow us to have a quick pint/coffee.  They eventually caved in, but we had to finish before the bride arrived.  Returning empty glasses with the groom’s entourage already at the bar, my inquiry about a tab was met with a ‘get lost’ smile!

Refreshed, we set off for the station, walking through the countryside, arriving in good time for the hourly train back to London thanks to Sandra’s earlier calculations that the pub was a 45 minute walk from the station!

Kim

Photos by Joyanna and Siew Kee

After a truly horrible final walkover two days earlier – torrential rain, gales, thunder and lightning – the day of the walk was beautiful. It was warm with a pleasingly gentle breeze and the world seemed a different place in which it was a pleasure to be out walking.  We gathered at Stonegate station and set off along paths that were on the map but clearly not, or very rarely, used. There were some rough fields which must have been left for years and were completely overgrown but which had probably once been ploughed and so were ankle-twistingly but invisibly uneven. We are skillful and experienced walkers of course, and we navigated our way through with no problems. There were many stiles that were in a disgraceful state and in some cases so completely overgrown that they had to be hacked free to have any possibility of getting over them. Others had so many bits missing that they were a challenge to even the most long-legged among us but, again, we all managed and eventually were rewarded by a view of the lovely Bewl Water. Continue reading STONEGATE TO WADHURST – 7 SEPTEMBER →

Thank you to the team of Poly Ramblers who turned out to accompany the London Blind Ramblers on this refreshing and cheerful day. We had to change the date of the walk because of engineering works on the line which affected the numbers of participants from both groups. However, we were lucky in that the weather was extremely favourable and we enjoyed sunshine with a slight breeze as we strolled along the grassy path by the muddy banks of the Benfleet Creek where the occasional gull wandered about wondering where all the water had gone. We tasted aniseeds. I hope they were aniseeds or were they fennel? We mostly avoided the many cow pats. The cows were resting up in a field of dry straw over to our right, which didn’t look too appetising to me, which we debated as we went along! Perhaps I too would find it tasty if I had three stomachs! We passed Two Tree Island (a good place, depending on the time of year, to hear, observe and describe visiting Brent Geese, avocets and other birds as well as the gulls, if you don’t mind the noisy model aircraft or drones!). The tide was coming in, so by the time we arrived in Leigh-on-Sea we could hear the water lapping on the pebbles of the beach which was covered in adults and children making the most of possibly the last day of summer! On arrival in Old Leigh we went our various ways, some to the pub for food and drink where they were joined by Valerie, the LBRs group leader, some queuing for cockles, mussels, shrimps or crab, some to a seaside bench to eat our sandwiches in the sea breeze wafting gently across the River Thames from Kent. We still had time to queue for an Italian ice cream or two before carrying on along the narrow path, between the railway and the beach and sailing boats, to Chalkwell where Valerie and some others peeled off for the train. Continue reading Benfleet to Leigh-on-Sea / Southend, 21 September with the LBRs. →

A select group of six Poly Ramblers assembled at Brighton Station for a five and a half mile walk exploring the riches of this city and its seafront. We headed into the vibrant North Laine area of narrow streets full of colourful independent shops, pubs and cafes. We passed the Royal Pavilion which was built for the Prince Regent, later George 4th, between 1787 and 1822 in a distinctive Indian style. We crossed into the Lanes with its many antique shops and soon reached the seafront. Past the Palace Pier, we boarded the Volks Railway which runs alongside the beach. Opened in 1883, this narrow gauge heritage tram is the oldest operational electric railway in the world. Alighting at the Marina, we stopped for refreshments in a pub before starting on the Undercliff Walk. This is a five kilometre concrete and granite seawall running eastwards beneath the chalk cliffs. Its primary function is a defence against coastal erosion. As we sauntered along, we saw a a couple of seals and avoided spray from breaking waves. There are three breaks in the cliffs enroute and at the second of these we left the walk at Rottingdean. We found a quirky cafe in its high street and enjoyed an excellent late lunch whilst the heavens opened outside! We finished the day by taking a bus ride back to Brighton Station for trains home.

Danny
Photos courtesy of Pam Beach and Hilary Abbey

We had a lovely summer’s day for this Chilterns walk with 14 Poly Ramblers. After an hours delay having been ‘detrained’ at West Ruislip we set off from Saunderton up Smalldean Lane and through fields to the foot of the Chilterns Hills, with views across the valley to our return route.  We had a short stop at Bradenham Church where a couple of walkers took advantage of the generously provided tea and coffee. The walk then took us through woods up to Naphill Common where we had lunch on a convenient tree trunk.

The route to Hughenden Manor passes between Flagmore and Common wood with some lovely views before climbing up to the Manor House. There was time for a cup of tea and a quick look around the gardens of Disraeli’s former home, with gardens filled with colour.

Then we headed down through the woods and across fields, skirting around Downley. We crossed Downley Common, sadly having to miss out on the pub because of our late start. The path down from close to Cookshall Farm passed through a field of maize higher than all of us and then opened up to some lovely views of our next stopping point, the Dashwood Mausoleum on the site of an ancient fort and the current St Lawrence Church.

We broke the climb up from near West Wycombe at the Hellfire caves, where the loo and the ice creams were very welcome A small group who needed to get back a bit quicker peeled off here and successfully got a bus to High Wycombe. A steep but short slog got the rest of us up to the mausoleum and some gorgeous views. The last 3 miles or so took us along the ridge and then down through Hearnton Wood, coming down to Smalldean Lane again on the other side of the railway. The party made it back in time for our train.
Thank you everyone for coming along and to Ida for the photos.

Jo