Sixteen keen Polyramblers aligned at Rochford for the second challenging walk of the summer programme. This 13 mile walk was cancelled last year (can’t remember why) and we eagerly waited for the bus to take us to Canewdon to start the walk. The bus was late – which is not unusual – and we were not too worried until two ladies who were passing told us that, because of roadworks, the bus had been diverted and we had missed it.

This walk seemed to be doomed! After checking that there was a bus from Canewdon to Rochford at 17.00, I decided to do the walk in reverse. So we set off from Rochford, following the river Roach along the sea wall for a few miles while being buffeted by the wind. We turned inland at Bartonhill Creek and had lunch in the shade. We continued along Green Lane, passing a lake and walking along a path made of seashells. We reached Paglesham and stopped at St Peter’s Church to use the eco toilet. We passed a defunct pub and reached Paglesham Creek then walked along fields before reaching Lion Creek which we followed. We continued alongside the river Crouch on an overgrown path on the sea wall with the wind against us.

We finally reached Upper Raypits where we turned inland, crossing a meadow and then climbing the only hill of the day to reach Canewdon and the bus stop with half an hour to spare. No time for a drink in the pub but we headed to the local shop for a well deserved ice cream.

Dominique

This was a walk that nearly got cancelled due to a train strike and closure of parts of six TFL lines so we were delighted to meet nineteen polyramblers at Tring Station.

After a safety briefing we made our way towards the entrance to Westland Farm and joined the Ridgeway Path passing through Aldbury Nowers nature reserve. We had a few spots of rain before we started to climb but fortunately it stayed dry and sunny for the rest of the day. We reached the top of the ridge with Pitstone village in the distance. We walked through undulating grassy hillside, with a smell of camomile underfoot, before descending and a tackling a second climb to Ivinghoe Beacon.

It was very windy and rather busy at the top with walking groups and families. Obviously a few of us discussed how we had previously celebrated completing the Ridgeway Trail. We dropped down a bit to find a reasonable spot for a picnic amongst the meadow flowers. We then retraced our steps downhill and made our way towards the Bridgewater Monument and Ashridge visitor centre, our route taking us through a well stocked wood, part of the Ashridge estate. I saw several varieties of butterflies including Cabbage White, Cinnamon Blue and Peacock.

After a refreshment stop at the visitor centre we passed by the picturesque post office, village hall and church in the village of Aldbury arriving in good time to catch the 4:00pm train home.

Sunita

Photos by Ida, Jill and Chris

Lovely walk from Petts Wood to West Wickham, despite the drizzle, through wooded areas, meadows, a nature reserve and Elms Country Park where we stopped for lunch near the Green Roof Cafe there.

After lunch we traversed the site of a great mansion which had burned down in 1967 and, after a bit of climbing, stopped to view the remains of the Wilberforce Oak which has an interesting history (bill calling for the abolition of slavery discussed here)

Onwards to The Keston ponds which were teaming with life, including lots of cute ducklings being closely guarded by parents. As Hayes station didn’t have trains running, we stood under a bus shelter, dodging drips from leaks in the roof, until the 353 arrived and took us on the 15 min journey to Orpington station, a journey Geoffrey was quite familiar with, having lived in that area many years ago. After a short wait we were off on the train towards London.

Jackie.  Photos by Hilary and Ian

I am so thankful that the weather was no-where near as dire as predicted for my Henley walk on 15th July. We all assembled at Henley station (seventeen of us) via bus, car, the Liz line and GWR. I gave a short talk and then we set off over the bridge and then along the east side of the Thames. Most of the grandstands and hospitality tents and general what-not were still there after the annual regatta a couple of weeks before and were slowly being dismantled. Inwardly I am conflicted between feelings of resentment because I don’t belong to the privileged social class that goes to the regatta and the fact it looks like it was a lot of fun. Anyway it’s a lovely walk by the river, which is very beautiful and is surrounded by green fields. We pass swans fishing for breakfast and Canadian geese all in a line like we are! The weather is fresh and invigorating. We got to Hambleden Lock more quickly than I expected and after a group photo crossed over the river. This section of the river is very different, no longer gliding serenely along but roaring loudly as it rushes through the weir with us on the bridge a few feet above it. Ducks and geese are feeding happily in the midst of the rushing water. I love this sort of thing, it’s exciting! Continue reading HENLEY CIRCULAR – 15 JULY →

On the hottest day of the year to date, eleven Poly Ramblers assembled at the Angel for a leisurely walk to Regents Park. We first wandered through Chapel Market with its variety of stalls before heading to the Regents Canal. We joined its towpath close to the headwall of the Islington Canal Tunnel and walked westwards. We soon came to the Battlebridge Basin which was constructed in 1820 and is now a narrowboat mooring and the home of the London Canal Museum. Battlebridge is the old name for the King’s Cross area which has been transformed in recent years with a plethora of new buildings, bars and restaurants. Of particular interest is Gasholder Park which is housed in the frame of a gasometer constructed in the 1850s. Three similar ones alongside now contain apartments. The next stretch was fairly peaceful but that changed when we reached Camden Lock with crowds visiting the various markets in its vicinity. We stopped here for refreshment at the Ice House Wetherspoons before carrying on to the vicinity of Primrose Hill where we left the canal for lunch at a cafe. Geoffrey joined us here having being delayed on his rail journey from Bedfordshire by signalling problems. Some of our number climbed the hill for its impressive views of the London skyline but the majority decided to stay cool in the shade. For the final part of the walk, we entered Regents Park and headed for the lake and its bandstand. We listened to some jazz numbers by the KIX orchestra before finishing at Baker Street where a few of us felt the need for further refreshment at the Wetherspoons above the station.

Danny
Photos courtesy of Rajesh Patel & Nita Patel