On a day when two walks were offered to alleviate the excesses of Xmas consumption, twelve members chose the shorter option and gathered at Lower Sydenham station for a waterside walk through south-east London.

Initially, the group followed the Pool River through a green corridor until it joined the River Ravensbourne on its journey to the Thames. Passing under the South Circular Road, we entered the site of the old Catford Greyhound Stadium, now replaced by blocks of flats. Continuing through Ladywell Fields and past University Hospital Lewisham, we looked at St Mary’s Church before stopping for lunch. Some of our number sampled the beer and cuisine at the Ladywell Tavern while others had a picnic or went to a local cafe.

Suitable refreshed, we headed uphill to the 174 foot high peak of Hilly Fields for its wide-ranging views of London. This green area, once a farm, was saved in the late-nineteenth century by the intervention of Octavia Hill, the co-founder of the National Trust. Back down in the back streets of Lewisham, we rejoined the Ravensbourne and wended our way through Brookmill Park and Broadway Fields to Deptford Bridge, the site of a 1497 battle in the Cornish Rebellion against Norman taxes.

Finally, we headed for Deptford Station, via a bustling market and a distinctive post box artwork, where a few of us made a detour to a renowned pub the Dog & Bull pub for some fortifying mulled wine before heading home.

Danny

Photos courtesy of Patricia Burbidge and Kim Chowns

Seventeen walkers gathered at Chalfont and Latimer station on a mild but wet and miserable Saturday morning for the last walk of the year. After a circuit of Chalfont Nature Park, waiting for two late arrivals to catch us up, we continued down country lanes with impressive properties and picked up a path along field boundaries above the Misbourne Valley. We passed close to but didn’t see Beel House, once owned by the Mason family who made their wealth from the slave trade in the 18th century, and later by such luminaries as Dirk Bogarde, Ozzy Osbourne and Robert Kilroy-Silk. Eventually we reached Stanley Hill Cemetery where we paused to view the memorial to the Polish soldiers who were stationed in the area in World War II.  Later we passed the Martyrs Memorial to the six men and one woman who were burnt to death in the early 16th century for being Lollards and wanting to read the bible in English. We headed through the woods to Amersham and lunch.

Twelve walkers continued for the afternoon circular walk in the Chess Valley, passing Latimer House. The weather had brightened slightly but conditions underfoot were difficult with slippery mud which slowed us down a bit. After a number of climbs and descents we finally emerged from the final wood as the sun set and did the last mile on tarmac back to Amersham station in the dark.

Happy New Year to all Poly Ramblers

Gillian.  Thanks to Ida and Chris for the photos

I only learnt recently about the link of Reading and Caversham as centres of pilgrimage with Reading Abbey (founded by King Henry I in 1121) which possessed over 230 relics including the hand of St James and Caversham where the shrine of Our Lady of Caversham was situated.  12 Poly Ramblers joined me on a sunny but cold day to learn about the history of Reading and Caversham.   Continue reading READING HISTORY AND ST JAMES WAY- 6 December mid-week walk →

Thirty one Polyramblers including one new member, welcome Shola, joined me in near freezing conditions for a gentle walk through the streets of the City of London. This square mile is the oldest part of London dating back to AD50 when the invading Romans established a settlement they called Londinium. Continue reading MITHRAEUM AND CITY WALK – 2 DECEMBER →

Looking up at the departure board at Waterloo Station our train appeared with the unexpected word CANCELLED!  Oh no!  I enquired at the information desk;  ‘a faulty train’. They were sorry.  The next service to Witley would be a full hour later.   I had previously realised that an 8.8 mile walk from Witley might be an issue because of sunset at 16.04 so this was bad news indeed. Continue reading WITLEY TO HASLEMERE 25TH NOVEMBER →