Nineteen Polyramblers gathered at St Albans City station. I led them towards the Cathedral in the city centre, then put it to the vote whether to take coffee at the cathedral refectory. I did not need to use my casting vote as like the Brexit referendum the noes favoured the ayes by 1 more vote out of 19 and the noes had it! We thus proceeded through the 14th cent. Abbey gateway, down Abbey Mill Lane, over the Ver and across Verulamium Park. The footpath Continue reading MAY BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND 2019: ST ALBANS to WATFORD →

There were only five of us on the train at Marylebone so we were somewhat relieved to see another five waiting at Great Missenden. It was misty but dry and mild  as we set off through pleasant rolling country with  open views. We crossed the railway to reach the old village of Little Missenden, stopping to admire the 13th century wall painting in the church of St John the Baptist. Continuing, we were soon in Penn Wood part of one of the Chilterns ancient woodlands. Chairmaking, centred on High Wycombe  flourished  from the mid 18th century  and Penn Wood was an important source of timber. Although chairs were assembled in factories,  the legs and spindles were usually  made in situ in the forest,  on hand powered lathes. Continue reading 27th April Great Missenden to Amersham →

For the second Club outing of a weather-blessed Easter weekend, seventeen ramblers alighted at Christs Hospital station for a sunny walk through bucolic Sussex countryside. First we entered a sylvan glade with the nascent River Arun running through it and ubiquitous wild garlic. Fields of bluebells then followed before we reached the old Shoreham to Guildford railway line, now a foot & cycle path called the Downs Link. Fringed with dandelions in places and with views of the Low Weald, this took us to the old station house at Slinfold where we walked into the village and stopped at the Red Lyon pub for lunch. Continue reading Easter Monday 22nd April. Christ’s Hospital West Sussex →

Thirty five polyramblers joined this lovely outer London walk, Perivale woods being the main attraction, for the blue- bells. We made our way to the Grand Union Canal.  A cyclist said to us to look out for turtles, however, couple of polyramblers confirmed that we were looking at pink ear terrapins.

We arrived at Perivale Woods soon after. The blue bells were in full bloom and you could miss fragrant floral smell. We saw plenty of bird boxes and a hide. A great spot to listen to the birds, we heard wrens, blue tits, great tits, wood packer and chiffchaffe. Then we walked up to Horsenden Hill for great views. Here Jennifer shared chocolates with us. Then we made to Ballot Box Pub. The staff we superb and service was superb considering twenty of us wanted food and they had another group of thirty customers. Continue reading Saturday 20 April 2019: Greenford to Harrow- on-the Hill →

Despite so-called “planned” engineering works causing travel disruption both on the trains and the underground, 30 of us met up at Liverpool Street station, 10 Polyramblers and 14 London Blind Ramblers. It was just as well the LBRs had brought some sighted friends to help guide them! We paired up and set off. The path was mostly smooth. Robin and Maria set a good pace. Birds tweeted in the brambles. Was that a Cetti’s Warbler we heard? We passed a couple with a child examining a greenish eggshell beside the path. They thought it was a duck egg which a crow had stolen from a mallard nest, broken open and eaten the contents. The A13 hummed in the background until we climbed the slope up to the riverside path, passing Tilda’s rice mills (one of Europe’s largest), which receives grain from Italy, Canada, India, Thailand and Uruguay. Continue reading Sunday 14th April Rainham to Rainham Marshes →