The weather forecast was for heavy rain, Holland Park Station was closed for several months and the District and Circle Lines weren’t going North of High Street Kensington.  All credit therefore to the 19 of us who were motivated to get to the start. It was dry as we made our way south into a rather sodden Holland Park. We passed round the house, dating from the 17th century, of which only the east wing wing remains, following bomb damage in 1940. Heading east, we crossed Kensington Church Street, making a detour down an attractive alley and past St Mary Abots Church. Here there is blue plaque to Ezra Pound the American poet. A contoversial figure, he was a contemporary of TS Eliot but became converted to the fascist cause. He moved to Italy, later making anti American broadcasts on behalf of the Mussolini government during the second world war.  He was incarcerated by the US army and charged with treason  but found unfit to stand trial. Continue reading SATURDAY 2nd January. HOLLAND PARK to HORSEGUARDS. →

I had been warned of thigh-high lakes of mud, the entire Mole valley being impassably under water & dangerously slippery, steep chalk paths but, despite all these very inauspicious omens, the walk was lovely. We had to bypass the Stepping stones at the bottom of Box Hill as they were under water but there’s a perfectly good bridge not far off so we used that. Continue reading WESTHUMBLE TO LEATHERHEAD – SATURDAY 9 JANUARY →

Three long-established woods and a 19th canal reservoir, now a water-sporting lake.

Lunch at the Waters Edge, Ruislip Lido.  Distance 6.5 miles.   Leader: Danny.

Walk in Windsor and Eton with riverside meadows, the playing files of Eton and views of Windsor Castle followed by Evensong in St George’s Chapel at 5.15.

Leader: Danny.

A goodly number of Polyramblers met at Kew Gardens station, including new member Maria and her labrador guide dog Bella who was wagging her tail and cosying up to the walkers. We were ready for a soothing stroll along the Thames Path but fearing forecast strong winds and rain. There was too much traffic to let Bella off the lead, even while some of the group peeped into St. Anne’s Church at Kew Green, but when we got to the towpath Bella was keen to explore. I described to Maria that on our left there was a narrow road leading to Kew Gardens car park and on the right was the river. Maria said later she imagined the river bank would be the same as at Putney, gently leading down to the water. Before I could explain that there was a 10ft vertical wall covered in bright green moss, Bella was off the lead and skiing down the wall to the narrow strip of shingle beach, splashing delightedly in the shallows until she realised that there was no obvious way back up.  Continue reading Saturday 5th December Kew. A Cautionary Tail! →