Just myself and Sandra accompanied Jackie on this lovely varied walk, the weather being bright but cold. Berkhamsted’s popular half marathon had just set off and it was some time before we could cross the road from the station. Jackie and Sandra set off at a cracking pace, with me struggling behind which was to be the pattern for the rest of the day. Steady climbing through woodland and grazing, took us to Berkhamsted Common, 150 years to the day from the battle of that name. The landowner, Lord Brownlow, had put up a metal fence with a view to incorporating the common into his private estate. Locals reinforced by a gang of navvies brought in by train, dismantled it and dumped it in view of his mansion. Continue reading Sunday, March 6th. Berkhamsted circular.
Friday 24 to Sunday 26 March 2017 – YHA Weekend, Portland
The annual YHA trip returns to Dorset for exhilarating coast walks on the Isle of Portland. Estimated cost £75 including train/bus fares and in-house food. Reserve a place for £30 by bank transfer or send a cheque made out to the Club to Danny Duffy.
Photo by A-M-Jervis
Saturday 27th February. Woldingham to Oxted
Twelve Polyramblers alighted from the train on a bitterly cold but dry morning. We made our way down the lovely Marden valley towards Woldingham School, stopping to pass the time of day with a couple of extremely tame and needy deer. Passing Bay pond, we reached Godstone and had lunch in the friendly Hare and Hounds. The service was less than brisk but there were no complaints from us as it was so good to be out of the wind. We were joined by Geoffrey, still not able to walk any distance but thankfully on the mend. Continue reading Saturday 27th February. Woldingham to Oxted
Saturday 20 February: Evening walk from Birchington to Herne Hill (Kent)
I had not done a recce and left my map an information at home but how hard could it be to find the seaside! Ten of us found it within 5 minutes of arriving in Birchington after following the aptly named Beach Road. It was a windy, grey day and the guard on the train had warned us that the walk to Reculver was exposed and so it was. We walked along the beach in Birchington and then on the sea wall battling against the strong wind with the Thames estuary on our right and flat countryside on the left. We could see the Reculver church towers in the distance (they were supposed to be in the Continue reading Saturday 20 February: Evening walk from Birchington to Herne Hill (Kent)
Saturday 5th March. Annual General Meeting
The AGM, which took place at the University of Westminster, was attended by 38 members, four more than last year. This time, we were in a large room with nice blue chairs with wheels and we had plenty of space to accommodate everybody. The AGM was attended by our long-lost mascot, Quintin, who had spent a few years in the attic of Gerald’s brother (for the record, Quintin was supposed to go home with Danny after the meeting but Siew Tin offered to look after our mascot). The formal business of the meeting included the minutes of last year’s AGM, the report of the Committee on the activities of the club and the financial report and statement of accounts. The Rambler of the Year Award was presented by the President to Geoffrey who had done a record 63 walks in 2015. It was the 14th time he won the award! Continue reading Saturday 5th March. Annual General Meeting