Having made my own way to this station I sat in the waiting room of platform 2. The 10:49 from London arrived. I looked out for a group of polyramblers amongst large swathes of people alighting with their bulky luggage. After a minute or so it became clear there were none!  Strange, I thought.  I took out my club programme from my rucksack only to find they would be due on the 10:54!!!  And indeed they were!  All 9 of us proceeded out of the station past the shuttle buses and  huddles of people with more bulky luggage, down the station approach to the Wheathampstead B road, and we turned left up steps and climbed more steps onto a field path at airport perimeter. Continue reading Sunday 22nd November, 2016. Luton Airport Parkway circular. →

Despite ever worsening weather forecasts, 9 Polys and a guest from the blind ramblers set off optimistically from Paddock Wood. As we walked through the busy town and up onto the weald, we congratulated ourselves on being out; the rain was light, there as no wind and it was not cold. We wended our way through Kent orchards and the pretty village of Matfield, arriving at the Halfway House at Brenchley for lunch where we enjoyed a variety of food and real ales, all served from barrels behind the bar.

It’s a very old pub with lots of character, including a library of books above our heads. Over lunch we viewed pictures of grandchildren
and videos of cats – mobile phones with cameras are a great invention! On the way back to the station, the rain got heavier and the wind got up, so it was a wet but cheerful party which caught the 4pm train to London.

Thanks you to those that braved the elements.

Sandra

Report by Geoffrey. On approaching the concourse of London Bridge station, we were greeted by the 2nd dilemma of the day – our 0945 train to Coulsdon South showed as CANCELLED. The 1st dilemma was that the BBC weather forecast was right, ie dull with blustery showers and we assumed this kept many polyramblers tucked up at home in their warm beds! Our leader Ken decided we should board the 0950 train to Coulsdon Town to minimise delays. Five of us intrepidly set off on this train alighting at Coulsdon Town station (pka Smitham) to be confronted by a confusing system of paths footbridges and a new A23 Bypass which we didn’t expect. After another half mile we reached Coulsdon South station where we meant to start from, and used its facilities! From here we soon reached  Farthing(or Fairdene) Downs but took shelter along the wooded path at the side of the valley.

We continued southwards past Coulsdon Common and the Fox Inn. It stayed wet and windy until we reached our pub: The Harrow, on the outskirts of Caterham. It was about 1.30  and the pub rather full, but we all managed to get a seat inside in the end. We didn’t leave till about 2:30 so Ken at this point decided to shorten the walk and divert it to Caterham station, otherwise we would have to be walking in the dark approaching Coulsdon. So fortunately we finished the walk in the daylight by descending just 2 miles along the leafy wet residential roads from the pub, downhill all the way to Caterham station at the bottom of the valley. And we got a train back before 4pm. I was extra lucky as a quick 2 min connection at E Croydon got me home well before 6pm. Thanks Ken

Farthing Downs view by Dudley Miles, though sadly it wasn’t like this when our plucky group were there.

Despite an early start, a very respectable 14 of us assembled at Holmwood Station. We were rewarded when,  just before our arrival, the sun came out, lighting up the wonderful autumn colours. We made our way uphill to Coldharbour, enjoying views to the south. There we were greeted by the new landlady of the Plough Inn, who in the spirit of free enterprise was offering discounts to diners. I don’t recall having been there as a club – one for the future perhaps. Onward and upward past the cricket ground and to Leith Hill Tower and a cup of tea at the cafe. It was a lively scene, with walkers, cyclists,dog walkers and families with small children all enjoying the sunshine and views towards the South Downs. Turning north our walk took us largely through woodland to the Stephan Langton Inn, surely Surrey’s most remote pub, for an agreable lunch. Our afternoon route took us north and east to Dorking, through mixed woodland and farmland. Much of our walk was through the Wooton Estate, the former home of the Evelyn family. At Dorking, the majority headed for the station apart from Stuart, Gillian and myself who found a small pub where we  raucously watched the rugby world cup final along with about 200 others. A grand day out, though perhaps not with the ending Stuart would have chosen.

Mike

Eleven polyramblers set off from Buxted, in dry weather though with rain forecast. We made our way out of the village and then through fields and woods towards Poundgate, with the occasional stretch of lane, and pretty views. It was a good time of year to be doing the walk as the trees were turning and the colours were lovely. Towards the end of the morning we had to cross a golf course, which we negotiated successfully, helped by the fact that there were surprisingly few golfers about. Shortly after we arrived at the Crow and Gate pub, our lunchtime stop.
Rain started while we were in the pub and continued for a bit, but then the sun came out. Our route took us through fields and woods again – at times following the Vanguard Way – and there were more good views. We arrived back in Buxted with time to spare, so some of the party went to the pub by the station, and others waited at the station itself.

Caroline

Photo by Pam