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The weather forecast was sporadic rain so I was pleased to find 16 people had committed to the circular.

We started by walking uphill along the Ridgeway towards Ivinghoe Beacon. Once we had cleared the woods, the vista opened out with glorious views. The ground was slippery but not impossible and the rain held off while we were on the ridge.

We then descended and climbed back up into the woods with lovely autumn colours and made our way to the Bridgewater Memorial. It was closed but as the weather was overcast, no loss. We had lunch at the visitors centre which also had a shop for last minute Christmas presents!

After lunch the promised rain duly arrived but we were now walking through the woods making our way to Aldbury. In Aldbury the group split, half having tea and cake in the British Legion cafe suitably adorned with poppies, and the remainder retiring to the Greyhound pub fo a well earned drink.

The rain stopped and after checking out to make sure the Stocks were working properly, we made our way back to Tring.

Stephen.  Photos by Stephen and Gillian

Despite the forecast of 100% rain – 12 Poly Ramblers disembarked at Riddlesdown station, by which time a steady drizzle had set in, along with gusty winds. However, the wind dropped upon entering the woods, where when we turned around we could see the disused quarry towering above the town. As we climbed further the rain eased slightly affording us a pleasant undulating stroll. Although path was only muddy in parts, the wet leaf carpet made it slippery underfoot for most of the day. Continue reading RIDDLESDOWN TO COULSDON SOUTH – SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER →

Eleven hardy walkers arrived at Chorleywood Station on a very cold and wet morning. After the safety briefing, we started the walk but stopped again within a few minutes for a toilet break in a local cafe. The reason being that the railway station facilities were all locked (the station was unmanned).

Then our  walk took us through Carpenters Wood with its really lovely autumn colours and a carpet of fallen leaves. One of the polyramblers decided to turn back at this point because the path was very slippery in places. The rest of us continued on to Chenies, along a  tarmac path past Mountwood Farm and then took a steep decent down to the watercress beds. After this, we climbed a steep hill up to the Church and to the pub ‘The Cock Inn’.

Here we had our lunch, some taking shelter from the cold in the Church (the radiators were on!) while others went for some food and a drink in the pub. After lunch, another polyrambler decided to call it a day. Then the remaining ten of us walked down to Sarratt Mills and on to Chorleywood Common after crossing the River Chess. We stopped to admire the Memorial tree and then headed back to the Station.

A few us decided to have tea and cake in a local cafe while the rest caught the train back to town.

Sunita

Photos by Nita, Gillian and Chris

This eight mile section of the Vanguard Way goes through an idyllic area of rolling countryside and small farms mostly in open countryside and pastures.

Nine Poly Ramblers undertook the complicated train and bus route to start section six of the Vanguard Way on the Uckfield road in the Wealden District East Sussex. The signage for the route had recently been renewed; it sadly did not prevent us from going in the wrong direction twice!

We were fortunate to have pleasant weather after a week of heavy rain as we made our way through pastures and woodland crossing the river Uck at intervals. We enjoyed exceptionally clear views en route.

We stopped for a picnic lunch at the Holy Trinity Church High Hurstwood, finding plenty of seating on the benches in the churchyard. The church was of an unusual design with its partly half-timbered porch tower and flat bellcote.

After a short lunch we resumed our route through woodland and fields passing pillboxes which had been hastily constructed during the second world war when the threat of invasion appeared very real. The name comes from their similarity in shape to boxes that used to be provided by pharmacists for medicinal pills.

We went through the arch under the East Croydon to Uckfield line, in our hurry to get to our destination in light and on time to catch the hourly bus, we took the wrong path across the next field and walked up a lane away from the route. Luckily a local person helpfully guided us back, we quickened our pace to make up for lost time. We walked along a lane  (Nan Tucks Lane) following a track through trees, over a stream and continued into a junk filled farm yard (Scantlins Farm).

At a carved wooden Vanguard sign attached to a container we followed a broad track through trees to cross the picturesque Tickerage Mill at a weir with mill pond. We finished our route via allotments and passed the Village Hall to the Blackboys crossroads where section six ended. We were fifteen minutes early for the bus thanks to the brisk pace of our Poly Ramblers.

Hilary

Photos from Hilary (of the walkover) and Les