The Strollers met at Swanage bus station to catch the no 50 to the stop at the foot of Ballard Down. After getting off the bus we crossed the road to start the climb up to the flat, grassy ridge which is Ballard Down. At the start of the ridge there is an obelisk, erected in 1892 , which commemorates the new supply of drinking water to Swanage. For the next 2.5 miles we walked along the ridge. The fine, sunny weather had brought many people out, many with their dogs and we met a pair of poodles with unusual grey and black markings. As we approached the Old Harry Rocks we met more and more people. Although it was warm and sunny the visibility over Poole Bay wasn’t good enough to see the Isle of Wight and we could just make out the Admirals Walk building in Bournemouth. Some members of the group ventured out on to the edge of the cliffs while the more cautious ones, myself included, stayed well back. Continue reading SWANAGE STROLLERS WALK – BALLARD DOWN – SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER →

Geoffrey had the honour of leading a walk on his birthday!

Some 17 Poly Ramblers gathered at Swanage bus station to catch the 10am bus to Corfe Castle village. The weather was bright overcast. We all alighted in East Street and walked towards the centre of the village, passing a square beside a church with a view of the castle on a green mound behind. Continuing downhill where the main road continues through a narrow gap, we took a right turn Eastwards along a narrow lane passing under the Swanage railway, where we started to go uphill. At this point we had a photoshoot, as looking back, there was a spooky dramatic view of the ruined castle rising up over the rail bridge in the mist. After 200yds or so, at Challow Farm we joined the Purbeck Way track gradually climbing up further east, past a mast onto the ridge at Rollington Hill. As the ridge continued, taking us over Brenscombe Hill, the mist started to clear, offering us to our left, good views of Poole Harbour in the distance with areas of heathland and woods in the foreground. To our right, a green valley of farmland with the occasional sound of a steam engine whistle. Now we were on Nine Barrow Down, where some 3 miles or so from Corfe, our track started to descend into a valley between Round Down and Godlingston Hill, onto a busy lane where we turned North and took a North path up Dean Hill to cross the B3351onto another heathy path. This heathy path stayed flat and took us Eastward into Studland. Continue reading HIKERS WALK – CORFE, STUDLAND AN OLD HARRY ROCKS – SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER →

Twenty seven Poly Ramblers gathered in Swanage on the beautiful Jurassic coast at the start of a weekend with a promise of warm sunny weather.  The majority of the group were staying  the Youth Hostel situated at one of the highest points in the town with views of Studland bay.  Sandy used his local knowledge to lead a recce of town, before we all dispersed to eat,  many opting for fish and chips of course.

Photos from Ida and Stuart

Meng writes: Eleven Poly Ramblers had a lovely calm walk with Pam today.  Epping Forest is amazing with beautiful trees, tree roots, fungi, and we also came across a few shy longhorns.  As some of us got closer they began to wander off.  Shame! I have never been to Epping Forest before so it was a real treat.   A thoroughly enjoyable walk which was then topped off by our visit to The Wagon Boulangerie.

Pam adds that there were also mandarin ducks and an interestingly huge green caterpillar. Thanks to everyone for joining in with the spirit of the walk.

Photos by Meng

It had rained on and off all day and it was a blustery evening, so I did not expect many customers for my walk, but 7 stalwart Polyramblers, including Danny, turned up. We started by going north to trendy Islington High Street and Camden Passage, then turned right and right again to walk in gardens on top of the New River. After busy Pentonville Road, we turned into Claremont Square with the large mount of Claremont Square Reservoir in the middle to store water brought from Hertfordshire via the New River. We walked along Myddelton Square with its beautiful Georgian house before going to the viewing platform for the New River Head (there is not much to see but there is a lot to read). We passed Sadler’s Wells theatre, named after the well discovered in the garden of Mr Sadler, the laboratory building, the head office of the Metropolitan Water Board and Spa Gardens. We stopped to read a green plaque on old Finsbury Town Hall for Dadabhai Naoroji (the first Asian elected in the House of Commons) and, in Exmouth Market, a blue plaque for Joseph Grimaldi, the father of modern British Clowning. We did not go into Spa Fields as it was not lit and might be home to footpads (a highwayman operating on foot rather than riding a horse). We did a detour via the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering and the Finsbury Health Centre before reaching the London Metropolitan Archives. Then we followed Clerkenwell Close to arrive in Clerkenwell Green with the Karl Marx Memorial Library and the Old Middlesex Sessions House. Turnmill Street led us to Farringdon station, the end of the walk, but we headed straight to the Sir John Oldcastle for some sustenance. If you want to do the walk, the itinerary and information are here.

Dominique