Twelve Poly Ramblers and Daisy the dog met at Amersham on a warm and humid Saturday morning.  Rain looked on the cards and there was a yellow warning for thunderstorms.  After a mile or so of suburban streets we headed up to the outskirts of Stanley Hill cemetery and then to Jubilee wood, planted for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012.  We crossed fields in the direction of Chalfont, passing Beele House where the film star Dirk Bogarde once lived.  Eventually we arrived at the edge of Harewood Downs golf course,  identified by Yvonne as the main hazard of the walk, the footpath going right across the fairway.  The golfers were keen to direct us into the woods but we made our way round the edge and cautiously crossed the necessary fairways without incident.  By this time the weather had cleared and the sun was out.  We exited the golf course to find the Ivy House pub immediately on our right.  A lovely pub though situated next to the busy and noisy A413.   An hour or so later, replete with beer and sandwiches, we crossed the road and headed down to the river Misbourne and one of the many sites of HS2 works.  Fields had been dug up to construct a new bridge for the lorry traffic but the contractors had committed to restore the site to fields when the work was complete.  From there it was a level walk through wheat and barley fields following the Misbourne to Old Amersham, passing more HS2 works and the  new sewage works.  On reaching the outskirts of the town, three of the group decided to take the direct route up the road to the station while the rest of us enjoyed the more scenic route through the memorial gardens and uphill through the woods.

Thanks to Yvonne for leading a very pleasant walk with no rain .

Gillian

On a reasonably warm and sunny morning, seventeen members met up at Woolwich Arsenal station to commence our Thameside walk. First was a stroll through the Royal Arsenal complex with its many attractive old buildings and expensive-looking new flats. A sculpture of sixteen bronze figures, reminiscent of an Anthony Gormley, welcomed us to the Thames Path along which we headed east. After a short while, we detoured into a park to climb Gallions Hill ,constructed from rubble and soil excavated during construction of a nearby housing estate. There were a few grumbles that a flat walk had been promised but the panoramic views from the top silenced most of them! Returning to the river, we passed Tripcock Point, off which occurred Britain’s worst peace-time disaster when the pleasure cruiser Princess Alice sank in 1878 with the loss of some 700 souls.

After a stop for a picnic lunch, we continued past the Crossness Pumping Station with its rather mundane exterior hiding a magnificent interior. Leaving the Thames, we headed through a nature reserve with frisky horses looking for sustenance before arriving at the Morgan Belvedere pub where we found our own sustenance. A staggered return to the nearby station heralded the end of an enjoyable walk.

Photos from Ida, Nita and Gillian

Danny

 

 

This was a ten mile walk from Faversham to Whitstable following both the Saxon Shore way and the England Coast path. We were advised in advance to remember our swimming costumes, however, the overcast weather didn’t quite live up to our expectations. We started our walk at Faversham the oldest market town in Kent an important seaport and a centre for brewing. The Shepherd Neame Brewery is still an important industry. We wondered through some old fishing huts now used as a craft and antiques centre before reaching the estuary with a number of fishing boats moored up. Our route took us through mudflats following the sea wall, where we stopped for our picnic. The sun had broken through and it was ideal for the walk. There was a wonderful array of wild flowers, grasses and butterflies. We stopped at Seasalter (a centre for salt production in the iron age and raided by the Vikings) for a well-earned ice cream seated on the sea wall with views of the Isle of Sheppey across the estuary of the river Swale. We arrived in Whitstable, famous for its Native Oysters which were collected from beds beyond the low water mark. The annual Whitstable Oyster festival takes place during the summer. We wondered past a number of beach huts arriving at Whitstable’s delightful pebble beach and the Old Neptune Pub. Father’s Day made any chance of a meal at the pub unlikely, however we stopped at a well-known outdoor eatery selling Oyster’s, chips and some excellent cider and Kent Lager. We all enjoyed a sit-down on the beach with our food enjoying the sun and views and one brave person swimming. We hastily departed for the station as the trains only ran hourly and ended up taking a circular scenic route to the station. Gini caught up with us, having stopped to buy some fish, with just one minute before the train arrived. Thanks, Jackie, for a lovely seaside day out.

Hilary

16 Polys met at Tadworth Station, including one potential new member. The forecast was fine and we set off hopefully in search of the official start of the hike, at Walton on the Hill. After passing the little secluded Bell Inn, known locally as the Rat – nobody knows why. We encountered the first of 3 Coal Posts. Andrew explained that they represented tithe points to tax Londoners for coal brought in from outside town. The posts stated details of the date of the parliamentary act which introduced the tax.  There are still 250 of these posts in existence.

We walked through pleasant bridleways and under the M25 to Headley Village which is recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as Hallega, meaning a clearing in the heather.  On reaching the church we traversed the graveyard and saw the wooden tombs.  Shortly afterwards we stopped at the Headley Village Store and Tea Room for refreshments and debates regarding the virtues of vegan factor 50 sun tan lotion.

We went on via Thresher’s Dean through Headley Heath, a wonderful expanse of heather, birch and light oak with great views, following the orange posts to a beautiful picnic spot and enjoyed our lunch in the sunshine.

Then we descended the North Downs towards Betchworth Station, where one member decided to take and alternative route home. After a false start on a very busy road we found the alternative route, and then inadvertently ‘joined’ one leg of the North Downs Pilgrim Challenge – a 66 mile ultra-marathon! The runners were plentiful but very polite when they passed us.  However, please note that their route avoided the imminent serious ascent which the Polys took in their stride!  It was a short but challenging climb which was rewarded by refreshments at the Sportsman Pub in Mogador – where we found our second coal post.  Sadly no tea and cake this time but plenty of cold drinks and a garden to enjoy.  We then had a leisurely stroll across Banstead Heath – and saw a third coal post in the middle of the heath. This took us to Walton on the Hill and admired the picturesque pond in the centre of the village and then on the last leg through to Tadworth station.

This was our first time leading a larger group and we hope the others enjoyed it as much as we did!

Rochelle and Stephen

This walk was section 17 of the London Loop. It is a long rural section through Trent Country Park, the farmland of Enfield Chase, Hilly Fields and finishing up at Forty Hall. Fifteen Poly Ramblers joined me at Cockfosters Station. The sixteenth Poly Rambler caught up with us at Trent Country Park which has some lovely wooded sections including a large lake. We passed Camelot Moat thought to have been the Seat of Geoffrey de Mandeville during the reign of William the Conqueror. We continued our walk following Salmon Brook and eventually stopped for a picnic at Hilly fields under a large Oak Tree. Unfortunately, Enfield Council had decided to do bridge repairs over Salmon Brook which was supposed to have been completed last year! We took direct action and got through the barrier and waded through the water or over stepping stones without getting too wet. In the meantime, Danny had moved on to the Rose and Crown Pub just half a mile further on where we joined him for a refreshing drink. I was informed that Dick Turpin had been the Land Lord of the pub. Our final stop was at Forty Hall a grade 1 listed Jacobean mansion. We just had time to explore the walled gardens walk around the lake and admire the ancient Cedar of Lebanon before finishing our walk at Turkey Street Station

Hilary

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•