On what promised to be a beautiful, hot sunny day 15 Polys set off from Petts Wood station in South London. After winding through the woods, saved from developers by local people and donated to the National Trust in 1927, we came upon the William Willett memorial sundial. This commemorates his support for the introduction of daylight saving in a pamphlet in 1907 which paved the way for the introduction of BST. We crossed St. Paul’s Cray road and soon entered Scadbury Park, now a nature reserve. We passed the remains of the Tudor manor, first recorded in the thirteenth century and owned for over two hundred years by the Walsingham family. We emerged from the woods and took our lunch break on the outskirts of Chislehurst. While the majority of the party ate their picnic lunch in the grounds of St. Nicholas Church, others visited the café or pub. In the afternoon we passed through St. Paul’s Cray common into the Hawkwood estate, another area saved from developers with private funds and donated to the National Trust in 1957. Here the rolling fields of Tong Farm created a contrast with the pretty woodland as we followed a stream towards three railway bridge crossings and back to Petts Wood station. Four of us stayed for tea and cake at the end of a very pleasant day out, all within the boundary of Greater London.

Thanks to Ida for the photos

Susan

A very pleasant walk, starting with time to explore the ruins of Berkhamsted Castle, a Norman motte and bailey castle.  We headed up on to Berkhamsted Common and then into woods, passing a WW1 trench.  A picnic lunch on logs on the edge of the impressive Ashridge College.  We got rather chilly but were rewarded with hot drinks and cake at the delightful Courtyard Cafe in the college grounds.   Any sort of eating out is a treat after so many months of lockdown.  The last part of the walk took us through Frithsden Beeches, a lovely woodland conservation area.  Eventually we arrived back in Berkhamsted where Hilary persuaded most of the group to divert from the station to view the newly hand painted plaques on the canal bridge.    Half the group  then repaired to a canal side pub for a convivial hour or so (although I am embarrassed to say it took us the best part of half this time to master the online ordering system sufficiently to get our drinks)!

Thanks to Hilary for leading and to Ida for the photos.

Gillian

Eleven Polyramblers set off from Acton Town Station on a dry, sunny day and quickly reached Gunnersbury Park recognised by English Heritage as one of the most important in the country. Both the grounds and buildings are Grade 11 listed and frequently used for filming including on the day we visited. We were told it was for series 2 of The Serpent. We strolled through the Italian Garden, past the Classical Arch, Gunnersbury House, Gothic Tower and Ruins, Orangery and through the nature reserve.

Walking through Carville Hill Park and the Brentford Towers Estate took us to the Thames Path which we followed past house boats, rusting ship hulls and new apartments to reach the junction with the Grand Union Canal at Brentford where vestiges of its industrial past were apparent. Lunch was taken at Johnson’s Island where there was the opportunity to view classic cars at the Duke of London Showrooms.

We then made our way to The Butts, a magnificent square flanked by detached Victorian villa and residences dating from the late 17th century, to reach the Weir pub’ at which the painter J. M. W. Turner stayed. Losing three walkers to a nearby hostelry we crossed the River Brent to rejoin the Grand Union Canal which we followed alongside new commercial buildings to enter Boston Manor Park with its fine Jacobean mansion. We followed a circular nature trail before making our way to Boston Manor Station.

 Thanks to Ida for the photos.

 Sunita and Jennifer.

Nine of us started with a short walk along the Stort navigation. Turning right we went off down a lane and across large fields of young wheat and rape seed, seas of yellow! Our boots got caked in mud but got lighter again as we went through woods with bluebells and lots of birdsong. We arrived for lunch at the pretty village of Hunsdon with typical Essex white weather boarded houses, old style water pump and lamp post.  Here we stopped for lunch at The Crown, eating our sandwiches in the pub garden.  The heavens opened soon after we left the pub, waterproof trousers were quickly put on and brollies up. We sheltered for a few minutes and moved on as it lightened. Soon the rained stopped and we made our way back to catch our train where we viewed a family of goslings making their way downstream, our second goslings of the day.

Jackie

I was joined by eight Poly Ramblers at King’s Cross to get the 10.27 Cambridge train. We were joined at Welwyn North by two walkers who had got on at Finsbury Park and one who had parked his car at Knebworth and travelled one stop down the line.

We set off from Welwyn North through the village of Digswell, and I at least was wondering when the forecast heavy rain would start. Turning off the road we went up a track beside the quaintly named River Mimram, which was hidden by trees and bushes. I had decided to shorten the original route by about a mile and we turned left on to a field path. Unfortunately it was not the track I had intended to take but fortunately it shortened the walk by a few more minutes and allowed us to arrive at the pub right on time.

Being quite high up we enjoyed extensive views of the Hertfordshire countryside, which looks especially attractive at this time of year. We soon arrived at the village of Burnham Green, which does in fact have a large village green. We paused for a few minutes on the green before going on to Woolmer Green, whose village green I have never seen. Before reaching Woolmer Green we had to negotiate the intriguingly name Robbery Bottom Lane. Apparently it was a haunt of highwaymen in days gone by. One of these was James Whitney of Stevenage who plied his trade around 1750.

Shortly after leaving Robbery Bottom Lane we reached Woolmer Green and stopped to look at the aviary at the Chequers pub. Budgies and other birds came to say hello, or perhaps they were just looking for food. Leaving Woolmer Green we passed under the East Coast Main Line and ascended Wych Elm Lane, which was the inspiration for this walk. I used to see it when I travelled regularly on the ECML and planned the walk around it. At the top of the hill we crossed the A1(M) by which time people were telling me they were hungry and asking if the pub really did exist.

They were soon happier when we arrived at the Robin Hood and Little John in Rabley Heath to find two tables under canopies reserved for us. Drink was taken, in moderation, and meals ordered. These came in generous portions and the omelettes looked especially tasty. It was a bit chilly but all seemed to enjoy their meal, although one person complained that there were no desserts on the menu. Rabley Heath comprises a pub and about six houses so it is a hamlet rather than a village.

After lunch we had a half hour walk to Knebworth station. We walked along the side of a field of rapeseed and joined the road from Old Knebworth. We crossed the A1(M) again and carried on downhill. While we were waiting on the station the sun tried to come out. Thankfully the heavy rain which was forecast didn‘t arrive till I was leaving Barons Court station on the way home.

Thanks to all who joined me for the walk. I hope you enjoyed it.

Sandy

Photos by Hilary