From the station, we walked uphill to Manningtree church where we joined the Essex Way which we followed most of the day. We reached the waterfront and followed the Stour estuary to Mistley, famous for its twin church towers and its witch finder. We left the riverside to walk across pastures, woodlands – passing old oaks including Old Knobbley – and wheat fields. We had our picnic lunch Continue reading SATURDAY 22 JULY: MANNINGTREE to WRABNESS (ESSEX) (LINEAR) →

After leaving Chigwell we enjoyed a relaxed walk through Roding Valley Meadows Local Nature Reserve and its lake onwards up through Buckhurst Hill and then up through the edge of Epping forest and its famous oaks, then onwards to the white timber-framed Elizabethan building which is Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Hunting Lodge, built for King Henry VIII in 1543. Continue reading SATURDAY 15th JULY: CHIGWELL to ENFIELD LOCK (LINEAR) →

This was pretty much the perfect walk, nearly 15 miles & neatly divided into 3 parts. We left Lewes via a lovely walled garden where children rehearsed for what appeared to be a mediaeval pageant or perhaps, being Lewes something more alternative, & an unusually easy-going cat allowed itself to be played with by a small child & then seemed to join its family on a blanket for a picnic. We then flew – well, something like that – up the first mighty incline onto the South Downs Way & our first glimpse of the sea. The path curved around Continue reading SATURDAY 8 JULY: LEWES (CIRCULAR) →

The Regent’s Park, one of the 8 Royal Parks, was designed by John Nash and cover 395 acres but we  stayed mainly around Queen Mary’s Gardens as well as the Avenue gardens.  It was a hot evening and the gardens were busy with people relaxing on the grass or having picnics.  Only 9 Polyramblers on the walk; perhaps people were scared of the heat but it was cooler in the gardens. We entered Continue reading Wednesday 5 July: Evening walk in Regent’s Park →

A total of 15 Polys met at Amberley station for a walk in perfect weather. A much larger walking group left the train at the same time, so we sped off just in case they were heading in the same direction. We had a short walk along the river Arun, then through Amberley village with its castle, thatched houses and delightful cottage gardens, then across country to Parham Park where the picnickers had their lunch. The pub lunchers enjoyed sandwiches in the garden of the nearby Crown Inn, in the company of goats, rabbits and guinea pigs. We were pleased to see that none of these featured on the menu. To celebrate the first day of Geoffrey’s retirement, he treated us all to glasses of Prosecco and Harriet produced an excellent cake. Continue reading Saturday 1st July. Amberley circular →