Twelve Polyramblers alighted from the train  on a bitterly cold but dry morning. We made our way down the lovely Marden valley towards Woldingham School, stopping to pass the time of day with a couple of extremely tame and needy deer. Passing Bay pond, we reached Godstone  and had lunch in the friendly Hare and Hounds. The service was less than brisk but there were no complaints from us as it was so good to be out of the wind. We were joined by Geoffrey, still not able to walk any distance but thankfully on the mend. Our afternoon route took us past the attractive St Mary’s church and almshouses. Crossing a field of wurzels, we were grateful for the drier weather of the previous week; hardly any mud adhering to our boots. Passing Tandridge church we traversed a golf course, but the chill wind meant there were no golfers to distract as we straggled across the fairway. Arriving at Oxted, we were relieved to get straight on to a nice warm train. A good day’s walk and all the better for the relative absence of mud. Many thanks Peter.

photo of St Mary’s by Stephen Craven