MAY
Saturday 21 May
Sandling to Folkestone
Charing Cross 9.10 (Ramsgate service), London Bridge 9.19 Plat 6 arrive Sandling 10.44. Alternatively St Pancras International 9.34 (Dover Priory service) Plat 13, Stratford International 9.41 arrive Ashford International 10.11. Change to10.33 (Ramsgate service) Plat 6, arrive Sandling 10.44. Buy return to Folkestone Central. The walk includes a couple of steep sections but otherwise flat or gentle gradients. Starting along a disused railway line to Saltwood with its church and castle followed by open downland up to a ridge with sea views. We then descend into the Seabrook Valley before climbing up and then down to Sandgate for lunch: pubs, cafés or bring a picnic. Then over the Leas into Folkestone.
About 8½ miles E138, L179
Led by Stephen R
Saturday 28 May
Shepperton Circular
Waterloo Station 9.42 (Shepperton Service Plats 3-5), Vauxhall 9.46, Clapham Junction 9.51 Plat 11, Wimbledon 9.58 arrive Shepperton 10.33 where leader will meet the group. Oyster Card valid as far as Hampton. A varied river walk over bridges and through meadows via the Thames and Wey bridges and Chertsey Meads. Flat, stile free and hopefully mud free too. Passes northern section of Wey Navigation Towpath and Godalming Navigation. Picnic opposite Dumsey Meadow or pub lunch at Chertsey Bridge. Some riverside houses en route. Tea at Shepperton Lock or in the village on the way back to the station.
About 9 miles E160
Led by Liz M
JUNE
Wednesday 1 June
London Loop Section 17 Cockfosters to Enfield Lock
Meet 10.30 Cockfosters Station (Piccadilly Line Zone 5). This is a rural section of the Loop through Trent Park, the farmland of Enfield Chase, Hilly Fields Park and the Forty Hall Estate. There are several ups and downs with just one stile. The walk is mostly on rough paths, tracks and grassland. Lunch at Forty Hall café or bring a picnic. Several possible drop-outs. Return from Enfield Lock Station (National Rail Zone 6)
About 9 miles London A-Z
Led by Susan W and Jan C
Saturday 4 June
Ingatestone Circular
Liverpool Street 9.47 (Braintree service), Stratford 9.54, Shenfield 10.11 arrive Ingatestone 10.15. A steady-paced gently undulating walk on field paths and lanes. Lunch at Blackmore; Pubs, Tearooms or bring a picnic.
About 10 miles E175/7, L167
Led by Roddy E
Saturday 11 June
Higham (Kent) Circular
St Pancras 9.02 (Rainham service), Plat A, Blackfriars 9.11,London Bridge 9.18 Plat 4, Greenwich 9.27, Dartford 9.58 arrive Higham 10.19. Pleasant easy walk in this flat country. The ramble heads north towards the River Thames going through Higham Marches (good gravel paths) and past remains of a Benedictine Priory (sadly not much to see). The bird life around the waterways leading to Cliffe Fort (Napoleonic wars) is interesting. Lunch at the Six Bells in Cliffe, lovely old church. Drop out point via Bus 417 at 1.47pm of 5pm for Higham Station. Return to Higham Station via flat farmland.
About 8½ miles E163
Led by Sue C
Saturday 18 June
Wye to Chilham
Victoria 9.25 (Ramsgate service) Plat 4, Bromley South 9.42 arrive Wye 11.11.Alternatively, St. Pancras.10.12 (Margate service) Plat 12, Stratford International 10.19 arrive Ashford 10.50. Change to 11.05 (Ramsgate service) Plat 6 arrive Wye 11.11. This part of the North Downs Way crosses fields out of the market town of Wye to reach Perry Court Farm for coffee. Our route continues past the little church of Boughton Aluph before entering King’s Wood and ends at the attractive old hilltop village of Chilham. Possible pub stop here before catching train. An easy-paced undulating walk with a gradual ascent near Soakham Downs. Picnic lunch en route.
About 8¼ miles E137/149
Led by David B
Saturday 25 June
St Margarets to Sawbridgeworth
Liverpool Street 9.42(Hertford East Service), Tottenham Hale 9.55, Cheshunt 10.09 arrive St Margarets 10.21, Buy return to Sawbridgeworth. Gently undulating terrain. Lunch at Perry Green where there are picnic tables and a cafe at the Henry Moore Studios Visitor Centre and ‘The Hoops Inn’ on the village green. Before finishing at Sawbridgeworth we will follow a stretch of the River Stort Navigation.
About 12 miles E194, L166/7
Led by Pauline L
JULY
Saturday 2 July
Dover to Deal
St Pancras 9.34 (Dover Priory service), Plat 13, Stratford International 9.41, Ashford 10.12, arrive Dover Priory 10.40. Where the leader joins the group. Buy return to Deal. The walk will involve a climb out of Dover followed by a cliff-top walk passing the South Foreland lighthouse for lunch at St. Margaret-at-Cliffe; Pines Garden Tea Room, The Coastguard Pub or bring a picnic. After that we go back up along the top of the cliff and then drop down to beach level at Kingsdown for the final level stretch along the coastal path passing Walmer and Deal Castles to the Pier at Deal.
About 10½ miles. E138/150, L179
Led by David T
Wednesday 6 July
London Loop Sections 18 & 19 Enfield Lock to Chigwell
Liverpool Street 10.12 (Hertford East service), Tottenham Hale 10.25 arrive Enfield Lock 10.34 (Zone 6). A steady-paced walk beside waterways and through wooded countryside mostly on rough paths, tracks and grass. Section 18 to Chingford is mostly fairly level but there is stiff climb into the Sewardstone Hills and in Epping forest a fairly steep descent and then ascent up to Hawk Wood. Lunch at Chingford cafés or bring a picnic. Then Section 19 via Epping Forest and the meadows of Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve to Chigwell station (Central Line Zone 4). Several possible drop-outs.
About 9½ miles London A-Z
Led by Stephen R
Saturday 9 July
Pulborough Circular
Victoria 9.05 (Bognor Regis and Portsmouth Harbour service) Plat 17, Clapham Junction 9.12 Plat 13, East Croydon 9.23 Plat 3 arriving Pulborough 10.20. A fairly brisk walk starting with a gentle climb to give a panoramic view of the South Downs, where it joins the Wey-South Path, and continues across extensive water meadows to the picturesque village of Amberley for lunch: the Garden Room Café of the Black Horse pub, or picnic nearby. We will then go through the landscaped gardens of Parham Park and the RSPB Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve at Wiggonholt, completing the walk alongside the River Arun.
About 13 miles E OL10
Led by Josie R
Wednesday 13 July
Shadwell to Wapping
Meet 11.00 Shadwell DLR Station (Overground, DLR Zone 2). An easy-paced level pavement walk around Wapping’s historic dockside where pirates were executed and cut-throats lurked in dingy alleys. The walk finishes at London’s oldest riverside pub for lunch at the Prospect of Whitby.
About 3½ miles London A-Z
Led by Stephen R
Saturday 16 July
Princes Risborough to Wendover
Marylebone 10.00 (Birmingham service) Plat 1, High Wycombe 10.24 arrive Princes Risborough 10.32. Buy return to Princes Risborough.An attractive walk with plenty of manageable ups and downs, mainly through beech woodsand chalk downlands, including the Grangelands Nature Reserve. There are lovely views from Coombe Hill over the Vale of Aylesbury and surrounding counties. The walk ends descending into the pleasant old town of Wendover. Lunch at Great Kimble; The Swan or bring a picnic. At the end of the walk, chocaholics can rejoice in tea at Rumsey’s Chocolaterie near Wendover Station.
About 10½ miles E181, L165
Led by Susan W and Jan C
Saturday 23 July
Great Chesterford to Newport via Safron Walden
Liverpool Street 9.28 (Cambridge service), Tottenham Hale 9.40, where leader joins train, Cheshunt 9.48 arrive Great Chesterford 10.35. (Book return to Great Chesterford). Buy Super Off-peak return to Cambridge from London Terminals restricted to Greater Anglia services only. Using a Railcard it costs £9.10. A moderate-paced linear walk to Newport (Essex) Station over gently undulating terrain consisting of large arable fields interspersed by small woods, chalk streams and ancient settlements containing many
listed buildings. Via Little Chesterford, the historic market town of Saffron Walden (drop-out by 301 bus (from Tesco) to Audley End Station at 12:56, 13:56, 15:22 then 22 minutes past each hour), Audley Park (impressive view of Audley End House (English Heritage)), Abbey Farm (drop-out by road to Audley End Station), Debden Water and Newport. Lunch in Saffron Walden at the 15th century ‘Eight Bells’ pub or
picnic in Bridge End Garden
About 11 miles E195/209 L154,
Led by Jane R
Saturday 30 July
Bishops Stortford to Harlow
Liverpool Street 9.40 (Stansted Airport service), Tottenham Hale 9.52 (where leader joins train) arrive Bishops Stortford 10.17. Buy return to Bishops Stortford. A walk mostly along the towpath of the placid waters of the Stort Navigation, generally along level paths but with some muddy sections, ending at Harlow Town station. Lunch at Sawbridgeworth (various cafes, pubs etc) or bring a picnic. Possible drop out at Sawbridgeworth station.
About 10 miles E194, L167
Led by Quentin P
Ramble Surveys Members surveying rambles for possible inclusion in a future programme are, subject to prior agreement, entitled to claim reimbursement of fares. Please contact Stephen R for details.
Travel Information Train times listed are the latest available at the time the programme was prepared. Alterations can take place at short notice. It is advisable to check with National Rail (Tel: 03457 48 49 50, www.nationalrail.co.uk) or if your journey involves travel on London Underground and/or London Overground, check with Transport for London (Tel: 0343 222 1234, www.tfl.gov.uk). At mainline stations please meet the group near the booking office in time for the train stated. Check our website walks page for programme changes before setting out. Do make sure you have the correct ticket for the journey as London Underground and most National Rail Companies fine passengers without a valid ticket £50. Wear a mask.
Guidance for Members
Follow leaders at all times and carefully watch where they are going. Make sure you know the time and place for meeting after lunch. If you do not intend to complete the walk, please inform the leader.
Bring along some food and drink, as mention of a pub or café is no guarantee that food will be available.
Please bring some simple first aid equipment with you. Sorry, no dogs, except for assistance dogs
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Please note that the Club is not liable or responsible for an individual’s personal safety. |
Stephen Ross (Walks Organiser)
