Walk Reports and Photos 2018 (Jan - Apr)
12 walkers, 7 miles - leader Pete Colley
Undeterred by the premature loss of a hill and the gain of a mile, 12 of us set off to explore the heights, sights and delights of South London. My first walk as leader went more or less according to plan, with only a small number of hesitations, repetitions and deviations.
The route: Forest Hill (‘The Capitol’ Spoons), Havelock Walk, Horniman Museum & Gardens, Dulwich and Sydenham Woods, Sydenham Hill, Dulwich College, Belair Park, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich Park, Herne Hill Velodrome, Knight’s Hill, Brockwell Park, Herne Hill, Ruskin Park and Denmark Hill (‘Fox on the Hill’ Spoons)
Seen off by a double rainbow, past a building housing an overstuffed walrus, we navigated our way through the woods. Next, a tollbooth where sheep were charged at 2 1/2d (per sheep or in total? Who counted them through? How did they stay awake?). Skirting Dulwich, the highlight (for most) was the track meeting at Herne Hill Velodrome, where Sir Bradley (and many others) discovered his legs.
On through Brockwell and Ruskin Parks, with views over the city, we arrived at Denmark Hill intact and, on the whole, cheerful. Might do this again sometime…
Report by Pete Colley
Photographs by Julie Welch
A gallimaufry of ancient woodland
Interspersed with grass meadows
Rivers ruining red with oxide of iron
Viridiaian grass on the brown earth.
Bluebells and primroses in flower
Gave colour to the forest floor
Old hammer ponds shimmered
Between the trunks of ancient trees.
Forges once used the wood and water
Fashioning guns and ploughshares
From the locally produced iron ore
These forests now stand silently
In memory of an ancient industry
Once common among these forest groves.
Report & photographs by Peter Buchwald
11 walkers, 19 miles – leader Julie Welch
With our injured route designer Colin providing a cameo role by popping up along the way to cheer us on, eleven of us set off from Wembley after posing for the camera outside the national stadium and hotfooted it via the Capital Ring (which included a magnificent 360 degree panorama over North and North-west London) and Roe Green Park to The Hive, home of Colin’s team, Barnet FC. From there it was a muddy but enjoyable yomp along part of the London Loop to Aldenham Reservoir for an early lunch stop, an exciting crossing of Elstree Aerodrome field and runway, and a refreshment stop at The Round Bush pub. At nearby Aldenham village, we picked up the Hertfordshire Way and then the Ver-Colne valley Walk, which took us alongside the very lovely Colne river to Watford. The weather, which had been overcast but pleasantly mild, had turned to rain by the time we reached Watford F.C.s stadium at Vicarage Road but fortunately by then we were close to the inevitable journey’s end – Wetherspoon’s Moon Under Water in Watford High Street. Many thanks to Colin for putting together such a great route.
Report and photos by Julie Welch
6 walkers, 7 miles - leader Colin Saunders
We were 6 yesterday: Gordon P, Dave W, Hilary S, Casilda (Spanish lady), another Dave whose surname I can’t remember, and me. The walk went according to plan though the distance was actually just under 7 miles, and conditions underfoot were very wet: Richmond Station, East Sheen Common, Bog Gate into Richmond Park, Roehampton Gate (toilets), White Lodge, Pen Ponds, Isabella Plantation (toilets), Thatched House Lodge, Kingston Gate to Kingston station and the Kings Tun ‘Spoons. At Thatched House Lodge we were buzzed by the parks police and a security officer as it was getting dark and it’s the home of Princess Alexandra, but I had taken the precaution of agreeing the route and time in advance with the park superintendent so they were sent on their way, as were we.
6 walkers, 18 miles - leader Keith Lane
4 mudlarks triumphed over the confusion and travel disruption to start at Edenbridge Town Station 2 potential mudlarks didn’t manage to overcome the difficulties. The 4 mudlarks waded through mud and standing water to climb Up Crockenham Hill and followed the mud to Mariners Hill, Chartwell and undulated their way to French Street and on to Toys Hill At Ide Hill (the lunch stop in the middle of the planned walk) there were 2 more mudlarks awaiting them. Now there were 6 mudlarks but not for long as one decided to cut short the walk and follow the Greensand Way to Sevenoaks. Now there were 5 mudlarks descending through the mud to the Medway Valley. 4 of the mudlarks reached Tonbridge Station just in time to miss the 17:19 to Victoria. Two mudlarks decided to head for the Wetherspoons to meet up with the sole mudlark who had gone there directly. Now there were 3 mudlarks. 1 mudlark stayed in the Wetherspoons and the 2 remaining mudlarks caught the 18:19 train to Victoria to get home and start the cleaning up operationSurprisingly, the 4 then 6 then 5 then 3 then 2 mudlarks endured the mud, water-logging , confusion, travel disturbance and, some heavy rain with remarkable good humour and forbearance and even seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Report & Photo by Keith Lane
4 walkers, 7 miles - leader Peter Buchwald
There were 4 people including myself, 11.71km and we saw some amorous toads on the path towards the end.
Sevenoaks Circular, Saturday 24th March 2018
Hampstead to Wetherspoons, Thursday 22nd March 2018
Capital Challenge Marshalls Walk, Sunday 18th March 2018
Photograph by Jean O'Reilly
Greenwich Circular, Thursday 15th March 2018
8 walkers, 7 miles - leader Lonica Vanclay
8 of us in total walked quickly in a figure of eight through just about every corner of Greenwich Park - and very nice it was too. Then across the wide open expanses of Blackheath with lots of London's near and far lights all around us before heading down for a short stretch along the river to complete the almost 7 miles. Did the rain hold off..... yes! Just not quite enough time or light to admire all the architectural wonders......for that come in summer (6th June!)
Mud! Slippery mud, squelching mud, pull-your-boots-off-mud. The heavy rain of yesterday left the ground saturated. The intrepid though do not give it too much thought - or, rather, give voice to the thought apart for the odd expletive. So we squelched and slithered our way across Ruislip Woods and along the Hillingdon Trail - with probably the best signage of any trial in the country - to eventually reach the Colne Valley and the Grand Union Canal. On the way we stopped to look over the graves in the Anzac cemetery at Harefield Church. The Colne Valley, shared with the Grand Union Canal is a watery landscape shared with old gravel pits now filled with water and water fowl. Four of London Group made the walk which began at Northwood Hills Station and finished at Rickmansworth. The day was cloudy with a little sun at times but still so that the watery world provided plenty of mirror like reflections. A good outing nicely finished off at the Wetherspoon’s in Rickmansworth
20 walkers, 18 miles - leader Lonica Vanclay
20 people came out with me on the 18 mile walk with mud and hills in the morning; lunch at Waltham Abbey then through just about every inch of the Lee Valley Country Park in the afternoon. We took in 19 (or was it 20?) sculptures and managed to avoid the rain. A repeat with an extension in June is on offer - and by then the trees will be green and it will all look very different.
Report & photographs by Lonica Vanclay
Wilkes & Liberty (Parliament Square to Clerkenham), Wednesday 7th March 2018
12 walkers, 8 miles - leader Chris Hedley
12 people came along for a fun evening celebrating the life of 18th century
libertarian MP John Wilkes. We discovered riots and scenes of carnage on
the roundabouts and squares of central London on a cold bright evening.
Christmas in the Chilterns, Saturday 3rd March 2018
Staines to Rickmansworth, Thursday 1st March 2018
No walkers, no miles - leader Godfrey O'Callaghan
The walk didn't go ahead. There was no one at the start. It didn't surprise me. The trains were badly disrupted. Three group members contacted me to say they would not be there. It is rescheduled for the 13th.
Report by Godfrey O'Callaghan
Croydon to Woldingham, Saturday 24th February 2018
23 walkers 18 miles - leader Dave Williams
23 walkers ( inc. 2 laggards ! ) turned up to help the leader celebrate his 54th. birthday.
Suffice to say that no one was left disappointed ( well, nearly no one ! ) as the walk had something to please all tastes including a death-defying descent, spectacular tumbles, plenty of culture ( the leader's speciality ! ) & to top it all a master class in leadership skills !!
Against all the odds everyone survived, the only casualty being 1 poor soul who tried to negotiate 1 of the descents on his backside !
And to top it all we reached the finish in daylight having covered just on 18 miles.
The mean average age of the Group was approx. 105 !!!
Photograph by Keith Lane
(nb treat a number of statements in this report with extreme caution)
Staines to Ruislip Manor, Thursday 22nd February 2018
4 walkers 19.5 miles - leader Godfrey O'Callaghan
Four group members turned out for the walk from Staines, but not to Ruislip Manor as planned, for along the way various other destinations were introduced. The day began cold and inhospitable and the landscape was a bit that way too as it had little going for it for the first hour and half. But when once we were clear of industry, waste and motorways the sun came through and things, and the scenery, improved quickly and the walk took on the aspects one might associate with a path alongside a winding river course in level country. There were delights such as long stretches of snowdrops, a protected sun bathed seat outside of golf course club house (presumably for members!) and the kind of light and reflections that abound around water. A pop up is, perhaps by definition, unrehearsed with no recce having been done and is in some sense a route into the unknown - for the leader. Most walks are probably a route into the unknown for everyone else. By Uxbridge Dave was in need of a Wetherspoons and so he went his way. Then Chris from Woolwich announced he had his walking legs on and begged to increase his pace, aiming for a destination unknown, even to himself at that point. Shortly after Paul and your author turned for West Ruislip station as Paul had a tickets to the opera. So we never reached Ruislip Manor at all. Such is the flexibility of a pop-up. It was my first and I think I like the idea. I had lazily estimated 16 miles but Paul’s digital mileage calculator showed it to be 17.5. But it was a pop up.
Atmospheric London, Wednesday 21st February 2018
10 walkers, 7 miles - leader Ian Fairweather
Walk went well. About 7.1 miles. Finished at 8:35pm
Lewes Ascents, Saturday 17th February 2018
10 walkers, 20 miles - leader Christopher Hedley
We had a really excellent walk on Saturday with outstanding weather on an outstanding route. I think photos may have been put on the London Facebook page.
There were 10 LDWA members with an average age of about 45, who managed 32 km and 1,250 metres of ascent in almost exactly 7 hours walking
Cultural and Historic East End, Thursday 15th February 2018
13 walkers, 7 miles - leader Gordon Parker
13 people including 3 first-timers joined me on a fine clear night for a 7 mile walk from Mile End and Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park via Bethnal Green and Shoreditch to Liverpool Street Station. Notes of some of the places of interest we passed and a GPX track are attached.
Report by Gordon Parker
Click below for the description of the walk
Mile_End_to_Liverpool_St_Feb2018.pdf
Click below for the GPX file
Option C, Sunday 11th February 2018
22 walkers, 17 miles - leader Peter Jull
Despite an unintended clash with The Punchbowl, 22 gathered under clear blue skies and sheltered from the forecast strong winds at Higham station including one Neil Higham (eventually). Split half from Venus and half from Mars one from Sussex spoilt an equal split betwixt London & Kent. Once off road it was across fairly flat fields to the village of Cliffe. Leaving through the churchyard revealed a sparkling in the sunshine and positively perceived view across the Medway estuary, albeit dominated by the Grain oil terminal, which was over appreciated by one who paused too long photographing and when combined with a bush break was lost off the back. Mutual mobile numbers enabled successful recovery directions to be given. A lakeside gravel track was a break from mud but weaving round plentiful puddles added distance. More weaving through puddly sheep fields was beside a well graffitied freight train waiting to collect gravel from the quarrying that had created the lakes. Across its tracks a few times (twice unintentionally) and Chalk churchyard was chosen for a picnic lunch stop. Walking on was ear bitingly exposed during explanations of which fields would succumb to the cutting and tunnel entrance of the Lower Thames Crossing Option C and across the golf course which would soon become two halves. Local youths on off road motor bikes were churning up woodland paths used to traverse between two footpaths in fields nearest the new A2 junction which will be truncated by the connection. Heading for home involved skirting Shorne Woods Country Park and village and Dickens’ Gads Hill home with up and downs now more pronounced. Gathering clouds had produced only one brief whitey shower before the final fields down to the station completed a pleasant winter walk.
Report & Photographs Peter Jull
Pymmes Brook Trail & the Marshes, Saturday 3rd February 2018
20 walkers, 18.5 miles - leader Jerome Ripp
Colin Saunders has been working on a revised route for this North to East London trail and writing a new book. Injury prevented him from leading the walk but he had sent me a detailed draft and bravely turned up for the start to provide short talk and introduction to the route. We set off from High Barnet station with grey overcast skies and thin drizzle which was with us for most of the day. A short distance on the London Loop to reach the headwaters of the Brook flowing out of Jacks Lake and then followed it through a variety of parks to our lunch stop after 8.5 miles at Palmers Green where there was something for everyone’s taste with a choice of picnic in the churchyard, multiple coffee shops or the Alfred Herring Wetherspoons pub.
Colin’s route description was superb throughout and navigated us through/under/over the dreaded North Circular to Pymmes Park where his new section started, heading south east through the back streets of Edmonton to Tottenham Marshes and the Lea Valley walk where we rejoined the Brook for its final showing before it plunged into the river Lee. A final fast stretch along the towpath and Hackney March should have lead to the official walk finish at Hackney Wick but with the Overground not working, some peeled off early but most of us made it to the alternative finish at Stratford station.
Report by Leader Jerome Ripp
Rickmansworth Circular, Sunday 28th January 2018
21 walkers, 19 miles - leader Godfrey O'Callaghan
Report & photographs by Godfrey O'Callaghan
An Ecclesiastical Odyssey again, Mid week daytime Pop Up, Friday 26th January 2018
22 walkers, 13 miles - leader Ron Williamson
Start 10:50 Finish 17:15
A break in the wet and windy weather of the past week enabled the "Pop Uppers" to enjoy this second ecclesiastical odyssey in a sunny City.
With only a few brief excursions outside the boundary of the square mile some 13 miles were covered with over 500 ft of climb, although the G.P. S. readings once again varied alarmingly.
Our Hall of Fame now lists 34 members who have completed the course, inc. 4 stalwarts on two occasions.
Whilst the Role of Shame shows that one member has attempted the challenge twice but failed to finish on both occasions. (probably on purpose, he likes his picture taken)
A comparison between yesterday and last year, for those interested in such things.
|
|
Jan 2018 |
Nov 2017 |
Sites passed |
|
58 (100%) |
58(100%) |
Of which extended visit |
|
17 |
10 |
Named thoroughfares used |
|
192 |
179 |
Significant changes of direction (intentional) |
|
241 |
223 |
Significant changes of direction (unintentional) |
|
0 |
2 |
Walkers lost and never found |
|
0 |
0 |
Walkers sloping off |
|
3 |
3 |
Challenge Completed by |
|
19 |
19 |
Report by Ron Willamson
Photographs by Keith Lane
Selborne and the Hangers Way, Sunday 21st January 2018
2 walkers, 15 miles - leader Chris Hedley
I had just one hardy soul turn up for my Liss to Selbourne walk yesterday to walk over in the rainforest on extremely muddy tracks. Nevertheless, we had an uplifting and invigorating walk, really getting a god feel for the place. We took the opportunity to visit three superb local churches with some really wonderful old yew trees.
Sea, Sun and Sand, Mid week daytime Pop Up, Friday 19th January 2018
14 walkers inc. 1 guest, 16 miles for some, 13 for most,and 1160ft of height gain - leader Ron Williamson
Once again the pop-uppers were blessed with glorious weather as we returned to the sunshine capital of the U.K.. Our route from Pitsea station negotiated the former marshland of Pitsea and Benfleet before climbing steadily towards the heights of Thundersley from whence a roller coaster route returned us to the outskirts of Benfleet before crossing farm land, and into Hadleigh Country Park.
An ideal spot for lunch at the Salvation Army Cafe, adjacent to the Olympic mountain bike course, encouraged the leader to modify the planned route and add one or two extra hills.
After lunch, therefore, our thighs continued to burn as we descended steeply to the Thames flood plain only to climb again to Hadleigh Castle: an exercise to be repeated three further times at Leigh, Westcliff and finally Southend itself.
This invigorating warm up stimulated our female contingent to request a walk extension of 2.66 miles to the pier head and back. Who could refuse such a request? Well the majority did having sensed the close proximity of the local Wetherspoons. So it was only 4 members who had the privilege to watch the sun dip into the sea at the end of a perfect day.
Report by Ron Williamson
Footnote - St. Margaret's Church - Bowers Gifford (see photograph)
There has probably been a church on the grounds since Saxon times and the original would have been made of wood.
A stone church was built by Sir John Giffard in the early fourteenth century and traces of this building still remain in the South wall (circa 1320) and West doorway. The church was a gift of the Lords of the manor, the Giffards, who eventually gave their name to the small village of Bowers Gifford. Sir John fought in the battle Crecy and there is an incomplete brass of him in full armour in the Sanctury.
The church is built mainly of Kentish ragstone with a tower and wooden spire which was added in Tudor times. In the bell tower, which is reached by twenty five steeply winding steps, three bells are housed, all of which are original fourteenth century. The bells are amongst the oldest in the County and are still rung regularly. There is also a fifteenth century Piscina (free standing basin for washing sacred vessels) and a sixteenth century wooden Font cover. The glorious East window made by ( Lavers, Barraud, Westlake ) won a Gold Medal at the Paris Exhibition of 1870 and was installed at the church in 1871.
Footnote added by Keith Lane
Photos by Keith Lane
Photos by Gavin Fuller
Photos by Godffrey O'Callaghan
“Walk to the Abbey” Saturday 13th January 2018
21 walkers, 20 miles - leader Jerome Ripp
Starting at Radlett, we were soon into woodland and across fields to join the Hertfordshire Way heading east to the first of 5 Motorway crossings over the M25 near the south Mimms service station. Another fine stretch of woodland lead to the remote North Mimms church and estate park. Lunch at the Crooked Billet in Colney Heath was a very pleasant affair with huge plates of cheesy chips being shared around.
The rather grey murky weather steadily improved over the day and some blue skies appeared for the afternoon section on the Watling Chase Trail around the peaceful Willow lakes passing first a family of geese who seemed to be on their afternoon stroll and later a delightful pram train ride near the family outing farm.
Now following the rivers Colne and later Ver, we headed north to reach our destination of St. Alban’s cathedral above Verulanium park, just as the sun set. Walking through the market area as it was closing lead to the only split up of the group all day but fortunately all made it by some method to the station just before 5. A most pleasant walk in such a built up area and surprisingly no natural wastage.
Photos by Gavin Fuller
Jubilee Walkway, Wednesday 10th January 2018
3 walkers, 6 miles - leader Colin Saunders
Here’s a report of Wednesday’s walk, such as it was. As you know, I’m crocked at present but went to Leicester Square station at the advertised time. Three members turned up: Paul Lawrence and two unconnected new members, Stacey Holloway and Richard something. I gave them each a route description and they set off under Paul’s guidance. All three said they would only do the Western Loop of 6 miles then go home. However, Dave Williams was recce-ing his proposed tour of central London Wetherspoons for a future walk and joined me in the pub while the others were walking. On our way back to Leicester Square, we bumped into the three walkers on their way to the pub! I didn’t waited for them there as planned as they had told me they’d go straight home, but they seemed to have enjoyed themselves and the newbies said they would go again.
Into Hampshire, Saturday 6th January 2018
16 walkers, 19 miles - leader Nigel Heys
Sixteen people braved the cold to start the walk from Farnham Station. They walked through the park by the River Wey and through the old part of the market town before climbing onto the downs and crossing into Hampshire. The undulating route was through fields and woods to the lunch stop at the Hen & Chicken at Upper Froyle. Suitably fortified the return route was through Upper Froyle with religious statues in niches on the house walls and past a wedding at Froyle Park. The group then passed Montgomery of Alamein's home at Isington Mill before climbing the downs and dropping down again to Bentley Station. The route from there to the end at Farnham Station was mainly along the railway with alpacas and horses in the fields. Despite the mud the dry weather made it an enjoyable walk.
Hangover Buster: Hawksmoor Churches (Linear), New Year's Day 2018
31 walkers, 11 miles - Leader Susanne Waldschmidt
Clearly Hawksmoor Churches draw LDWA members like wasps to a jar of marmalade. 31 were gathered at Russell Square Tube, for our inaugural walk though I wasn’t too sure if we hadn’t picked up a couple of London Walks folks as well. I did warn everyone this was going to be an 11 mile walk, visiting all 6 of the churches. Lovely relaxing walk with lots to see on the way. The stunning mural in Cable Street was clearly a revelation for many in the group. No New Year Parades, almost no traffic and no crowds till we got to Greenwich. The weather was kind and it wasn’t too cold. The morning cloud disappeared and by the time we got to Greenwich there was a beautiful view of the sun setting over the river. A nice porter let us into St George in the East with its church within a church. No one got lost or dropped out until Greenwich. At the end many of us were treated to an after hours visit of St Alfege by another nice person, while others slipped off to Wetherspoons for their spiritual refreshment.
There were 4 non-members though not too easy to keep track of everyone.