Walk, Sunday 12th May Chiltern Hills: Tring to Cholesbury and Hawridge Common (c. 9 miles

A short stretch of uphill at the start, but once one is on a ‘plateau’ the paths are fairly flat or downhill.   As for the possibility for shortening the walk, in theory it would be possible, but it would involve navigating your way back along unfamiliar paths – unfamiliar to me, too! – (not to mention missing the lunch stop!) so I wouldn’t recommend it.   The walk is almost all off-road, so there is no bus one could take.  The only thing I can think of if one wanted a shorter walk is to drop down into Tring where there is an interesting natural history museum (founded by Lord Rothschild who is/was a local, open Sundays 2 – 5),  which would make a walk of 4 – 5 miles.

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Sunday April 28 – Bluebells in a 7 miles circular from Otford

7 miles circular from Otford station, starting with a steep hill with a seat half way up, then along the North Downs Way, through bluebell woods to the pub for lunch break (but they don’t serve food so bring your own lunch).

More bluebell woods on the way to Romney Street, downhill/uphill and eventually  downhill to Otford – 7 miles. The teashop/charity shop probably won’t be open on Sunday but 2 pubs serve tea. 

21st April 2019 Godalming to Milford

 Godalming to Milford approx. 12 miles.
The morning walk goes along the Wey Navigation then on to Winkworth Arboretum for lunch. Hopefully lots of bluebells and azaleas should be out. Then on through Juniper Valley, to another National Trust place called Hyden’s Ball, to Hambledon Llama Pub and on to Milford. Will aim for 5pm train back to London.

led by Helen Yuill

14th April 2019 Richmond Park to Hyde Park- Extinction Rebellion.

This Sunday (14th), London RR joined the XR (Extinction Rebellion) Earth Marchers to walk from Richmond Park to Hyde Park (approx 11 miles). Earth and climate related banners were proudly carried.

Nicola and Hugh got roped into carrying the banner which took some effort in the wind. Several people joined in Hyde Park to celebrate the arrival of people who had started walking on March 16th from Lands End for the International Rebellion

31st March 2019 Erith – Crossness Pumping station -Abbey Wood

A good number of us walked from Erith along an industrial part of the Thames to Crossness Pumping Station which was holding an open day marking the 200th anniversary of the birth Sir Joseph Bazalgette with the Prince Consort beam engine in steam.Its a fascinating Grade 1 listed building built by Sir Joseph Bazalgette for London’s sewage system opened in 1865 and featuring some of the most spectacular ornamental Victorian cast iron work in the world.Sir Joseph Bazalgette made the single biggest contribution to the health of Victorian Londoners. Its because of his work that the Thames is now the cleanest metropolitan river in the world. The site at Crossness has been lovingly restored by a dedicated team of volunteers many of whom we met yesterday.
We spent a couple of hours there and it was well worth the queuing to get in. 
Some of the group then got the shuttle bus to Abbey Wood station and the rest of us walked along the Green Chain walk to the station .

Photos and text by Veronica Peck

24th March Thames Path Kew to Putney Bridge

 Thames Path walk from Kew Bridge to Putney Bridge, a nice easy walk of 5 and a half miles.

Wednesday 6th March exploring some of the City gardens

Val lead a leisurely walk with five of us, from St Paul’s round some of the City of London’s gardens, which included several historical sites. We started at the Postman’s Park with it’s GF Watts Memorial wall, passing St Bartholomew’s distinctive church on the way to West Smithfield Gardens (with a history of jousts, tournaments, executions and a market). We then spent some time at the City walls where there is a garden and information on the history of the area.

A lovely secluded garden is dedicated to John Heminge and Henry Condell, actors who published the first portfolio of Shakespeare plays; (on the way passing plaques marking Shakespeare’s lodgings and where Sir John Betjeman lived).

The Barbican was our lunch stop where we made use of the outdoor space to eat our sandwiches and warmed up with hot drinks in the café.

The walk was finished through Fortune Park and Bunhill Fields Burial grounds – another historical site where there are the graves of William Blake, Daniel De-Foe and John Bunyan amongst others; ending at Old Street.