New on Download Page: Yearly Walk Statistics Report From

NORTH WEST KENT GROUP OF THE RAMBLERS Programme No. 153 - February 2014 to May 2014 RAMBLERS website – www.ramblers.org.uk, Kent Area website – www.kentramblers.org.uk NWK Ramblers website – www.nwkramblers.btck.co.uk

Chairman Stuart Booth, 9 Onslow Crescent, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5RW 020 8467 9419

S Deputy Chairman Jack Yan, 47 Barrington Road, Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 4UN 020 8306 0895 R

E Treasurer Mike Hickie, 14 Perry Street, Crayford, Kent DA1 4RD 01322 554933 C I

F Membership Secretary Richard Wilkes, 46 Hillingdon Rd, Barnehurst, Kent, DA7 6LW 01322 528314 F Secretary JS O

P Chris Baker, 87 Avenue Rd, Erith, Kent, DA8 3AT 01322 341722 U Committee Members Carole Flowerday, 42A Leyland Road, London SE12 8DT 020 8852 4897 O

R Bob Tolson, 79 Trevor Drive, Maidstone, Kent ME16 0QN 01622 679494 G MC

CONTACTS FOR WALKS Sunday walks: Contact Membersip Sec Wednesday med. Walks: Gill Emsden 01689 838636 Wednesday short walks: Chris Baker 01322 341722 Ambles: Contact Membersip Sec Strolls: Contact Membersip Sec

Visit our own new website. www.nwkramblers.btck.co.uk KENT AREA AGM: Bromley Group is hosting this year's Kent New on Download Page: Yearly Walk Statistics Report from Area AGM at Keston Village Hall at 10 a.m on Saturday 1st 1-11-2012 to 31-10-2013 February. Do get along if you can. The meeting will be followed by a lunch, a short ramble and tea. There is limited ADVICE TO WALKERS car parking at the hall; suggest free CP to the left of the hall, at  Take special care when walking on roads. end of Heathfield Road at its junction with A233 Westerham  Do not approach farm animals unnecessarily. Road. Buses: 146 (from Bromley North & Bromley South stations); 246 (from Bromley North, Bromley South & Hayes  Keep an eye on the people behind and in front of you to stations). ensure that the group keeps together.  Dogs must be kept under control at all times and put on a SOUTH EAST WALKER: Following a decision by Kent Area to lead through farmyards, animals or growing crops. subscribe to the magazine "South East Walker", members will  Do not consume your own food or drink on pub premises. now receive a free copy of the magazine along with their Remove muddy boots or cover with plastic bags. "Walk" magazine.  Consider carrying a basic first aid kit. MEMORIAL GATES: Kissing gates have been erected in  Wear suitable clothing and footwear. place of stiles at Star Hill and at Fordcombe dedicated to  Lifts may be available for non car drivers. Please phone a the memory, respectively, of Ken Purdell-Smith and Reg and committee member to enquire. Hazel Turner. Gates dedicated to the memory of Ken Purdell-  Trains. Please check train times with National Rail Smith, Reg and Hazel Turner, Norma Mitchell and to other Enquiries, 08457 48 49 50, www.nationalrail.co.uk recently deceased North West Kent Ramblers have now also  Weather conditions. Walks normally take place whatever been erected. Walks incorporating the five gates will be the weather, but if there have been Met. Office warnings published in the next programme. A big "thank you" goes to all that travelling may be hazardous, it is for the leader to who contributed so generously. decide whether the walk should go ahead.  Though walking is inherently one of the safest outdoor MAP AND COMPASS COURSE: Chris Baker and Jack Yan activities, no activity is completely without risk and it is will be holding another of their popular map and compass your responsibility to behave sensibly and to minimise the courses at 10 a.m. on 5th April at the "Grasshopper on the potential for accidents to occur. Green", Westerham, Kent. This course, for which there will be a nominal charge of £3, is highly recommended for members  of Ramblers wanting to improve their skills. Following an ELECTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS optional lunch in the pub, there will be a short, supervised practical exercise in the nearby countryside. Please contact The 51st AGM, held on 22nd November at Hurst Community Chris (01322 341722) or Jack (020 8306 0895) to book a Centre, elected the Committee as above to serve for 2013/14. place. Mike Hickie becomes the Group's new Treasurer. Aldwyn LONDON BLIND RAMBLERS ASSOCIATION: At the recent decided the time had come for him to step down after some AGM, members welcomed the offer by Stephen Roberts to ten years on the Committee. He will be greatly missed, but we investigate the possibility of leading a ramble in the spring or look forward to seeing Aldwyn and Meirion out walking with the summer for the London Blind Ramblers Association. North Group. We are delighted to welcome Maureen Carroll to the West Kent has a long history of leading such rambles. They committee - she is one of our walk leaders. Bob Tolson will are very rewarding not only for the blind but for the sighted continue to represent the Group at Kent Area meetings and participants too. Carole Flowerday will act as the Group's Press and Publicity officer. Richard Wilkes continues as our Kent Footpath Officer GROUP HOLIDAYS: Coast-to-Coast Walking Holiday is and Mike Hickie continues as our Accident and planned for the first 2 weeks in July 2014 but booking is now Incident Reporting Officer and Bexley Footpath Officer. closed. A holiday in the Loire Valley is being planned for late September. Contact Beryl Nobbs 020 8300 7981.

1 RAMBLERS HOLIDAYS: When you book a holiday please FOOTPATHS: Please report any obstruction, damage/ broken inform Ramblers Holidays that you are nominating NWK stiles and gates on the right of way to Richard Wilkes. Ramblers Group and we will receive a small sum of money which will greatly help our funds. This includes bookings that PASSENGER CONTRIBUTION: A suggested passenger have already been made as long as the nomination is made contribution for all walks is £4. before the holiday takes place. OTHER WALKS: If you would like to lead walks on PROGRAMMES BY EMAIL: To receive the programme by Saturdays, please contact Janet Springall, and for any other email, please email [email protected]. Sending weekdays, please contact Chris Baker. programmes by email saves on printing and postage costs and COTSWOLD: Cotswold stores are offering 15% discount on eases the workload for volunteers. goods in store to members of the group. You need to quote the ACCIDENTS & INCIDENTS: We must report all North West Kent Group acc. no. T2097 and show your accidents/incidents to Ramblers Central Office, as a Ramblers membership card. Nearest branch is at Unit 2, requirement of our insurers. Please will leaders report any Nugent Retail Park, Orpington BR5 3RP accident/incident to Mike Hickie. He will provide and collect the incident reporting forms.

WALKS *Pace and Distance – Average Miles Per Hour (M) Medium up to 14 miles - pace moderate/hard 2.6 to 3.1 (S)Short 6/9 miles & (1/2 Day) 4/5 miles - pace steady 2.3 to 2.6 (A) Amble up to 7 miles - easier pace up to 2.3 (Strolls) walk details not shown, please contact Walk Co- Details not shown, please contact Walk Co-ordinator ordinator TQ, TR etc = Grid Map Reference EX = Explorer Map CP = Car park LR = Land ranger Map NT = National Trust

Date *Pace Time Start From Grid & Map Leader & Pub Lunch Dist Reference Phone No.

Sun (S) 10:00 Linton CP TQ755602 For Additional Walnut Tree or 2nd Feb 8.5 EX148/136 Walks Information George, Yalding LR188 Contact Richard (A) (M) 10.00 High Elms Golf Club TQ445635 Wilkes Tally Ho 10 EX147 LR 187 Membership Knockholt Wed (S) 10:00 Darenth Country Park TQ564724 Secretary on 01322 Malt Shovel 5th Feb 8.5 CP EX162 LR177 528314 Dartford

Sun NO WALK TODAY 9th Feb

(M) 10.00 Otford CP TQ525594 F Lullingstone Golf Club o r

12 EX147 LR188 A

Wed d th d M i

12 Feb (S) 10:15 Linear walk from TQ381773 t Captain Kidd i o e n

7.5 Greenwich Railway Stn EX162/173 m Wapping a b

to Charing Cross l

Sun (S) 10:00 Cudham Rec CP TQ446597 s George &Dragon a h

th l k 16 Feb 9 EX147 LR187 i Downe p s

S I n e f c (A) (M) 10.00 Sevenoaks Weald TQ526509 o Greyhound r r e m

11 EX147 LR188 t Charcott a a r t

Wed y i o th o 19 Feb (S) 10:15 Meet at London Bridge n Stour Space n

6.5 Bottom of slope between 0 o 1 n

platforms 3 t a 2 c 1 & 2 2 t

5 Sun (S) 10:00 Chelsfield Green TQ468641 R Five Bells 2 i

rd 8 c h 23 Feb 7.3 EX147 LR177 3 Chelsfield Village a 1 r (M) 10.00 Chartwell N.T C.P. TQ454518 4 d

11 (£2 charge for non- EX147 LR188 W TBA i

Wed members) l k

26 Feb (S) 10.30 Friston Lane CP, TQ518615 s Fox & Hounds, 7 Shoreham EX147 LR188 Romney Street

2 March 2014 Sun (S) 10:00 Crockham Hill TQ442507 Royal Oak 2nd Mar 4-5 (park in side road) EX147 LR188 Crockham Hill Morning only walk (A) (M) 10.00 One Tree Hill C.P. TQ558532 Padwell Arms 12.5 EX147 LR188 StoneStreet Wed (S) 10:00 Moorhouse Bank CP TQ430530 Chartwell NT 5th Mar 8 Bus 246 from Bromley EX147 Restaurant/ South at 9:01 to LR188 tea rooms Westerham - phone leader for lift from bus to F

start of walk o r

Sun (S) 10:15 Chartwell NT CP TQ454518 A Lunch available at

9 Mar 5.5 (£2 fee or free for NT EX147 LR188 d Chartwell M i t i o

members) e n m

Morning only walk a b l

e (M) 10.00 Cudham Recreation TQ446597 W “Tally Ho” r s a

11 Ground CP EX147 h Knockholt l k i p Wed LR187/188 s

S th I n 12 Mar (S) 10:15 Sevenoaks Weald TQ527509 e Greyhound f c o r r

8 (park around green) EX147 LR188 e Charcott m t a Sun (S) 10:00 Ightham Mote NT CP TQ584537 a Kentish Rifleman r t y th i o

16 Mar 8.5 (free if NT member EX147 LR188 Dunks Green o n n

otherwise £2 fee) C

(A) (M) 10.00 Lamberhurst C.P. TQ676363 n Chequers at 3 t a 10.5 EX136 LR188 2 Lamberhurst c 2 t

Wed 5 R

th 2 i

19 Mar (S) 10.15 Chevening Church TQ489577 8 c The Cock, Halstead h 3 a 8.25 EX147 LR188 1 r 4 d

Sat (S) 10:15 Jeskyns Community TQ661699 W Golden Lion

22 Mar 8.5 Forest CP. Meet in CP EX148 LR178 e Luddesdown near entrance s (M) 10.00 Camer Park TQ650669 Nevill Bull 12 EX148 LR177 Birling Wed (S) 10:45 Richmond Station TQ181752 City Barge 26th Mar 8.5 Circular walk on Thames EX161 Path to Strand on the Green & back (M) 10:00 Sevenoaks Station TQ523554 Woodman Sun 9.5 (fee required) EX147 LR188 Whitley Row 30th Mar Please contact Leader if arriving by train.

April 2014 (A) (M) 10.00 Holtye Common TQ460392 Foresters Arms F

10.5 Lay-by nr White Horse EX135 LR188 o Forest Row r

Wed A nd d 2 April (S) 10:30 Linear walk-meet TQ494734 d Papermaker’s Arms M i t i o 8.5 outside Bexley Rly Stn EX162 e Hawley (tbc) n m

To Dartford Rly Stn LR177 a b l

e Sun (S) 10:00 Sevenoaks Town TQ532547 W Windmill r s

th a 6 April 8 Centre, Suffolk Way CP EX147 LR188 h Sevenoaks Weald l k i p s

(free.) Trains: 08:51

S I n from Bromley Sth,09:19 e f c o r r

from Orpington. NB: 15 e m t a mins walk from station. a r t y i o

(M) 10.00 Haysden Country Park TQ 572458 Fleur de Lys o n n

Wed 11.5 CP Tonbridge EX147 LR188 C Leigh

th o 1

9 April n 3 t a (S) 10:00 Otford Village CP TQ525594 2 Bricklayers’ Arms c 2 t

9 EX147 LR188 Chipstead 5 R 2 i

Sun (S) 10:15 Limpsfield Chart CP TQ426518 8 c Carpenters Arms h th 3 a 13 Apr 4-5 (Morning only walk) EX147 LR187 1 Limpsfield Chart r 4 (A) (M) 10.00 Penenden Heath TQ772573 d The Bush

12 Car Park EX148 LR188 W Aylesford i l k

Wed e 16th April (S) 10:00 Cudham Rec. Ground TQ446597 s Tally Ho 8.5 CP EX147 Knockholt

3 LR187/188 Sun Easter Sunday No walk 20th April (M) 10.00 Wye TR053469 The Compasses Wed 11.5 Churchfield Way CP EX137 Crundale 23rd April LR189 For Additional (S) 10:15 Ashenbank Wood CP TQ677692 Walks Information White Hart 8.5 ER148 LR177 Contact Richard Cuxton Wilkes Sun (S) 10:15 Farnborough Village TQ443643 Membership Lunch available in 27th April 6.5 (meet by village sign) EX147 LR177 Secretary on 01322 Farnborough (Morning only walk) 528314 (A) (M) Meet at Eynesford Stn TQ 535649 Shoreham 13 10.00 Parking – Lay-by off EX147 LR187 Wed A225 30th April (S) 10:15 Sutton Valence Sports TQ811498 Pepper Box Inn 8.5 Centre CP EX147 LR188 Fairbourne Heath

May 2014 Sun (S) 10:15 Ightam Mote NT CP TQ584537 Lunch available at 4th May 6.2 (free if NT member EX147 LR188 Ightam Mote NT cafe F

otherwise £2 fee) o r

(M) 10.00 High Rocks CP TQ558382 A Chafford Arms d

Wed 12.9 (note: parking charge) EX147 LR188 d Fordcombe M th i t

7 May i o e n m a

(S) 10:15 Chiddingstone Church TQ502452 b Kentish Horse l

8 EX147 LR188 r Mark Beech s a h l

Sun (S) 10:00 Cudham Rec CP TQ446597 k Bull’s Head i p th s

11 May 7.5 EX147 LR187 S Pratt’s Bottom I n e f c

(A) (M) 10.00 Meopham Green TQ641651 o Duke of Wellington at r r e 12 EX147 LR177 m Ryarsh t a a r

Wed t y i

o 14 May (S) 10.15 Otford CP TQ527594 n Two Brewers, n

8.5 EX147 LR188 Shoreham 0 o 1 n 3 t a 2

Fri (M) 7.30 Cudham Rec C.P TQ447596 c Breakfast at 2 t

16 May 9 am. EX147 LR187/8 R “Cabbages & Kings” 2 i c 8 Halstead h 3 a Sun (S) 10.45 Penshurst Station TQ520464 1 Picnic lunch in the r 4 th d

18 May 7 A walk for the London EX147 LR188 grounds of Penshurst W

Blind Walkers Club. i Place. Optional drink l k

Help from group NWK e stop at the end at group members very s Little Brown Jug, much welcomed. Chiddingstone Causeway (M) 10.00 Faversham Train TR016608 The Ship Inn 12.5 Station Car Park EX149 LR178 Conyer Wed For Additional 21st May (S) 10:00 Limpsfield Chart TQ418522 Walks Information Barley Mow 9 Ridlands Grove CP EX146/147 Contact Richard Tandridge LR188 Wilkes Sun (M) 10:35 Hildenborough Station TQ556485 Membership White Rock 25th May 11 (Train leaves Orpington EX147 LR188 Secretary on 01322 Underriver 10:19, arrives 10:35) 528314 (A) (M) 10.00 Penshurst Layby TQ525439 Crown Inn, 12.5 EX147 LR188 Groombridge Wed (S) 10:00 Eynsford TQ541655 Fox & Hound 28th May 6.5 Meet outside Plough EX163/147 Romney Street Park where convenient LR177

The RAMBLERS is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492).Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW