West London Group Walks Programme June - September 2019 WALK TO SEE DONATED GATE West London has used some of the money that we receive through the partnership with Ramblers Holidays to donate a special radar kissing gate to allow easy access to Egypt Woods, South Bucks. Sue Aldridge is leading a walk that goes through it on Wednesday 5th June. Please remember if you book a holiday with Ramblers Holidays to tell them you are a West London member so we can donate some more gates. SOCIAL EVENT On Thursday 13th June after walking a nice section of the LOOP, there will be the opportunity to join the group for lunch at a Lebanese restaurant in Stanmore. You need to book a place in advance so please see the programme entry for full details. ANNUAL JOINT WALK WITH THE LONDON BLIND RAMBLERS GROUP This is earlier in the year than usual so please note the date (Sunday 7th July) and if possible come along to give assistance to anyone who needs it and chat with our guests. LONDON NATIONAL PARK CITY FESTIVAL 20 - 28 JULY We are contributing three walks to this London-wide celebration of the city’s green spaces, highlighting the parks, rivers, canals and two beautifully restored mansions in Ealing. For more information about the London National Park City launch, see http://www.nationalparkcity.london/ LONG DISTANCE PATHS We continue with our three very popular LDPs: the Hertfordshire Way, the Greensand Way and 1066 Harold’s Way, completing the latter in September and the other two in October. Suggestions about possible LDPs for 2020 would be welcomed. WALKS BY THE SEA It’s summer, so why not enjoy a day at the coast? See the Eastbourne circular on 22nd June, Seaford Circular via Newhaven 31st July and Portsmouth to Havant via Hayling Island on 14th September. THE ROUND EALING CIRCULAR (TREC) The walk with the London Blind Ramblers Group and the three walks for the London National Park City week are part of a larger project that a small group of people has been working on to develop a complete circular around the borough of Ealing. It is planned to launch it in the autumn by walking the whole route over a weekend. Watch out for more details and if you’d like to get involved, contact Jackie Gower. POP-UP WALKS If you would like to offer a walk, perhaps to fill a gap you’ve spotted on the programme or even just because the weather forecast looks good, please get in touch with the Programme Co-ordinator ([email protected], 07796 264917). Details will be posted on the web-site and circulated by email to those members who have given their consent to receive communications from us. GENERAL GUIDANCE ON OUR WALKS Before going on a walk, please check our web-site on www.westlondonramblers.org.uk in case there have been any changes to train times or other important details since the programme was published. You could also use the new Ramblers App now available for android and Apple phones (see back cover for more details). Train times can also be checked by phoning National Rail enquiries on 03457 484 950 or www.nationalrail.co.uk This is especially important in view of the extensive engineering work taking place across the network over the summer and the rolling out of new timetables by several companies. Please also ensure you bring plenty of water and even if you are planning to eat in a pub or café it is advisable to bring some snacks just in case it is unexpectedly closed or very busy. We have adopted the Ramblers Association classification of the level of difficulty of walks. Easy - walks for anyone who does not have a mobility difficulty, a specific health problem or is seriously unfit. Suitable for pushchairs if they can be lifted over occasional obstructions. Comfortable shoes or trainers can be worn. Leisurely - walks for reasonably fit people with at least a little country walking experience. May include unsurfaced rural paths. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are recommended. Moderate - walks for people with country walking experience and a good level of fitness. May include some steep paths and open country, and may be at a brisk pace. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential. Strenuous - walks for experienced country walkers with an above average fitness level. May include hills and rough country, and may be at a brisk pace. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential. Please note that ‘leisurely’ may be a bit misleading as although the terrain is easier than on a ‘moderate’ walk, the pace is usually the normal one for West London Group walks, ie about 2.5 miles per hour. ‘Moderate’ is also a rather broad category so on the programme we have added ‘hilly’ to those walks where there are significant ascents and descents and ‘brisk’ where the pace will be a bit faster. The group has to keep together so please give some thought to your level of fitness when choosing a walk. If you are unsure whether a walk is suitable for you, please contact Jackie Gower (details below) for advice. If on the day a leader is worried that someone isn’t able to keep up with the rest of the group and complete the walk in the time available, s/he is entitled to ask them to drop out at a suitable place where transport is available to a station or town. Please remember that although our leaders will do all they can to ensure a safe and enjoyable walk for all, everyone walks at their own risk and is responsible for their own safety. Walking is undoubtedly one of the safest outdoor activities but it is still a sensible precaution to carry emergency contact and medical details with you and a simple first aid kit. Ramblers Central Office have recently produced an In Case of Emergency Card which it is recommended walkers should carry in the top pocket of their rucksack. If you haven’t yet completed one, please ask for one on your next walk. QUERIES: contact [email protected] or 07796 264 917 (Programme Co-ordinator) POP-UP WALK – NOT ON LAST PROGRAMME Thu 30 May Abbey Line Trail 9 miles Leisurely Starts at 10:45: Watford Junction Railway Station (WD17 1EU, TQ110972) Walk from Watford to St Albans Abbey along the Colne and Ver valleys with a pub stop for lunch (might be busy as it’s half term). The trail follows the branch line and there are plenty of drop out points. With a freedom pass you will only need a single ticket St Albans Abbey to Watford Junction if you use the overground to get there: 9:45 Euston, 9:59 Willesden Junction, 10:33 Watford Junction. Otherwise return ticket Euston - St Albans Abbey: 10:24 Euston, 10.39 Watford Junction. There are toilets inside Watford Junction station. You might want to allow time to explore St Albans Abbey or the Roman remains after the walk. Mobile on the day 07890 004794. Map: OS Explorer 182 Leader: Monika Eady Sat 1 June Greensand Way 10: Sevenoaks to Yalding 12.5 miles Moderate Starts at 09:45: Sevenoaks Railway Station (TN13 1DP, TQ522553) Through Knole Park to Ightham Mote (early lunch: picnic or café). On overlooking the Weald of Kent to Shipbourne, West Peckham and Nettlestead Green with a possible pub stop mid-afternoon. Two interesting churches. Please note - lots of stiles, some rickety. Mobile on the day only 07963 909814. Depart 09.10 from Charing Cross, stops at London Bridge 09.17, arrives Sevenoaks 09.42. Buy return to Yalding. Maps: OS Explorer 147 & 148. Leaders: David Bays & Maureen Colledge Wed 5 June Bourne End Circular 12.5 miles Moderate Starts at 10:50: Bourne End Railway Station, Buckinghamshire (SU894872) Circular via Wooburn Common and Boveney Wood to pass through the new Radar Kissing Gate donated by West London Group leading into Egypt Woods, then south through Burnham Beeches to lunch. (6 mls approx.) Advisable to bring picnic lunch with drinks and toilets nearby at café. Dropout point nearby for those wanting a shorter walk by returning to Slough by bus. Return walk following ‘The Beeches Way’ across Littleworth Common and Hedsor to Thames Path to Bourne End. Depart Paddington 9:42 Ealing Broadway 9:52. Change at Maidenhead for the 10:38 branch line to Bourne End arriving 10:49. Return to Bourne End. Mobile on the day only 07713 025494 Map: OS Explorer Map 172 Leader: Susan Aldridge Thu 6 June Welling to Bexley 6.5 miles Easy Starts at 11:15: Welling Railway Station (DA16 3AU, TQ461760) Walking on a mixture of footpaths and tarmac through parks and riverside including Danson Park and along the River Shuttle, which is one of London's lesser known waterways. Muddy in places and please note, for those who might dislike this, that it includes crossing on a high and exposed bridge across Rochester Way. Short picnic stop only in Marlborough Park. Dropout point at Sidcup Station. Mobile on the day only 07404 090633. Train from Victoria at 10.36, arriving at Welling at 11.11, or from London Bridge at 10.35, arriving at Welling at 11.00. We will await both trains. Map: OS Explorer 162 Oyster Card Leader: Rose Harley Sat 8 June Farnham to Guildford 11.5 miles Moderate Starts at 10:30: Farnham Railway Station (GU9 8AG, SU844465) Pleasant rolling heath and farmland, along the North Downs Way.