Pamela Beach / The Polytechnic Rambling Club
(in association with the University of Westminster)
Founded 1885
Affiliated to the Ramblers' Association (Inner London Area)
Affiliated to HF Holidays
President: Mrs Christine Bignold / General Secretary
Gillian Swan
FOR NEW MEMBERS: All club walks are either circular or linear and start as from the time of arrival of the train and/or bus. If you are arriving by car, please advise the leader before the day of the walk. Lunch is mostly at a pub. If you are unsure about suitable clothing for a walk please contact the leader. OS Maps: EX= Explorer, LR= Land Ranger. Train tickets: OPDR (Off-Peak Day Return formerly CDR (cheap day return)) or Group Save.
tfl = www.tfl.gov.uk for travel updates in the Capital or you can check trains on www.nationalrail.co.uk.
FOR ALL MEMBERS: BEWARE planned and unplanned engineering works! Remember timetables may still be subject to change because of ongoing track repairs. If there is a last minute change the next available train will be taken. Please keep an eye on the website, or contact the walk leader if in doubt. In the event of extremely adverse weather conditions, please phone the leader to find out if the walk is still on. Visit our NEW web-site (www.polyramblers.org.uk) to see the most up-to-date programme details. If you would like to lead a walk on the next programme, contact Pam with full details. Contact Solvig (020 8693 3751) with social event details (restaurant, theatre visits etc.).
FOR LEADERS: If you have a mobile phone and you have put the number on the programme, please turn it on prior to your walk meeting time!
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS – OCTOBER 2016 to JANUARY 2017
OCTOBER
SATURDAY 1st: GUILDFORD via Albury (CIRCULAR) Lovely walk in Surrey hills starting along N. Downs way, pub lunch at The Drummond in Albury - pricey of course as it's Surrey- & back along slightly flatter farmland with, if we're lucky, a glimpse of strange woolly pigs. Meet Waterloo stn, buy OPDR to Guildford. Train dep. 9.30, arr. Guildford 10.07. Distance approx 9 miles. EX 145. Leader: Harriet.
FRIDAY 7th to MONDAY 10th: AUTUMN TRIP to PEAK DISTRICT: Check with Hilary for late availability or other queries.
SATURDAY 8th: WANDSWORTH COMMON to EARLSFIELD (LINEAR) for those not going to Matlock: A very pleasant walk, about 3 miles in all, around the Common, its small lakes and on to Earlsfield cemetery (very peaceful)! There's a little bit of road walking but that's quite interesting too. Meet at Waterloo Stn by 10.30, near platform 3. Travel within zones 1-3. Take train to Clapham Junction stn. Possible early coffee in a little cafe on the Common, lunch stop at Carluccio's just near the station or other small cafes around if preferred. Train back to Waterloo. Leader: Rosie just on the day).
SATURDAY 15th: BROOKWOOD CEMETERY & PIRBRIGHT (Surrey) (CIRCULAR): A guided tour of the military sections of Brookwood cemetery in the morning and, in the afternoon, a 5 mile walk around Pirbright where we will see Stanley’s grave, I presume. Meet Waterloo stn. Buy OPDR to Brookwood. Portsmouth train dep. 9.42, arr. Brookwood 10.25. Cost of guided tour: £5 p.p. Lunch at The Cricketers inn, Pirbright. LR186. Leader: Dominique.
SATURDAY 22nd: PRINCES RISBOROUGH to SAUNDERTON (LINEAR): A walk in the Chiltern Hills. For part of the walk we follow the Chiltern Way. Meet at Marylebone Station. Buy OPDR to Princes Risborough. Aylesbury train dep. 9.13, arr. Saunderton 9.55. Lunch at the Lions, Bledlow. Distance: approx 8 miles. EX 172, 171, 181, LR 165. Leaders: John (020 7278 4043) and Caroline.
SATURDAY 29th: WITLEY to HASLEMERE (LINEAR): A walk in the Surrey Hills, along the Greensand Way to the Devil's Punchbowl for excellent views, then across Hindhead Common to Haslemere. Longish morning. Meet Waterloo stn, buy OPDR to Haslemere. Haslemere train dep 9.15, arr Witley 10.09. Lunch at Devil's Punchbowl (cafe or pub). Distance 10 miles. EX 135. Leader: Sandra.
NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 5th: SHAKESPEARE IN LONDON (LINEAR): A walk North & South of the Thames to visit places associated with Mr W. Shakespeare. Expect some gratuitous Middle Ages & Roman information along the way. Meet Barbican tube station 10.30. Distance 5 miles. Lunch at The Black Friar, 174 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4EG. Leader: Martin.
SUNDAY 6th: NEWPORT (ESSEX) (CIRCULAR) via Widdington and Debden: Undulating arable fields threaded by green lanes between hedges and through woods in “the most appealing part of (Essex)”. Autumn tints? Meet Liverpool Stn. Buy OPDR to Newport (Essex). Cambridge train dep. 9.43. Arr. Newport 10.57. Pub lunch tbc. Distance: 9 miles. Map EX 195. Leader: Pam.
WEDNESDAY 9th 7.30pm: GUILDHALL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at the Barbican: Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. Tickets £5 concessions. Contact Mary S.
SatURday 12th: AROUND GUILDFORD, SURREY: A walk of two halves centred on Guildford, with option of just doing the morning. In the morning we head up past the castle to Pewley Down, returning via Shalford and the river Wey. In the afternoon our route takes us up to the cathedral, returning via the cemetery where Lewis Carroll is buried. Meet Waterloo Stn. Buy OPDR to Guildford. Portsmouth train dep. 09.45 arr. Guildford 10.24. Lunch in Guildford. Distance: 5 miles am, 4 miles p.m. LR 186, EX 145. Leader: Mike C.
SATURDAY 19th: WADHURST (CIRCULAR) via Bewl Water and Ticehurst: Meet at Charing Cross stn. Buy OPDR to Wadhurst. Train dep.9.45, arr. Wadhurst 10.47. Distance 8 miles. EX 136, Pub lunch at http://www.theoldvineinn.co.uk) Cousley Wood. Possible final refreshment at White Hart, Wadhurst, before heading back to station (trains every half hour). Leader: Kim who will meet group at Wadhurst stn.
SATURDAY 26th: NORTHOLT to ALPERTON (LINEAR): walk via Northala Fields, an award-winning country-style park and climb one of the four peaks, then along The Canal. Meet at Northolt Underground Station (Central Line, Zone 5) for 10.15am Lunch at The Ballot Box. Distance ~ 8miles. Leaders Peter, Lucy & Sunita.
DECEMBER
SATURDAY 3rd: BROOKMANS PARK to WILDHILL and back (Herts.) (CIRCULAR): A Figure of Eight mix of lane walking and footpaths, through fields and woodland. Could be muddy. Meet Finsbury Park station. Buy OPDR to Brookmans Pk. Train dep. 10.17 (plat. 7or8), arr. Brookmans Pk 10.41. Lunch The Woodman, Wildhill. 7½ miles. LR 166. Leader: Dominique.
SUNDAY 11th: CLUB CHRISTMAS LUNCH: RUTLAND ARMS PH, Hammersmith Riverside: A change of venue for this year's Christmas lunch with views over the Thames. More information and booking form in Newsletter. For a 2 ½ mile pre-lunch Thames Path walk, meet at 11.00 at Putney Bridge (District Line) station. Leader: Danny.
SUNDAY 18th: ROCHESTER and the MEDWAY: A shortish walk through historic Rochester and along the Medway to Lower Upnor with the opportunity of attending choral evensong in Rochester Cathedral. Meet at Victoria Station. Buy OPDR to Rochester. Dover Priory train dep. 09.45, arr. Rochester 10.25. Lunch at Rochester. Optional Choral Evensong at 15.15. Distance 6 miles. LR 178, EX 163. Leader: Mike C.
TUESDAY 27th b/h: TOTTERIDGE to HAMPSTEAD (LINEAR): Along the Dollis Valley Green Walk and over Hampstead Heath. Meet 10.30 at Totteridge & Whetstone Northern Line Stn. Lunch at the Old Bull & Bush PH. Distance: 6.5 miles. EX173. Leader: Danny.
JANUARY
MONDAY 2nd (b/h) free – volunteer leader(s) needed!
SATURDAY 7th HOLLAND PARK to HORSEGUARDS (LINEAR): A pleasant walk through London parks. Meet at 12 noon at Holland Park stn Central line, Walk through wooded Holland Park, Kensington Gardens, past Kensington Palace on to Hyde Park, around the lake and on to Green Park, finishing at St James' Park and the Ship & Shovell? Distance ~ 4.5 miles. Check for engineering works before setting out! Leader: John H.
SATURDAY 7th: LONGER WALK - KINGS LANGLEY to HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (LINEAR): Walk off festive excess along the Hertfordshire Way! Meet at Euston stn. Buy OPDR to Hemel Hempstead. Train dep.10.04, H&W 10.18, Watford Junction 10.26, arr. Kings Langley 10.31. Distance 8 miles. Lunch at a café in Bovingdon [although there is a pub nearby.] Map EX 182. Leader Peter T.
SNOW-WALKING WEEKEND IN BAVARIA – FRIDAY 13th / MONDAY 16th: Long weekend walking in the snow in Oberammergau and visiting another of King Ludwig’s castles (http://www.ammergauer-alpen.de/oberammergau/en/ ). Flights Heathrow / Munich. If interested, get in touch with Dominique.
SATURDAY 14th for those not on the snow weekend! TOTTENHAM HALE to LIMEHOUSE BASIN: easy walking (within zones 1-3) of 3 Sections of the Lea Valley Walk alongside reservoirs, parks & Limehouse cut canal. Bring binoculars. Meet at Tottenham Hale station at 10.30 am. Pub or cafes en route tbc. Distance 6 1/2 miles. Leader Sarah.
SUNDAY 22nd: CHORLEYWOOD to CHALFONT via CHALFONT ST GILES (LINEAR): A chance to see a monument to Captain James Cook in an unexpected location. Undulating. Meet at Marylebone. Use Oyster (Zone 8) or Freedom Pass. Aylesbury via Amersham train dep. 9.57, Harrow 10.09, arr. Chorleywood 10.24. Pub lunch at Chalfont St Giles. Distance: 8.5 miles. EX 172. Return from Chalfont & Latimer on the same line. Leaders: Gillian and Stuart who will meet the group at Chorleywood.
SATURDAY 28th: CLASSIC CIRCULAR WALK FROM FLITWICK (Beds.): Gently undulating/level through fields and some woodland. Meet St Pancras nr UK ticket office. Train dep 10.04 (W. HampTL 1011) arr Flitwick 10.53. Lunch at Green Man PH Eversholt. Ends with tea chez Geoffrey who will meet party at Flitwick stn. Distance 8.5 miles EX192&193. Leader: Geoffrey.
>FUTURE EVENTS <
FRIDAY 24th to SUNDAY 26th MARCH 2017 – YHA WEEKEND, PORTLAND: The annual YHA trip returns to Dorset for exhilarating coast walks on the Isle of Portland. Estimated cost £75 incl. train/bus fares & in-house food. Reserve a place for £30 by bank transfer (Club’s account number 29935940, sort code 05-02-00) or send a cheque made out to the Club to Danny Duffy.
SPRING BANK HOLIDAY: WALKING IN THE AOSTA VALLEY, WESTERN ALPS, ITALY - THURSDAY 25th to MONDAY 29th MAY 2017: Fly to Turin. Onward travel by train or coach. Possibility of extending trip by 1 or 2 days. Details of flights will be circulated shortly. Please contact organiser Susan J with any queries.
SUMMER BANK HOLIDAY 2017: Friday 25th to Tuesday 29th August. EXETER, Devon. At time of writing we are awaiting confirmation as to availability of accommodation at Exeter University. We hope to secure self-catering flats for 6 to 8 with en-suite bathrooms. Plenty of options for walking and sightseeing in the area. Dartmoor and the coastal path within easy reach and the city has an historic cathedral, castle and quayside. More details to follow but it would be useful to have expressions of interest from any of you that can see that far ahead. Leaders Sandra and Mike.
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All sporting and leisure activities have inherent hazards associated with them and rambling is no exception. In spite of the safety of members always being of paramount concern, accidents will occasionally occur. It is important therefore that when entering into the activity members appreciate that they have a responsibility to identify the hazards associated with the activity and take all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimise the potential for an accident to arise. We regret that we cannot accept children under 16 years of age on the walks.