Roach Valley Way: Rochford to Hockley

"There were only four of us on the walk but we were blessed with perfect weather - sunny but not too hot.



"The going for the most part was easy and we made good speed to the lunch stop at Pagglesham Churchend, where we arrived at 12.30, having covered the first 7.5 miles in less than 2.5 hours. There we had our picnics in the churchyard then headed for the particularly attractive marshland near Lion Creek, which is now a nature reserve.





"From there we walked along the top of the embankment beside the River Crouch for 2.5 miles, wading through long, rough vegetation, which was hard going and slowed our pace, before at last arriving at Upper Raypitts Farm, where we headed north along field paths to Canewdon and a much-need drink. After a few problems route finding we arrived at Hockley Station at around 5.45 pm, having covered nearly 20 miles in around 6.5 hours of walking". Jane Rosoux, who kindly led the walk and provided both report and photography.

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Coulsdon South Circular

The last Sunday of June saw Caryn Mackenzie lead a 9 mile walk from Coulsdon via Farthing Down and Happy Valley. Coulsdon Common itself is rich in wild flowers and birds.

The weather was perfect...



Chaldon Church has been featured in this blog before...



Inside is a fascinating Medieval mural...



The area has some picture postcard type cottages...



I love the faded grandure of this opium poppy...

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Thanks to Stella Stocker for the photos, which remain her copyright used by permission. Thanks also to Caryn for sending them on.

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Hampstead Heath Circular

"Monday 21st June (midsummer's day) saw 14 walkers join Robin Midwinter for a celebratory stroll across the Heath.



"The walk followed an interesting route round Hampstead Heath.


[Robin Midwinter]

"Robin had also planned to lead us through the Kenwood Estate but by the time we got there we found all the gates closed and he had to make last-minute adjustments to the route and shorten it slighly to 4.5 miles. At the end some of us enjoyed a refreshing drink in 'The Flask Tavern'

Jane Rosoux"

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Wild Orchids in the Chiltern Hills

Jane Rosoux reports:

This Hampstead group walk was led by Joe Garver on Sunday the 20th of June.



[Joe is centre, with stick].

"There were only nine of us on the walk but those who were put off by the engineering works, which affected both the Metropolitan Line and Chiltern Railways, missed a delighful 11 mile walk.

"We had good views, pretty villages and plenty of orchids and other wild flowers, not to mention a Roman snail, a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly and a Five-Spot Burnet moth.









"The walk included a half hour lunch stop at 'The Red Lion', Whiteleaf village".

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Oxted Circular Via Westerham

Here are some photos from Sunday's joint Hampstead Group / North West London Group circular walk from Oxted led by Stephen Bird.




There were seventeen of us on the walk, which was led by Stephen Bird and was very scenic and blessed with good weather.





The walk was 13 miles in all. Don't worry about the photo below - nobody had fallen in!



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Capital Ring Section 4 Falconwood to Crystal Palace

I attach photographs taken on Wednesday, 2nd June when Susan Holman led a party of 12 along the Capital Ring from Falconwood Station to Crystal Palace Station.



[Susan is centre, in green].

The weather was good and the 11 miles were covered at a brisk pace. The lunch stop was at the cafe at Beckenham Place Park. The walk finished with a brief tour of some of the attractions of Crystal Palace Park.










Jane Rosoux: Photos and Words.