I attach photographs taken on Wednesday's 12 mile walk from Tring to Berkhamstead led by Pat Hully from which to make a selection for your blog.

[Pat is pictured below].



There were 11 of us in the party





and the weather was quite good although cooler than of late. The sun even came out during our ascent of Ivinghoe Beacon, which enhanced the views.










Best wishes,
Jane

Cherry Tree Wood to Gillespie Park

Yesterday I had the enjoyable task of leading a walk of my own.
It was a fine sunny day, and I was lucky enough to have my wife Angela helping me.

23 other Ramblers joined us for a walk through North London's ancient woodlands and nature reserves.



I'm wittering on at the left in this photo. I always try and give my walking groups some background on the areas we walk through.

We went through Highgate and Queen's Woods. As always, we found some quirky artworks in the latter.



I think these tea bag chains are a comment on our wasteful consumer lifestyles. Either that or they are just chains of used teabags...

We moved on to the Parkland Walk, a linear Nature Reserve created from a disused railway line.



This is the group going through the remains of Crouch End station platforms.

We said hello to the Spriggan again....



The Spriggan is an elf or pixie, known for causing mischief and stealing children. The Spriggan sculpture is by Marilyn Collins. Click Here for more info on her work.

We went through Finsbury Park and then onwards to Gillespie Park Nature Reserve...



Pictured above are Henriette and Angela, with Mollie the Labradoodle; all heading to Gillespie Park with the Emirates Stadium in the distance.

We arrived at Gillespie park after 5 leisurely miles. The Ecology Centre was celebrating it's 23rd anniversary. There was delicious organic food, homemade jams and chutneys, not to forget



Morris Men!!!

I leave you with a group photo I took.



Thanks to everyone who came and made the walk so enjoyable.

Especial thanks to Jane Rosoux for all the other photos above.

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Saxon Shore Way: Swale to Gillingham

Jane Rosoux writes...

"I attach photographs taken on Saturday's 16-mile walk along the Saxon Shore Way fro Swale to Gillingham from which you make a selection for the Rambling On blog.

A small party of six left Swale Station, of which I was the only Hampstead Group member. The weather at the start of the walk was dry and warm but fairly cloudy and windy. However, the sun came out later and the wind abated and it turned out to be a very pleasant day.

The 7-mile morning walk to our lunch stop at Lower Halstow was mainly along sea walls and over marshland with very little signs of human habitation.








We were astonished by the number of rabbits we saw running to their burrows when they heard us coming. 'The Three Tuns' pub served good, very reasonably-priced, food and the church also served refreshments so if we had not brought packed lunches we would not have gone hungry!

Two of the party dropped out at Lower Halstow but the remaining four of us enjoyed further attractive coastal walking and also a number of orchards full of small trees laden with a variety of apples and plums. Beyond Rainham we encountered increasing numbers of people enjoying a day out and when we came to the Riverside Country Park on the outskirts of Gillingham we enjoyed a refreshing cup of tea!"

Chipstead to Coulsdon South

Jane Reports....

"I attach photographs taken on Wednesday's 10 mile walk from Chipstead to Coulsdon South via Banstead Woods, Hooley and Farthing Down from which you can make a selection for the Rambling On blog.

There were six of us in the party...



... and we were fortunate that the weather was dry and warm, albeit somewhat cloudy



... although it started to rain almost immediately the walk ended!"

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Caterham Circular

I attach photographs taken on Saturday's circular walk from Caterham, which was joint with the North West London Group. Our party of 13 were very fortunate with the weather, which was warm and largely dry, albeit somewhat overcast for most of the day.



The leader, Jerry O'Connor, led us along an attractive route via Tandridge, where we had our lunch stop at the 'Barley Mow' pub, at a good pace.





[Jerry O'Connor making a new friend above..]

We returned to Caterham Station very soon after 5.00, having covered 17 miles at 3 mph, excluding stops.





Many Thanks Jane, for both photos and report.

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