Chorleywood Circular

Gabriel Newfield led this walk for Hampstead Ramblers. Jane Rosoux reports...

"I attach photographs I took on today's 14.5 mile circular ramble from Chorleywood led by Gabriel Newfield from which to make a selection for the Rambling On blog.

There were 14 in the party and the weather was good.




[Gabriel is fourth from the left.]

We passed the picturesque Sarratt Church...



shortly after the service had ended. After a brief stop in the woods we followed good paths across rolling farmland and then the Twelve Apostles Pond...



... - the twelve apostles were twelve trees but they are well past their prime.

'The Windmill' pub at Chipperfield was our lunch stop. Nearby was a pond where the surrounding vegetation had been cut back leaving a fine display of lesser celandine.

In the afternoon we continued to pass many fields of horses (I cannot recall seeing a single farm animal!) and we returned to Chorleywood via the Chess valley and its extensive watercress beds."






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Hampstead and London Blind Ramblers Walk

Today the Hampstead Group enjoyed a walk with the London Blind Ramblers. The circular walk around Chorleywood had 18 walkers, with a 19th joining us half way.


As so often this year, we had to catch a rail replacement bus to get to our destination. This is us waiting for the connection! The leader, Michael Way, is at the rear, 7th from the left.

We aim to have at least one sighted walker for every one with a visual impairment.

Crossing the stiles slows us down a little. Next time you go on a ramble, just imagine going over a stile blind. It needs a lot of concentration...









We stopped for Lunch at The Cock.



We managed the 6 miles at an average speed of 2.3 miles per hour. Mind you, some of our group, such as Jem, probably covered twice that distance...



Jem is a rescued dog, and had a great time trying out being a guide dog for the day.

Everyone had a great day out.

Snowy Sarratt

Below freezing temperatures ensured that the few hardy souls who got to Chorleywood this Saturday had a snowy welcome.



If you go through Chorleywood, make sure you have enough time to pause and enjoy the free art-gallery - they have a splendid collection of London Transport posters and cards in the underpasses...



Mind you, the fares have gone up a little....



There was no shortage of footpaths in this part of the Chilterns



Jane, Hampstead's Walks Organiser, took the next couple of images;



There was a Christmassy feel to the woods.



This weathervane atop the Pavilion at Chorleywood Cricket Club prophesied England's fate in the West Indies later in the day...



This was a moderately paced walk. A lunch stop at the Boot Public House in Sarratt provided a welcoming open fire, and Cheesey Chips for added energy.



Left to Right, Joyce (who joined us from the Richmond Group), our Walk Leader, the aptly-named Robin Midwinter, Jane, yours truly, and my wife Angela.

This group photo by Jane gives an idea of the territory we covered in our eight mile walk through the Chess valley.



"Undulating Terrain" is how we describe it in our walk guide.