St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club

 

Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and H.F. Holidays

www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com

Email: stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com

 

After 20 long weeks of having weekends without organised rambles, nothing has ever given me more pleasure than reproducing below the joyful message received from our ramble list compiler on 3 August 2020

further updated on 17 August with important amendments to the starting time and lunch arrangements for Maurice's walk on 29th August and three further rambles on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August, Sunday 6 September and  Saturday 12 September.

  

Dear members,
 
The latest Ramblers Association advice is that more than six people can go on a ramble and as a result we can resume rambles.
 
Below is a list covering the next four weekends which for practical reasons is only being issued by email; please pass the details on to members who do not have email if you know they would like to come out.
 
As well as the government advice about social distancing and Covid symptoms, including face masks/coverings being compulsory  on public transport and in shops, it is important that
 
a) you heed the leaders advice both at the beginning of and during a walk, 
and 
 
b) you provide contact details for track and trace purposes before a ramble starts. 
 
One other piece of good news: The Committee has agreed to extend the 2019/20 membership Year to 2021 for all paid up members. If you are up to date there will be no further subscriptions to pay.
 
+ + + +
 
 
Saturday 8th August 2020.   Leader: John Burbage     (Explorer map 161)

Meet:           Mitcham Junction Station/Tramstop 10.15 for 10.30 prompt   
                    start. Direct trains available from Victoria 09.41 and   
                         Blackfriars 09.36 (Thameslink from St. Albans). Also, London Bridge
                         09.31 with a change at Tulse Hill
                              Regular trams from Wimbledon and Beckenham Junction via East                                  Croydon.
 
Lunch:       30 minutes refreshment break at Wallington Corner next to the
                    Rose & Crown. Please bring a snack/sandwiches.

Tea:           Unlikely

Distance: 7.5 miles on mainly level ground and good paths (approximately 3 
                 hours). The walk takes in the upper reaches of  Wandle Valley Park,
                     the bird sanctuary at Beddington Farm with a possible visit to Sutton
                     Ecology Centre, time permitting.
 
Fare:        Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options

Note:        It is recommended to bring a hat as there is limited shade on the                   paths. 
 
You can see photographs taken by Antoinette Adkins on John's walk above by clicking HERE 

Saturday 15th August 2020   Leader: Tom Gilmartin    (Explorer map 162)

Meet :        Cannon Street 08.50 for 09.08 train to Bexley. (arr 09.45). 
                  Also calls London Bridge 09.13, New Cross 09.19 and
                  Lewisham 09.24  
 
Lunch :     The Star at Sidcup place, Sidcup.
 
Tea :          Sovereign of the Sea (Wetherspoons) Petts Wood. Plenty of                          cafes available also. 
 
Distance : 8 miles.
 
Fare:         Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options
 
Tom will meet the ramblers at Bexley.  
 
Sunday 23rd August 2020   Leader: Ant Connolly North Fambridge to Burnham on Crouch (Explorer map 176)
 
Meet: Liverpool Street station 0900 for 0923 train to Wickford (arr 1001) then change for 1006 train to North Fambridge (arr 1020)
            Train also calls Stratford 0930 and Romford 0939. 
 
Lunch: Three Horseshoes, Althorne. Sunday roasts and normal weekly                     menu. Very reasonably priced and hearty portions 
             so please keep an appetite! Also offers a 'light bites' menu.  
             Lunch stop is 7 miles into the walk. 
                  If joining at lunchtime, the train is 1123 from Liverpool Street and                                  1130 from Stratford for 1206 connection at Wickford which                                             arrives Althorne 1226 to be on time to join walkers at 1.30pm at                                   the pub. 
 
Tea:      Maybe, depends on time as trains are once hourly.  Opportunity to                 get an ice cream on way to station
 
Distance: 12 miles. Walkers can join or leave from Althorne station which is
                a half hour walk away from the pub.  
 
Fare:       CDR Burnham on Crouch from boundary zone 6 £8.90 with                            railcard discounts.  
                For those wishing to travel by car, there are car parks at North                        Fambridge and Burnham on Crouch stations. Both cost £4 for                        use.  
                If parking at Burnham you will need to catch the 1010 train from                      there arriving North Fambridge 1021.
 
                Please let Ant know in advance if you will be eating at the pub,                      whether doing the full walk, or one of the shorter options and 
                also, if coming by car. She will join the walkers on train at                                Romford.  Please be at the front of the train from Liverpool                              Street for ease of switching over to the connecting train at                              Wickford for Fambridge. 
 
You can see photographs taken by the leader herself on Ant's walk above by clicking HERE 
 
Saturday 29th August  2020   Leader:  Maurice Hickman    (Explorer Map 146)
         
Meet: Blackfriars 0930 for 0954 train to Redhill (arr. 1032) - Thameslink train from Peterborough
 
Lunch:      Sportsman, Mogador. Only food and drinks bought at the pub can be consumed on the premises, and that includes the garden.
 
Tea:           Kiosk, Reigate Hill
 
Distance:  10 miles, returning from Redhill
 
Fare:         £8.25 CDR Redhill with railcard discounts.
 
                  We shall be walking via Gatton Park, Reigate Hill and Colley Hill.                    Chance of an extra rest in the morning.
Maurice will meet the ramblers at Redhill.
 
You can see photographs taken on Maurice's walk above by clicking HERE
 
Bank holiday Monday August 31st.         Leader: John Burbage       (Landranger map 187)

Meet: East Croydon Station 1000 for the 1010 Tram to Addington Village                 Interchange (Tram/Bus) Arr. 10.32. 
           Frequent fast trains from Victoria (09.39 latest) and London Bridge                 (09.34 latest). 
            Please check for Bank Holiday Engineering Works on feeder routes.

Lunch: The Greyhound, Hayes Common, Keston. Basic “post lockdown”                   menu served mainly outside or bring own lunch to sit outside on the                        Common. Pub offers a take-out drinks service for use on the Common.

Tea: None

Distance: 10 miles with most walking before lunch. There are some hills in                       the morning session. Returning from New Addington.

Fare: Oyster/Travelcard/Freedom pass options
 
You can see photographs taken on John's walk above by clicking HERE
 
Sunday 6th September       Leaders: Antoinette Adkins and Lizzie Cripps     (Explorer map 175)
 
Meet: Fenchurch Street 0935 for 0955 train to Benfleet (arr 1039) circular                 walk via Leigh on Sea. 
           Also calls West Ham 1005, Barking 1010 and Upminster 1019.

Lunch: The Mayflower, 5 & 6 High Street, Leigh on Sea. (excellent fish and                chips) plus various other options nearby.

Distance: 10 miles Some hills before lunch, can be muddy in wet weather.                      Returning from Benfleet.

Tea: Barge Gladys, about 400m before you reach Benfleet station.

Fare: CDR Benfleet £9.20 with railcard discounts

Half hourly service back to London. 
 
You can see photographs taken on John's walk above by clicking HERE
 
 
 
Urgent Stop Press concerning Saturday's Ramble on 12 September
 
There is a change to the outward journey this coming Saturday morning which has been posted at short notice by Chiltern Railways.
 
Train departs Marylebone 0927 (unchanged) and arrives Harrow on the Hill at 0940. 
 
You will then transfer to the 0956 Metropolitan line service which arrives Rickmansworth at 1007.
 
The return from Chesham is as per the original details.
 

Saturday 12th September      Leader: Maria Vaz       (Explorer maps 172 & 181)

 

Meet: Marylebone 0905 for 0927 Chiltern train to Rickmansworth (arr 0949) for 1000 prompt start.

 

Lunch: The Red Lion, Chenies

 

Tea: Chesham

 

Distance: 11-mile ramble in the Chess Valley following the River Chess; includes some hills. Expect muddy paths after wet weather. 

                  Returning from Chesham. Half hourly service.

 

Fare: Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options

 

Saturday 19th September    Leader: David Crundall    (OS Landranger                                                                                                  186 and 187) 

Meet:         Waterloo 0940 for 1000 train to Guildford (arr. 1032).  

Lunch         The beauty spot at Newlands Corner - two cafes. At the start                          David will guide walkers through Guildford town centre where                          there are takeaway options, should you wish to avail yourself of                      provisions in advance. 

Tea:             A wide choice of places in Guildford 

Distance:    8 miles, with some hills, returning from Guildford 

Fare:           £7.40 CDR Guildford from boundary zone 6 with railcard discounts. 

David will meet the ramblers at Guildford.

 

 

Saturday 26th September   Leaders: Derek & Mary Clarke   (OS Explorer 225) 

Meet:         St Pancras International - Platform B - 0820 for 0847 to                                 Huntingdon (arr. 0949) 

Lunch:       St. Ives - plenty of options 

Tea:            Huntingdon TBC 

Distance:    12.5 level miles returning to Huntingdon. 

Fare:           £9.90 CDR Huntingdon from boundary zone 6 with railcard discounts. 

 

Urgent Last Minute note on the above walk on Saturday 26 September 2020: 

 

Derek and Mary will meet the ramblers at Huntingdon.
The train shown starts from Horsham and in the London area calls East Croydon 0807, Blackfriars 0838, Farringdon 0842, and Finsbury Park 0854, as well as St Pancras International Platform B at 0847.
 
You can see a great selection of photographs taken on Derek and Mary's walk above by clicking HERE

 

Saturday3rd October   Leader: Ant Connolly   (OS Explorer 196) 

Meet:          Liverpool Street station 0945 for 1000 train to Manningtree (arr.                     1055) 

Lunch:         Sun Inn Dedham - other options close by. Also, a Co-op selling                       sandwiches. Park and Church grounds for picnic.  

                     There are buses between Colchester and Dedham if wishing to                        join/leave at lunchtime - 

                     please visit https://www.panther-travel.co.uk/timetables/81-81a 

Tea:             National Trust Tea Room, Flatford Mill or Manningtree Station                        Buffet (Bar)  

Distance:    9 miles. Can be muddy in places after rain and three stiles. A                           little hilly in parts but mostly level. 

Fare:            £16.75 CDR Manningtree from Boundary zone 6 with railcard                         discounts.

Ant will meet the ramblers en route on the train at Colchester.

 

Please note the following important additional information about the above walk on 3 October (circulated by the Ramble List Compiler on Friday 25 September 2020):

 

Due to its popularity the main pub mentioned are chasing to find out how many will be eating at the pub. 

 

With the new regulations they will only allow 6 people to come in at one time, and then another 6 after 15 minutes. This is also the case for when departing.  So there will be a limit of only 12 to eat at the pub. 

 

Other places have been booked, and of course picnickers have plenty of benches to sit plus cafes that sell takeaway teas or coffees. 

 

To that end, it would be very helpful if you could please email Ant at ant_connolly@hotmail.com, to advise whether: 

  • (a)you are coming on the walk
  • (b)eating at the Sun Inn / or one of the other choices below: 

You can see photographs taken on Ant's Manningtree walk above by clicking HERE 

 

 

Saturday 10th October   Leader: Kevin McNamara   (OS Landranger 179) 

Meet:         Waterloo, under the clock, 10.00 for 10.15 train to Richmond (arr                    10.41). District line and London Overground trains also serve                           Richmond.

Lunch:       The Watermans Arms / cafes / picnic on Barnes pond

Tea:             Various options in Putney

Distance:    9 level miles from Richmond to Putney along Thames Path.                            Could be muddy in parts.

Fare:            Oyster / Freedom pass / Travelcard options.

Club Committee 2019/2020

 

Please note: the contact details of the committee members below should only be used for the sole purpose of members being able to contact them on legitimate club business.

 

The club’s general email address is: stfrancisramblers@gmail.com

 

President:                                                Membership Secretary

Fr Chris Vipers, Parish Priest                   Antoinette Adkins

St Mary Moorfields, 4-5 Eldon Street        E: antoinette_adkins2000@yahoo.co.uk 

London EC2M 7LS                                           

E: moorfields@rcdow.org.uk                            

 

Secretary                                                  Treasurer

Patricia O’Callaghan                                  John Burbage

E: patriciamaryocallaghan@gmail.com     E: turbo.johnb@gmail.com 

 

Ramble List Compiler                              Publicity

Paul Connolly                                             David Crundall

E: paulconnolly30@hotmail.com                E: davidcrundall@waitrose.com 

 

Other Duties:  Sheila Bravin, Ant Connolly, and Maurice Hickman