St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club
Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and H.F. Holidays
Email: stfrancisramblers@gmail.com
We are sorry to hear of the death on Sunday 18 February 2024 of Terry Dobson. Terry had been a member since 1985 and bacame a life member in 2000,
Terry’s funeral service was held on Friday March 15th 11:30am at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Redhill RH1 1LF and was attended by several club members and Arundel and Brighton pilgrims.
List of Rambles for Spring (March to May) 2024
Saturday 2nd March Leader: Maria Vaz OS Explorer map 181
Meet: 0905 Marylebone for the 0927 Chiltern train to Great Missenden (arr. 1010). Also calls Harrow On The Hill 0939.
Lunch: The Generals Arms, Chesham. There are lots of eating options on the high street.
Tea: No T today
Distance: 10 miles through the Chilterns: rolling hills, beech woodlands and villages. Some stiles in the morning. Expect some muddy paths after wet weather.
Returning from Chesham (zone 9): direct Metropolitan line services to Baker Street, Kings Cross and beyond; 2 trains per hour.
Fare: 60+ Oyster, Freedom Pass holders and those with an all zones travelcard: single ticket from Amersham (zone 9) to Great Missenden £3.75 with railcard discounts.
PAYG Oyster and Contactless cards are valid back from Chesham, but holders of these cards will need to buy a single ticket from Marylebone to Great Missenden £11.80 or £7.75 with railcard discounts.
Saturday 9th March. Leader: Robert Slater OS Explorer map 193
Meet: St Pancras International - Platform B - 0920 for 0946 train to Stevenage (arr 1015).
Ramblers can also catch this train at East Croydon 0915, London Bridge 0931, Blackfriars 0937, Farringdon 0941, and Finsbury Park 0953.
Lunch: Red Lion, Preston.
Tea: Angel Vaults (Wetherspoons), Hitchin
Distance: 10 miles returning from Hitchin. Four trains per hour back to St Pancras International and points further south.
Fare: CDR Hitchin £10.40 / boundary zone 6 £6.40. Both with railcard discounts.
Robert will meet the ramblers at Stevenage. His mobile number is 07401 602 544
Saturday 16th March Leader: Philip Groves OS Explorer map OL11
Meet: Victoria 0900 for 0924 train to Lewes (1026). Also calls Clapham Junction 0931 and East Croydon 0940.
Lunch: The Ram Inn, Firle. Good food and local ales.
Tea: Seaford - choice of pubs.
Distance: 13 miles returning from Seaford. Some hills.
Fare: CDR Seaford £22.40 / boundary zone 6 £17.65. Both with railcard discounts.
Lower fares may be available online if booked in advance, but please note such tickets are valid for specified trains only.
Philip will meet the ramblers at Lewes.
Saturday 23rd March Leader: David Crundall OS Landranger map 177
Meet: Fenchurch Street 0950 for 1007 train to Purfleet (arr 1036). Also calls West Ham 1017 and Barking 1023.
Lunch: Rainham - choice of cafes or a Tesco Extra in the centre
Tea: Upminster - reasonable options for quaffing and scoffing.
Distance: 9 miles returning from Upminster (Zone 6) following the London Loop and after lunch going through Hornchurch Country Park.
Frequent mainline trains back towards London as well as TFL services. Generally level with firm and dry surfaces for most of the route.
Fare: Freedom pass / 60+ Oyster / Travelcard options plus single Rainham to Purfleet £1.95 with railcard discounts.
Holders of PAYG oyster and contactless cards can tap out at Purfleet.
Please note; if boarding the train at West Ham there is a mainline ticket machine, on the street side of the barriers, should you need to buy an extension ticket to Purfleet.
David will join the train enroute.
Good Friday 29th March Leader: Maurice Hickman OS Landranger Map 187
Meet: Blackfriars 1020 for 1039 train to Three Bridges (arr 1119). Ramblers can also join this train at Finsbury Park 1022, St Pancras International - Platform A - 1030,
Farringdon 1034, London Bridge 1045 and East Croydon 1059.
Lunch: Coaching Halt, Maidenbower
Tea: The Snooty Fox, Three Bridges
Distance: 8 miles returning from Three Bridges
Fare: CDR Three Bridges £7.85 with railcard discounts. Valid on Thameslink services only. Curiously the fare from boundary zone 6 is 5p more.
Ramblers can also come from Victoria but the return fare is £6.50 more than from Blackfriars, even with railcard discounts.
We will be attending the 3pm Solemn Service at Worth Abbey. Please remove all boots and put them in a suitable receptacle before entering the Abbey.
Maurice will meet the walkers at Three Bridges.
Sunday 7th April Ant Connolly OS Explorer map 173
Meet: Manor House (Piccadilly line) 1045 by the ticket barriers.
Coffee: Comfort stop at the Naturalist pub at the Wetlands
Lunch: Rochester Castle (Wetherspoons), Stoke Newington
Distance: 8 miles returning from Highbury & Islington. Overground, Victoria line and Mainline Services. A walk through the Woodberry Wetlands to Clissold and Abney Parks.
After lunch we go via the New River walk and the Ghandi mural. Dropout opportunities at Stoke Newington and Canonbury stations.
Tea: White Swan, near Highbury & Islington station.
Fare: Freedom pass / Oyster / Travelcard options
Ant will meet the walkers at Manor House.
13th/14th April No walk for this weekend - New leaders needed.
Saturday 20th April Leader: Margaret Brady OS Landranger map 177
Meet: Charing Cross 0925 for 0940 train to Chelsfield (Arr 1028). Also calls Waterloo East 0944, London Bridge 0950 and Lewisham 0959.
Lunch: Bulls Head, Pratts Bottom. There is a recreation area opposite the pub for those who want to have packed lunch.
Tea: Maybe at Chelsfield
Distance: 10 miles returning from Chelsfield. The ramble is mainly level with one incline on the way out and two on the way back.
Half hourly train service back towards Charing Cross.
Fare: Freedom pass / Oyster / Travelcard options
Margaret will meet the ramblers at Chelsfield.
Saturday 27th April Leader: John Burbage OS Explorer map 161
Agelina Dias is celebrating a milestone birthday and would be pleased to see members who know her. Cake will be provided.
Meet: Waterloo 0940 for the 1000 train to Barnes (arr. 1019). Also calls at Vauxhall (Victoria line) 1004, Clapham Junction 1010 and Putney 1016.
Waterloo to Barnes trains usually depart from platforms 18 to 24.
Lunch: The National Archives, Kew. Offers a selection of good value, hot and cold dishes, snacks, drinks and beverages.
Tea: Why ask? Bring a flask.
Distance: 8.5 easy miles on good paths returning from Barnes. Most of the walk will be in the morning and takes in part of the Thames Path, Hogarth’s House,
Chiswick House and Gardens with time to take in the early spring flowers.
Fare: Freedom pass / Oyster / Travelcard options
John will join the train en-route.
Saturday 4th May Leader: Brian Falls OS Explorer map 193
Meet: St Pancras International - Platform B - 0900 for 0921 train to Flitwick (arr 1010).
Ramblers can also join this train at East Croydon 0851, London Bridge 0906, Blackfriars 0912, Farringdon 0916 and West Hampstead Thameslink 0929.
Coffee: The Jolly Coopers, Wardhedges.
Lunch: Cross Keys, Pulloxhill. Good food, average prices.
Tea: Maybe in Harlington
Distance: 11 miles returning from Harlington. A couple of slopes in the morning, otherwise easy walking. Four trains per hour back to London and points further south.
Fare: CDR Flitwick £10.95 / Boundary zone 6 £8.60. Both with railcard discounts.
Brian will meet the ramblers at Flitwick.
Photos taken on Brian's walk on Saturday 4 May 2025 can be seen HERE
Sunday 12th May Leader: Ant Connolly OS Explorer map 161 Hampton Court Gardens (free entry)
Meet: Waterloo 1000 for the 1018 train to Kingston (arr. 1046). Also calls Vauxhall (Victoria line) 1022, Clapham Junction 1027 and Wimbledon 1034.
Lunch: Late lunch at end so bring a picnic or there will be outside food vendors at the garden. Café will be closed.
Tea: The William Webb Ellis, Twickenham (Wetherspoons)
Distance: 7 easy miles returning from Twickenham. Taking the Thames path to Hampton Court, having a look around the gardens (free entry), coffee/indulge at the food vendors.
Then through Bushy Park to Twickenham for our late lunch/tea stop. Join or drop out at Hampton Court. Some unavoidable pavement walking after Bushy Park.
Fare: Freedom pass / Oyster / Travelcard options
Ant will meet the walkers at Kingston station.
Saturday 18th May Leader: John Burbage OS Landranger map 174
Meet: Hayes and Harlington station (Elizabeth Line) 1020 for a 1030 prompt start. Latest connecting train departs Abbey Wood 0932 and calls Whitechapel 0947,
Liverpool Street 0950, Farringdon 0953, Paddington 0959 and Ealing Broadway 1011. Arriving Hayes and Harlington 1019.
Lunch: Choices on the day in Ickenham at the Coach & Horses or Tichenham Inn (Wetherspoons) close by.
Tea: Possibly in Uxbridge
Distance: 11 pretty miles returning from Uxbridge. On the level mainly along the Hillingdon Trail which meanders through nature reserves operated by the London Wildlife Trust. We also visit the little known Minet Country Park and walk through buttercup meadows and parkland bordering the River Pinn.
There is an opportunity to drop out at Ickenham - Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines.
Fare: Freedom pass / Oyster / Travelcard options
Note: There are no toilets at Hayes & Harlington. The first opportunity is 45 minutes into the walk.
John will join the train en-route.
Saturday 25th May Leader: Annette Christie OS Explorer map 193
Meet: St Pancras International - Platform B - 0930 for 0946 train to Hitchin (arr 1020).
Ramblers can also join this train at London Bridge 0931, Blackfriars 0937, Farringdon 0941 and Finsbury Park 0953.
Lunch: The Motte and Bailey, Pirton - limited menu at reasonable prices.
Tea: Maybe in Hitchin
Distance: 9 miles returning from Hitchin. Four trains per hour back to St Pancras and points further south.
Fare: CDR Hitchin £10.95 / Boundary zone 6 £6.75. Both with railcard discounts.
Photos taken on Annette's walk on 25 May can be seen HERE
| Visitor Counter: | |||||||
 |  | |  | |  | ||