St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club

 

Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and H.F. Holidays

www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com

Email: stfrancisramblers@gmail.com

 

Sunday 5th December   Leader: John Burbage    OS Explorer map 161
 
Meet:      Victoria 0910 for 0925 train to Ewell East (arr. 0959). Stops at                         Clapham Junction 0932 then fast to Carshalton. For intermediate                   stations take earlier trains to Sutton). 
               Shorter walk via Waterloo; take 0932 train from there to Ewell West
               (arr. 1003) to meet the main group.
Coffee:    Short break at Ewell West to pick up hot drinks.
Lunch:     William Bourne, Moor Lane, Chessington. A local pub with good                      range of food with small portions available from £5 approx.                              Covered facilities for sandwich eaters outside.
 Tea:         Possibly tea van in Horton Park.
Distance:  8 miles (7 miles from Ewell West) mainly on the level. We follow                     the Hogsmill River and Bonesgate Streams through nature                             reserves, Horton Country Park and Epsom Common returning                       from Epsom Station.
 Fare:        £7.35 off peak return with Railcards (£6.90 using                                             Oyster/Contactless) to Epsom. 
                 Freedom Pass/60+ Oyster holders need to purchase an extension
                 from Epsom to Zone 6 £2 with Railcards.
John will meet walkers en-route. 
 
Photos taken on John's walk on 5 December 2021 can be seen by clicking HERE
 
Sunday 12th December   Leader: Robert Slater    OS Landranger map 166
 
Meet:       King's Cross 0915 for 0938 to Stevenage (arr 1004). Also calls                        Finsbury Park at 0944.
Lunch:     The Rusty Gun, St. Ippolyts.  Isolated pub on B656.Grid                                  Ref.199253. Sunday carvery.
Tea:         Aim to arrive in Hitchin market square in time for the hoped-for                       carol singing at 4pm followed by visit to Angel Vaults                                       (Wetherspoons) nearby.
 
Distance: 10 mile linear walk returning from Hitchin. Two easily manageable                  hills in morning and another two in afternoon.
Fare:        £9.50 CDR Hitchin or £5.85 from boundary zone 6. Both with                           railcard discounts.
Robert will meet walkers at Stevenage. 
Photos taken on Robert's walk on 12 December 2021 can be seen by clicking HERE
 
Sunday 19th December Leader: Catherine Heckman OS Explorer map 173 
 
Meet:       Tottenham Hale 1030 for 1045 prompt start.
                Mainline trains from Liverpool Street and Stratford. Also, the                            Victoria Line, please allow 30 minutes journey time from Victoria                    and 25 minutes from Oxford Circus.
                Latest trains from Liverpool Street 1007 (arr 1019), and Stratford                    1014 (arr 1025). Toilets on platform 4.
Coffee:     Engine House, Walthamstow Wetlands. Brief coffee/comfort stop.
Lunch:      Eleanor Arms, Old Ford Road, Bow. Lunch stop is at the end of                       the walk, and is a great opportunity for non-walkers to join an                         informal Christmas Social gathering. 
                 Walkers will be arriving at pub a little before 2.00pm. 
                 They sell 10" pizzas for £5, but are also happy for people to eat                     their own or share food inside as long as pub drinks are                                   purchased.
Distance:  6.5 miles. Firm dry surfaces most the way. 
                 The number 8 bus, close to the Eleanor Arms, goes to Bethnal                       Green and Liverpool Street. Mile End tube station is about fifteen                   minutes' walk.
Fare:        Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options
Photos taken on Catherine's walk on 19 December 2021 can be seen by clicking HERE
 
Tuesday 28th December  2021  Leader: Maurice Hickman   OS Explorer map                      146.
Meet:       Blackfriars 1000 for 1024 train to Redhill (arr 1102). 
                Train also calls Finsbury Park 1008, St Pancras International                          Platform A 1015, London Bridge 1030 and East Croydon 1046.
Lunch:     The Feathers, Merstham. Close to station.
Tea:         The Home Cottage, Redhill. Close to station.
 Distance:  8 miles with Network Card
Fare:         £8.40 CDR Redhill from Blackfriars and £3.35 from boundary                         zone 6. Both with railcard discounts.
                 PAYG Oyster/Contactless cards valid to Redhill but not Freedom                   pass or 60+ Oyster cards.  
 Fairly easy going underfoot. Distance before and after lunch is about the same so ideal for anyone who wants to come just for the morning or afternoon.
Photos taken on Maurice's walk on 28 December 2021 can be seen by clicking HERE
 
Sun 2nd January  2022  Leader: Ant Connolly  (OS map 174)
 
Meet:   Liverpool Street 1005 for 1028 train to Cheshunt (arr 1048)  
              Please use toilets on train as none in Cheshunt station 
Lunch: NB. Due to the Welsh Harp not serving food, the Crown in                         Waltham Abbey is now the lunch stop and is close to the                         original venue.  Benches nearby for picnic lunch.
Tea:       Cafe/pub options in Cheshunt
Miles:    8 level miles, walking in the Lea Valley returning from Cheshunt.                      Firm surfaces mostly. 
Fare:      £8.25 CDR Cheshunt with railcard discounts / £3.20 from boundary                zone 6.
Photos taken on Ant's walk on 2 January 2022 can be seen by clicking
 
Sunday 9th January     Leader: John Burbage    OS Explorer map 161
Meet:       Catford / Catford Bridge (adjacent stations) 10.30 for a 10.45                          start. 
                Option 1: Blackfriars 1012 train to Catford (arr 1035) - Also calls                      Peckham Rye 1026, also served by Overground services
                Option 2: Victoria 1004 train to Peckham Rye (arr 1016) then                        connect with the 1026 to Catford
                Option 3: London Bridge 1001 train to Lewisham (arr 1015), also                  served by DLR services, the connect with replacement 1015 bus                    at stop E (arr. Catford 10.31). 
Coffee:     Hilly Fields Cafe with toilet facilities.
Lunch:      The Brookmill, Cranbrook Road, St. Johns. Medium priced pub                        with traditional pub food, roasts and 'kids' menu (£4.50).
Tea:           Probably in Rotherhithe.
Distance:   8.5 mainly level miles (one hill) on good paths. We follow the                          Ravensbourne River to Deptford then through streets, parks and                    Thames Path visiting some of the less 
                  well-known sights of South East London returning from London                      Bridge. There is the opportunity to drop out en-route.
Fare:         Oyster/Freedom pass/travelcard options. 
Photos taken on John's walk on 9 January 2022 can be seen by clicking HERE
 
Sunday 16th January   Leader: Margaret Brady   OS Explorer map 148
Meet:       Victoria 0900 for 0925 train to East Malling (arr 1019) - No toilet                       facilities 
Lunch:      King and Queen, East Malling.
Tea:          Tea TBA 
Distance:  8 level miles returning from West Malling - circular walk in the                         morning 
Fare:        £10.35 CDR East Malling - £8.35 from boundary zone 6 - both                         with railcard discounts.
Margaret will meet the ramblers at East Malling
Photos taken on Margaret's walk on 16 January 2022  can be seen by clicking HERE
 
Sunday 23 January    Leader: Kevin MacNamara   OS Landranger map 176
 

Meet:       Putney Bridge Tube Station (District Line) 10 15 for 10 30 prompt                   start 

Lunch:      The Sun Inn Barnes. Booking made for 1245. Good range of food                    available. Prices at upper end. 

                  Small portions available, including Sunday roasts, from £6 to                         £8.50. www.thesuninnbarnes.co.uk/mainmenu 

                  and children's menu. Cafes nearby and picnic by Barnes pond if                     eating your own food.

Tea:          The Rocket (Wetherspoons) Putney, Putney Pantry or other                            options nearby.

 Distance: 8 level miles following Thames Path. Could be muddy in parts.                        The morning walk to Barnes will be north of the river. 

                  The shorter afternoon walk will be south of the river. 

Fare:         Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options.

Photos taken on Kevin's walk on 23 January 2022  can be seen by clicking  HERE

 

Sunday 30th January    Leader: Brian Falls    OS Landranger map 153
Meet:       London Kings Cross 0950 for 1012 train to Sandy (arr 1058). Calls
                Finsbury Park 1018.
 
Lunch:      The Crown (Wetherspoons), Biggleswade. Plenty of facilities for                      picknickers close by.
Distance: 10 level miles returning from Arlesey. Walk through Sandy RSPB                     Nature Reserve then on to Biggleswade Common, 
                  along by the river Ivel. After lunch continue along by the Ivel to                         Jordan's Mill, and Langford, where there are a couple 
                  of options for a break. 
Tea:           The Old Oak - three minutes from Arlesey station.  
Fare :        Super off-peak day return Sandy £10.15 - £6.30 from boundary                      zone 6. Both with railcard discounts.
Photos taken on Brian's walk on 30 January 2022  can be seen by clicking HERE
 
Sunday 6th February   Leader: Philip Groves   OS Explorer Map 181
Meet:       Euston at 8.35 for 8.57 train to Tring (arr 0931)
Lunch:      The Greyhound Inn, Aldbury 
Tea:           Berkhamsted 
Distance:  Around 14 miles, some hills, returning from Berkhamsted  
Fare:         £10.45 CDR Tring - £7.35 from boundary zone 6. Both with                             railcard discounts. 
Philip will meet the ramblers at Tring. 
 
 
Saturday 12th February    Leader :  Maurice Hickman      Explorer Map 146
Meet:       Victoria 0915 for 0939 train Purley (arr 1003). Calls Clapham                          Junction 0946 and East Croydon 0957. Then connect with the                        1010 train from Purley to Tadworth (arr 1030) 
Lunch:      The Cock, Headley 
Tea:           The Bell (aka ‘The Rat’), Withybed Corner, Walton-on-the-Hill. 
Distance: 8 miles, returning from Tadworth. The morning walk is fairly flat. In
                the afternoon we will visit Langley Wood, a Woodland Trust                            reserve, which commemorates the 
                 centenary of the First World War. The reserve has just one small                   hill. 
Fare:         £9.10 CDR Tadworth - £3.30 boundary zone 6, both with railcard                   discounts.
Maurice will meet the ramblers at Purley
Photographs taken on this walk can be seen HERE
  
Saturday 19th February    Leader: Tom Gilmartin    OS Explorer map 162
 
Meet:       Charing Cross Station 0950 for 1007 train to Ladywell (arr 1025) 
                  Also calls at Waterloo East 10.10 and London Bridge 10.16
Lunch:      O'Neills, Beckenham
Tea:          Richmal Compton pub, Bromley High Street. Other refreshments                   options are available.
Fare:        Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options.
Distance: 7 Miles, no Stiles. Returning from Bromley.
Tom will meet the ramblers at Ladywell.
Photographs taken on this walk can be seen HERE
  
Saturday 26th February   Leaders Derek and Mary Clarke OS Explorer  Map 208 
Meet:      St Pancras International Platform B 0920 for 0946 train to Sandy                  (arr 1034). Train also calls East Croydon 0915, London Bridge                        0931, Blackfriars 0937, Farringdon 0941 and Finsbury Park 0954.
Lunch:      The Anchor Inn, Great Barford.
Tea:          The Bell, Sandy

Distance: 10 miles Sandy to Gt. Barford and return.
Fare:         Super off-peak day return Sandy £10.15 - £6.30 from boundary                      zone 6. Both with railcard discounts.
Derek and Mary will meet the ramblers at Sandy.
 
New leaders needed: Due to the pandemic, we have a reduced number of leaders and those remaining have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure there is something for every weekend.  
 
If we do not keep offering a walk every weekend, our Club will surely decline. Leading is very rewarding - you only need to ask one of our current Leaders! You could consider it a charitable deed as you are helping to give other members the opportunity to get out for healthy exercise and social interaction. 
 
The current leaders, and Ramble List Compiler, can guide you in how it all works, including help with route finding. Also, we are fortunate to have an archive of walks which have not been done for some time if you want ideas on where to go. All you need for leading is to have a modicum of common sense and competence.
 
Please feel free to email Paul in the first instance if you have any questions.

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 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