St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club
Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and H.F. Holidays
www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com
Email: stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com
Sunday 6th June. Leader: Pauline Lobo Explorer map 172
Meet: Marylebone 0915 for 9.40 train to Beaconsfield (arr 1008)
Lunch: Chalfont St Giles. The Feathers pub serves light meals and they don’t take bookings.
The Village Deli serves food to take out or eat in.
Merlins Cave Pub serves Sunday roast etc. but you will have to make individual bookings because they want names and contact details in advance. www.merlinscave.com or call 01494 871072.
Tea: Plenty of choices in Beaconsfield
Distance:12 miles walking through woods in the morning and passing John Milton’s cottage. In the afternoon the route goes over meadows and through the Quaker hamlet, Jordans.
Fare: Super off peak day return to Beaconsfield £8.75
Photographs taken on Pauline's Walk can be seen by clicking HERE Sunday 13th June. Leader: Francis O'Sullivan
Please note updated meeting arrangements
Meet: 0830 at Grosvenor Gardens SW1, near Victoria Station, to catch the 0859 Oxford Tube coach. The coach stop is on the quiet side of green triangle that makes up Grosvenor Gardens. Getting off of at Thornhill Park & Ride, approximately 1020.
Lunch: Picnic in Garsington. Please bring a packed lunch and drink.
Tea: Hopefully a pub stop.
Distance: 12 miles. Hilly in parts returning from Thornhill Park and Ride.
Fare: £17.00 or £15.00 if 60+ 24 hr return.
Photographs taken on Francis' Walk can be seen by clicking HERE
Sunday 20th June. Leaders: Antoinette Adkins and Lizzie Cripps
Meet: London Bridge 0915 for the 0939 train to East Croydon to arrive 0952. We pick up the 1009 from East Croydon to Hurst Green to arrive 1036. Option of train from Victoria departing 0932 to East Croydon arriving 0949.At Hurst Green we catch the 1051 train to Hever.
Lunch: The Tulip Tree Café, Chiddingstone
Tea: Unlikely
Distance: 12 miles taking in two castles, a stately home, rivers, ponds, woods, undulating hills, three lovely villages and one steep hill in the afternoon. Returning from Leigh (Kent).
Fare: Zone 6 to Hever £4.15 with freedom pass and senior rail card. Leigh (via Redhill) to zone 6 £6.40 with freedom pass and senior rail card. Single tickets required for outward and return journeys.
The leaders will meet walkers at East Croydon.
One minor correction for 20th June on the outbound journey; the final connection from Hurst Green departs 1041 and arrives Hever 1051.
Photographs taken on Antoinette and Lizzie's Walk can be seen by clicking HERE
Saturday 26th June. Leader: John Burbage. OS Landranger map 187.
Meet: London Bridge 0925 for the 0945 Thameslink train to Balcombe (arr. 10.25). Ramblers can join this train at the following stations; Finsbury Park 0922, St. Pancras International Platform A 0930, Blackfriars 0939, and East Croydon 0959.
There is also the option of taking the train from Victoria at 0929 to East Croydon arriving 0943 to connect with the Balcombe train.
Lunch: The Cat Inn, West Hoathly. A Club favourite but at the upper end of the price scale.
Tea: The Balcombe Tea Rooms if early or The Half Moon Community Pub.
Distance: 11 miles with gently rolling hills, woods and farmland.
Fares: All CDR Balcombe with railcard discounts; London Bridge £7.10, Victoria £14.25 and Boundary zone 6 £8.35.
John will meet the walkers en-route.
Saturday 3 July. Leader: Kevin MacNamara Landranger map 179
Meet: Option 1 Victoria 0850 for 0910 train to Herne Bay (arr. 1033). Also calls Bromley South 0927.
Option 2 high speed train from St Pancras International 0925 to
Herne Bay (arr 1045). Also calls Stratford international 0931.
Lunch: The King Ethelbert Inn, Reculver or Cafe Reculver for meals/snacks or Picnic facilities.
Tea: Various kiosks and toilet facilities at Minnis Bay. Optional refreshments at Mechanical Elephant (Wetherspoons) Margate, near station, or other eateries, if required.
Distance: 12.5 miles linear walk returning from Margate. The walk is on mainly level ground along promenade/sea wall with one stairway/steep slope.
Fare: (1) CDR £21.15 to Margate from Boundary of Zone 6 with railcard
discounts.
(2) Javelin Train: £23.85 with railcard discounts.
Kevin will meet the ramblers at Herne Bay.
Saturday 10th July. Leader: Margaret Brady Landranger map 177
Meet: Swanley station for 1045 start.
There are two train options from London; Blackfriars 0946 arriving Swanley 1035. Also calls Denmark Hill - London Overground - 0958.
Victoria 1012 arriving Swanley 1044. Also calls Denmark Hill - London Overground - 1022.
Lunch: Lullingstone Country Park. Picnickers are welcome but there is also a cafe where you can buy tea, coffee, sandwiches and ice cream etc.
Tea: Shoreham
Distance: 9 miles returning from Shoreham. Mostly level but one short climb
afternoon lunch. Two trains per hour back to Blackfriars, also calling Denmark Hill.
Fare: Travelcard/Oyster/Freedom pass options plus single Shoreham to
Swanley £2.75 with railcard discounts.
If using PAYG Oyster or contactless you will either have to get off
the returning train at Swanley to tap in or buy a single to Denmark Hill £6.90 or Blackfriars £8.50, both with railcard discounts.
Margaret will meet the ramblers at Swanley.
Photographs taken on Margaret's Walk can be seen by clicking HERE
Sunday 18th July. Leader: Maurice Hickman Explorer map OL25
Meet: Victoria 0920 for 0946 train to Eastbourne (arr 1111).
Lunch: Tiger Inn, East Dean. On Friday before the ramble Maurice e mailed as follows: I have been unable to book a table for the lunch hour (1 to 2) next Sunday. I suggest that you bring
sandwiches if you are buying drinks at the pub. There is plenty of
space on the green outside to eat your own food. There is also a
cafe nearby but I have no information on that.
Tea: Birling Gap
Distance : 12 very hilly miles returning from Eastbourne. Options of Buses at
East Dean, Birling Gap or Beachy Head back to Eastbourne.
Fare: £23.95 CDR Eastbourne with railcard discounts. £19.00 from Boundary zone 6.
Maurice will meet the ramblers at Eastbourne.
Photographs taken on Maurice's Walk can now be seen by clicking HERE
Please note change of details for the walk on Sunday 25 July 2021 (the main differences being advice on where to board the train at Liverpool Street and that The Old Ram and Hoggett Tea Room is no longer an option for lunch.
Sunday 25th July Leader: Ant C Explorer map 184
Meet: Liverpool Street station 0845 for 0907 train to Manningtree (arr 1019). Change at Manningtree for 1027 train to Wrabness (arr 1036).
Train also calls Stratford 0914 - Tube/Overground/DLR connections. Please be in the middle of the train or in Coach L if it's a long train, for a quick platform exit and changeover for the other train. Also use the toilets on the train from London as there will be no time for the facilities in Manningtree.
Lunch: Strangers pub serving Sunday roasts (£9.95);
Village Maid pub, where you can eat your own packed lunch provided you buy drinks. This pub is a 9 min walk away from continuation point of walk, but there is a Church yard nearby too for picknickers if the weather is good .
Tea: Cafe and choice of pubs in Manningtree
Distance: 9 miles returning from Manningtree. We'll be passing Perry Grayson's 'House for Essex' at the start of the walk, and following the River Stour estuary for most of the way.
Fare: £23.35 CDR Wrabness - £17.20 from boundary zone 6 - with railcard discounts.
Ant will meet the ramblers on the train at Shenfield.
If coming, please advise early as possible if you are eating at the Strangers so bookings can be made.
Photos taken on Ant's walk on 25 July can be seen HERE
Saturday 31st July Leaders: Derek and Mary Clarke (Landranger map 153)
Meet: St Pancras Internation Platform B 0850 for 0916 to Huntingdon
(arr 1019). Ramblers can also join this train at East Croydon
0845, London Bridge 0901, Blackfriars 0907, Finsbury Park 0924. The returning trains, twice hourly, also call at these stations.
Lunch: Axe and Compass, Hemingford Abbots.
Tea: Huntingdon TBC
Distance: 12.5 miles Huntingdon to St. Ives and return.
Fare: £13.20 cdr Huntingdon with railcard discounts. £10.15 from boundary Zone 6.
Derek and Mary will meet the ramblers at Huntingdon.
Saturday 7th August Leader: Pauline Lobo (Explorer map 195)
Meet: Liverpool Street 0900 for 0928 train to Newport (Essex) (arr 1027).
Also calls at Tottenham Hale at 0940. Trains from Stratford and
Victoria line
Lunch: The Fox and Hounds, Clavering.
Distance: 11 miles through gently undulating terrain return from Audrey End station.
Fare: £8.10 return to Cambridge with railcard discounts. This is a special
fare and a lot cheaper than a Newport return.
Pauline will be joining the train at Tottenham Hale.
Sunday 15th August Leaders: Sheila Bravin, Alfie, and Ant Connolly (Explorer map 174)
Meet: Theydon Bois station (Central line); 10.30 for 10.40 prompt departure. Good toilets in station ticket hall.
Lunch: The Horseshoes pub, Upshire. Lovely Church grounds close by with benches 'with a view'.
Tea: Choice of pubs and cafes in Theydon Bois
Distance: 8.5 easy miles returning from Theydon Bois. Walking mainly in Epping Forest.
Fare: Freedom/Oyster/Travelcard options.
Please advise if you wish to eat in the pub.
Sunday 22nd August Leader Maurice Hickman (OS Map OL11).
Meet: Option 1 - Victoria 0750 for 0814 train to Hayward’s Heath (arr 0912). Also calls Clapham Junction 0822 and East Croydon 0840.
Option 2 - London Bridge 0745 for 0809 train to Haywards Heath (arr 0858). Then connect with bus 271 at 0925 from Haywards Heath station to Pyecombe arriving 1002. Fare £4.30 if you don't have a Freedom Pass.
Lunch: Blacksmiths Arms, Offham. Good beer and food
Tea: Plenty of opportunities in Lewes
Distance: 12 miles, returning from Lewes. The route before lunch is mostly hilly as we follow the South Downs Way.
After lunch the walk will be flat as we are taking the Ouse Valley Way almost to Lewes.
Fare: £20.75 CDR Lewes or £14.95 from boundary Zone 6 with railcard discounts plus bus fare as shown above.
Maurice will meet the ramblers at Hayward’s Heath.
In case you have not seen Maurice's e mail of 9 August please note the following:
"Just a short note that the walk, for anyone interested, on this day
will finish at the St Pancras Catholic Church High Street, Lewes
with a special Mass at 1750. I shall be coming to this.
" If you are coming on this walk and are intending to have the pub
lunch I would be grateful if you will let me know by email. I have my
own email now which is: mauricehickman1@gmail.com"
Saturday 28th August Leader: Margaret Brady OS Landranger 188
Meet: Charing Cross 0945 for 1004 train to Knockholt (arr 1049). 11am prompt start from the station.
Please note there are no toilets at Knockholt so please use the facilities on the train.
Lunch: The Bull, Otford . There are also tea shops in Otford and places to picnic.
Tea: NoT today.
Distance: 10 miles - mostly level miles but with a couple of hills as well, returning from Knockholt. Two trains per hour back to London.
Fare: Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options.
Margaret will meet the ramblers at Knockholt.
Photographs taken on Margaret's Walk can be seen by clicking HERE
Bank holiday Monday 30th August Leader: David Crundall OS Explorer 160
Meet: Waterloo 0900 for 0928 train to Windsor and Eton Riverside (arr 1021). Also calls Clapham Junction 0938.
Lunch: The Savill Building, Savill Garden, Englefield Green.
Tea: Windsor.
Distance: Mostly 10 level miles through Windsor Great Park returning from Windsor and Eton Riverside.
Fare: £8.80 CDR Windsor and Eton Riverside - £5.45 from boundary zone 6 - with railcard discounts.
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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
