St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club
Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and H.F. Holidays
www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com
Email: stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com
Saturday 11th September Leaders: Derek and Mary Clarke OS Explorer 108 Meet: St Pancras International Platform B 0850 for 0916 to Sandy (arr 1004). Ramblers can also join this train at East Croydon 0845, London Bridge 0901, Blackfriars 0907, Farringdon 0911 and Finsbury Park 0924. The returning trains, twice hourly, also call at these stations.
Meet: Euston 0905 for the 0926 London Overground train to Carpenders Park (arr 1008). Also calls Willesden Junction 0944 (Overground and Bakerloo line) and Harrow & Wealdstone 1000 (Bakerloo line and mainline services). There is also an Overground service from Clapham Junction at 916, West Brompton 0923 and Shepherds Bush 0929 arriving Willesden Junction 0936 which connects with the train from Euston.
Lunch: Moon & Sixpence, Hatch End. Good value Wetherspoons menu.
Tea: Unlikely.
Distance: 10 miles with some gentle hills mainly in the afternoon returning from Carpenters Park. The walk visits woods, farmland, a deer park and viewpoints over London. Muddy conditions possible.
Sunday 3rd October Leader: Maria Vaz OS Explorer 174 & Epping Forest: the official map produced by the OS for the City of London Corporation
Meet: 0910 Liverpool Street for 0933 Overground train to Chingford zone 5 (arr 0959). Train also calls Walthamstow Central 0948 - Victoria line.
Lunch: The Owl, Lippitts Hill
Tea: Butler’s Retreat or nearby in Chingford high street
Distance: 10.5-mile ramble, including some hills, through the southern part of Epping Forest. Returning from Chingford.
Fare: Oyster/Freedom Pass/Travelcard options. There are 4 trains per hour back to Liverpool Street.
Maria will meet the ramblers at Chingford station.
You can see some wonderful photographs taken on Maria;s walk above by clicking HERE
Saturday 16th October. Leader: John Burbage OS Explorer map 172
Meet: Marylebone Station 0850 for 0912 train to Gerrards Cross (arr. 09.37). Earlier service calls at West Ruislip 09.17 to connect with Central Line (arr. 09.29).
Lunch: The Blackwood Arms, Littleworth Common. Atmospheric traditional pub nestled in a remote woodland setting. Excellent medium-high priced food but with some smaller portion dishes available (see website). A real gem!
Tea: Probably in Gerrards Cross.
Distance: 13 miles through farmland and autumnal forests including Burnham Beeches. Long morning with a few gentle hills but a relatively easy-going afternoon.
Returning from Gerrards Cross.
Fare: £10.80 return Gerrards Cross, £4.60 from boundary zone 6, both with railcard discounts.
Sunday 24th October Leader: Ant Connolly OS Explorer map 174
Meet: Liverpool Street 0935 for 0957 for train to Broxbourne (arr 1023). Train also calls at Tottenham Hale 1010.
As the lunch stop is 7 miles into walk, there will be a rest stop after 4.5 miles so please bring a snack to keep you going.
Lunch: The Farmer’s Boy, Brickendon. (Sunday Roasts – menu attached).
Self-booking needed as only online bookings are taken, and they charge a £10 fee for cancellations under 24 hours and ‘no- shows’. Bookings to be made at www.farmersboy.pub Tel. 01992 511017 - please mention St Francis Ramblers on booking form so they can seat us together.
Nearby Green with benches for picnic lunch.
Tea: No T
Distance: 10 miles through Broxbourne woods returning from Bayford station but NB see amended details in red below. Advisable to bring walking poles as it is muddy and hilly in places, and being in
woods there are protruding tree roots.
Drop-out opportunity at 7 miles, after the lunch stop which is roughly 12 minutes' walk from Bayford station.
Trains back half-hourly to Finsbury Park, Highbury and Islington and Moorgate.
Fare: PAYG Oyster and contactless to Broxbourne and from Bayford. Freedom pass and 60+ Oyster card holders will need to buy singles £3.75 from boundary zone 6 to Broxbourne and £3.10
from Bayford to boundary zone 6. Both with railcard discounts.
NB. Following publication of the above details of the walk on Sunday 24 October 2021 members for whom the club has e mail addresses received the following important further details from the Ramble List Compiler:
After a recent recce, one section of the last 3 miles after lunch proved to be unsafe for walking, a stretch of road with blind corners and cars being driven far too fast. Regrettably, this walk will now end at the lunch stop with a total distance of 8 miles.
If eating at the pub, please book on-line http://www.farmersboy.pub/ for 2.30pm; either a restaurant table or a covered seating outdoor area if you wish to eat outside, and remember to mention St Francis Ramblers on your booking form. They do not take telephone bookings. The pub grub is tasty and good-size portions.
NB the following further announcement received on Tuesday 19 October 2021:
The pub is keeping a table for 10 for the walkers coming to lunch on Sunday and they are cancelling all the bookings under St Francis Ramblers. So don't panic if you receive an email saying your booking has been cancelled - everyone coming will be accommodated.
No need also to let Ant know if you are coming as numbers will be taken on the day and informed to pub.
Also, please bring your walking poles as the woodland ground is wet and muddy in places.
You can see some photographs taken on Ant's walk above by clicking HERE
Saturday 30th October Leader: Margaret Brady OS Explorer map 162
Meet: Charing Cross 0920 for 0942 train to Erith (arr 1025). Also calls Waterloo East 0945, London Bridge 0951 and Lewisham (DLR services) 1000.
Lunch: The Cutty Sark, Joyce Dawson Way, Thamesmead. The pub does not do food but you can bring your sandwiches to eat so long as you buy a drink at the bar.
Also, there is a Morrisons with a cafe very close to the pub.
Tea: Woolwich
Distance: 11 level miles returning from Woolwich. DLR as well as main line services
Fare: Oyster/Freedom pass/Travelcard options
Saturday 6th November Leader: Maurice Hickman OS Explorer map 146
Meet: Victoria 0910 for 0939 train to Redhill(arr. 1018)
Lunch: Red Lion, Bletchingley. Nearby benches for picnickers.
Tea: The Garland, Redhill
Distance: 9 miles, last mile being along quiet lit roads.
Fare: PAYG and contactless valid for use to and from Redhill.
Freedom pass and 60+ Oyster card holders will need to buy a r return from boundary zone 6 to Redhill, £3.35 with railcard discounts
Good views of North Downs in morning. Afternoon is more challenging underfoot in places so a stick is recommended.
Bus 400 or 410 stops outside pub so easy to get to lunch place from Redhill or to return from the pub.
Sunday 28th November - Leaders: Catherine Heckman & Ant Connolly OS Explorer map 173
Meet: Cockfosters station (Piccadilly line) 0930 for 0945 prompt departure. Toilets in station
Lunch: The King & Tinker pub, Enfield https://www.kingandtinker.com/food (Sunday roasts).
A deposit of £5 pp for 8 people has already been paid to secure a table at this busy pub.
Your bill will be reduced by £5 when paying, so please be sure to refund Ant on the day.
Lunch will be just under 7 miles into walk so bring a snack to keep you going
Tea: No T
Miles: 9 miles through Trent Park and Whitewebbs Woods, returning from
Turkey Street station. Following the London Loop Section 17 for most of the way.
Fare: Oyster/Travelcard/Freedom pass. Twice hourly trains to Liverpool Street stopping at Seven Sisters on the way.
A wonderful selection of photographs taken on the above Cockfosters walk by Antoinette Adkins can be seen by clicking HERE.
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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