St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club
Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and H.F. Holidays
Email: stfrancisramblers@gmail.com
List of Rambles fom 25 January to 22 March 2025
March 2025
Sissinghurst Castle Gardens this Saturday, 8th March. Below are the
train details and other information.
For those without a free National Trust ticket or pass, the entry fee
to the Gardens is £18.00.
Meet: Staplehurst station 10:35. Train: Charing Cross (09:34);
Waterloo East (09:37); London Bridge (09:43); Sevenoaks (10:08) Arr.
at Staplehurst (10:33).
Then we will catch the bus no. 5, departing (10:55) which will take us
near the gardens.
Lunch: Picnic/cafe
Tea: The Milkhouse pub, Sissinghurst. The last two buses back to
Staplehurst station are at 16:59 and 17:59, so we can plan accordingly
how much time we will have at the pub before boarding the bus back to
Staplehurst station, the bus stop being less than a 10 min walk away.
Trains back to London are half hourly from Staplehurst.
Miles: 4-6 miles including walking in the gardens. Once we get off the
bus, it's a 2-mile walk to the gardens and we'll need to traverse a
small forest. It might be muddy in places, so please wear boots and
maybe walking sticks would be handy. Due to time constraints, I have
not been able to get out to walk out this short route to the Gardens,
however we did do this walk last year so I am familiar with the
surroundings.
Fare: CDR Staplehurst £14.75 / Boundary zone 6 £11.50. Both with
railcard discounts. Freedom passes are valid on the buses.
Ant will meet the ramblers at Staplehurst station.
Saturday 25th January . Leader Margaret Brady. OS explorer 136.
Meet at Tonbridge station 10.15 for a 10.30 start.
Lunch : Poacher and Partridge in Tudeley.
Returning from Tonbridge station.
8 flat miles which will be muddy in parts. There will be an opportunity to see the stained glass windows of All Saints Church, Tudeley. Tonbridge station is outside the Oyster zone.
Saturday 1st February Leader: John Chenery OS Explorer map 146
Meet: Victoria 0930 for the 0941 train to Holmwood (arr 1047). Also calls Clapham Junction 0948.
Early Lunch: Leith Hill Tower kiosk. Bring a sandwich or buy a snack from the counter, and eat it alfresco nearby.
Early Tea or Beer: The Plough Inn, Coldharbour. This gets very busy and it is unlikely to be possible to buy a pub meal without a reservation, but we can buy drinks and the pub also has a shop selling tea, coffee and cakes and we can sit down.
Distance: 8 miles returning from Holmwood. Going to the top of Leith Hill, which is the highest point in South East England, results in our walk being mainly on good surfaces, but there are some muddy patches and some short steep ascents on the way up. The route will include The Duke's Warren and Redlands Wood. The leader will shorten the walk if necessary to ensure we finish before it gets dark. No toilets until we get to the Plough Inn after 5 miles.
John will meet the ramblers at Holmwood station.
Saturday 8th February. Leader: Kevin MacNamara
Meet: Putney Bridge Tube Station (District Line). 10.15 for 10.30
Lunch: Multi choice options in Barnes, including benches for picnic by Barnes pond for those eating their own food.
Tea: The Rocket (Wetherspoons) Putney or Putney Pantry.
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.
Saturday 8th March.
Sissinghurst Castle Gardens this Saturday, 8th March. Below are the
train details and other information.
For those without a free National Trust ticket or pass, the entry fee
to the Gardens is £18.00.
Meet: Staplehurst station 10:35. Train: Charing Cross (09:34);
Waterloo East (09:37); London Bridge (09:43); Sevenoaks (10:08) Arr.
at Staplehurst (10:33).
Then we will catch the bus no. 5, departing (10:55) which will take us
near the gardens.
Lunch: Picnic/cafe
Tea: The Milkhouse pub, Sissinghurst. The last two buses back to
Staplehurst station are at 16:59 and 17:59, so we can plan accordingly
how much time we will have at the pub before boarding the bus back to
Staplehurst station, the bus stop being less than a 10 min walk away.
Trains back to London are half hourly from Staplehurst.
Miles: 4-6 miles including walking in the gardens. Once we get off the
bus, it's a 2-mile walk to the gardens and we'll need to traverse a
small forest. It might be muddy in places, so please wear boots and
maybe walking sticks would be handy. Due to time constraints, I have
not been able to get out to walk out this short route to the Gardens,
however we did do this walk last year so I am familiar with the
surroundings.
Fare: CDR Staplehurst £14.75 / Boundary zone 6 £11.50. Both with
railcard discounts. Freedom passes are valid on the buses.
Ant will meet the ramblers at Staplehurst station.
Saturday 22nd March Leader: John Chenery OS Explorer map OL34
Meet: Victoria 0930 for the 0941 train to Horsham (arr 1102).
Also calls Clapham Junction 0948.
Also calls Clapham Junction 0948.
Returning From: Crawley Station
Lunch: The Dragon Inn, Colgate
Tea: none
Distance: 8 or 9 miles returning from Crawley. Via High Weald Landscape Trail, St Leonards Forest, Buchan Country Park, Target Hill Nature Reserve. Some urban walking at the start and end. John will meet the ramblers at Horsham Station.
Saturday 29 March. The walk starts and finishes at Orpington station.
Leader : Margaret Brady.
Start Orpington Station: Meet at 10.30 at the bus stop side of the station.
Lunch : George and Dragon in Downe village.
Tea :May be
The walk starts and ends with a bus journey, so please have your
contactless payment card, oyster card or freedom card with you.
The walk is approximately 8 miles. Mainly flat, with only a couple of
inclines. Orpington is in the Oyster Zone. Orpington is well served
with trains from London Victoria and London Bridge. Please be aware
that parts of the walk may be/will be muddy.
walk starts and finishes at Orpington station.
Leader : Margaret Brady.
Start Orpington Station: Meet at 10.30 at the bus stop side of the station.
Lunch : George and Dragon in Downe village.
Tea :May be
The walk starts and ends with a bus journey, so please have your
contactless payment card, oyster card or freedom card with you.
The walk is approximately 8 miles. Mainly flat, with only a couple of
inclines. Orpington is in the Oyster Zone. Orpington is well served
with trains from London Victoria and London Bridge. Please be aware
that parts of the walk may be/will be muddy.
walk starts and finishes at Orpington station.
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