St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club

Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and H.F. Holidays

Email: stfrancisramblers@gmail.com

 
Saturday 14th June. Leader Kevin MacNamara
 
Meet At 10:20 on Farringdon station Platform B Westbound to catch the 10:38 Elizabeth line train to Taplow. Arrives Taplow 11:23.
Own Drinks stop Bray Lock
Lunch Picnic lunch at the Grade 1 listed St Mary Magdalen Church, near Boveney Lock. The church should be open.
Late lunch / Tea The King & Castle (Wetherspoons) Windsor or other eateries in Windsor.
Distance A linear walk of about 8 miles to Windsor, mostly following the Thames Path. Could be muddy in parts, following wet weather. The only toilet stop is at Taplow station.
Fare Taplow, on the Elizabeth line, is covered on the Freedom Pass, for Freedom Pass holders. Otherwise, Taplow is outside Boundary Zone 6 which is West Drayton.
For the return journey, extend Freedom Pass for single ticket from Windsor and Eton Riverside to Feltham which is at the end of Boundary Zone 6.. 
There is a half-hourly train service back to London Waterloo.
 

Saturday 21st June                 Leader: Maria Vaz (OS Explorer Map OL25)

Meet:   0835 Victoria for 0854 train to Lewes (arr.1002 ) This train also calls at 0901 Clapham Junction and 0910 East Croydon;

We have 4 minutes to pick up the connecting train: 1006 Lewes (Platform 3) to Seaford (arr. 1025).

No Toilets at the station.  Public toilets are 10mins walk away.

Short break before lunch stop: Bring snacks, etc.

Lunch: National Trust Café, Birling Gap. There’s a choice of soup, sandwiches, pasties, cakes, hot and cold drinks, etc. Or bring a picnic lunch. (Please note: the Café will be busy!) 

Option to have a main meal at the end of the ramble at Eastbourne where there are lots of restaurants and cafés, etc.

Tea: TBC

Distance: approx. 14 miles returning from Eastbourne. A scenic coastal ramble: some steep hills including the Seven Sisters.

Fare: Day Return to Seaford £44.70/with Rail card £24.90, PLUS a Single from Eastbourne to Lewes £10.40/with Rail card £6.90.  

For 60+ Oyster card & Freedom Pass holders: Day Return from Boundary Zone 6 with Senior Rail Card to Seaford £19.40, PLUS a Single from Eastbourne to Lewes with Senior Rail Card £6.90.

 

Saturday 28th June   Eynsford -  Shoreham.  Leader Madeleine Farren
 
Meeting Saturday 28 th June at  11.11 hours Eynsford Station
 
Train is from Blackfriars direct at 1016, and the leader will get on Bromley South 1053 hrs.
Walk along the Old Pilgrims way to Shoreham.
Lunch; Crown or Samuel Palmer pub in Shoreham Village, or bring your own to have in Church Yard.
Then up into woods , slight climb, back to Shoreham Village, and home from Shoreham Station.
Miles ; approx 7 miles.
 
 
Ramble : Letchworth Circular Saturday 5th July 2025.         
 
Leader Brian Falls
Meet: Letchworth Garden City Station Entrance at 10.42.
Coffee: Cadwell Lavender Farm.
Lunch: Two Chimneys pub, Letchworth. Good menu , inexpensive.
Tea: Standalone Farm.
Distance: 7.5 - 8 miles. good views across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, one easy slope to walk up after visiting Lavender Farm.
Fare: £17 return (without concessions) from St Pancras International (trains also from Kings Cross).
Depart: 10.01 St Pancras International (stops at stations through London and further south) Arrive 10.42 Letchworth Garden City.
Return: Every 30 minutes from Letchworth Garden City to St Pancras (also stations south) and Kings Cross.
 
Saturday 12 July 25  (OS Map 12) - NB Originally planned for Sunday 13th but had to be moved from Sunday because of severe disruption and rail replacement buses.
 
As per Philip the new train time 9.24 train time from Victoria and arrives in Lewes at 10.26. All other details remain the same. 
 
Leader: Philip Groves 
NB By his calculations, this walk will be Philip's 50th walk as a Club leader and this year marks 30 years since his first in 1995!  All are welcome!
Meet: London Victoria at 9.15 for 9.24 train to Lewes arriving 10.26 
NB The leader will meet the group at Lewes
Lunch:  The Black Horse, Rottingdean or a choice of other nearby pubs/eateries
Possibility of a swim before lunch!
Tea:  The Brewer's Arms, Lewes (at end of the walk)
Distance: around 14 miles, some hills
Fare: CDR to Lewes from London Victoria £20.73 with a Gold/Network Card 
 
 
Saturday 19th July (Explorer Maps(146/147). Leader:  Maurice Hickman
Meet:  Victoria 0930 for 0950 train to Oxted(arr.1031).
Lunch:  Carpenter’s Arms, Limpsfield Chart
Tea: The King’s Arms, Westerham
Distance: 7 miles, returning by 1630 bus to Oxted.
Fare:  £10.10 with Network Card
Maurice will meet the walkers outside Oxted Station
The walk is fairly easy going on the whole.  The cost of the main pub meals are pricey but yet are good value for quality and quantity offered. There are benches in the field across the road from the pub where one’s own food can be eaten.
The King’s Arms advertises their teas and coffees and the bus stop is just outside! 
 
Date Saturday 26th July 2025  Leader : Tom Gilmartin
 
Walk: Bexley Station to Petts Wood Station
Train Details: 09:45 train from London Bridge to Bexley station, also calls at Lewisham 09:55.  Arrives Bexley 10:17
 Lunch: "The Star at Sidcup"
Tea: Numerous cafes and pubs at the end of the walk in Petts Wood.
Distance : 7 miles
Fare : Freedom and Oyster card options available.
Tom will meet the walkers at Bexley Station. The  walk follows the River Cray, Scadbury Park , and Petts Wood. Level terrain, no hills or stiles to negotiate. Toilet facilities at London Bridge station.
 
Date Sat 2nd August      Leader: John Chenery    OS Explorer map OL11, OL125
 
Meet:        Victoria 0915 for the 0929 train to Brighton (arr 1027). 
 
Returning From:  Southease  Station
 
Lunch: The Downs Hotel, Woodingdean
 
Tea: possible second pub stop at The Abergavenny Arms, Rodmill
 
Distance:   12 miles
 
 
John will meet the ramblers at Brighton Station.  Through Preston Park then we climb through the streets of Brighton passing the racecourse.  After dropping down to Woodingdean for an early lunch, we climb Newmarket Hill then remain on the ridges of the South Downs for most of the walk until the final descent through Rodmill to Southease Station down by the River Ouse.
 
 
Saturday 9th August.         Leader: John Burbage

Meet:   Pinner U/G Station (Metropolitan Line) 10.10 for 10.15 start. Main U/G joining points: Liverpool Street 09.25, Farringdon 09.30, King’s Cross 09.33, Baker Street 09.42, Harrow on the Hill 10.02. Please allow plenty of time to meet the train.

Lunch:  The Harefield, High Street, Harefield. A friendly village local offering a range of popular pub dishes, toasties and sandwiches at modest prices. Local beers come from the Marlow Brewery. Coffee shops and bakeries are also available.

Distance:  11.5 miles mainly on the level through cool woods, country parks and open farmland whilst remaining within the London boundary. Harefield boasts the world famous heart hospital formerly set to treat ANZAC soldiers during World War1. We visit the St. Mary’s Church dates from the 12th century with its Wartime cemetery and return from Northwood Hills one stop from Pinner.

Joining / leaving the walk at Harefield. The 331 bus operates from Ruislip and Uxbridge Stations ( Metropolitan and Piccadilly) to Harefield. Alight at The Green and turn left at the roundabout into High Street for the pub.

Fare: Oyster Card/ contactless card to Zone 6. No cost to London Freedom Pass holders.

Please Note: As the walk is in a remote part of North West London toilet facilities are scarce. Toilets are available in Baker Street Station and Harrow on the Hill. Please allow additional time if necessary.