St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers’ Club

 

Affiliated to the Ramblers Association and H.F. Holidays

www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com

Email: stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com

 

After 20 long weeks of having weekends without organised rambles, it gave me great pleasure to be able to put up details of rambles from 17 August 2020. Since then there have been rambles every week which were well attended and we have received photographs taken on several of them which apear on the members photos page of this website.

 

This great revival continues with the autumn programme below. This is being produced a few rambles at a time and as each new set arrives I will put the details up here so do keep an eye on the website for future plans and enjoy the wonderful rambles being put on by our gallant leaders.

 

Saturday3rd October   Leader: Ant Connolly   (OS Explorer 196) 

Meet:          Liverpool Street station 0945 for 1000 train to Manningtree (arr.                     1055) 

Lunch:         Sun Inn Dedham - other options close by. Also, a Co-op selling                       sandwiches. Park and Church grounds for picnic.  

                     There are buses between Colchester and Dedham if wishing

                     to join/leave at lunchtime - please visit https://www.panther-

                     travel.co.uk/timetables/81-81a 

Tea:             National Trust Tea Room, Flatford Mill or Manningtree Station                        Buffet (Bar)  

Distance:    9 miles. Can be muddy in places after rain and three stiles. A                           little hilly in parts but mostly level. 

Fare:            £16.75 CDR Manningtree from Boundary zone 6 with railcard                         discounts.

Ant will meet the ramblers en route on the train at Colchester.

 

Please note the following important additional information about the above walk on 3 October (circulated by the Ramble List Compiler on Friday 25 September 2020):

 

Due to its popularity the main pub mentioned are chasing to find out how many will be eating at the pub. 

 

With the new regulations they will only allow 6 people to come in at one time, and then another 6 after 15 minutes. This is also the case for when departing.  So there will be a limit of only 12 to eat at the pub. 

 

Other places have been booked, and of course picnickers have plenty of benches to sit plus cafes that sell takeaway teas or coffees. 

 

To that end, it would be very helpful if you could please email Ant at ant_connolly@hotmail.com, to advise whether: 

  • (a)you are coming on the walk
  • (b)eating at the Sun Inn / or one of the other choices below: 
  • 1) Sun Inn - please peruse the menu here https://www.thesuninndedham.com/menus/mainmenu/
  • 2) The Marlborough pub – has been booked for six people, for those who just want a drink and a snack.  
  •          They also do main meals. https://www.themarlboroughdedham.co.uk
  • 3) Dedham Arts Centre Tea Room – booked – [Copy of menu in Woed format HERE
  • 4) Picnickers – Benches in the park, square and a covered area on Church grounds

You can see photographs taken on Ant's Manningtree walk above by clicking HERE 

 

 

Saturday 10th October   Leader: Kevin McNamara   (OS Landranger 179) 

Meet:        Only On Thursday 8 October was it posted on                                                  www.nationalrail.co.uk that there are works affecting the outward

                  journey for this ramble and the details are as follows;

 
Meet:         0955 for the 1018 train to Barnes (arr 1033) then change to a
                  replacement bus leaving 1038 and arriving Richmond 1053.
 
                  Trains for Barnes usually go from platforms 19 to 24 and Kevin
                   will meet the ramblers outside the Starbucks opposite platforms 
                   19/20. The toilets are also close by.

 

Lunch:       The Watermans Arms / cafes / picnic on Barnes pond

Tea:             Various options in Putney

Distance:    9 level miles from Richmond to Putney along Thames Path.                            Could be muddy in parts.

Fare:            Oyster / Freedom pass / Travelcard options.

 

You can see photographs taken on Kevin's Richmond to Putney  walk above by clicking HERE

 

Saturday 17th October   Leaders: Antoinettes Adkins and Connolly  (OS Landranger 188) Winnie the Pooh walk 

Meet:         London Bridge station 0945 for 1007 train to Ashurst (arr.                                1057). Train also calls at East Croydon 1022. 

                  According to www.nationalrail.co.uk the train leaves from platform

                   10 at London Bridge.

Coffee:       Dorset Arms, Withyam. A brief comfort / coffee stop 

Lunch:        Anchor Inn, Hartfield https://www.anchorhartfield.com/eat-and-

                    drink/menu/
                    Lunch will be 9 miles into the walk so bring along a snack to

                    have on the way  

Tea:             No T  

Distance:   9 miles returning from East Grinstead station. Quite hilly and                           muddy in places with some stiles. 

                   Return journey is via the No. 291 bus, running once an hour                           from outside pub in Hartefield, to East Grinstead station. Bus                         fare: £3.70 for non-freedom passholders.Timetable PDF  HERE

Fare:          £6.15 CDR Ashurst from Boundary zone 6 plus £3.70 single from

                   East Grinstead to Hurst Green. Both with railcard discounts.  

                  12 places have been booked at both pubs, so please inform

                   by 9.00pm Wednesday 14th Oct if you are coming, so                                   bookings an be amended if needed.  

 

Saturday 24th October     Leader: Maria Vaz (OS Landranger 166) 

Due to the new tenants at the Two Brewers not being able to open this Saturday please note the change of lunch stop which is close by.  

 

Also, there are a couple of minor points ref toilets for those coming out.

 

Meet:       0950 Finsbury Park for 1012 train (Platform 8) to Hadley Wood (arr

                1031).  You can join the train at 0958 Moorgate; 1000 Old Street;                    1006 Highbury & Islington.  Please note re public toilets: none on                     the trains or at Hadley Wood & Brookmans Park stations.                               Outward journey: suggest use the toilets on platforms 7 & 8 at                       Finsbury Park station. 

Lunch:     Judges Restaurant, Northaw. Please note there is a 10% service                    charge added to bills. 

Tea:         Brookmans, Bradmore Green (2-min walk to Brookmans Park                          station) 

Distance: 8-mile linear walk through woodlands to Brookmans Park. Expect                  some muddy paths after wet weather. 

Fare:       Hadley Wood (zone 6) is covered by Oyster/Freedom                                      Pass/Travelcard options.  For the return journey you will need to                  buy a single from Brookmans Park to Hadley Wood £2.40                        with Network Railcard discount. 

Maria will meet the ramblers at Hadley Wood station. 

 

Sunday 1st November   Leader: Brian Falls   (OS ) 

Meet:       Kings Cross 0950 for 1013 train to Arlesey (arr 1050). Also calls

                Finsbury Park 1019. 

Lunch:    Green Man, Stanford. Table for group of 6 booked, further places                    can be booked nearer the 1st November or on the morning

Tea:        Henlow 

Distance: 10 miles. No hills. Walking by river and through two woods.

Fare:         £6.20 from Boundary zone 6 with railcard discounts.

Brian will meet the ramblers at Arlesey.

 

Regrettably that will be the last walk for the time being as the next two had to be cancelled when Lockdown Mark 2 struck on 4 November 2020. However you can see some great photographs taken by Maria and Antoinette on 1 November HERE

 

Saturday 7th November       Leader. Maurice Hickman  (OS Explorer 146). 
Meet:       Blackfriars 0930 for 0954 train to Redhill (arr. 1034). Ramblers can
                also pick up the train at Finsbury Park 0938,
                St Pancras International 0945, Farringdon 0949, London Bridge                    1000 and East Croydon 1016.
Lunch:      Red Lion, Bletchingley. Serves fish on Saturdays
Tea:          Garlands pub, Redhill
Distance:  9 miles, returning from Redhill
Fare:         £3.30 CDR Redhill from boundary zone 6 with railcard discounts.
                 PAYG Oyster and contactless cards valid to/from Redhill
                 Opportunity for those wanting a shorter walk to get a bus to or                       from lunchtime pub.  
                 For a 5 mile walk catch bus 410 or 400 from Redhill bus station                     and alight at Little Common Lane stop close to pub. 
                 Good views of the North Downs in the morning.  Please bring a                     stick as some ground is uneven and muddy.  
                 No uphill stretches, only downhill ones. Maurice will meet the                         ramblers at Redhill
 
 
Sunday 15th November.   Leader. Pauline Lobo    (OS Landranger 166)
Meet:      Baker Street 0925 for 0943 Metropolitan line train to Croxley (arr                   1019). Toilets available at the station.
Lunch:    The Artichoke, Croxley Green. Lots of benches nearby on the                         green for people with packed lunch.
Tea:        No T
Distance: 8 fairly level miles returning to Croxley. May be muddy subject to                    recent rainfall.
Fare:        Oyster / Freedom pass / travelcard options
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The notes in previous emails about heeding the leader's advice and giving contact details at the start of a walk still apply until further notice.  

 

In addition please note the important advice circulated by the ramble list compiler recently that, taking into account the 'Rule Of 6', the leaders will need to know before their rambles start who wants to eat and / or drink  at the pub shown.  Please bear in mind, it may not be possible to make a last-minute decision about having a meal or a drink at the lunch stop.  

 

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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