efog-blog
Recent outings and activities...
New Forest – 25th - 28th September 2023
Six of us (Ken, Richard, Cathy, Eileen, Louise & Marion) went youth (age is just a number) hostelling in Burley, Hampshire, organised by Eileen. Some of us availed ourselves of the unlimited breakfasts, including liberating fruit for the walks. Two opted for DIY breakfasts.
We travelled down in two cars and met up at the Shappen Café in Burley for a nice lunch, marred slightly by a few wasps which wanted a share of a cream tea. You do however have to give way to horses which saunter down the village streets.
Ponies in the New ForestWe then drove down to Bournemouth where some went in the Upside Down House and on the Observation Wheel then we all sauntered down the pier.
Whilst looking at the menu outside an Italian restaurant one customer dashed out and enthused over how wonderful the food was, she just seemed too over enthusiastic and we wondered if she was actually employed by the restaurant. So, after a lovely meal in a Thai restaurant we returned to Burley and the Youth Hostel.
Tuesday during breakfast, the rain came down in torrents, but by the time we were ready to leave it had blown over and we ended up with a lovely 8.5 mile circular walk from Whitemoor Car Park up to the Tall Trees Trail where we ate our sandwiches, then past Rhinefield House and back to the car park. It was a pleasant mix of forest and heath sometimes walking alongside streams, though at one point a massive puddle on a bridge over a stream made it feel like we were almost in the stream.
That evening we ate at the White Buck Inn just a stroll down from the Hostel. We were allocated seats at a rather sticky table, then had a long wait for our orders to be taken and an even longer wait for the food, which was OK, but nothing outstanding given the price and wait. The wines were also slightly expensive, but that’s another story.
A cottage in the village of BrookOn Wednesday we drove to the Rufus Stone (site of the death of William the Conqueror’s son in a hunting accident) from there we had a 5.5 mile walk up to Brook, where we stopped at the Green Dragon for refreshments and saw picturesque thatched cottages. Then back down to the Rufus Stone on the way we saw a couple of deer cross our path in the woods.
Although both walks were taken from a book and so were pre-walked, the directions sometimes left a bit to be desired leaving us at Much Dithering on the Moor. One was ‘turn right at the water tower’. You’d think that would be easy to spot even with all the trees, but we saw no sign of it.
A good map and compass or sometimes even google maps helps keep you on track.
In the evening we had an excellent meal at the Burley Inn. Service was quite a contrast to the night before.
On the drive back we stopped off at The Vyne (National Trust) near Basingstoke where we experienced a variety of guides – one outside and others in the rooms - giving us some of the history. We also had a pleasant stroll through the attached woods.
We slightly misjudged our leaving time so hit rush hour or worse round the M25/A406 and took 4 hours from The Vyne, but otherwise a good time was had by all.
Richard. 6th October 2023
Marble Hill House visit and walk
Five of us (Ken, Trevor, Laurel, Fozi & Richard) met at 11am at Richmond Station on a very warm and sunny Saturday 9th September 2023.
We strolled in the shade of the shops up to Richmond Bridge, crossed the bridge then followed along the Thames to Marble House Park, benefitting from the shade of trees and a slight river breeze.
The Thames itself was bustling with paddleboarders, canoeists and boats of varying sizes.
Leaving the Thames, we headed through the park, past youngsters playing football in the sweltering heat, up to the House itself. The House, though owned and run by English Heritage, is free of charge.
There were knowledgeable room guides bursting to tell some of the history of the House and it’s original owner – Henrietta Howard.
The building was quite cool inside due to the blinds used to protect furnishings and the general size of the rooms, there were also not too many other visitors so we could browse at our own pace.
After the house, we went to the café for some welcome refreshments, we then sauntered down to the river again, where we boarded Hammerton’s Ferry across to the other side and a stroll back to Richmond Station. We were informed that there were good views to be had from the top of Terrace Gardens, or probably better still, Richmond Hill, which has the only view protected by an Act of Parliament. However, we felt either option was best left for a cooler day. Indeed Fozi decided to catch a bus from the Gardens.
The remaining four carried on past the old Richmond Brewery buildings, then a unique Poppy Crossing (near the British Legion Poppy Factory) and back to the shops and station.
We covered about 4-4.5 miles, in total, which was plenty in the heat.
Richard. 10th September 2023
Cedar Park and River Lea Walk
Saturday 12th August saw nine of us - Louise, Madeline, Fozi, Ken, Cathy, Richard, Elaine, Dave and myself - meeting at Cheshunt Station for a leisurely 5½ mile walk. The walk was originally going to be partially along the new river, but unfortunately the footpaths were closed for works so we had to change plans (you wouldn’t believe the problems it caused me the previous week trying to recce a suitable route!)
We headed from the station towards the High Street, before heading off the main road to a track adjacent to a sports ground and turning south to emerge opposite Cedars Park, which is the former site of Theobalds Palace. The Palace itself was destroyed in the Civil War, but parts of it remain and it’s a nice tranquil park.
After having a wander around the park we exited and headed east toward Theobald’s Grove Station, and continued eastbound, crossing the railway line to enter the Lea Valley Park and headed to the White Water Rafting Centre for lunch, having watched the canoeists and rafters braving the wild water rapids. It looks like fun.
Suitably refreshed, we continued to the somewhat calmer waters of the River Lea Navigation and headed south to a lock before turning back alongside the River Lea, northwards. We followed the river for a couple of miles with the Gunpowder Mills over the river to our right, before turning left and crossing over the Lea Navigation to exit the park, then back to Cheshunt Station to return home.
Trev. 10th September 2023
Snaresbrook to Chingford
Twelve of us met at the clubhouse in Snaresbrook on a sunny Saturday 29th of July. Setting off, we passed Eagle Pond and noticed the large number of swans. Avian Flu does not seem to have had much impact here! A stop at Birch Well, an important source of water in the early 19th century, and then on past Hollow Pond.
The Birch Well, SnaresbrookCrossing the busy Woodford New Road we walked up through Canada Plain, meeting other walkers going the opposite way and, like ourselves, enjoying the weather.
There is a steep ascent on the way to the bridge over Forest Road and it was here that Fred showed his true colours, slipping on the surface and taking firm hold of Laurel as he struggled to remain upright.
Walking on the bridge over the North Circular Road only emphasises what a scar on the landscape it is and how much it has affected the forest. Couldn’t they have done a Bell Common here and put it underground?
Into Walthamstow Forest (the “waste”) roughly following the “Old Woodford Road” we crossed Oak Hill and headed up to the Bridle Path and into The Sale. A previous walk along here had come across a swing hanging from a tree and sure enough, there was a swing this time. Regrettably none of us were flexible enough to get our legs over the rather high bar and so a photo opportunity was missed.
We had been warned by Kathy that Humphrey’s café in Highams Park was shut because builders were in and we therefore stopped at the southern end of Highams Lake. There were only a couple of benches but a high wall provided amusement as some of us struggled to climb it. Kathy joining us meant that we were now 13 and sure enough, immediately after we set off again, Fred fell over, cutting his head. The group had already split up and an activity that Efoggers will recognise was taking place, namely shouting loudly to try and find the missing members. Eventually we all joined up again and Fred’s wound was dealt with.
Across Chingford Lane we now started to follow the route of the River Ching, changed from the name River Bourne in the 19th century to take the name of the surrounding are. It is normally the other way round. People were getting tired now and we left Fred at Whitehall Road to take a bus home while the rest of us climbed past Whitehall Plain to Rangers Road and our finish at The View visitor centre.
Brian U. 5th August 2023
London Bridge to Wapping
In lieu of the original Sunday walk on the Programme, a group of us met at Tower Bridge Station on Saturday 8th July and – led by Richard – we followed a meandering route (taken from ‘Hidden London’ which details some of the history of different areas) along the Thames towards Wapping, taking us past St Katherine’s Dock and Dickens' pub, which is next to Telford’s Footbridge.
From the Thames there were good views of old/new London – St Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, The Shard, etc.
Unfortunately it started to rain, so when it got a bit heavy at 12ish, we took refuge and had an early lunch in the historic old pub, The Town of Ramsgate. It was still raining as we exited the pub, so we cut short the walk and made straight for Wapping Station. The whole walk was 2.5 miles.
Richard. 5th August 2023
The Shard and Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge