This Week's Walks

Dear Sean,

I may be intersted in your trip to Shropshire on 27th June.
Where will you be staying?

Jane

Rail Tickets : If returning via the Waterloo line, I suggest buying a cheap day return to Sunningdale, then for the return leg buy a single from Windsor & Eton Riverside to Staines, where the two branch lines converge. Your "return" part of the Sunningdale Cheap Day Return will then be valid back to London Waterloo from here. (You won't need to change trains)

Regarding food, there is a Waitrose supermarket adjacent to Sunningdale station if you want to buy yourself a picnic lunch before setting out.

I'd call the Savill Garden restaurant more than pasasable - it's run by Leith's, and despite being a bit pricey, it's very good. It was one of the highlights of the walk when I did it one particularly dismal day last November.

I'd call the Savill Garden restaurant more than pasasable - it's run by Leith's, and despite being a bit pricey, it's very good. It was one of the highlights of the walk when I did it one particularly dismal day last November.

Glad to see that the correct scheduled Nicholas Albury walk is being listed for this week. There is atrain from Waterloo to Sunningdale leaing Waterloo at 9.50
and form Richmond at 10.06.

This walk is listed at this time of year because the Azaleas and Rhododendons are magnificent about now. Yes the restaurant is much improved too.Cheers,
Jane

In the book the scheduled walk is number 19 Hever to Leigh.

A pity. BBC are forecasting 25C for tomorrow, a walk ending up by the sea would be ideal. Journey to Berwick seems to take two hours including bus; you can get back from Eastbourne to charing cross by train. Any takers for doing the original Berwick/Eastbourne walk?

It needs a map though, and would its authors like to be credited.

I'm impressed at all the work you've done. Thanks from my walk partner and me.

[Alison Bearn writes] Rethink is a large mental health charity & we have recently received funding to set up walking projects for mental health service users & carers in four areas of London ( Harrow , Ealing, Hackney & Lambeth). The planned walks will only be relatively short ? only up to 1 ? 1 ½ hours/ 2 ? 3 miles - in length & are targeted at mental health service users & carers. The aim of the project is to encourage & motivate people to take part in walking & hopefully then link them into other physical activity groups in the area. It is hoped that the walking groups will act as a first step to get people walking & to then link them in with other services. Mental health service-users & carers often have much higher rates of physical illness & often lack the confidence to join mainstream services & this is what our project is hoping to address. We are in the process of recruiting volunteers to the project & this is one of the reasons why I am contacting you now?

?I was sitting on the train on Saturday listening to a group of Saturday walkers on their way to Leigh for a (very wet!) walk & it suddenly dawned on me that perhaps I could publicise our service on your website ? or in your forum ? as it might be a way of reaching keen walkers who might be interested in volunteering for the project ? or who might know people who would like to join one of the walks. I have a huge amount of regard for the Time Out guides & the Saturday walking group as it was the first edition of the book that started me out walking & helped me escape into the country when I first moved to London . I now go walking most weekends but don?t know that I would ever have started doing this without your books to guide me! When listening to the walkers chatting on Saturday I thought it would be great to let some of the people who use your site & books know about our project as it would be great to make links with fellow walkers who have the enthusiasm to encourage people to start walking.

Alison Bearn
Walking for Wellbeing Coordinator
Rethink

http://www.rethink.org/go.rm?id=5216

Phone 020 7330 9148
Fax 020 7330 9134
Alison.Bearn --AT-- rethink.org

Midweek Walk, Wednesday 02 April, Book 2, Walk 26 - Southease to Seaford. 7 of us enjoyed this day out up and over the South Downs. Due to a fatality on the line we missed the Southease connection at Lewes, so instead started our walk from Lewes on the longer Walk 26C, which happens to be a more balanced walk having a resemblance of a morning leg. The promise of better weather in the afternoon after we had enjoyed lunch in Rodmell at the excellent Abergavenny Arms did not materialise, but the cloud cover and fine drizzle which accompanied our merry band over the Downs didn't spoil the outing. Two left at Bishopstone to catch an early train home, the rest finished the walk in Seaford at Trawlers to indulge in fish and chips.
Verily, knocked spots off being in the office today.

Sat 5 April. Saunderton round.
6/7 of us, including one first-timer, set off in fair weather, which lasted for almost all of the day. on this pleasant and varied walk. Because it started before 10, we were able to be pretty relaxed about it, and had longish lunch and tea stops but still picked up a train shortly after four. A very convivial day.

Saturday 05 April, Book 1 Walk 17 - Bow Brickhill to Woburn Sands. 3 of us - plus 2 under an hour behind. A delayed departure out of Euston meant another missed connection (twice for me in a week !) but no problem - a short taxi ride from Bletchley - and we were off and walking. Mixed weather, rain and drizzle, a bit of sun, with some sleet later did not spoil this walk which passes through Woburn Safari Park. A brown bear posed, kangaroos obliged and skipped, a water buffalo looked dead bored, elephants threw dirt - all good stuff, but not sure who was watching whom, so tame were the residents. Lunch at the Bell in Woburn - more informal than the Black Horse - was very acceptable once they found some eggs. Straightforward journey home with good connections concluded another very enjoyable day out.

Saturday 5 April: Alternative Walk: Whyteleafe to Hayes: 18 on this walk, which cleverly avoided showing its proximity to London till we descended the hill and found civilisation in the shape of a Harvester pub and Hayes station. The odd sunny flash in the morning, then grey, some rain later. We were kindly invited back to tea at the very pleasant south London home of a certain walking couple...

I don't know if any fellow walkers made it out this Sunday (6 April) but as neither of the two scheduled walks really appealed to me I decided to do a solo Glynde to Seaford walk (Book 1, walk 41) and it was a fantastic and exhilarating day out with the landscape transformed by the heavy snow. With snow so rare in SE England these days it was stunning to "crunch" along much loved downs and paths. By 5.30pm when nearing London it had all disappeared apart from the folorn melting snowmen spotted in Tooting Park.
All this and a fine lunch in the George Inn, Alfriston by a roaring log fire. A memorable day with a few quick photos to recall it.

11 people seemed to find the weather a positive inducement to doing the Haslemere Circular (Book 1, 22)on Sunday even if some may have been ambiguous about the silence aspect. However, walking silently in the morning through snowy woods was a very special experience. It was also amazing to see snow on yellow gorse and red chaenomeles flowers and later, when melting was well underway, bluebells among patches of snow. Very memorable.

Saturday 12 April, Alternative Walk: Book 1 Walk 37, Southbourne to Chichester. One. The problem with suggesting an off-beat walk is that it might not appeal to anyone else, and this is what seems to have happened here. No matter, there was plenty of interesting birdlife in the harbour and this is one walk I'm always happy to do solo - in fact, it would be a good choice for a Silent Walk. Actually, there may have been some others because when I got to Southbourne (having travelled via Chichester) the connection from Havant was shown as running 20 minutes late and I decided not to hang around for it. If anyone was on that train, however, our paths didn't cross later. The Old House at Home in Chidham proved to be an inspired choice for lunch, producing the best steak pie I've had for years. My only miscalculation was not staying longer in the pub and missing the day's heavy shower; most of the time it was sunny though with a strong wind.

Saturday 12 April: Book 1 Walk 15 Leigh to Tunbridge Wells: 14 people. If Kent is the garden of England then I can inform you that England's garden is a sodden and muddy place at the moment. All lunched at the Bottle House Inn where the food was good but we had to wait about an hour. In future it might be best to book a number of small tables rather than one large table.

Cuxton to Sole Street. 8 (or 9?) on this walk plus one who met us in the lunch time pub, the Cock Inn. A lovely walk with plenty of early bluebells and lots of sunshine amongst the odd downpour. Since the morning section took us 3hours the afternoon section was spent mostly in the pub:)

Saturday 12 April: Second Book walk (amended); Robertsbridge to Battle: 30 on this walk. Some sunny intervals, one hailstorm: rather grey after lunch. Apart from the lovely route and a magnificent hilly approach to Battle, the absolutely highlight of this walk was carpets of wood anemones, which accompanied great long stretches of the walk. The wood on the hill just before lunch in particular was simply amazing, and there some early bluebells here too. I think 90 percent of the UK population of wood anemones must be growing along the route of this walk. It is wood anemone central!

Saturday 12 April : Book 2 Walk. 7 of us on this walk, started a little late with 10:23 train from london bridge. A bit of a funny incident here...we initially started thinking about taking the walk to Battle but due to a little carelessness ended up doing the Robertsbridge circular (long walk). Nevertheless it was a good day out with some very nice views of the region from hilltops and a couple of places with loads of bluebells. It was admittedly a little muddy in some places and we did have to weather a hail storm and some heavy showers, but that just added to all the fun. Took the 20:10 train back from robertsbridge.

Sunday 13 April, Hassocks to Lewes: about 12, I think.

Wed 16th, Midweek Walk, SWC Walk: Woldingham to Oxted. About 9 on a very nice walk (thanks Sean?).

April 19th: Sevenoaks to Westerham. 15 on a lovely walk, though dampness made it a bit strenuous and map-reading a bit of an adventure! Westerham is a lovely place to finish, with the Tudor Rose beckoning for tea as we emerged from that last alleyway. To be done again on a warm clear day.

Witley to Haslemere; 7 on this walk. The suggested pub, The Crown was not open and had apparently been shut since the new year. There were rumours circulating as to why this was but I won't print them here since they are only rumours...Going around the corner to The Swan we were greeted by performers in interesting costumes celebrating St Georges day. Once it was realised that they were not going to affect hungry walkers being served their lunch, the atmosphere relaxed. I didn't eat there myself but the general opinion was that the food was good but pricey e.g. £15 for roast dinner. Darnleys tea room was a great ending to the walk particularly for some, as beer was on offer as well as tea!

Can I add to the comments about the Sevenoaks to Westerham walk on Saturday 19 April the following, from a member of the slow party

a)an absolutely lovely walk once you have got beyond the dual carriageway

b)BLUEBELLS!!!!

c) Emmetts Garden was also a treat for tea

Sat 19 April Book1 walk 39. 2 on this walk, the Manningtree circular. A grey, slightly chilly day, but staying dry. This the Constable walk, boasts fine views and spectacular churches. East Bergholt church has a handy fairtrade food stall inside. Lunch at the Sun with world music in the background. We didn?t stop for tea.

Sunday 20 April 2008 free download walk 7. Knockholt circular. Twelve on this fine walk with the sun eventually breaking through inhte afternoon. Bluebells past their best.

Satruday 26 April: Alternative Walk: Yalding to Borough Green. 25 on this walk, and eight more apparently did the late start Sevenoaks Circular option. Despite a failed train which delayed us getting to Yalding by an hour, this was a wonderful day out, in pleasant warm sunshine, and with several superb bluebell woods en route. Also fields of (oilseed) rape, and abundant other flowers. Apologies to those who tried to intercept the outward train en route and were confused by the delay: Chris, we saw you walking off the platform at Orpington....

Sat 26 April Hurst Green to Chiddingstone Causeway. 15 on this walk. 5 did the alternative morning route.

Sun 27 April, Book 1 walk 33 Mortimer to Aldermaston.
5 on this walk. We arrived at Mortimer just after a heavy thunderstorm but the rest of day was dry, even sunny. Calleva as enthralling as ever but the museum was shut(Sunday?) Lunch at Calleva Arms. Got to Aldermaston ok despite meeting some wolves.(On leads, I hasten to add). Aldermaston Station was open but we were nearly caught out by the canal bridge opening as we were hurrying to the station. With a two hour gap, that added some last minute excitement.

Sat 26 April: Yalding to Sevenoaks. 'Walker' - re your final comment, my dithering on Orpington station was caused not by confusion but by indecision as to whether a late start to the walk would allow me to get back in time for an evening concert at 7.00pm. My last-minute decision to abort was correct, I think, and the garden profited from some unexpected attention. Glad the walk (and bluebells) were enjoyed by those who persevered.

Sat, 3 May : Book 1 : Milford to Godalming : 13 people, some of whom used the new instructions (as did some other non club walkers)

Sat May 3, Frant to Tunbridge Wells, 15 on this walk - a plenty of variety. Apart from lovely scenery, we had rock climbing demonstration, steam train, patches of muddy fields, and even a glimpse of a water treatment plant, plus two tea stops, all made this a most enjoyable day!

Saturday, May 3. Guildford to Boxhill -- I think it would be safe to say that the 8-10 of us who made the complete journey to Boxhill via the recommended bluebell wood were not disappointed. The bluebell wood most definitely lived up to its praise. For those who made the complete trip -- the red wine from Denbies is pleasantly palatable (though will likely not threaten the French import business).

Petersfield to Liss 4 May silent walk; 8 on this. Hangers looking gorgeous and perfumed with an aroma of wild garlic.

Saturday, May 3 - Book 2, Walk 13c - Guildford to Boxhill. Just to add to the comment above, I understand 20 or so set out from Guildford to do the various options on offer. I did the walk "backwards", starting at Boxhill, and met two TO walkers near Gomshall. Lovely weather, and to confirm, the carpet of bluebells near Blatchford Down were up to Peter's eulogies. So were the displays on Ranmore Common.

I did the Nicholas Albury scheduled Book 1 walk on Sat 3rd May.Bow Brickhill to WoburnSands. It is definitely an underrated walk but there still seem to be some errors in the first half of the walk.Also the golf course has expanded quite a bit since I last walked it.
The village of Woburn is well worth a visit and the pub was excellent.
The next Nicholas Albury walk is in glorious Kent.
Jane

Monday 5 May 2008. Free download walk 10 Little Kimble to Saunderton. 5 set off as a group on this walk plus two others wishing to walk together. Marcus and Richard Harrod, the "godfather" of the TO Walkers Sunday Section and making a very welcome return after his serious injuries, decided on a West Wycombe to Saunderton walk with Richard completing the first half and Marcus walking on to Saunderton where we met up for a drink. This is a lovely walk with a stupendous beech tree bluebell wood near the end. (Memo to Peter C - Spanish and English bluebells seen coexisting in some other areas of the walk plus a curious pinkish white variety! Another genetic variation?) The recommended detour section on page 3 needs rewriting as the landowner(s) have made some changes. Have put a note in the forum.

Monday 5 May, Short Walk, Greenford to Osterley. 11 people, including one newcomer, turned out for this new walk. Congratulations to JG for devising this surprisingly green walk so close to central London. The sunny weather and excellent lunchtime pub played their part in making this a very enjoyable day.

Jane: You seem to be doing the Book 1 walk one week later than the published rota, eg. Walk 17 for May 3 when the book has Walk 18. This used to be the schedule chosen for the 'Relaxed walk', I think. It occurs to me that if you want to meet other walkers following Nicholas's schedule, you'd have a better chance if you followed the rota exactly, ie. did the 'Main Walk'. I've noticed that when we do a Book 1 walk 'on rota' there are sometimes people who have bought the book and are following the published rota, but I don't think I've ever come across anyone doing Walk-1 or Walk+1, etc. Just a thought.

Sunday 4 May, Extra Walk 4 - Merstham to Epsom Downs: 8 on this walk. A group from the Hampstead Ramblers encountered at the lunchtime pub recalled Nicholas Albery leading(?) a couple of walks for them, and cheerfully watching them misread the directions and go astray. Sounds familiar?

Friday 2 to Monday 5 May: Isle of Wight Trip: There were 16 of us on this (I think: people came and went...), and it wsa a most lovely long weekend. The weather was not quite so nice as in the south east, I think, with rather grey skies on Sunday and the odd spot of rain, but both Saturday and Monday had some sunshine and/or brightness. One walker showed extraodinary abilities by calmly going for a 20 minute swim in icy seas (the rest of us paddled). Nice meals, good scenery, super company. You shoulda been there....

2007 is the 10th anniversary of the first edition of 'Book of Country Walks'. We are celebrating this special moment on Dec 12 (please see Social Event for details). Peter C has kindly written a brief history of the walking group. Why not write something on the Forum about your own experience and memorable moment....

Here is Peter's story

The Saturday Walkers Club started (we believe) sometime in 1997 (if anyone has a more accurate date, do let us know!). In those pre-internet days (yes, children, there was a time when we lived without the internet), people actually turned up on the walks because they had bought the book
and worked out the train times for themselves (though a weekly listing in Time Out helped). The walks quickly became a big success, with as many as 40 walkers turning up in some weeks. This, of course, placed a strain on pubs and tea rooms, and soon two and later three walks a week came into existence, all using the book one rota. There was a vigorous walk the week before the date specified in the book
rota and a relaxed walk the week after. Nicholas later made the original rota walk into a "Nature" walk so he could learn from Mike Taylor, a friend of his, about trees and birds. A problem was that whatever walk Nicholas did tended to attract a lot more walkers than the others: as all who knew him will attest, Nicholas had a magnetic personality, though he was also in many ways a rather shy and unassuming man. He had an infectious -almost boyish - enthusiasm, a fascination with meeting new people and finding out what made them tick, and unconventional views on topics ranging from the ideal size for a country to the joys of dental flossing. Woe betide walkers who did not follow the directions in the book closely, because Nicholas would never correct them. Instead he would gleefully let the group get lost and declare it an adventure.

A crisis year for the walking group was 2001. Foot and mouth disease shut most footpaths from March to June, and for a while walk options were very restricted. When Surrey was the first county to re-open its footpaths, we spent five or six weeks doing walks there. In early July, a day after one of these walks - Holmwood to Gomshall - Nicholas was tragically killed in a car accident (as a passenger: he did not drive himself).

A year later, his creation was still going strong, but walkers were beginning to tire of doing the same book one walks at the same time each year. There had long been idle talk about doing a second book, and in late 2002 a group of walkers sitting in the lunch pub on a walk decided to do something about it. We asked the Albery Foundation to approach Time Out and got agreement from them that they would publish the book. 2003 - luckily a gloriously sunny year - was then a frenzy of walk researching and checking, with the latter involving almost everyone in the Saturday Walkers Club. Book Two finally came out in August 2004, and it was around this time - or possibly a bit earlier - that the website was created by Andrew Murphy and Sunday walks started. Today, the club continues to thrive. We estimate that something in the region of 70 or 80 walkers turn up each week on the various weekend or weekday walks, and it is anyone's guess how many walkers in total there are who come on walks from time to time. It has become, arguably, Nicholas's most enduring legacy

How interesting!A very succint history of SWC!What a legacy! Nicholas will be proud that his creation continues ten years on! Thanks to the creators and posters of the walks who so enthusiastically contribute each week that this legacy continues.I have been walking with the group for just over a year and I have enjoyed the beautiful walks, the opportunity for meeting people from all walks of life and most important of all the spirit in which it takes place making for great days out. Thank you! Viva SWC!

A bit of info on the Sunday section of the SWC - and Richard "Wobblystile" H please correct where necessary. The said Richard started an informal Sunday section sometime in year 2000 for friends connected with Brent Council, Richard being a Councillor at the time, and me being a long suffering Council officer. Richard set one walk per month, details of which were e-mailed to the friends. Over time the group expanded to include other waifs and strays with no connections to LB Brent. The monthly walks eventually appeared on the website and this attracted further non-Brent participation. Sunday walkers actively participated in the Book 2 walk checking exercise and it was the publication of Book 2, which diarised a Sunday walk a week after the Saturday posting, which formalised the Sunday section.
Many of you will know that Richard had a near fatal accident whilst walking in October 2004 and during his recovery I was drafted in to help post walks for the remnants of his group, which continued for a while in addition to the Book 2 Sunday walks. Peter C handed over the task of Sunday Book 2 walk posting to me in November 2005. My very enjoyable two year stint came to an end last month when Hope and Lissie took over the role. Judging by last Sunday's record Sunday turnout, interest in extending the Saturday Club walk setting to include Sundays remains alive and well.

Thanks for the above, Marcus. I now remember that we introduced Sunday walks in book two, which I had quite forgotten.

I am already doing that old person's thing of being able to remember the distant past and not more recent events. Oh dear!

I had not forgotten Councillor Richard, who was such a stalwart during the walk checking for book two as well. I/we never got the chance to thank him face to face for that, so I am taking this opportunity.

Is the "Adopt a Walk" programme for book one alive and well? Any update would be useful. I could not think of a better time to rejuvente this programme.

Why has the website got huge postings for various nights at the opera dominating our screens ? This is a walking website not an opera website, or film or theatre listing. Walking is THE Social event surely. It was fine when there was just the odd thing mentioned but the box is getting bigger and bigger and now it is starting to iritate me and I wonder if anyone else is thinking the same thing as me? How about displaying this box at the end of the page so it isn't the first thing walkers see when they go to this week's walks ?

That cat with the previous comment has half an argument but what this site REALLY needs, anonymous, is a bit more rock and roll scheduled. I mean, we're not all culture vultures. How about some blues and twos daddy-o?

I kind of half agree with anonymous (two comments back). Great that there is a social section - but you shouldnt have to scroll down to find the walks. Perhaps confusing for new visitors too?

I agree with Ian. Not everyone is interested in social. Perhaps we could move the Social Box to below the walks. Alternatively, keep the box where it is but only show the title of the event (i.e. one line per event) and a drop down menu with event details. If people are interested in an event, they can view it by clicking a button.

Everyone is welcome to organise social events. A Rock'n'Roll or blues/pop event is an excellent idea. I look forward to it.

Splendid, I think. What do you think ?

I first came across the precursor to the SWC in the early 90s, when I was doing a bit of editing work for Nicholas on the Natural Death Handbook. At that time he used to circulate a duplicated sheet, with a walk on it, to a number of friends and people they thought would be interested. Many of them were Thames/Chilterns walks, of which some still exist in the books.

He called them something like "Romantic Nature Walks" I think. Anyway, at the time I was never able to go as I had two small children to look after, and it wasn't feasible. So I was really pleased when a Rambler suggested that I should look at them as they would suit me better then the Ramblers' style. I didn't realise they were Nicholas's until I "met" them - and the books - so that was really a great meeting.

Long may they survive, in whatever form.

The above is really interesting. So it all goes back much further than we thought. Does anyone else have early memories of the walks like this?

You mean : `So it all goes back much further than YOU thought` !

Sorry, me again. I am entirely with the person who wants the walks to feature before the socials. There are loads of social networking sites - but only one of us. It is the walks, and the walk books, that make us what we are, so the walks should be the first thing vistors see.

Re: the above comment (and others previously aired) about the position of the Social Events box. I have asked Andrew the Webmaster to try (at his convenience) moving the Social Events box below the This Week's Walks box and above the Forum section. Please feel free to comment on this new position.

Hi, Probably not earth shattering news but I have noticed that Time Out have a 35% off offer on the two walk books.
http://www.timeout.com/shop/category/34/london_guides.html

Yes PLEASE put the walks info first. And how about renaming Social Events " Other social events" ?

People have suggested moving the 'social events' box.

Rather than a box, I'm minded to make it a blog ("list"), just like 'this week', with several events on different days.

Would people like:
a) 2 different lists, 1 for walks, and 1 for social events
b) social events and walks in the same list (e.g. Sunday: walk, Monday: Opera, Wednesday: Walk, Movie)

Andrew,I think other social events should be kept very separate and away from the walks info as it would be annoying to have to wade through opera and dim sum to get to the info we're looking for. My vote would be just to move the social events box further down the page so Walks comes up first. Thanks for looking into this for us, much appreciated.

Could the social events be a side panel on the walks page?

To ANDREW M for changing the lay out. Much better now, Thank you !

Picking up on Ian T's comment above on discounts, on the last Thursday of the month the London Map Centre aka Cook Hammond and Kell, 24 Caxton Street, London SW1 (close to St James's Park u'ground) offer a 20 % discount on all books, Explorer OS maps, our TO books when in stock, glossy coffee table books (useful Xmas presents), compasses and everything in the shop apart from their bespoke OS mapping. Their next "Maptacular" as they call it (tacky, I know) is on Thursday 29 November. During December they will be holding Maptacular days on Thursday 20 December and probably the week before - 13 December.
I've bought most of my many OS Explorer maps on these days and the discount is helpful.

Thanks for moving the Social Events box, Andrew. A definite improvement, though I did prefer the original background colour. It makes it easier to find or avoid.

I agree with Roland. A coloured background would be nice.

A friend and I did Sunningdale - Windosor (Book 1, Walk 18) today, and had a lot of trouble finding the route at the bit described at the top of page 151, column 2(the bit that begins "In 320 metres...").

The "major car-wide fork to the right" never appeared, nor the left turn in 450 metres. After much puzzlement and plodding through undergrowth, we finally ended up free-styling (as it were) our way to Windsor, having never found the right path.

Has anybody else had this problem?

Hi this is Jane speaking. I ended up doing Wanborough to Guildford on my own on sunday because of an almighty delay with the trains from the Richmond end.
I was disappointed to discover that the beginning of the walk nr the station was again badly waterlogged and someone had moved the planks I took to put down in May. Definitely needs some attntion

Dear Jicin this is a message from Jane. On the way home from the Boxhill wlk it occurred to me that you thought it was me who had made comments about your Opera evenings. This is not the case. I am very much in favour of all extra curricular adventures. Hot Jazz, Opera, Cinema, Parties, Poetry,Blues, Dancing. I imagine most people are glad you post things. All best, Jane

I?m afraid that due to ?Events?, I have not been on many walks recently, nor can I go to the 10th anniversary celebration tomorrow evening. However, I would like to add my tribute to the Saturday Walkers Club.
I was introduced to it seven or eight years ago via ?Wobblystile?s? Sunday Section and like several other walkers, have a very special reason for being thankful to the club. I want to say thanks to all those who are keeping Nicholas Albery?s wonderful legacy alive ? those who give up a big chunk of their lives to maintain this website and check out the walks, those who organise all the activities (walking and otherwise) and those who add some spice and humour to the site by being a bit (ahem) controversial! Long may it continue!

A Complete List of Walks, thanks to Sean

This is great, Sean. Thanks for putting it all into one place (this is especially useful to list-loving anoraks like me). Merry Christmas, and see you on a footpath soon.

Yes, many thanks, Sean and Andrew. Actually, the links to several of the walks on the list don't work. These are the ones marked "Book: SWC, Walk No. 1" (except Lenham to Charing, which is the genuine article). I'm guessing that the rest are probably walks in development, which have not been officially numbered and are not yet ready for publication. Perhaps it would be best to remove the links, and indicate their current status instead.