| Date | Walk | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 23 September | High Wycombe circular | Booking open |
| 14 October | Stour Valley | Booking opens 27 September |
| 28 October | Stour Valley | Booking opens 27 September |
| 11 November | Beverley Brook / Wimbledon Common | Booking opens 25 October |
| 25 November | Beverley Brook / Wimbledon Common | Booking opens 25 October |
Members must not attend CEDu3a walks if they or a close contact have recently been diagnosed with or shown any COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting test results or are self-isolating under Government guidance applicable at the time of the walk.
Thursday 23 September
High Wycombe circular
10 miles / 16 km
Booking open
This is a circular walk starting and finishing at High Wycombe station. It explores the area around Hughenden Manor and the historic West Wycombe Village. This undulating route takes us north to Hughenden Manor (former home of Disraeli) before heading south-west to the village of West Wycombe and the notorious Hellfire Caves. There follows a climb up to the Dashwood family mausoleum and picturesque views of West Wycombe Park and the Dashwood family home. After passing through West Wycombe Village, we continue the walk in a north-easterly direction, crossing this morning’s route in Hughenden Manor grounds before finally turning south to head back to High Wycombe where we get the train home.
Thursday 14 October and Thursday 28 October
Stour Valley
12.0 miles / 19.6 km
Travel goes via Tottenham Hale Rail Station – unlikely to return before 5.00 p.m.
Booking open from noon 27 September – noon, 28 September
This is a fairly level walk which follows the towpath of the Stort Navigation, the canalised section of the River Stort (or Stour) virtually all the way from Roydon to Bishops Stortford.The Stort was canalised in order to link parts of Hertfordshire and Essex to the Thames via the River Lea. However, except where we pass through the various locks, the waterway does not give the appearance of being at all artificial. Quite the opposite in fact, looking every inch a mature river as we head upstream towards Harlow. Anyone expecting our rural idyl to be shattered by arriving in the midst of Harlow New Town, will also be pleasantly surprised, as our route is protected from the worst excesses of 1960’s architecture by a continuous screen of mature trees. From Harlow, we continue towards Sawbridgeworth, leaving the river for a while to cross through Pishiobury Park, before returning to the waterside. We now follow the east bank of the Stort passing through a quiet, rural landscape of woodlands and marsh, with the sound of the Stanstead Express occasionally drowning out the birdsong! This landscape accompanies us virtually all the way into Bishops Stortford. Then, suddenly as the towpath crosses beneath the railway lines, we enter the town with the station now not far away.