Wednesday Group

This group arranges walks every Wednesday which are led by experienced members. Walks are taken at a relaxed pace with distances between 3 and 8 miles.

All walks include at least one stop for refreshments or just to enjoy the view. We sometimes use public transport to get to the start of a walk.

Apart from local walks, London walks are very popular taking in parks and gardens north and south of the Thames, while exploring places of interest en route such as the Thames Barrier, Greenwich Observatory and Hampstead Heath.

An annual coach trip is arranged for visits to places of interest. Over recent years we have had a varied programme of visits including Hatfield House, Slimbridge, Chartwell and Arundel.

Our year always finishes with a sociable walk and a Christmas lunch.

To find out more about our walks and events please see the Walks Programme.

Torrential rain fails to spoil a great day out
Trip to Arundel Castle, Wednesday 11th July

The coach departed promptly in bright sunshine despite road closures because of the Olympic Torch procession earlier that morning. Travelling through some lovely countryside, we arrived at Arundel in good time.

Unfortunately dark ominous clouds began to build up and it started to pour with rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. Some of the party escaped the deluge in a nearby cafe and hopefully the rest of the party made it to the castle before the rain began.

Arundel Castle stands at the top of a hill overlooking the town. It has been the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for nearly 900 years. The castle was restored in the current Victorian Gothic design during the late 19th century at great expense.

After the storm had passed, the sun shone briefly and some of us made for the castle gardens which comprise a new formal garden called The Collectors Earls Garden, and extensive herbaceous borders, kitchen and fruit areas, with many glass houses displaying exotic plants.

The new formal garden included a domed pergola and fountains and a rockwork mountain planted with palms and ferns. The gardens were very impressive despite the vast puddles. Heavy rain then started to fall so it was time to visit the shelter of the castle. On the way, the Fitzallan Chapel was visited which is the burial place of the Dukes of Norfolk and has some grand tombs.

In the castle there were many rooms open to the public with paintings, furniture , tapestries, china and clocks on display. There was also an impressive armoury. The keep involved climbing steep and narrow steps with parts open to the elements . By now it was raining hard so views from the top of the Keep were limited. There was a garderobe at the top of the keep and one could only sympathise with the inhabitants who had to use it in days of old in inclement weather. Some rooms in the keep depicted characters and scenes from the Civil War.

Despite the weather it was a very interesting day. Thank you Sheila for arranging the outing.

Dennis and Linda Rumble