Last update: 20th June 2026
Walk with the London Blind Ramblers, Saturday 27th June 2026
Autumn Holiday - Clayton Hotel Bristol, Mon 21st - Fri 25th September 2026
Plymouth Holiday, Mon 18th - Fri 22nd May 2026
This year’s walk with the London Blind Ramblers will be on Saturday 27th June 2026 when we will walk along the Thames Path (north side) from Marshalsea to Canary Wharf via Wapping. The walk will start at Borough tube station at 10:30am.
Hopefully a number of Redbridge Ramblers will be able to help the blind walkers along the route as they have done in previous years. Full details are given in the Walks Programme for April to July ‘26.
WE ARE NOW KEEN FOR MEMBERS/GUESTS TO SIGN UP FOR THIS HOLIDAY ASAP AS NUMBERS ARE CURRENTLY BELOW THAT WHICH WOULD MAKE THE HOLIDAY VIABLE.
Redbridge Ramblers Autumn Holiday 2026, 21-25th September, will be at the 4 star Clayton Hotel in the centre of historic Bristol. The holiday will include return travel from Wanstead and Hawkey Hall pick-ups, and all necessary coach travel on the holiday. The hotel will supply bed and breakfast and a buffet evening meal. Bristol is a vibrant, independent and historic city, with a dramatic bridge over the Avon Gorge, interesting docks and museums (including Banksy's museum).
The holiday will cost approximately £675 for double/twins and £695 for singles. There is a maximum of 10 single rooms. (Cost will come down if we get at least 40 people) If you are willing to share, please say so, and if possible with whom.
Please contact Ron W. if interested.
Martin H’s walk England’s Camino Walk known as Saint James’ Way which starts in Reading and finishes in Southampton -a distance of 69 miles is now underway. Martin has worked out the itinerary for The St James' Way from April to October 2026:
There are drop out points on route except in July and October.
Martin will also be sending this Itinerary to West Essex for inclusion in their Walks Programme.
For more details on the trail, see this BBC Travel Article.
PLEASE NOTE - IT IS PLANNED TO ALWAYS TRY TO PROVIDE A SHORTER WALK AS WELL ON THESE SATURDAYS.
We have just had a successful holiday in Plymouth staying at the 4 Star Crowne Plaza hotel, right on Plymouth Hoe. We were a party of 38 members & guests. The holiday was well organised as usual by Ron Whiting –so great thanks to him for this. Everything ran to schedule and it was a most enjoyable experience. The hotel was fine with a swimming pool and good catering for both breakfast and evening meals.
As usual people did a variety of walks and activities during the week :-long and short walks (see below) or “do your own thing “ each day :-Beryl C. exhibition & trail/Naval Museums/trips to local attractions in Plymouth and beyond. etc.
The excellent walks itinerary was devised by Martin H even though he and Hazel weren’t able to join us this year. In his absence the longer walks were led by Dave B/Bob B /Chris M working together. The 3 shorter walks were led by Ron W./Melvyn F./Myself on separate days. We had an excellent coach driver (Andy) who got us round the narrow Devon roads each day without major mishaps!
Walks Itinerary:
Tuesday 19th May 2026
Long Walk: South Brent to Ivybridge. Approx. 12 miles. Followed the Dartmoor Way, with pub stop at the Horse Groom, Bittaford, and onto finish in Ivybridge for another pub stop.
Short Walk: Ivybridge circular. Approx. 6 miles. Went out of Ivybridge climbing past Henlake Down, along the King’s Gutter to access the river Erme back to the pub stop at Ivybridge. Tricky swollen stream crossing on route! (see photo)
Wednesday 20th May 2026
Long Walk: Bere Alston, circular. Approx. 10 Miles. Following the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail, stopping at Bere Ferrers for a pub stop and then returning to the Edgcumbe Hotel to pick up the coach.
Short Walk: Bere Alston. Approx. 6 Miles. From the Edgcumbe Hotel to the river Tamar and then following the river for 4 miles and back through woods to the Edgcumbe Hotel for a pub stop.
Thursday 21st May 2026
Long Walk: From Hotel to Downs Thomas. Approx. 10 miles. Walking from the hotel past the Marina, then following the South West Coast Path to Madam’s Hill. And onwards inland to Downs Thomas for a pub stop at Mussel Inn.
Short Walk: Marsh Hill to Downs Thomas. Approx. 8 Miles. Following the river Plym on the West Devon’s Way, then join the Erme Plym Trail from Radford Wood Nature Reserve, leaving the trail to follow footpaths and lanes to Down Thomas for a pub stop at the Mussel Inn.
On the Friday we had a grand send off by Plymouth’s Mayor and Mayoress from the hotel (see photos page) before an 8 hour return coach journey back to Redbridge in 30C temperatures!
Photos (see photos page) try to capture the spirit of the holiday. Thanks to all the contributors! - Neville
Our annual quiz was held successfully at the now regular venue of the Fullwell Cross Library on Saturday 28th February. We had approximately 100 members and guests split into 12 tables of between 6 and 9 people.
Great thanks must go to the quiz master Ron and his friend Steve who set all of the questions and provided the marking very efficiently. The hire of the room /other general arrangements were very well handled by Martin and Hazel and the food /snacks etc were purchased and distributed very efficiently by Ron/Naomi/Greg/Jenny/Angie /plus others on the night. Well done to all involved.
For a refreshing change the winning team was one that was composed almost entirely of active Redbridge members/walkers –Team 10 pulled together by Marion Machado. The winning margin was very small in the end and all teams did pretty well. Roll on next year!!
Following Peter’s sad death in early February, the North London Rambling Club organised a walk in Peter’s memory held on Wednesday 17th June. The walk was a very local one (for Redbridge members) from Leytonstone to Wanstead and led by Stephen Ross of the NLRC. A number of Redbridge members attended the walk to remember Peter who was a fine walks leader for Redbridge and many other walking clubs. - Neville
Our Treasurer, Greg C, reports that over the last year (the 2024/25 accounting period) the club has received £110 from members' donations and monies earnt by members taking HF and RWH holidays. We also have got £50 from HF for placing their advert in each addition of the Newsletter (see Page 10).
Greg also reports back that we spent £1000 subsidising the annual Festive lunch held at the Toby Inn in Buckhurst Hill in January ‘26 (see pages 2-4) -this money came out of our self funding Residual Social Fund.
The club has received £224.50 from the Ramblers Assoc. which is the first 50% of our allocation for our funding/running costs. Please remember when booking a HF or RWH privately to always nominate Redbridge as your Walking Club.
Recently I’ve had 2 requests for copies of the Saffron Trail booklet from 2 separate individuals that found me via Munira –both were wanting to do the Trail as a “challenge” walk this year.
For new readers this is a LDW Trail which runs from Southend on Sea up to Saffron Walden –a total distance of 72 miles. The original booklet was produced by David Hitchman in the early 2000s and has been revised at least twice since then.
Redbridge adopted the walk on behalf of the Ramblers Association (Roger Y./Bob W./Martin H. and others). I inherited a number of copies of the booklet (on becoming RR’s Chairman) and have therefore been able to sell the booklet for a small nominal fee to the 2 walkers. - Neville