Due to weather issues we did this walk over two days. It began Wednesday morning at Petts Wood Station, where Segment 2 ended. It was cold, windy and pouring rain when we arrived at the station. Despite promises that the rain would cease by 1 pm, it never did. We managed to walk some of the trail, after purchasing an extra large umbrella at a cat charity shop. We sat at a pub for an hour before deciding to head out. By 3 pm we were in the village of Farnborough, drying off in another pub. 45 minutes later we abandoned ship, taking a bus back towards home base. The few photos I took of this first part of the hike are loaded with clouds and moisture. When we resumed at the village the next day, suddenly the sun is shining and it is a perfect day to hike! Segment 3 of the Loop was 11 miles long, so we didn't mind breaking it up over two days.
Wednesday evening, after briefly resting at our hotel and eating in with some cold salads purchased at the nearby grocers, we attended our one and only concert of the week. We traveled by train to Victoria Station, walking another mile to St John's, Smith Square, a beautiful and vast recital hall. We heard a ravishing all-Baroque program. The first half was English music by Purcell (3 works), and the second half was all French (Rameau and Charpentier). The small orchestra was called "Spiritato." However, the reason for our visit was to hear the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, a boys choir with a reputation far and wide.
The concert was a life-affirming event, much like our visit to the cathedral in Peterborough, only much more so. The music was out of this world beautiful, performed with musicality to spare and precision. There were a few boy soloists, but one of them took the prize. He was about 12, sang like an angel, and made the entire evening special and unforgettable. The highlight for us was the Charpentier "Te Deum." Looking forward to hearing this group again!
Our rainy day route to Farnborough, the first part of
Segment 3 of the London Loop. Try to guess where
we got temporarily lost by missing a turn--haha!
We found a wet bench in between rain showers and ate our lunch. We were lost here for a
little while, but soon had found our way back to the main trail.
How about that for a cheerful looking sky! Note the rapeseed in the distant field.
After just 4.2 wet and chilly miles we called a halt in the village of Farnborough. Buses from here went to either of two train stations, so it was easy to get home. There was a pub!
From Farnborough High Street to Hayes Station, this is the sunny part of our route. Today we
walked 5.8 miles to complete Segment 3 of the London Loop.
Immediately upon leaving the village triangle we found ourselves
in the village church yard. A giant yew tree welcomes one and all.
Of course there was a friendly wood fairy.
St. Giles the Abbot, Farnborough. The newer nave (rear) dates from the 1640s, repaired after
storm damage. Note the time on the clock--we heard the bells chime!
Day 2 of the walk turned into an amazing day. It did rain for about one minute later in the afternoon.
Past High Elms Park was this clock house.
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Aptly named Bogey Lane came soon afterwards. This was a very
claustrophobic laneway, with a path that narrows as it climbs a
hill, curving so that one cannot see ahead or behind. Dense
thickets grows on either side, obstructing views. I dare anyone
to walk this path alone at dusk!
Holwood Estate sits high on a hill overlooking a portion of the Loop. Once the home of William Pitt, Prime Minister.
Much cozier than Bogey Lane was this part of the Loop.
View from the hilltop where lies the remains of the Wilberforce Oak. William Wilberforce and William Pitt met here to prepare a parliamentary bill to abolish slavery! There is a memorial
bench and a plaque, along with the remains of the now-blasted oak.
Down the hill sits this spring, bubbling up from the ground. It is the source of the Ravensbourne
River, eventually flowing into the Thames near Greenwich. A Roman encampment nearby found the spring by observing ravens circling overhead and landing here. It is now named
"Ceasar's Well." Ceasar Jr. looks well pleased with his well.
"Ceasar's Well." Ceasar Jr. looks well pleased with his well.
Several ponds are fed by the spring, which once supplied the water to Holwood House.
Five baby coots were swimming with mommy and daddy on our visit.
Sign for Keston Village. There were two pubs,
both of which were visited.
We finished up the walk at New Inn, across from Hayes Station. This was a great place, with wonderful beer and very good coffee. Nearly every pub we visited had very good coffee, and
free wi-fi.
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