We started off at Headstone Lane station and went through Pinner Farm. Sadly none of the animals were out. However the sun was out and we walked on clear pathways. We then made our way down through Moss Lane and visited the village church and Pinner Memorial. We walked at a relaxed pace and the group opted not to have a tea break. I shared my local knowledge with the group about Pinner, the village, churches and traditions. We then gradually looped back to the station. The walk ended promptly at 4pm. A great turnout of 8 people including 2 on their first walk.

Report by Alpa

Just 3 of us on the Herts circular bike ride. A very cold but sunny day with ice on many of the ponds and streams on route. At the manor there was a busy food and craft market so we had coffee and cake before the start. The canal route was mostly ice free but there were a few sections where we slowed down to avoid a plunge into the canal. We noted several pairs of swans at various points, with other cyclists, joggers and walkers sharing the towpath. We stopped for lunch at the Batchworth Lock café after exchanging pleasantries with a pair of walkers on the subject of cycling etiquette when sharing a bridge.

We then followed the Ebury Way, Sustrans route 6, which loops around Rickmansworth and Watford. This trail is on a former railway track partly on an embankment with good views over the canal and streams below. We then headed south via Oxhey Woods to climb to the very impressive Pinner Hill House. A late Georgian manor it is now the club house for Pinner Golf Course. We warmed up at the 19th hole with some red wine and took in the excellent views eastwards across the valley. Thanks to Diane and Kerry for joining me on this ride.

Report by Brian

On a cold but sunny day, nine of us set out from Uxbridge station to walk sections 12 and 13 of the London Loop. Our first section followed the Grand Union canal for most of the way and was easy walking, although care had to be taken as many icy patches remained. We saw a number of runners taking their morning exercise, swans gliding majestically by and a narrowboat acting as an ice breaker as it moved through the frozen water. Our next section began with a steep uphill section through trees and ferns. Mike was particularly interested on what was growing on the allotments in the meadows that this path opened out onto. Apparently it was kale, which is very hardy and grows throughout winter.

Continuing over fields and stiles we passed a farm where two aggressive looking little dogs tried to goad Jasper into a response, although he was far too disciplined to rise to their bait. Shortly after we arrived at the Rose and Crown where beer and hot chocolate was drunk and bowls of chips eaten aside the open fire. At this point we said farewell to Phil who strode out ahead before the rest of us had left the pub. Upon leaving we walked across meadows with the snow crunching beneath our feet and soon turned into the forest of Bishop's Wood Country Park. On exiting this ancient woodland we emerged opposite Ye Olde Greene Manne, however everyone agreed it was a bit too soon for a further pub stop. Pauline bid us farewell here as she took the bus back to Uxbridge, whilst the rest of the group continued on along a footpath marking the boundary of Middlesex and Hertfordshire.

The path led us onto the Moor Park Estate where we paused to admire the lovely houses and mused over what people may do for a living in order to live there. We decided they probably aren't nurses or teachers! Now seeing the railway line we followed this down to Moor Park station for our journey home. Thanks to Jackie, Helen, Pauline, Lotus, Phil, Mary, Mike, Malcolm and Jasper.

Report by Dave

We had a wonderful 4 mile walk around the aquadrome, the canal and parklands. The sun was out and we walked at a steady pace. A good time was had by all, with another welcome turnout of 8 walkers. We finished with a well deserved hot drink in the café by the lake.

Report by Alpa

Ten people in all met at Baker Street station for the Time Out London walk.

We set out on a fine fresh morning on our route which took us through Regent's Park, and over the Regent's Canal then north towards Primrose Hill. At the top of Primrose Hill we rested a while and took photos with the glorious view over London. A number of the group commented on how quickly the skyline is changing; there seemed to be as many large cranes as buildings, clear evidence of all the construction work taking place. Beyond Primrose Hill we made our way towards Chalk Farm and Belsize Park eventually reaching Hampstead Heath. Here we had a short break and mused at the hundreds of runners taking part in a cross country running competition. By coincidence one of our members, Dave, was competing, but we did not see him. Up the hill towards Highgate and passing the cemetery, now quite a tourist spot due to the number of famous people buried there.

We had lunch at a cafe in Waterlow Park and all managed to get a seat inside, which was a welcome break from the cold. Yet again we enjoyed great views from the terraced garden in front of the cafe before making our way up through Highgate High Street. By this stage in the walk our group had spotted numerous plaques commemorating notable London residents: Henry Moore, Piet Mondrian, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, J B Priestley, Lee Miller, Roland Penrose and George Orwell. Onwards to Hampstead Heath where we had a quick look at Kenwood House before our final viewpoint, Parliament Hill. The runners were still hard at it, their route crossed over the path we were taking and we had to wait for a large enough gap to safely proceed. Two of our group left us at Hampstead Heath station, the rest of us carried on up to Hampstead where we rested at the Flask Inn, a fine old pub with equally fine beer...

Thank you to Efisia, Julie, Laura, Radhika, Suvi, Coogee, Humay, Malcolm and Paul for joining me on the walk.

Report by Mike

Thank you for joining me on my first social event. It was lovely to chat to some new recruits and some senior members. The food was lovely and kept coming. We started off with different types of soup then an array of starters, which was followed by some duck. Some even tried the vegetarian lettuce. Followed on by a good choice of mains, we even managed some dessert (which I have never been able to do before). The female server was very assertive in such a busy restaurant. The company and conversation was great - we even put the Brexit deal to bed.

Thank you to Colin, Neila, Berangere (from Meetup), Bea, Roy, Humay, Ian, Brian, Maureen, Dee and Mick.

Report by Diane

I'm delighted to say that for my first walk 8 people turned up, and we all had a super time. We covered 4.5 miles, burnt 900 calories ... don't ask how many we put on at the carvery ... and did nearly 14,000 steps. The sun came out and we walked at a leisurely pace and a good time was had by all. Looking forward to the next one.

Report by Alpa

25 (including 4 new recruits on their first walk) attended the walk on Saturday. We met for coffee at the Tap (beautifully preserved Victorian era station pub) with the French language group who joined us. Our first stop was the National Archives by the river. We explored the public and exhibition areas. Continuing along the Thames Path we noted the large number of rowing teams racing by, with their trainers bellowing instructions via megaphones. After the Mortlake Brewery we detoured to Mortlake parish church (15th century) where the verger kindly gave out biscuits to all and showed us the monuments to John Donne and a Napoleonic era premier.

We then walked to Mortlake Catholic Church for the unique tomb of Sir Richard Burton (the Victorian explorer and Arabist). The tomb is in the style of a Bedouin tent with a secret window to observe the interior. After walking alongside the elegant Barnes riverside of Georgian and Regency terraces we crossed the Thames. Chris pointed out his rowing club on this bank and encouraged us to try out the sport in the future. At Chiswick village we saw Hogarth's tomb and the Fullers Brewery. Our final stop was the Palladian masterpiece of Chiswick House where we had a well-deserved late lunch stop at the award-winning tea shop.

Report by Brian

Our first cycle ride of the year was an easy 20 mile ride from Uxbridge to Burnham via Eton. Six of us met at the new Rusty Bike Café at Fassnidge Park. We followed Sustrans route 61 via the Grand Union Canal and tracks through Langley. En route we passed several pill boxes and aqueducts on the Slough arm and then a moto cross festival by the GWR tracks.

At Eton we explored the courtyards of the famous college before stopping for coffee at a pavement café in the heritage area. We then continued via bridleways to join the Thames Path. Our next stop was Boveney village to visit the 12th century church and medieval manor. We then arrived at the 2000m long Eton College rowing lake, used for all races at the Olympics. Busy with walkers, cyclists and roller bladers today but no boats in use. We then continued to Bray and late lunch at the historic Pineapple Inn with its vast range of huge sandwiches on offer, before trains back from Burnham.

Thanks to Coogee, Rob W, Hiro, Jan and Rob C for joining me on this ride. Will plan another historical route next month.

Report by Brian

We arrived in the lovely village of Little Chalfont at 9:50am to set off on this beautiful mild day of January. Little Chalfont is only 25 minutes drive from Harrow. It is a beautiful little village surrounded by amazing walks. At 10:15 no one else had arrived so we headed off on our walk. We headed north first and Daniel soon had his first cache. It was a home-made container which was meant to blend in with the countryside. We continued in a circular mostly woodland walk where we found a total of 11 caches. Some were home-made with great carpentry craftsmanship which always amazes me. We ended up doing 6 miles, ending up at lovely Turkish cafe at the end for a hearty lunch.

Thank you Daniel, my geocaching kid, who never lets me down to come on my walks.

Report by Martina

Me plus four today for my Risborough Return walk. Prompt depart from Princes Risborough train station 10:05, past Horsendon Manor and Saunderton and then our first ascent up to Loosley Row and east through Bradenham Wood and up to Walters Ash for lunch circa 12:30.

Post lunch, we followed paths to the edge of Speen village surrounded by the Chiltern Hills and then up and down through Piggots Wood and up Bryants Bottom and along to St Mary Magdalene church at Great Hampden for tea stop circa 14:30.

Our finale encompassed various woods taking us to Whiteleaf with its magnificent views towards Oxfordshire, Aylesbury Vale and Bledlow Ridge. The distant was a bit misty though so our views were not quite as good as they might have been. Our distance though made up for the shortfall in our distant.

GPS said from station we'd done 17.6 miles when we were at our cars - which were a mile away from the station! That's a very good ish. The two from Meet Up were expecting a 10 ish mile walk and the two by car were expecting a 12 ish mile walk. Such generosity from the walk leader. We dropped the trainers to the station by 16:10 in time for their 16:21 train home.

Thanks to stalwarts Keith and Paul and MeetUpers Ricky and Sarah for joining me for this nice winter walk.

Report by Steve