Wot no Banners?

A stalwart group of walkers convened at the Caterham Fox on July 28 – stalwart because a number of their usual colleagues were away in Australia, following the Lions rugby tour, including the customary route planner and navigator, Dave “Banners” Bannister. 

The Happy Valley walkers during return leg.  Mike Piddock peers from back row - but where was Banners?

In their absence, veteran Dick Jones, a walking group member since 2012, had planned a route across one of his favourite stamping grounds, Happy Valley and Farthing Down.

The group of five who left the Fox included Mike Piddock, a recent recruit to the bass section and now embarking on his first choir walk, equipped with some splendid walking boots that indicated he had undertaken multiple walks in the past.  Also sporting new equipment was Dick Jones, who was deploying a pair of Leki walking sticks to help balance a gammy right knee.

Mike and Hazel among patterns of light and shade

The group followed the ridge of Happy Valley, initially heading east then turning north, before plunging downwards and gaining the far side at the Farthing Down car park, where a dog washing station - £5 for five minutes – attracted much attention.  The group strode along the crest of the ridge before descending towards Coulsdon, where Dick had hoped we could take R&R at the local park café, which was sadly closed on Mondays.

Instead we continued into Coulsdon for a rest at the Pembroke pub – which proved to be out of draft beer, even though Dick had checked that supplies would be ok while planning the walk.  We also gained a walker, namely John Marshall, who had arrived late for the start and so made his own brisk way to the Pembroke.

After a brief rest we returned to Farthing Down, this time following an extraordinary line of ancient yews that stretched for almost a mile and gave rise to much discussion. Yews were often the site of pagan rituals, later hijacked as the location of a church.  The Happy Valley website suggested the yews were most likely planted to denote a parish boundary.   

Happy Valley walkers ponder ancient yews 

After moving on from the yews, we  eventually crossed the valley again and took the short, steep direct route up the far side to return to the Fox, pausing only for the statutory group photograph. According to Dick's mapping app, we had walked a very respectable 6.1 mies. Once the Fox we were joined by Katrina Keel, the seven of us enjoying a decent dinner before heading back to our homes.

Route map courtesy Dick Jones