• Isle of Sheppey Awayday
  • Dulwich to Wimbledon Park

Isle of Sheppey Awayday

Photos in ramdom order from Simon, Helen, Geraldine, Shelagh and Catherine

This was one of our most ambitious rides, meticulously planned by Simon S. It required riders to get to Sittingbourne by any route they could. Most used the train. Twelve managed it and clearly had a great day. Big thankyou to Simon for all the work he put in to organising this ride. His report is set out below.

Glorious weather for a glorious day’s ride! Twelve of us set off at 10.40 from Sittingbourne Station in bright sunshine, weaving our way north towards the Isle of Sheppey. We picked up Pat on the way – she had done a fun run earlier! Interesting views of the Swale – the channel between the island and the mainland as we crossed the Kingsferry Bridge – a lifting bridge built 1959. Mostly easy riding until the cycleway ran out 2 miles from Eastchurch, then an unpleasant uphill drag on a busy road. Eastchurch is the home of British aviation and we took time to visit the little museum (£2) by the three prisons (two are high security). No photos allowed here: you can be arrested for doing so, or flying drones. We survived that, and visited the Memorial to the Home of Aviation before an uphill ride through country lanes to Minster, the highest point of the island (76m). Quite a few butterflies were flying in the autumn sun and enjoying the ivy nectar – lots of whites, at least 20 Red Admirals, a Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, and the uncommon Wall Brown. We stopped off at Minster Abbey for a quick look inside and the impressive views for the south. Then detour to The Glen, a green space with great views to the north. Report text

It was all downhill from here – first a quick coffee stop at The Sweet Hut (with sweets in big jars!) on Minster Leas beach. Great views here, too, including the distant Maunsell Forts – gun emplacements from WW2. Then along the promenade and into the centre of Sheerness where there’s an impressive Clock Tower. Riders partook of fish and chips or Greggs for a late lunch. We explored the odd area called Blue Town, really just a street with a pub, cafe and the Criterion Heritage Centre. Then through the quiet cycleways to the delightful town of Queenborough where there were more views of The Swale (mostly mud at low tide), a chance to visit the Guildhall Museum (50p). We were invited into the pretty church, which has a rare vaulted ceiling. By this time we had lost a couple of riders to punctures – they went to the station early. We dawdled at the site of Queenborough Castle, which had been “declared obsolete” in 1650 by the Parliamentarians and demolished. (Never get declared obsolete!) We were then on time for the 16.52 train back to Sittingbourne. This was running late, and it was a rush to change platforms at Sittingbourne for trains to London. Most caught the departing train, but a couple had to wait half an hour for the next train. Thanks to all the riders and especially Geraldine for back marking.  
All agreed that it was a fab day out: relatively leisurely cycling and lots of interest. Definitely a trip to be repeated, especially if the weather obliges again. 

About 48 photos in the Healthy Rides Google Photos album, with descriptions (some taken by others): https://photos.app.goo.gl/AdxSrbEkJsamGUMF9

Dulwich to Wimbledon Park

Twelve ( plus a dog-in-basket named Churro) set off from Dulwich Park just after 10am. It was an amazing blue sky crisp September morning. We stopped briefly inside the gate of Brockwell park , made our way to Clapham Common and passing by Wandsworth prison – downhill along Magdalen Rd to Earlsfield. We made it to Wimbledon Park  8 miles – in record time of just under 1 hour. Our time advantage was eroded however when one breakfast bap that was ordered -took over half an hour to get served. Looks like it should be BYO in future ( though drinks were quickly delivered)

We retraced our steps for most of the route back – ( meaning quite uphill back along Magdalen Road….) with3 or 4 people peeling off en route . One to an Asian festival in Battersea, another to visit a friend and a couple of others to save doubling back to home if they had come all the way to Dulwich Park. We did the full cicumnavigate of Brockwell park on the way back since we had time – a bit hilly but pretty on a fine day. Back by Rosendale Rd that has a dedicated cycle lane and we diverted for a brief look- see to Herne Hill vélodrome to show what a great facility we have nearby. Back in good time before 1pm – hoping that those that were disappointed to find the Isle of Sheppey outing fully booked – nevertheless enjoyed the convivial shorter ( 16 mile)  ride instead. 

I am sure they did judging by comments on WhatsApp. Many thanks to Jean who led and wrote the report above.

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