Kenley to Coulsdon South

14 February. On the only sunny day in what feels like weeks of rain, ten of us set out from Kenley climbing straight up on to Riddlesdown, and then down and up and down along very muddy paths to reach Coulsdon Common. Since the Fox is closed for refurbishment, we made our way on to The Boundary on the Green, a large, friendly pub that provided a good substitution (with a recommendation for their pies).

Despite doing a recce two weeks before, a newly fallen tree blocked our route. But we all got across (some more easily than others).

Then to Chaldon, where the Church was open and we spent some time looking at the 13th century ‘Doom Painting’ (possibly the oldest in the UK).

Then more mud, making our way down to Happy Valley and back up to Farthing Down.

One final test awaited. One cubicle in the Ladies on Farthing Down has a defective lock and our Secretary found herself trapped in it. But after a worrying quarter of an hour, she managed to worry the lock free and we called off the emergency services and made our way on to Coulsdon South station. She is not the first person this has happened to in this cubicle, according to a local visitor, who kindly tried to help us.

Janet, with thanks to Daphne, Elisabeth H and Christine M for photos.