Day Walk - Mud and Summer Time (February 2026)

On a wet Saturday in February, 11 Ibexers (including 3 prospective members) braved the 7 miles of the London Loop, Section 2, from Bexley to Petts Wood. We were ably led by George, whose stomping ground this is. This was fortunate since this author (Patricia White) lives in SW London and was not alone in being quite lost in the South East!

It was pretty muddy underfoot after the incessant rain of recent weeks. But we passed a number of interesting landmarks on this largely rural route:

· Five Arch Bridge in Foots Cray Meadows, which dates from the 1770s;

Ibexers on the bridge

· lunch (for those not sheltering in the pub) in the beautifully-maintained and walled Sidcup Community Garden, which won a London in Bloom gold award last year; and

· the William Willett memorial sundial in Petts Wood (Willett campaigned for British Summer Time, which was eventually introduced in 1916 during WW1).

Assembled at the sundial

Woodland memorial sundial

We enjoyed restorative drinks in Wetherspoons in Petts Wood before heading home.

Many thanks to George for leading an interesting walk.