Distance covered: 13.98 miles
Max height: 122m Min height: 10m
Total ascent: 286m Total descent: 357m
Val unfortunately had to miss her second walk in a row, as she only arrived back from the Frankfurt book fair at some ungodly hour in the morning - we missed her (and the promised sausages). Simon, who was trying to impress a new girlfriend, had agreed to go to the opera that evening, and as the show started at 7pm was unable to come as he would not have arrived back in time.
Ready to leave from the High & Dry car park
Despite some early morning fog to hamper the car journey, we all arrived at the start point in good time and were therefore able to set off just before 10am - a considerable improvement on the previous two walks. Donning my rucksack, I had my first mishap of the day, when I got soaked from my hydration-bladder tube – the bite valve had mysteriously vanished – and I quickly had to devise a technique to prevent the water siphoning out all over me between sips. Blowing back down the tube seemed to work as long as I remembered not to bend down………..
Lych gate, Waldershare church
Not a cloud in the sky
As we set off down the road towards the junction with the NDW there was quite a nip in the air, but not a cloud in the sky, promising warm temperatures later. Reaching a flint church we had an early group photo in front of the fine lych-gate before continuing through the graveyard and into a meadow.
Memorial to Mary Hornsby
Home Farm, Waldershare Park
The path passed a memorial sign to Mary Hornsby who died in 1990 and whose legacy allowed the planting of over 1200 saplings to repair the damage done by the Great Storm of 1987 to the trees of Waldershare Park. We continued passed the impressive Waldershare House (18th –century brick-built manor house), sitting in the lovely extensive parkland over which we now walked. The leaves on the trees were beginning to take on their seasonal colours, and a lovely autumnal smell hung in the air.
Anne in the park
The grass in this and subsequent fields was extremely wet and I was glad I had decided to wear my waterproof walking boots. Pretty early on Adeola discovered, to her dismay, that her boots were not, and soon developed soaking socks (I think this rather set the scene for Adeola today, and she never quite recovered her normal joie de vivre).
Waldershare House
Waldershare Park
Leaving the park we crossed a large arable field with new growth, where the diagonal path was fortunately very clear on the ground, and quite compacted. There were masses of tiny blue pellets among the plants, which made it look as if someone had been sprinkling slug bait, but I suspect it was more likely to be fertiliser. There were views to Eythorne to the north.
Diagonal path across very dry arable field
Immature wood
Stepping over a very low stile, which Anne, rather wickedly, suggested was made especially for Sally’s short legs, we entered a young wood. The fence and stile were equally small on leaving the trees, so I suspect they were designed to keep rabbits out of – or even in? – the woods).
Low stile in rabbit fence
Me & Sally enjoying the unseasonably warm weather
At Coldred Court Farm we disturbed a very noisy Jack Russell, who yapped incessantly for some time. The farmer’s wife also came out of the house to ask Anne to put Zuka on the lead as there were sheep in the field, although they were actually no where near where we were walking. As we reached the next stile we met a group of walkers coming in the opposite direction and bade them a good morning – we were not the only ones out enjoying this wonderful autumn day.
The inevitable 'poppy' picture
"Nice to meet you"
There followed a succession of stubble fields, and we continued under electricity pylons to arrive at Shepherdswell (which, according to the map, also goes by the name of Sibertswold for some reason). The church here was rather unusual with a five-sided knave. This was the first of several lovely Kentish villages we were to pass through today, and they were all charming.
Shepherdswell Church
"More cheese, Gromit?"
Crossing the road we approached a house called The Old Bakery with some imaginative topiary in the front hedge (I think it was supposed to be Wallace & Gromit). The path then proceeded down a track and past a stable yard where there was a large flock of geese, and also some ducks. Daniel had his first opportunity of the day to stroke a horse, which I’m sure made him very happy. We came across some more horses a little further on – an Appaloosa mare and foal. There were not particularly interested in us though, as the mare continued to munch her hay net, and the foal snoozed on the grass.
Appoloosa mare and foal
Chris shows off his ball skills
The noise of a football match was now very evident from a nearby field, and Chris was obviously delighted to find a stray ball that had come over the hedge. A few minutes of showing off his footwork inevitably followed, before he (rather reluctantly, I thought) kicked the ball back over the hedge. Shortly before reaching the next road we came across some trim trail equipment and Daniel had us all in hysterics with his antics on the bars. Chris, I have to say, was much more agile despite the age difference!
Chris reverts to boyhood
"Keep off the grass, and that means you!"
Approaching the lane, we passed a curiously inviting sign outside a house asking us to ‘Keep off the Grass’. Someone suggested we should have a group photo here ON the grass, naturally, but we somehow resisted the urge. At the lane we crossed a level crossing for the East Kent Railway and soon picked up a grassy drove road which we followed to another lane. Following a gentle half mile pull up Long Lane we crossed the railway line again. Dave was fortunately keeping a better eye on the map than me, and redirected the leading group to the correct path across the next field.
Leaving Shepherdswell
Woodland path near Three Barrows Down
Our route became a pleasant wooded path between fields, with the lovely aroma of autumn leaves assaulting our nostrils. This soon became a sunken lane and we took a break here near Three Barrows Down, where there were tumuli marked on the map, although I think they were in the woods somewhere as I didn’t see them. Zuka was entertained by a mouse or other small creature burrowing in the leaf litter, while we humans also turned our thoughts to food, and discussed the possibility of a Christmas meal together. I think it was Chris who suggested we should go to the Dirty Habit at Hollingbourne for Turkey Fajitas (with all the trimmings of course). Ha Ha!
Woolage Village
Looking back towards Woolage Village
As we continued towards Woolage Village, we met three trail motorcyclists on the narrow path. Curiously, the map showed our route as a bridleway, although, when we reached the next road, the ROW sign suggested it was a byway. The Village itself is apparently a fairly recent settlement, having been built for the workers at the nearby Elvington pit. There was a post office marked on the map, so we thought we might be in luck for an ice-cream, but unfortunately for us it was now converted to a residential dwelling.
Thatched cottage in Womanswold
Quick breather
We soon reached our next village, the much older and very much quainter Womenswold. I have no idea how it got its name, but there was a tongue in cheek suggestion that the men might not be welcome there. I was rather hoping to find a village sign on the road for us girls to be photographed with, but there were none on the route we took. Like Sheperdswell, the village itself was delightful, with a number of thatched cottages and another pretty church. Sally actually preferred some of the less ‘twee’ properties. I should imagine that house prices in this area are pretty horrendous. The unspoilt villages all appear so rural and yet they are only a short distance (by car at least) from Canterbury.
View from our lunch stop
Daniel admires the maize
Our route continued across yet more autumn sown arable fields. As the map told us that our route would soon be converging with the A2, and traffic noise was likely to become an issue, we stopped for lunch here. Continuing on, we by-passed some farm buildings where my hat got snagged on a low branch which whisked it from my head and deposited it on the ground behind me. Without thinking I bent down to retrieve it, and water immediately siphoned out of my drinking tube all down my front. At least it was a warm day to be taking part in an impromptu wet T-shirt competition!
Bearham Downs
Windbreak trees
The enormous fields we now crossed had more of a South Downs feel to them as we walked over flatish ground in a pretty straight north westerly direction. As we were travelling roughly parallel with the A2, but gradually converging with it, there was obviously quite a bit of traffic noise over this section. When we passed a large patch of maize (grown as cover for game birds) Zuka (and Chris) had an entertaining five minutes disturbing the birdlife, while Anne tried (but failed) to get a close up photo of a pheasant in panicked flight.
The impressive Higham Park
Leafy path alongside the A2
Having crossed a couple of lanes and walked alongside a nursery orchard with acres of fruit bushes, we finally neared the A2, and caught site of the impressive Higham Park – a large country house. For a little over half a mile the path ran directly alongside the main road in a shady, but rather noisy, tree-tunnel path. At least the trees shielded us from the view, if not the sound, of the road. There was a satisfying rustling as we walked through the fallen leaves on this section of path.
Descending towards Patrixbourne
Patrixbourne Church
Turning away from the main road again, we skirted another large field (where Anne spotted a bird of prey – possibly a sparrowhawk?), before descending, quite steeply at first, towards the lane leading to Patrixbourne Again a lovely sleepy village, but as with the others, there were no shops (not even closed ones) so we were ice-creamless once more. Leaving the village we had a quick rest break. Daniel was a little taken back to find we still had over an hour’s walking ahead of us (I had unintentionally slightly underestimated the total distance for today’s section). Adeola was also feeling very tired today, and was not her normal perky self.
Colourful trees at the church
All in t-shirts - not bad for mid October
As we continued on tracks between orchards, shared with quite a few cyclists, Anne & Chris who were up at the front, briefly disappeared into the hedge together! Allegedly it was simply because they had spotted the first views of Canterbury to the north-west, and when we caught up with them we found (to the disappointment of the scandal mongers amongst us perhaps?) that it was quite true. The cathedral spire was clearly evident, but there were still a few miles to go so we onwards we went.
David Heathcote's sketch book
Anne & I had a brief conversation with an older man who was out cycling, and had stopped to sketch the surrounding countryside. We had a quick look at this sketch-book, and he was really very talented. Just in case he ever becomes famous, his name was David Heathcote. While speaking to the artist, Zuka went AWOL in the woods, and we had to wait a few minutes for her to turn up. As we hurried to catch up with the rest of the group, we spotted a camper van in the distance which, to those of a desperate nature, could have been confused with an ice-cream van. (thanks to the trickery of digital photography, Anne was able to work magic on the van later as you can see from the photos below.......)
Before....
..and after!
Reunited with the main group, we continued past some industrial buildings (possibly a storage depot of some kind) and had our first good view of the cathedral. Our rural walk finished for the day, we reached a residential road and continued towards the city centre.
St Dunstans
Entering Canterbury city centre
Nearing the cathedral we passed the impressive ruins of St Dunstans and stopped for a chocolate break in a local newsagent. Sally suggested we should finish our walk in proper pilgrim style, ie on our knees – at least my water wouldn’t have leaked anymore as I had already finished it!
The magnificant Canterbury Cathedral
Pedestrianised streets
Finally reaching the city, we had a quick look at the cathedral (from the outside at least), and then continued through the busy shopping centre. We passed through the impressive West Gate and a couple of minutes later were back at the cars. Returning to the High & Dry pub we (for the 2nd walk running) had a drink and (several) packets of crisps before making our separate ways home.
Ducking stool
West Gate
Scenically, this section was never going to be as impressive as the previous two, but it was still a very nice autumn walk, and the weather had been superb all day. Finishing in Canterbury had also been a notable highlight.
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