About three kilometres west of Canterbury was the first recorded battle on British soil. In 55BC Julius Caesar made a brief excursion to this land. In 54BC he returned with a greater force. He wrote that a day’s march from the sea he forded a river. The native Brits took refuge in a hillfort which he conquered.
This hillfort, Bigbury, is the main reason for yesterday’s walk. Again i was joined, at a two metre distance, by fellow walker Steve. We started at the small village of Chartham Hatch, walking roughly eastwards along Bigbury Road. Woods on the left. Turned right onto a bridleway descending through woods, eventually with orchards on the right. Left uphill on Tonford Lane. On the left are the ramparts of the fort and site of its eastern gateway. Follow the road downhill to the right. Turn left onto the wellsigned North Downs Way, a national trail from Farnham to Dover.
The path skirts the north side of the hillfort, crossing the remains of an annexe. A helpful information board. In 2010 the chestnut trees were coppiced to make the ancient monument more visible. On this stretch we met several walkers, runners and a cyclist.
The path passes through No Man’s Orchard, so called because it straddles the parishes of Harbledown and Chartham Hatch. It is a community orchard:: people can sponsor apple trees. I have pruned trees here with the Stour Valley Countryside volunteers. Another information board.
The trail goes upward past a recreation ground to Chartham Hatch.
A pleasant sunny day and a pleasant woodland walk, enjoying the patterns of light and shade on the hard earth path. Perhaps because i had company, my aches and pains didn’t bother me.
Stay alert.
Rambling Brummie 