The Elham Valley, in East Kent, runs northward from Lyminge. As far as Bridge it follows the Nailbourne, an intermittent stream that’s running well in this wet season. The Elham Valley Railway, closed in 1947, ran from Canterbury to Cheriton Junction near Folkestone.
With hindsight, it would be great if the abandoned railway had become a cycling/walking track. Forty seven years later the Elham Valley Way was created, mostly made up of existing rights of way.
In 1994 Kent County Council published an excellent guidebook to the Elham Valley Way The main authors were Brian Hart, John Cann, Philip Rutt and Tim Fagan. The book is in English and French, in a spirit of crosschannel friendship. From Hythe to Canterbury is about 38 Km or 23 miles, and passes through a diverse landscape of downland, woodland, orchards, parkland and farmland.
I have no intention of trying to improve on the guide. I keep telling myself “this isn’t about me” but of course it is. I walked the EVW on two stages in summer 1998, from Canterbury to the Palm Tree pub at Wingmore, and from Hythe to the same place, using buses. It’s not a pub anymore, sadly. The guide runs from Hythe northwards which could make the walk a pilgrimage to Canterbury
A few memories of the EVW.
From Peene one walks on the actual trackbed of the disused railway. I wanted to walk through the short Etchinghill tunnel and so did not leave the track where i should. I had to climb out of cutting near a golfcourse, missing out part of the way and Tolsford Hill.
I’ve been on Tolsford Hill a few times: it’s on the North Downs Way. Notably, i was there with Datrows on August 7th 2005, the Sunday of the Edgbaston Test between England and Australia. England needed two wickets to win, Australia 63 runs. I had to choose whether to go on the walk, or watch the Test which could be over in five minutes. Compromise: walk with my Walkman radio. Something i’d never done before, preferring sounds of nature and fellow walkers. So, among the radio masts and round barrows, i heard the last wicket fall as Australia lost by two runs.
Jumping Downs, near Barham, holds memories of work with Carol Donaldson and the Stour Valley volunteers, clearing scrub and erecting posts.
The last section, from Patrixbourne to Canterbury is familiar from my running days. Actually roads through orchards, relatively easy on the legs. The view of the top of the cathedral tower means the finish is in sight.
Enough of me and my memories. It’s a great route, whole or in parts, Happy walking.
March 24th, 2021
Rambling Brummie 