Canterbury Rings were initiated by David Reekie, helped by Simon Cox and Ray Cordell. They are a nonprofit organisation aiming to create a waymarked network of urban and rural trails in and around the city. I came across the rings by seeing one of their waymarkers. Found this info and maps by entering “Canterbury Rings” into Google. Don’t know how to contact them to give thanks. It’s easy to plan a walk by drawing on a map. To waymark it is a major feat.
“Canterbury” Cantwaraburh in old English, means stronghold of the people of Kent. The British name, Darovernon, meant fortified place by a swamp. The Romans adopted this as Durovernum Cantiacorum, after the native Cantii tribe. Thanks again to Judith Glover, “The place names of Kent”
The inner ring is about two miles and i walked it some time ago. The middle ring is about ten miles which owing to decrepitude i have done in four stages. Using buses to reach points on the Ring. Am very wary of buses: if one passenger has covid…
I like walking with a map in hand. Miss a waymarker and one can be lost. I photographed the website map and tried to relate it to the Ordnance Survey map.
For me, easiest access to the Middle Ring is by Triangle bus up the hill to Rough Common Road. Cross Whitstable road and walk towards Canterbury. Left onto cycle path. Right onto footpath between University of Kent student accommodation. Canterbury Ring waymarkers are green and yellow stickers, not too obtrusive. I soon went astray on a parallel path through a strip of woodland.
Regaining the Ring, i failed to spot any markers near the sports centre. Onto cycle way steeply down across grassland with trees. Left on bridleway, crossing the route of Canterbury and Whitstable railway, opened in 1830 and closed in 1953. Stephenson Road maybe named after George, the railway engineer.
St Stephen’s pathway across Beverley Meadow, a narrow tunnel under railway. Across The Causeway to St Radigunds St: the nearest this Ring gets to the city centre. Then a pleasant walk by the river Stour to Barton Mill and across Sturry Rd.
Through housing to the Old Park, area of heathland until recently army training ground. Valuable open space. Hope not lost to developers. St Augustine’s well. Through housing, past St Martins church and the former prison, now part of Cant Christchurch Uni. Up Puckle Lane to a path through cornfield and then orchards. Good view looking back to cathedral.
Off New House Lane, path next to huge housing development. More traffic, more demand for water, more sewage. Down Strangers Lane, across A28, to Tonford. Bridge over Stour. Thomas Sidney Cooper’s painting of the view from here is in the Beaney museum in Cant.
Level crossing over the railway to Ashford. Tonford Manor, a farm with some ancient remains. Turn right on path between orchards. Tunnel under A2 then left under railway. Path by stream. Information board where path crosses the North Downs Way says it is Whitehall Brook. Short detour to Black Princes Well. Turn right onto Church Hill Harbledown. This is Chaucer’s Bob-up-and-down. Steeply up steps next to Coach and Horses pub.. Worse going down. Beer garden, disliked by some residents. Pity. A pub should be a centre of its community. Bridge over Harbledown Bypass. Uphill again, Dukes Meadow. Path next to Kent College to the start.
Easy walking, apart from the steps. Much on tarmac. Firm grass or earth. Though it hadn’t rained for a while.
Thanks to the creators of the Canterbury Rings.
Rambling Brummie 