For at least thirty years the local Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys has held an annual sponsored walk. Note: nowadays they have females in upper years. My sons were at the school; two work there. The walk is about ten miles through Kent countryside. In fitter years i would walk the route, the paths being cleared by the feet of hundreds of students.
I couldn’t do it now.
The walk is a massive effort: about 48 staff direct walkers at strategic points, especially road crossings. One of my sons was marshalling. He ran the course first. Another son was checking in arrivals at the finish.
Understand that each form picks its charity. Charity’s a fine thing, but. This time of year we hear a lot about Children in Need, which has raised millions over the years. Why, in our advanced rich country, are there always children in need?
Not an easy walk, with four steepish ascents. Doubt if i could have done it at age twelve.
Walkers leave the school northwesterly along combined cycle and foot path. Farm track to Stuppington Lane, by converted oast. Edge of recently harvested field next to disused chalkpit. Left turn between hedges, next to our allotment. Steeply up between orchards. Good view of city looking back. Cross A2. Rather than have a footbridge here the path diverts about 300 metres via Stuppington Lane. To Iffin Lane, on the line of the Roman road to Port Lympne (Lemanis Roman fort) Short way up New House Lane, right on path to Cockering Road, passing large development sure to add to Canterbury’s traffic problems. And probably not helping local people into housing.
Left off Strangers Lane. Near Milton Manor chapel, left and steeply uphill to Larkey Valley Wood nature reserve and SSI. A wide byway up and steeply down past a housing estate on the site of St Augustines mental hospital. Good view from the escarpment. Across Chartham Downs Road. Down a steep road, left on footpath and up steeply back to the downs. Recross the road. Steep scramble up through woodland. Farmer permits deviation on a farm track to New House Lane, maybe to save his fruit bushes from hundreds of walkers. Right on a bridleway, often muddy but not this year, to Iffin Lane, a few metres on the Roman route, then left and by paths to Merton Farm.
The A2 Canterbury bypass severed the path here and it again diverts via Nackington Road, adding nearly a kilometre. Walkers go along Merton Lane north, past Canterbury Rugby Club to the school.
Scenic and good exercise. But … i couldnt do it now.
Rambling Brummie 