Two villages: Selling and Chillenden. Two kinds of walking, solo and in a group. Two parts of my life.
Selling is a scattered place between Canterbury and Faversham. Old English Sellingas, hall dwellers. The church, school and white Lion pub are about a mile from the train station, which is at Neames Forstal on OS map. As a countryside access warden i was looking at footpaths east of the village. Two visits. The first through wood and orchards. Some orchardists leave gaps between the trees on the line of the public footpath. This one hadn’t. Had to walk round field edges.
Was driving round looking for parking for next walk and wondering where to seek morning coffee. The Sondes Arms, near the station, is now a shop and tearoom. Parking in station approach. Welcome coffee. The pub was built by a farmer for his workers.
Second visit to Selling had two aims: to check a path i’d found overgrown in 2017. It is now walkable. Uphill through woods, some mud, lots leaves making path hard to follow. Beech, oak, silver birch, holly. My second aim was abandoned because footbridge over railway closed for repairs. Enjoyed coffee at Sondes. Talked with two walkers going to Perry Woods.
Sunday January 30th was the fiftieth anniversary of Derry’s Bloody Sunday, a shameful event in Britain’s history in Ireland.
A lovely sunny day for Datrows leisurely walk from Chillenden [OE Ceollas Dene, valley of Ceolas] Started from Griffins Head. Pigs and piglets, with family huts, enjoying the sun. White windmill. Originally built 1868, rebuilt 2005 after a storm. Back via Goodnestone. A bank of snowdrops: sign of coming Spring.
Would have welcomed coffee at Chillenden but don’t think a crowded pub is healthy. Talked of astronomy: can one comprehend Big Bang? A whole universe out of nothing? Someone spoke about moles. Mills. “Evergiven” blocking Suez Canal. Walks from Bekesbourne. Pleasure of walking in a group.
Struggled to the end as three mile walk was more like four and a half. All good exercise.
Rambling Brummie 