As a volunteer countryside access warden, i visited Boughton in December 2020. It’s taken four more visits to walk all the footpaths between The Street and Staplestreet Road. Boughton is between Faversham and Canterbury, on the Roman Road which was later called Watling Street. With Kentish originality it is here caled The Street. It isContinue reading “Back to Boughton”
Category Archives: walking
Towards normality?
Two walks in a week, of importance mainly to myself. A year ago i intended this blog to be based on walks with Datrows [Dover and Thanet Rights of Way Society] and as a CAW [Countryside Access Warden] Then came Covid restrictions. I’ve never been locked down, though walking has been limited by decrepitude. Now,Continue reading “Towards normality?”
Swale Heritage Trail
The Swale is the channel between the Isle of Sheppey and the rest of Kent. From Old English “swalwe” meaning rushing water. The Borough of Swale is the local government area including Sittingbourne and Faversham. The Swale Heritage trail links these two towns and continues to Goodnestone to the east of Faversham. The trail wasContinue reading “Swale Heritage Trail”
Kent’s furthest north
Carol Donaldson is an environmental consultant and author living in north Kent. When i heard she was walking to Egypt Bay i was reminded of a walk about twenty years ago. My aim was to visit Kent’s most northerly point, on the Thames near Egypt Bay. Think i planned a circular walk from Cliffe toContinue reading “Kent’s furthest north”
The Elham Valley Way
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 becomeContinue reading “The Elham Valley Way”
Rambling down memory lane
During lockdown i’ve been sorting through over sixty years of papers. Hard to throw anything away, but i’m trying. This triggers memories. Recently i found a ticket stub from the Albert Hall, May 27th 1966. Bob Dylan. A letter from my lover at the time. The lyrics to “Mr Tambourine Man” in her handwriting withContinue reading “Rambling down memory lane”
Stour Valley Walk
There seem to be five major rivers in England called Stour (prob Celtic “strong one”) The Kent one runs from Lenham in the North Downs through Ashford, Canterbury, and Sandwich to the sea at Pegwell Bay. The Stour valley walk follows the river valley, though only about 17km out of 83 are on the riverContinue reading “Stour Valley Walk”
Rambling round the Saxon Shore
Having done my first stage of the North Downs Way i was sidetracked by the Saxon Shore Way. I found, probably in the Albion bookshop Canterbury (gone, alas) “the Saxon Shore Way” [Kent Rights of Way Council,1980] This guide is a set of nine day walks with maps and written directions, each day a differentContinue reading “Rambling round the Saxon Shore”
What a year
I started this blog almost a year ago. Intended to write of the joy of walking, based on my work as a countryside access warden and walks with Datrows and my son. Expected to ramble off on byways of thought, inspired by nature and my fellow walkers. Thanks to covid and decrepitude my walks haveContinue reading “What a year”
Thoughts on snow
I like snow: when fresh and white, crunchy and easy to walk on. Deadens noise. Enjoyed a walk to the allotment on Monday, the first visitor that morning. The plots evened out under a white blanket. Snow is educational in two ways. First: we learn how vulnerable our society is to cuts in transport, powerContinue reading “Thoughts on snow”
Rambling Brummie 