Author Archive: John Pike
SSS 322 – Tuesday 30 January, 2024 – Travelling Riverside Blues Walk
Meet at the top of Nunnery Road where it meets Nunnery Fields at 8:00am
Nunnery Road down to Martyr’s Field, past Wincheap School, cross A28 and through Riverside Retail Park, bridge across the Stour to SVW and onward to Westgate Gardens. We re-connect with the river by the Miller’s Arms, Sainsburys, under the bridge, up to Vauxhall Lakes then turning eastwards, crossing the A28 and heading to the SVW (and cycle path) but now heading south-westwards in the direction of St. Martin’s Church. We turn right when we arrive at the A257 (Littlebourne Road), heading towards the Abbey then left towards Old Dover Road, where the walk finishes at the Cross Keys crossroads.
Last week’s Reverse The Golf Walk:
Thursday 25 January, 2024 Canterbury – Faversham via Herne Hill
Meet @ 8:30am outside the launderette (opposite St. Mary Bredin Church).
Road and footpath to Rough Common
Church Wood through to Courtney Road and through the woods till we get to the
Herne Hill footpath, crossing Thanet Way between Kemdale Wood and Fostall.
Footpaths to Sandbanks Road, Nagden Cottages then SSW into Faversham.
Take bus back or lunch – to be decided
About 12/13 miles
Buses back (either 3 or X3):
12:24; 12:54; 13:24; 13:54; 14:24
Last week’s Ash via Littlebourne (continuation of the Source of the Nailbourne Walk from Patrixbourne to where the it joins the Little Stour between Wickhambreaux and Preston):
Wednesday Walk – 24 January, 2024
SSS 321 – Tuesday 23 January, 2024 – Reverse The Golf Walk
Meet outside 25 St. Augustine’s Road at 8:00 am
Spring Lane and past Little Barton Farmhouse. We take the Public Footpath, which runs parallel to the railway line, along to Bekesbourne Road, further along we take the footpath, on the left, which runs alongside Palmstead Wood then Firdown Wood. We cross A257 and walk along Swanton Lane till we get to the site of the old dump, then take the footpath through to Moat Lane/Stodmarsh Road junction. We cross the road and take the footpath to Scotland Hill, across the Golf Course and then the footpath that runs behind the old barracks, later cutting down to the SVW, which leads us to St. Martin’s Church where the walk ends. 6 miles.
Last week’s Reverse Toddler’s Coves Walk:
Wednesday Walk – 17 January, 2024
Meet at the main entrance to the Westgate Gardens at 8:30am.
SSS320 – Tuesday, 16 January, 2024 – Reverse Toddler’s Coves Walk
Meet at the top of Nunnery Road where it meets Nunnery Fields at 8:00am
Nunnery Road, Zealand Road, then Lime Kiln Road to footpath, which connects to path behind Wincheap and then to Hollow Lane. Walk along footpath by side of Hollow Lane (under A2 bridge) and along New House Lane, later take footpath across to Strangers Lane. Walk down to A28 and cross for footpath, which leads to bridge over the Stour onto the SVW by the turning to Tonford Manor but turn right and walk to Toddler’s Cove, then across the footbridge and under the ring road towards Lansdown Road where the walk finishes. About 6 miles.
Last week’s Reverse The Hospital Walk:
Thursday, 11 January, 2024 – Canterbury to Dover
Bring a packed lunch for this walk, plus elevenses as there will be several stops en route.
Meet at 8:30 outside 25 St. Augustine’s Road.
We shall follow the NDW route but veer off early to shorten our route, later rejoining the NDW, through Womenswold, but later taking a different route via Woolage Green and forward to Coldred. When approaching Whitfield we have the opportunity to take the Temple Farm Tunnel to catch the bus back from Temple Ewell or train from Kearsney, otherwise we walk on to Church Whitfield, crossing the A256, to Pineham then onto Guston, crossing the A2, and rejoining the NDW and making our way into Dover via the scenic Necropolis route.
18 miles but possible cut offs available at Bridge, Kingston, Sibertswold (train), Temple Ewell (bus or train).
Last week’s Nailbourne from the source Walk:
Wednesday Walk – 10 January, 2024
Meet at the main entrance to the Westgate Gardens at 8:30am.
Weather forecast sunny and a moderate breeze with temperatures not higher than 3 degrees. The walk will take us in the direction of Rough Common, Blean Church, Tyler Hill returning to Canterbury via the University. Approximately a two hour walk with coffee taken at a city centre coffee house.
The pic from the walk last week was snapped at Neal’s Place looking towards the city and cathedral.

SSS 319 – Tuesday 9 January, 2024 – Reverse The Hospital Walk
Meet @ 8:00 am outside the hospital – junction of South Canterbury Road with Ethelbert Road
The Langton Path to the end of the school playing fields, rugby club, Nackington then down to the bottom of the fields, by the pylons, then right and left through the firebreak in the woods, up the hill and onto to the Renville path. At Renville take the bridge across the motorway and then carefully walk across the NDR/A2 approach road and onto the lane which connects to the orchards, thence onto Pilgrims’ Way/St Augustine’s Road where the walk concludes. 6 miles
Last week’s Tuesday’s Reverse The Get Thee To a Nunnery walk: