**Packed Lunch**

Meet outside 25 St Augustine’s Road 8:30

Proceed to St Martin’s, then SVW to Fordwich. Footpath to the South of Westbere Lakes then up, over the railway line, through Westbere and the streets of Sturry to footpaths to the East of Herne Bay Road towards Woodlands Farm then crossing the road into Farthings Wood. Through East Blean Wood but working down towards Hackington, St Stephen’s Green and back into Canterbury – stopping for a coffee/tea/beer in town having already eaten lunch en route. (12/13 miles)

Last week’s Badlands of Badlesmere walk:

**Packed Lunch**

Meet at the corner of Nunnery Fields with Old Dover Road – opposite St Mary Bredin Church at 8:30

London Road roundabout/footpath to Bigberry/Chartham Hatch/Primrose Hill/Denstead Wood/Rhode Common/Perry Wood/Stocking Wood/Badlesmere.

There is the Red Lion in Badlesmere or we can visit somewhere in Faversham should we fancy some refreshment.

Buses back to Canterbury (change at Faversham)
bus 666 – 12:59; 13:59; 15:26; 16:26
We take bus 3X from Faversham back to Canterbury – whole journey one hour.

Distance: 14 miles

Last week’s Stour Valley Way to Stourmouth and Wingham walk – sheltering from the rain in a hide on the Stodmarsh Nature Reserve:

**Packed Lunch**

Meet at the corner of Nunnery Road with Nunnery Fields @ 8:30am

Proceed: Zealand Road, Lime Kiln Road, Footpath, Hollow Lane, New House Lane, Footpath to Strangers Lane then take the upper footpath to Chartham and then follow the same path, passing the Lakes, to Bagham. Walk towards Chilham but then follow Mountain Street into King’s Wood. When our footpath lines up above Bilting (below), we take the footpath down to the A28, cross the main road and then follow the footpath towards Wye (crossing the railway line). We can eat our lunch en route but perhaps take a coffee/tea at the cafe in Wye, alternatively we could take the train straight back to Canterbury West. Distance 12 miles.

Trains leave from Wye to Canterbury West at 11 and 41 minutes past the hour. Fare with railcard £3.90

Last week walking between Sittingbourne and Faversham on the Saxon Shore Way:

**Packed Lunch**

Meet at Canterbury East Station to catch 9:09 train to Sittingbourne – return ticket £6.20 with railcard.

From Sittingbourne Station we head East and then South into and through the industrial estate following the footpath, ending up on the Saxon Shore Way which follows the Swale to Conyer, continuing East until we turn South into Oare Creak. On reaching Oare village we take road and footpath into Faversham. We could take refreshment at Wetherspoons (or somewhere else) before taking the train or bus back to Canterbury.

Estimated at 12 miles.

Last week’s Royal Victoria Pavilion between Birchington and Ramsgate:

Meet 8:30 am at Canterbury Bus Station (Bay C2) for Bus 8 towards Westwood Cross, which the Striders will disembark at Birchington (bus departs Canterbury 8:40am).

Walk leaders Barry and Nick will then guide the Silver Striders, along a 380m ascent, to the Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate where the walk concludes. About 12 miles.

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/kent/the-royal-victoria-pavilion-ramsgate

Bus Route 9 at 13:20 or 14:20 seems the best bet however, the journey back is shown as 65 mins.

Last week’s walk to Elham (John Millais contemplates his next Pre-Raphaelite masterpiece):

**Packed Lunch**
This one starts at 8:30am outside 25 St Augustine’s Road and takes the Francigena to Patrixbourne. Then to Bridge via Bifrons Park.
Then there is a path crossing the Nailbourne to Crows Camp Hill just above Bishopsbourne.
We take a footpath from here and then a sharp left into Charlton Wood and then on to Heart’s delight via Marley.
We now follow the Elham Valley Way into Covert Wood, but on leaving the wood we go on the road to Bladbean Farm, and then on road and paths to Upper park gate Farm. From there we descend by road and path into Elham and, maybe, for Tea/Coffee/Beer before taking the bus back to Canterbury. About 11 miles.

**At some point, close to midday, we can hopefully find somewhere welcoming (a patch of turf or some logs) to eat our lunch**

Buses to Canterbury at 12:42 or 13:42 – journey time 33 mins

Last week’s Canterbury to Dover walk:

Meet outside 25 St Augustine’s Road 8:30

Packed lunch to be eaten en route. There are some possible stops for refreshment en route – to be decided on the day.

Proceed on NDW as far as Patrixbourne then yellow roads and footpaths to Womenswold rejoining NDW and proceeding to Sibertswold. We continue to Coldred on NDW but then leave it in favour of yellow roads to Whitfield, where we weave through footpath and streets to get over to the footpath running by the side of the A2 and later crossing A256. We then rejoin NDW, to and through the necropolis and into Dover and then to Dover Priory station.

Estimated distance 17 miles

Trains from Dover Priory to Canterbury East, cost £5.75 with railcard:
14:18; 14:52; 15:18; 15:48; 16:20; 16:55

Last week’s walk – Nick’s Loop:

Meet 8.30am, junction of Nunnery Fields and South Canterbury Road
Nunnery Road, Zealand Road and Lime Kiln Road
Then over the fields to Hollow Lane and up footpath to New House Lane
New House Lane until footpath at New House Farm, to Rabbit Wood
Over the Chartham Downs road, and behind Kenfield Hall to Petham
Footpath to Stone Street, over Stone Street to Bow Hill and Upper Hardres Court
Then Westwood Farm, Reed’s Mill and Farm, footpath to Bishopsbourne
Down Frog Lane and up to Highland Court Farm and Pedlars cafe
Lunch or tea at Pedlars, walk back on North Downs Way through Patrixbourne and home. Alternatively, regular buses from Bridge.
Pedlars is a new cafe for the Striders but it comes well recommended.
Total walk length about 16 miles. Likely time home around 2-3pm.
Last week’s solo walk from Birchington to Whitstable by Nick:

Due to three different holidays and two different infirmities only one Strider was available to carry on our happy Thursday tradition. Thank you Nick.

Last week’s Canterbury to Sandwich walk:

Meet outside 25 St Augustine’s Road 8:30

NDW to Patrixbourne/Shepherd’s Close Road/FPs to Adisham/Bossington/Neavy Downs/Gibson’s Farmshop (lunch [BREAKFAST] stop).

Afternoon take Goodnestone Road/Twitham Hill/Crixhall Court/Buckland Lane/Summerfield Farm/Black Pond Farm/Beacon Hill/Marshborough – Vine Farm/Great Poulder’s Farm/Sandwich

Distance 14 miles

There is always the possibility of refreshment in the Red Cow, Sandwich at the end of the walk

Buses from Sandwich to Canterbury:

Bus 43 (around 40 mins)

13:41 14:01 14:21 14:41 15:01 15:21 15:30 16:06

Last week’s Miners Way 2 Walk: