Meet 8.00 am at St. Martin’s Church

Stour Valley Way to Fordwich (forking right – off bike route) scary bit after Fordwich for 200 yds then turn right up hill to Stodmarsh Road via CCCU playing field. Across Stodmarsh Rd, footpath straight on then veer right into field and down to Lampen Stream. Turn right along bottom of field following stream for 400 yards, then turn left across stream and up the hill to old waste dump, right onto Swanton Lane, then straight across and down past Firdown Wood. Before the bare field at near Palmstead wood turn right and proceed towards the Hoath Farm (the last bit is along Bekesborne Road, thus exercise care), then right and left and thus to Hoath Farm, home via Little Barton House. 6 miles.

Last week’s Around The Woods Walk:

Happy Birthday Keith

Many Happy Returns Keith from all your friends in the Silver Striders

Meet outside St. Martin’s Church @ 8:30am

PLEASE BRING A PACKED LUNCH

Canterbury to Fordwich to Stodmarsh to Grove Ferry (through the Nature Reserve) then on to the Wickhambreaux Valley and slowly down to Wichambreaux. Lunch somewhere near Wickhambreaux, thence a short trek to Littlebourne and through the woods towards Swanton Lane but cutting down, crossing the A257, towards Court Wood, Jacob’s Close, Firdown Wood, The Hoath Farm and then taking the footpath towards Little Barton, Spring Lane and back into Canterbury. For a shorter walk one could drop off at Littlebourne and catch the bus back to Canterbury.

About 15 miles

Last week’s Selsted via Broome Park Walk:

Meet at the main entrance to the Westgate Gardens at 8:30am for a two hour walk followed by coffee at a city centre cafe; it may be the Chatterbox.

The weather forecast is for light rain showers and a gentle breeze. Depending on the weather part of the walk will take us through the orchards of Harbledown.

Below is a pic taken on our walk last week, The North Downs Way and River Path Ramble:

Meet @ 8:00 am outside the hospital – junction of South Canterbury Road with Ethelbert Road

Walk to Rugby Club then, via Nackington to Bridge Road and into Whitehill Wood: turn left at the cross paths heading towards Bridge.  We continue straight ahead at the next cross paths then, at the path T junction, we turn right along the bridal path, keeping to the side of the woods until we come onto Pett Bottom Road at Little Eaton Farm.  Walking towards the Duck we turn right (Tapleys Hill) and, later, right again (School Lane), proceeding uphill we turn into the woods again at the footpath sign but, as we approach the path, leading to Pett Bottom Road, we turn left towards the centre of the wood and continue straight on; later crossing Bridge Road and back through Nackington, the Rugby Club, turning left at the Langton Path towards Stuppington Lane.  The walk concludes at the junction with South Canterbury Road.

Last week’s Nick’s Walk:

Meet 8.30am, K&C Hospital, South Canterbury Road entrance

This walk is about 12 miles, with regular buses back from Selstead. A shorter option is to take a bus back from Broome Park (about 8 miles). Bring a packed lunch. Coffee is usually available at the cafe outside Broome Park.

After the normal route out past the rugby field, we will go through Whitehill Woods and down to Bridge, where we will pick up the Elham Valley way to Derringstone, then down to Barham and the footpath across the golf course to Broome Park. From Broome Park we will cross and take the small road and footpath to Lynden Race Circuit, then turning right past Wootton to Selstead.

Last week’s walk to Lyminge:

Meet at the main entrance to the Westgate Gardens at 8:30am for our weekly two hour walk followed by coffee at a city centre cafe.

Meet by the Launderette opposite  St Mary Bredin Church at 8:00am

Toddler’s cove via Lansdown Road

SVW to near Tonford Manor; at the bridge to Thanington turn right (not left) onto the footpath, walk past Tonford Manor, under the A2 then:

Turn left on footpath into Lower Harbledown, through St Nicholas’s Hospital into Harbledown and left at the Church then over the road bridge and through the meadow to the top – towards Blean water tower and right on the footpath to St Dunstan’s back over the railway bridge and then home via Toddler’s Cove and under the ring road bridge by the river or through Westgate Gardens and Greyfriars.  6 miles.

Last week’s Reverse The Les Walk:

***Packed Lunch to be eaten en route***

Meet by the hospital – corner of South Canterbury Road/Ethelbert Road @ 8:30 am

Walk to Nackington, then criss cross various paths to Petham and then a mixture of footpath and road to Stowting, then on to Lyminge.

14 miles

No: 17 @ 13:43 40 mins
No: 17 @ 14:43 40 mins
No: 18 @ 15:12 53 mins
No: 17 @ 16:20 46 mins

We last did this walk in July 2022

Last week’s Wye via The River and NDW:

Meet at the main entrance of the Westgate Gardens at 8:30am for a two hour walk followed by coffee at approximately 10:30am at a city centre coffee shop.

The walk will include a section of the Sarre Penn depending on weather conditions that at present is not looking promising, heavy rain in the forecast.

The pic taken on the walk last week has us located in Broad Oak: