The midweek meander will take a break for the Christmas period and resume on the 3rd January 2024.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, 2024, to all Silver Striders and their families

Meet at 8.30am, launderette opposite St Mary Bredin Church.

This route is about 13 miles and is designed to be largely mud free, following the cycle route to Whitstable and the coast to Herne Bay. Packed lunch or Wallflower Cafe, and bus back home.

A shorter walk is possible by taking the bus back from Whitstable or Tankerton.

Last week’s Western Circle Plus walk:

Meet at the main entrance to the Westgate Gardens at 8:30am for the pre Christmas midweek walk.

The weather forecast is for sunny intervals and a gentle breeze, perfect weather for a two hour stroll.

The attached pic from last week was taken on the Range near Timpson Wood.

Meet @ 8 am outside 25 St Augustine’s Road

Proceed to Spring Lane then Little Barton House, then through the Orchard Route leading to Bekesbourne Lane crossing onto the footpath behind Hoath Farm.  Onwards to Firdown Wood and then on to the footpath towards Swanton Lane (crossing A257).  Then left onto the footpath over the old dump, when you get to the open field proceed north-west to the far right-hand corner to connect with the footpath through to Stodmarsh Road.  Cross the Christchurch sports field and take the footpath through to Fordwich and then the ‘wall of death’ through to Moat Lane and then along the road for the footpath that leads through the golf course, later joining the SVW and then back towards St Martin’s Church where the walk finishes.

6 miles.

Last Tuesday’s Reverse Around the Woods Walk:

Packed lunch and elevenses stop.  There is the possibility, for a shorter walk, to take the bus back from Boughton (check bus times beforehand).

8:30 Meet outside the Launderette, Nunnery Fields.

Harbledown/Bigbury/Podhurst Farm then various paths across to South Bishops Den/Forester’s Lodge Farm/Hickmans Green then footpath through tunnel under the A2 to Boughton under Blean, taking Dawes Road towards Blean Wood, finally cutting through Blean Wood to Brabourne Cottage.

Footpath and trail through North Bishopden Wood, on to Church Wood then onto Rough Common and back to Canterbury along the footpath behind Kent College and towards the cemetery.

About 14 miles

Last week’s Herne via Stodmarsh Walk:

Meet at the main entrance of the Wesgate Gardens at 8:30am. As yet a route for the walk is undecided.

It will be decided on the day if we finish the walk with coffee or go home to get changed for the Striders annual Christmas lunch booked for 1:30pm at the Foundry.

The pic taken on the walk last week is of the Three Amigos enjoying the winter sunshine.

Meet 8.30am at St Martins Church

The walk is about 12 miles, with regular buses back from Herne. There is the option of a shorter walk (about 9 miles) by getting the bus back from Upstreet. Bring a packed lunch.

We take the cycle path through Old Park and join with the cycle route to Fordwich. The the Stour Valley Way from Fordwich to Stodmarsh, and the path through the Stodmarsh bird reserve to Grove Ferry. Footpath to Upstreet, then cross the main road and take the footpath to Chitty. From Chitty we take small roads through Chislet and Millbank to Herne.

Last week’s walk to Elham:

Meet at the main entrance to the Westgate Gardens at 8:30am. A route for the walk this week will be decided on the day but it will be no longer than two hours.