Author Archive: John Pike

SS424 – Tuesday, 13 January, 2026 – Reverse Around the Woods Walk

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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: where four paths cross, carry straight on and, at the next junction, take the path furthest to the right and continue straight ahead.  At the footpath bifurcation, bear left, joining School Lane, head down the hill towards Pett Bottom, at the bottom of the hill, by the Duck, turn left, onto Pett Bottom Road.  Proceed along the road to Little Eaton Farm joining the footpath on the left, back to Whitehill Woods. We keep to the righthand footpath until we begin to exit the woods, where we take the left hand footpath and, at the next footpath junction, turn right, through the orchard, across Bridge Road, then along the footpath by the side of the poly tunnels until we reach the fire break where we descend the hill and cross to the footpath, returning us to the Nackington footpath and back the way we came.

About 7 miles.

Last week’s Reverse Nick’s Walk:

Thursday, 8 January, 2026 – Canterbury Northern Circle

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Lunch stop – packed lunch and something to drink advised

Meet outside The Launderette (opposite St. Mary Bredin Church) at 8:30 am

Walk to Toddler’s Cove then up to Orchard Street, along St. Dunstan’s Terrace, crossing London Road, later taking the footpath beside the Cemetery and parallel to Whitstable Road – towards Rough Common but take the turning by Kent College and then cross the Whitstable Road.
We then take the footpath to Walnut Tree Farm and then into Clowes Wood and through to Radfall, moving along to bypass Chestfield Golf Club and crossing Thornton Wood Road at Sheepfold as we move into West Blean Nature Reserve, making for The Radfall path, thence Hackington and Alcoft Grange. With Canterbury Cathedral as our notional ending place we weave our way through Hales Place, St. Stephen’s and then pavement footpath to the Cathedral.

Approx. 12 miles.

Last week’s The Pet Circle in Reverse Walk:

SSS423 – Tuesday, 6 January, 2026 – Reverse Nick’s Walk

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Meet outside the Launderette (opposite St. Mary Bredin Church) @ 8:00am

Toddler’s cove via Lansdown Road

Cross Toddler’s Cove, walk under the ring road bridge and then over the railway bridge, across to St. Dunstan’s Terrace, over London Road ending up on the footpath towards Rough Common.  When we are near the Blean water tower we turn left and walk down towards the Harbledown Bridge – crossing into Harbledown and walking through the grounds of St Nicholas’s Hospital.  We then take the footpath under the A2 bridge and work our way down to the Chartham Cycle path, by the Thannington footbridge over the Stour, turn left and back to Toddler’s Cover then under the ring road, towards the East Station and Lansdown Road where the walk concludes. 6 miles

Last week’s The Les Walk:

Thursday, 1 January, 2026 The Pet Circle in Reverse

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Meet at the top of Stuppington Lane, where it meets South Canterbury Road.

Proceed to Rugby Club, Nackington, Whitehill Wood, Pett Bottom, Tapleys Hill, Catts Wood Road, Bow Hill, Hogg Lane.  We cross Stone Street then take footpaths to Capel Wood, Kenfield Road, Chartham Downs, New House Lane, working our way back to the starting point of the walk.

The Western Circle Plus walk from 18 December:

 

 

SSS422 – Tuesday 30 December, 2025 – The Les Walk (The Hole in the Polo)

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Meet at 8:00 am by the St. Augustine’s Triangle (start of the Footpath to the north of St. Augustine’s Road, which goes behind the houses with the UCA buildings on the other side).

The walk proceeds along the footpath, up Babbs Hill, by the side of the Barracks Estate leading to Old Park Farm open land.  It continues through the golf course (Scotland Hills), crossing Stodmarsh Road the Polo Farm, across the A257 by Fishpoolhill Wood then across to the path by Palmstead Wood and then Bekesbourne Lane.  We walk along the road to the footpath by the side of Haystack Wood, then down to Hode Farm where we turn onto the NDW through Barton Business Park and onto number 67 St. Augustine’s Road, home of the creator of this fine walk.

Last week’s The Steve’s Walk: