Hard to believe (well I found it hard to believe) I had never ventured to the chalk crown atop the Wye Downs near Ashford. So to set things straight we set out early on a glorious Bank Holiday. We parked in a free location right on the hills just above the Devil’s Kneading trough, dragged the hound from the comfort of the car and set off. Straight away you are treated to glorious views east, sticking initially to the ridge we made our way to the lookout where there is an information point, explaining just what you are looking at. Ordanance Survey TR 07579 45256

We decided to drop down in the direction of Brook but turned right into Pickersdane Scrubs (O/S TR 0751 4509) which is access land. This runs parallel to the downs before climbing again at TR 0746 4573, a steep out of breath climb! Once height was gained it was a short walk to the Wye Crown, cut from the chalk on the hillside. Although clear from a distance it’s hard to make out when standing directly on top of it! TR 0726 4667.

Two options then, walk to Wye or complete a circular route through the woods back to the car. With the woods winning, and the promise of driving to the village afterwards for lunch by the river we set off. A footpath leaves the ridge at TR 0743 4629 leading into Collyerhill Wood which still contained bluebells, all looking dappled and very pretty. The footpath rejoins the road a few hundred meters from where we had parked. It was getting on to lunchtime and the hilltop was actually getting busy.

Five minutes drive down the hill found us at The Tickled Trout pub. The pub has a large garden which runs down the river’s edge. Obie refused to paddle like the other dogs but I had a quick dip before beer, sandwiches and home.

Parking – https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wye+Downs+Natural+Reserve+Free+Car+Park/@51.1802351,0.9218798,13z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1swye+downs!3m4!1s0x0:0xa4b3e442371162e!8m2!3d51.1718095!4d0.9705305

Pub –
https://www.thetickledtrout.co.uk/

The best place to start is the beginning so I will. Well at the parking spot anyway. On the cliff tops overlooking the English Channel on a sunny day. We had decided to visit what is known as The Warren just outside Folkestone on the south coast. 

There is plenty of street parking on The Old Dover Rd, Capel-Le-Ferne (TR 25401 38476). This is just adjacent to The Cliff Top Café, which is worth a visit for a breakfast with far reaching views to France from the outside seating. The café has its own parking but solely for customer use.  The footpath is marked with a sign post and zig zags steeply down the cliff past the café. It really is steep and you have to keep an eye on your footing, we kept the hound on his lead for this bit just in case. As soon as you leave the cliff top there is a real feeling of calm as you descend into the wood below and relief from aching knees from that descent! After a few minutes of walking we came across a selection of rope swings and although I’m old enough to know better took turns with the youngest much to the disconcertion the dog. All very Tarzan and on a warm day the woods do have a slightly jungly feel, or perhaps the heat was getting to me.

 The path leads out of the woods and in the distance is a railway footbridge which we made our way to and crossed over (TR 25922 38355). 

Walking back on ourselves the Martello Towers are visible in the distance.

Strolling towards them eventually takes you back onto the road and up the hill past the entrance to the campsite. As you reach the tower a footpath leaves the road coming out on the clifftop. We followed the path which enters the grounds of the Battle of Britain Memorial (TR 24563 38130).

The museum has a café so we bought drinks and cake, eating in the grounds. Having sat down it was a little difficult to get going again but get going we did, the path follows the cliff top and fifteen minutes later we were back at the car.  

I read about it somewhere, can’t recall exactly, but it was a surprise to me. The oldest oak in the country (actually there are several claims) only a 25-minute drive from my house. So with cheeky days leave from work I grabbed Obi, bundled him into the car and set off.

The oak in question has a name, Majesty and is situated in Fredville Park, Nonington, East Kent. This is privately owned parkland but has several rights of way running through it.  I parked on the edge of Nonington in a parking bay adjacent to a children’s play area on Holt Street. The approx Os ref is TR25725190. There is space for about five cars.

There is an obvious footpath leading from the carpark area but I didn’t take this. I walked in the direction of the pub (sadly closed down) about 30 yards west. Opposite that is a bridleway that leads all the way through the estate. There are signs warning of a bull roaming free, not seen but kept hound on the lead whilst walking through the park. The trees can be seen from the path which is mainly hardstanding.

I exited Fredville on the far side and took an immediate left onto a wooded public footpath.  TR 2570 5064. The dog was finally released and took the lead for the rest of the walk, I think he likes to feel important. A couple of hundred yards in, you cross a lane onto another path this time leading into a slighter larger wood, which runs parallel with Pie Factory Rd.  Taking a sort of left you can walk all the way through the wood, obviously used by local children due to the rope swings. Yes, I tried them, no didn’t take any pictures….As you exit the wood a footpath (TR 2630 5081) is signed across the road this takes you back towards Nonington. The path is sort of parallel with bridleway taken initially and you can see it in the distance. Walking through more copses and around a field, you eventually join a path (TR 2646 5165) which if followed takes you back to the carpark. The path I believe goes around Box Wood, but hound was leading and seemed adamant that was the way. I didn’t want to burst his bubble.

The whole walk only took about 1hr 20 mins with picture stops but it certainly was a change. The nearest dog-friendly pub is the Fitzwalter Arms in Goodnestone. Only five minutes in the car or another 20 minutes on foot, but sadly didn’t have time, possibly another day.

 

https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/gbr/england/kent/960_fredvillepark/1720/

https://www.parksandgardens.org/places/fredville-park-nonington

https://www.fitzwalterarms.co.uk/

It turned out to be one of those places on your doorstep that you didn’t know existed. Having got wind of Victory Woods near Faversham I decided to drag the hound and some of the family out for a Sunday morning amble. The site is run by The Woodland Trust and was planted in 2005 to mark the 200^th anniversary of Britain’s victory at the battle of Trafalgar. It’s a partially wooded piece of access land covering over 300 acres.

 

The site has its own free car park located just off the A299 Thanet Way between Faversham and Whitstable. If you come off the dual carriage way at the Costa/Starbucks rest areas you’ll find it. The OS grid is 0851 6258 or close to it. It was a remarkably hot February Sunday on our visit so the car park was full, but on road parking can be found nearby. The car park is free and is serviced by a mobile cafe/van with a portaloo. Nicer than it sounds, the cafe that is….

 

The site itself turned out to be absolutely fabulous for walking the dog and is obviously popular with local owners. Most of the site is access land so you really ramble almost everywhere.

 

 

The first part of the park has hard packed paths to allow some level of disabled access or for those less sure of foot. Walking further into the site you are treated with far reaching views, quite a rarity in this part of the crowded south east. You are naturally guided up the hill where there is a monument and even better views across to the Isle of Sheppey. With a bit of map reading you could easily walk across country from here south into Canterbury.

 

The best part of this location is that the dog was off his lead, free to lurch around and investigate for the majority of the walk. Actually on second thoughts,  the things he gets up to, hat may not be for the best ….

 

Further Information – Instagram @walkingadam

 

Parking – High street, Dargate TR 0851 6258.

 

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/wood/5571/victory-wood