Posts tagged Kent
Greater London OS Trig Pillars

If you’ve searched for or stumbled across this page then you probably already know what an OS Trig Pillar is. If you don’t then this article from the Ordnance Survey is a good place to start.

There were 30 OS Trig Pillars built in Greater London of which 24 are still in place. Of these, some are on private land and are visible from a distance but not reachable. There are a further 14 Trig Pillars that are outside of Greater London but inside of the M25. A special mention goes to TP9117 North Ockendon which is inside Greater London but outside of the M25.

I completed my mission to visit all accessible and visible Trig Pillars within Greater London and the M25. The definition of accessible is somewhat subjective though as some that I’ve listed as accessible are just off the public right of way. Looking at the logs, there are others who have successfully bagged ones I’ve listed as inaccessible but I’ve taken a more risk-averse approach and avoided trespassing, causing damage or scaring animals. Always check the logs on Trigpointing.uk to see how easy it is to access a pillar.

The Map

Click on each icon to see the Trig Pillar name and a link to the page on Trigpointing.uk

The Spreadsheet

The Photos: Greater London Trig Pillars

No photo for TP5676 - Riddles Down

The Photos: Inside M25 but outside of Greater London Trig Pillars

The Log Sheet

If you would like a PDF version of my manual Greater London OS Trig Pillars Log Sheet, please Buy Me A Coffee and let me know on the Contact Page. It’s a table of all Greater London Trig Pillars, plus a separate page for those outside of London but inside the M25. You can track your date completed and there’s space for your own Notes. It’s simple and you could easily make one yourself, but let me know if you want a copy of mine. 20% of each virtual coffee goes to one of the Causes that I support and the rest goes towards the running of this website.

More London Posts

If you enjoyed reading this post, there is plenty more to explore across the capital. I have put together a dedicated London Outdoors page where I keep track of all my other adventures around the city. It is a handy index where I group my posts by the different types of places I have visited: including historic boundary lines, canal towpaths, and some surprising urban high points.

The collection covers a bit of everything: from long-distance cycling routes to tracing the underground network on foot, and ticking off another Saturday morning parkrun. If you are looking for some inspiration for your own weekend outings, head back over to the London Outdoors page to see what else I have been up to.

Back to London Outdoors
Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, London, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
Wrotham: Lathe of Aylesford High Point

View to the south from nearby the high point

Significance: Highest point in the Kent Lathe of Aylesford
Parent Peak: Botley Hill
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Toys Hill
Elevation: 235m
Date “climbed”: 12th July 2025
Coordinates: 51° 19' N, 0° 17' E

Route Start / End: On street parking in Stansted village on Labour-In-Vain road west of the junction with Plaxdale Green Road.
Route Distance: 2.5 km (1.6 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 31m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP7083 - Wrotham
Map: Maidstone & the Medway Towns Map | Kent Downs | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 148
Links: Wikipedia: Stansted, Wikishire: Lathe of Aylesford, Peakbagger

I visited the Wrotham Trig Pillar as a part of a mission to bag the High Points of the Kent Lathes, the historic sub-divisions of Kent. I couldn’t find an established list of the Lathe High Points so I worked them out based on Trigpointing.uk and Peakbagger logs. I’m pretty sure that Wrotham is the high point of the Lathe of Aylesford but please let me know if you think that the high point is somewhere else.

This is a short out-and-back walk from a parking space in Stansted village on Labour-In-Vain road west of the junction with Plaxdale Green Road. Walk south-east along Labour-in-Vain road, past the Hilltop Restaurant, then take the footpath on the right that crosses the A20. Continue along the footpath across the field and cross the bridge over the M20. Take the first footpath on the right to head in a south-westerly direction.

I was there in mid-summer and there were narrow, nettle-filled bushes surrounding the path but it was just about passable. Longer trousers and secateurs may have helped but it was OK apart from taking home a few scratches. There’s a lot of paths around the area and they didn’t exactly match up with the map so using the GPX file was very helpful here. Eventually I found the pillar in the middle of a thorny bush on the edge of a field.

Return via the same route, taking in the long views to the south.

Back to Kent Lathes Index
Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Trig Pillar, Kent, EnglandComment
Paddlesworth: Lathe of Shepway High Point

Significance: Highest point in the Lathe of Shepway
Elevation: 187m
Date “climbed”: 12th July 2025
Coordinates: 51°06'46.0"N 1°08'30.3"E
OS Trig Pillar: TP0449 - Paddlesworth
Map: Dover, Folkestone & Hythe Map | England Coast Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 138
Links: Wikipedia: (Lathe of Shepway, Paddlesworth), Wikishire: Lathe of Shepway

I visited the Paddlesworth Trig Pillar as a part of a mission to bag the High Points of the Kent Lathes, the historic sub-divisions of Kent. I couldn’t find an established list of the Lathe High Points so I worked them out based on Trigpointing.uk and Peakbagger logs. I’m pretty sure that Paddlesworth is the high point of the Lathe of Shepway but please let me know if you think that the high point is somewhere else.

This is a very quick drive-by bag. The pillar is in the grounds of a reservoir at the end of Fisher’s Lane in Paddlesworth. It’s private property but the pillar is very close to the gate. Easy to take a photo from a short distance or to hop over the gate to reach it.

Back to Kent Lathes Index
Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Trig Pillar, Kent, EnglandComment
Farthingloe: Lathe of St. Augustine High Point

View to Aycliffe and Dover Harbour from the descent from Farthingloe

Significance: Highest point in the Kent Lathe of St. Augustine
Elevation: 182m
Date “climbed”: July 12th 2025
Coordinates: 51°12'42.1"N 0°53'51.2"E

Route Start / End: On-street parking at junctions of St David’s Avenue and Old Folkestone Road, Aycliffe, Dover, CT17 9HJ, Kent
Route Distance: 1.8 km (1.1 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 66m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): none
OS Trig Pillar: TP3122 - Farthingloe
Map: Dover, Folkestone & Hythe Map | England Coast Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 138
Links: Wikipedia: Lathe of St Augustine, Wikishire: Lathe of St. Augustine, Dover Historian: Farthingloe

I visited the Farthingloe Trig Pillar as a part of a mission to bag the High Points of the Kent Lathes, the historic sub-divisions of Kent. I couldn’t find an established list of the Lathe High Points so I worked them out based on Trigpointing.uk and Peakbagger logs. I’m pretty sure that Farthingloe is the high point of the Lathe of St. Augustine but please let me know if you think that the high point is somewhere else.

This one can be a quick out-and-back if you know where to go. The area around the pillar is quite overgrown so be careful. Long trousers and secateurs are worth taking in the summer. If you’re driving there’s plenty of free on-street parking in Aycliffe.

From the corner of St. David’s Avenue and Old Folkestone Road take a path through a gate heading west then take the first footpath on the right to ascend the steep hill. Although the route up the the hill looks straight on the map you’ll need to navigate around and through bushes to get to the top. At the path junction take a left heading west.

The trig pillar is just off the path to the left. I missed it on the way out and ended up at the wheat field. The circle on the map below is where I ended up in some abandoned farm buildings in a thorny bush. It was an interesting accidental diversion but you don’t need to go that far.

The pillar is a rare English cylindrical one and the views from it, and the descent are well worth the scramble to it. Return to Aycliffe by the same route.

Back to Kent Lathes Index
Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Trig Pillar, Coast, Kent, EnglandComment
TP4009 - Hope Farm: The UK's Most South Easterly Trig Pillar

Start & Finish: Parking at Dover Patrol Memorial, Granville Road, St Margarets Bay, St Margaret's at Cliffe, Dover, CT15 6DS
Distance: 5.5 km (3.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 83m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Saxon Shore Way, England Coast Path, St Margaret’s Frontline Britain Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1
OS Trig Pillar: TP4009 - Hope Farm
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Dover, Folkestone & Hythe Map | England Coast Path | Ordnance
Links: St Margaret's at Cliffe, Dover Patrol Memorial, Trig Pillar Extremes

This is a short walk near St Margaret's at Cliffe in Kent that visits the most south easterly OS Trig Pillar in the UK. If you’ve searched for or stumbled across this page then you probably already know what an OS Trig Pillar is. If you don’t then this article from the Ordnance Survey is a good place to start.

The walk starts at the Dover Patrol Memorial where there’s a small free car park. Walk in a south westerly direction away from the Memorial and look out for a brown footpath sign indicating the St Margaret’s Frontline Britain Trail just before you reach the houses. Follow this path in a north-westerly direction until you reach The Droveway (road). Take a left onto The Droveway then take the footpath on the right that takes you to Kingsdown Road. Take a right onto Kingdown Road to follow it in a north-easterly direction for 1.1 km. The road quickly becomes a track which is part of the NCN 1 cycle route.

Leave the track at the path into the Bockhill Farm National Trust property and follow the left hand edge of the field to a path junction. When you reach some open scrubland cut across the to find the Trig Pillar on the golf-course side of the boundary fence. After the Trig Pillar follow the fence to the south east then turn left to follow the boundary path between the golf course and the edge of the farm. Look back to see a good view of the Trig Pillar across the golf course. Continue in a north-easterly direction along the field'/golf-course boundary then take the path on the right that leads down to the coastal path. Take a right onto the coastal path to follow it all the way back to the Memorial.

Back to Trek Index
Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, Coast, Kent, National Trails, National Trust, EnglandComment
Kingswood: Lathe of Scray High Point

Significance: Highest point in the Kent Lathe of Scray
Elevation: 182m 
Date “climbed”: 11th July 2025
Coordinates: 51°12'42.1"N 0°53'51.2"E

Route Start / End: Kings Wood Car Park, Challock, Ashford TN25 4AR
Route Distance: 450m (0.3 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 3m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): N/A
OS Trig Pillar: TP4236 - Kingswood
Map: Ashford Map | Headcorn, Chilham and Wye | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 137
Links: Wikipedia: Lathe of Scray, Wikishire: Lathe of Scray, Forestry England: Kingswood

I visited the Kingswood Trig Pillar as a part of a mission to bag the High Points of the Kent Lathes, the historic sub-divisions of Kent. I couldn’t find an established list of the Lathe High Points so I worked them out based on Trigpointing.uk and Peakbagger logs. I’m pretty sure that Kingswood is the high point of the Lathe of Scray but please let me know if you think that the high point is somewhere else.

This one is an easy drive-by bag from the Kingswood Forestry Commission Car Park. Take a left onto White Hill road and follow it for approx 150m. Enter the woods on the south side of the road and follow a faint path in the woods to find the Trig Pillar. You’ll notice a sign opposite the car park entrance saying “Private Wood. Keep Out”. I assume that this also covers the location of the Trig Pillar but it’s a very quick out-and back from the road without crossing any fences.

Back to Kent Lathes Index
Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Trig Pillar, Kent, EnglandComment
Cycling The NCN 2 from Dover to Brighton

Early morning start in Hastings

This was a 2-day cycle adventure continuing our occasional crawl around the south-coast of England, 1 weekend at a time. We picked up where we left off the previous summer at Dover Waterfront and headed towards Brighton. As well as being well-spaced for a 50(ish) mile a day trip, the towns were also good for trains to and from London. Our main consideration was that the outbound train from London Victoria to Dover Priory has to be after 19:00 to avoid Friday evening rush-hour. It got us into Dover after dark but it was only a 10 minute cycle to the Dover Premier Inn where we were staying. There were no restrictions on the return trip from Brighton to London Victoria on the Friday.

Day 1: Dover to Hastings

Start: Dover Priory Station, Priory Station Approach Road, Dover CT17 9SB
Finish: Hastings Pier, 1-10 White Rock, Hastings, TN34 1JY
Distance: 97.4 km (54 miles)
Elevation change: + 602m / -609m (Net -7)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Saxon Shore Way, North Downs Way, King Charles III England Coast Path, High Weald Landscape Trail, 1066 Country Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, 2, 17, Cantii Way
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots, but we stopped at Pedaler on the Port, Dover (1.5 km in), The Star, St Mary in The Marsh (40 kmi in), Brew at 32, Lydd (51 km in), The Lookout, Rye (66 km in)
OS Trig Pillar: TP4139 - Jurys Gap
Maps:
- Dover, Folkestone & Hythe Map | England Coast Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 138
- Romney Marsh, Rye & Winchelsea Map | Tenterden & New Romney | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 125
- Hastings & Bexhill Map | Battle & Robertsbridge | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 124
Links: Dover, Folkestone, Royal Military Canal, Romney Marsh, St Mary In The Marsh, Lydd, Camber Sands, Rye, Whichelsea, Hastings

 

Our trip started at 10:30 on the Saturday after Dover Waterfront parkrun and a slow breakfast at the Pedaler on the Port cycle cafe. The 87 km route was mostly flat but bookended by steep climbs at the start and end of the day. The early climb came right after Dover town as the NCN 2 ascends Shakespeare Cliff to Capel-le-Ferne before a steep descent into Folkestone. Watch out for the Sound Mirror next to the Millennium Milepost at 8 km which gives you a good excuse for a rest around half-way through the climb.

The first part of the flat section under Radnor Cliff in Folkestone and along the Royal Military Canal is a highlight of the route. We bypassed Hythe town but, in hindsight, we would have stopped there for some food as pubs and cafes are few and far between in the marshland west of Hythe. By the time we reached St Mary In The Marsh at 40km we more than ready for a rest in The Star pub. As it happened we were too late for lunch and too early for dinner so, after a short rest, we pressed onto Lydd to have a longer rest and some good food in the cycle-friendly Brew at 32.

After Lydd it’s only 6 km back to the coast at Jury’s Gap, although the strong wind in our face made it feel like 20 km. After another pub stop in Rye we pressed on towards Hastings via the steep climb at Fairlight. After 80 km of wind I had no interest in trying to keep in the saddle and decided to push the bike up most of the hill. The steep down into Hastings was the reward, as was the warm meal and early night ahead of day 2.

Day 2: Hastings to Brighton

Start: Hastings Pier, 1-10 White Rock, Hastings, TN34 1JY
Finish: Brighton Station, Queens Road, Brighton and Hove, Brighton, BN1 3XP
Distance: 72 km (44.7 miles)
Elevation change: +507m / -475m (Net +32m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Motoring Heritage Trail, 1066 Country Walk, Wealdway, South Downs Way, Vanguard Way, Sussex Ouse Valley Way, Newhaven-Brighton Clifftop Path, Greenwich Meridian Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 2, 21, 90, Cuckoo Trail, Prime Meridan Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots, but we stopped at Pevensey Starbucks (17.5 km in), Arlington Tea Garden (31.5 km in), The Ark, Newhaven (54.3 km in) and a chip shop near the beach in Brighton.
Maps:
- Hastings & Bexhill Map | Battle & Robertsbridge | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 124
- Eastbourne & Beachy Head Map | Newhaven, Seaford, Hailsham & Heathfield | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL25
- Brighton & Hove Map | Lewes & Burgess Hill | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL11
Links: Hastings, Bexhill-on-Sea, Pevensey, Cuckoo Trail, South Downs National Park, Alfriston, Seaford, Newhaven, Peacehaven, Rottingdean, Brighton

 

With no parkrun to work around we set off early along the Hastings to Bexford seafront with the aim of finding breakfast around 15km in. After passing several sea-side places that weren’t quiet open we settled for a Starbucks next to a petrol station in Pevensey. Not the nice coastal stop like we found in Walmer on the previous trip but it did the job.

Our original plan for this second day was to come off the NCN s at Pevensey, sticking to the coast through to Eastbourne then crossing the South Downs through Jevington. In the end we decided to stick to the NCN 2 through Polegate, Arlington and Alfriston. Although it takes a wide path away from the coast, it’s an interesting route through pretty villages.

After the South Downs section the NCN 2 took us back to the coast at Seaford. We were on familiar territory having visited Peacehaven, Rottingdean and Brighton on previous cycle trips.

Our final section took us along the coast to Brighton Pier with a quick stop near the beach for chips before heading north to the station to get the train back to London. The next section will likely be in 2026 with a return to Brighton for the next section to Poole.

The Full 2-Day Route

Day 1 in red, day 2 in blue

The Millennium Mileposts

Dotting the UK's National Cycle Network are over 1,000 unique markers known as the Millennium Mileposts. Unveiled in 2000, these cast-iron sculptures are more than just waymarkers. Designed by four artists, one from each nation of the UK, they celebrate the diversity of the cycling routes. These artistic mileposts come in various shapes and can be found in both bustling towns and scenic landscapes, adding a touch of artistic charm to a cycling adventure.

Here’s the 26 Mileposts that I spotted on the 2 day cycle trip. The first 22 were on Day 1 and the final 4 were on day 2.

Back to Cycle Index
Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Coast, Disused Railway, National Trails, National Trust, Trig Pillar, South Downs, National Park, Canal, Kent, Sussex, EnglandComment
Walking The North Downs Way Part 8 - Westerham Hill to Otford

North Downs Way near Chevening

Start: The Velo Barn, Unit 1, Betsoms Farm, Pilgrims Way, Westerham TN16 2DS
Finish: Otford Memorial Hall, 28A High St, Otford, Sevenoaks, TN14 5PQ
Distance: 12.8 km (7.9 miles)
Elevation change: +128m / -225m. Net -97m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Berry’s Green Circular Walk, Darent Valley Path
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Velo Barn at the start of the route, Rose & Crown Sevenoaks (10 km in), several in Otford High Street
OS Trig Pilllar: TP4287 - Knockholt Beeches
Map: Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Guidebook: The North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham to Dover (Cicerone)
Links: Chevening, Otford, LDWA: North Downs Way, National Trails: North Downs Way, northdownsway.org

This is the eighth of a series of short point-to-point walks along the North Downs Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent. Our walks took in short sections of 10 km to 13 km which we did with a friend over the course of a couple of years when our schedules coincided. The North Downs Way is well sign-posted however I highly recommend taking a map or GPX route to keep you on track. The Cicerone book on the trail is a great guide to the points of interest along the way.

Our original plan was to only walk the first seven sections covering Surrey before the driving from home started getting to long. It was only when I was completing my quest to bag all OS Trig Pillars within the M25 that I realised that I needed to do one final section and get the Knockholt Beeches Trig Pillar to complete the set.

Picking up from the Velobarn at Westerham Heights we continued east along the North Downs Way. This was a bright, sunny day in mid-April and a nice change from the gloominess of the previous section that we did nearly 18 months ago. The first 5 km of this section stays high on the ridge with great views to the south across open fields. At around 4.7 km you can take a very minor diversion to the north of the trail to find the Trig Pillar hiding in a bush along a field fence-line.

Shortly after the Trig Pillar the trail enters Cooper’s Wood. Watch out for the cutting in the trees where you can see down to Chevening House, the official country residence of the British Foreign Secretary. You can also get a good view of the estate as the trail descends out of the woods, across farmland to Sundridge Road. When we were there in April 2025 a diversion was being put in place to cut off part of the route that follows Sundridge Road. We chose not to take it, preferring to stick to the route that we had on the map. In hindsight I wish we had taken the diversion as there’s no pavement on some of the road and very fast cars wizzing by.

Shortly after crossing over the A21 on Morrants Court Road you’ll reach the Rose and Crown at the 10 km point. It’s the first pub to stop for a rest on this section. The final 3 km after the Rose and Crown also follows the Darent Valley Path into Otford. This is a pretty village with some well kept old buildings and several information boards detailing its history.

Back to Surrey Hills Index
Richard gowerTrek, National Trails, National Trust, Trig Pillar, Kent, EnglandComment
parkrun LonDone+ and LonDone ++

“LonDone” is the name for completing the full set of 65 parkrun events in Greater London. There’s 2 other terms: “LonDone +” and “LonDone ++” that have been widely debated in the various parkrun social media forums.

  • LonDone + is generally seen as being all parkrun events within the M25. There are currently 16 parkrun events that are within the M25 but outside of Greater London or a total of 81 events within the M25.

  • Up to now I’ve ignored LonDone ++ as a lot of the definitions have felt a bit arbitrary. However, one definition that I like is that it includes events that are outside of the M25 but have a Voronoi area that crosses inside the M25. This includes a further 9 parkrun events making a total of 90 events that have part of their Voronoi area within the M25. Note that different parkrun apps have slightly different calculations for their Voronoi apps. For this page I’ve used the Voronoi map from the Running Challenges Chrome Extension.

  • LonDone+ and/or LonDone++ are also referred to as “Orbit-All”

See the main LonDone page for details of all parkrun events within Greater London.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

LonDone +: parkrun events within the M25

A map of the parkrun events that are outside of Greater London but inside the M25

Note that the Egham Orbit course crosses under the motorway with a short section outside of the M25. I've included it in LonDone+ as the start, finish and majority of the course are within the M25.

LonDone ++: parkrun events with a Voronoi area crossing the M25

LonDone ++: parkrun events with a Voronoi area crossing the M25

Event (County, Region)

Notes on recent changes

  • Thurrock’s Voronoi area extended across the M25 before the start of Ingrebourne Hill.

  • Jersey Farm’s Voronoi area extended across the M25 before the start of Oaklands College.

The images below show the Voronoi area for each of the LonDon ++ parkrun events in blue with the M25 as a red line.

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

Featured and popular parkrun posts:

Back to Run Index
Richard gowerRun, parkrun, London, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Kent, Essex, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, England Comments
Cycling The Viking Coastal Trail and NCN 1 in Kent

Margate Beach

This was a 2-day weekend cycle adventure on the NCN 1 and 15 in Kent. For Brian and I it was a continuation of the Thames Barrier to Margate trip that we did earlier in the year. This time we returned to Whitstable to pick up the NCN 15 to follow it to the end at Dover. For day 2 we followed the NCN 1 back to Whitstable. At 145 km and mostly flat it’s an easy ride giving more than enough time for coffee and cake stops along the way.

Day 1: The Viking Coastal Trail from Whitstable to Dover

Start: Premier Inn Whitstable hotel, Thanet Way, Whitstable, CT5 3DB
Finish: Premier Inn Dover Central (Eastern Ferry Terminal) hotel, Marine Court, Marine Parade, Dover, CT16 1LW
Distance: 79.5 km (49 miles)
Elevation change: + 554m / -602m (Net -48)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): England Coast Path, Saxon Shore Way, Oyster Bay Trail, Wantsum Walk, Augustine Camino, Stonelees Trail, Miner’s Way Trail, Via Francigena
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 15: Viking Coastal Trail, NCN 16, EV5,
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots, but we stopped at Westgate-on-Sea, Whitfield and Sandwich.
Maps:
- Canterbury & Isle of Thanet Map | Herne Bay, Deal & Whitstable | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 150
- Dover, Folkestone & Hythe Map | England Coast Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 138
Links: Whitstable, Herne Bay, Reculver, Westgate-on-Sea, Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Sandwich, Whitfield, Dover

 

Our trip started at the Premier Inn on the southern edge of the town. From there it’s a 2.5 km cycle to the coast where, as it was Saturday, we stopped for Whitstable parkrun. The NCN 15 (not to be confused with the same numbered route in Leicestershire) runs from Whitstable to Dover, with the Reculver to Pegwell Bay section called the Viking Coastal Trail.

As it passes through several sea-side towns there’s lots of options to stop for food and drink along the way. We planned to stop for breakfast in Margate but hunger got the better of us so we stopped early at Westgate-on-Sea. At Pegwell Bay there’s an option to return to Whitstable via the inland section of the Viking Coastal Trail. That would make a great half-day trip, effectively a circuit of the Isle of Thanet, but we carried on south along the route 15.

After Pegwell Bay the route leaves the coast and heads in-land to Sandwich. We planned to have lunch there, mostly for the childish amusement of having a sandwich in Sandwich. We timed it badly though and arrived just as cafes were closing for the afternoon and the pubs were packed. As we were retuning there the next day we grabbed some quick food and moved on.

After Sandwich the route continues south, gradually climbing in elevation to the highest point of the day at Dover Castle. After this there’s a steep descent to Dover town centre where we stayed the night at the Marina.

Day 2: Dover to Whitstable via the NCN 1

Start: Premier Inn Dover Central (Eastern Ferry Terminal) hotel, Marine Court, Marine Parade, Dover, CT16 1LW
Finish: Premier Inn Whitstable hotel, Thanet Way, Whitstable, CT5 3DB
Distance: 64.7 km (40 miles)
Elevation change: - 554m / +602m (Net +48)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): England Coast Path, Saxon Shore Way, Stour Valley Walk, Augustine Camino, Canterbury Middle Ring Walk, Canterbury Outer Ring Walk, Crab & Winkle Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, NCN 15: Viking Coastal Trail
OS Trig Pillar: TP5672 - Richborough Hill
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots, but we stopped at Walmer, Sandwich, Fordwich and Canterbury
Maps:
- Canterbury & Isle of Thanet Map | Herne Bay, Deal & Whitstable | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 150
- Dover, Folkestone & Hythe Map | England Coast Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 138
Links: Dover, White Cliffs of Dover National Trust, Walmer Sandwich, Fordwich, Canterbury, Canterbury and Whitstable Railway, Whitstable

 

For our return leg to Whitstable we followed the NCN 1, completing the London to Dover section that we started in our trip earlier in the year. The first section is very steep and follows a narrow path up to the top of the White Cliffs of Dover. We were an hour away from fully waking up so made the easy choice to slowly walk the bikes up the cliffs. From the top there were great views over the Channel and back to Dover Castle while we recovered from the climb.

From the top the route has an 8 km steady downhill section to the coast at Kingsdown to make up for the earlier climb. This coastal section was one of my favourite parts of the 2-dy trip with its mix of quiet country lanes and easy riding along the sea-front. We were not in a rush so decided to maximise the coffee and cake stops with the first one at Walmer. Stop #2 was in Sandwich where we had a lot more success than the previous day with cafes actually being open and wanting to sell us food.

The middle section from Sandwich to Canterbury was flat and pleasant but not particularly memorable. We pushed on to Canterbury for a long lunch near the Cathedral. The final section from Canterbury was far more interesting as it mostly follows a disused railway nicknamed the Crab and Winkle line.

This was a very easy weekend, both from a logistics and a cycling perspective. If you don’t have a hole weekend then it can be split into 2 shorter circles with Sandwich as the split.

The Full 2-Day Route

Day 1 in blue, Day 2 in red

The Millennium Mileposts

Dotting the UK's National Cycle Network are over 1,000 unique markers known as the Millennium Mileposts. Unveiled in 2000, these cast-iron sculptures are more than just waymarkers. Designed by four artists, one from each nation of the UK, they celebrate the diversity of the cycling routes. These artistic mileposts come in various shapes and can be found in both bustling towns and scenic landscapes, adding a touch of artistic charm to a cycling adventure.

Here’s the 22 Mileposts that I spotted on the 2 day cycle trip. The first 2 were on the Viking Coastal Trail on Day 1 and the rest were on the NCN 1 on Day 2.

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Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Coast, Disused Railway, Kent, National Trails, England, National Trust, Trig Pillar Comments
Cycling The Thames Estuary: Thames Barrier to Margate

The Thames Barrier, London

This was a trip that had been at the back of my mind for thirty years. Back in the summer of 1994, I cycled the length of the Thames from its source near Kemble in Gloucestershire down to the Thames Barrier near Woolwich. The last day was a long one, and we ended up arriving at the Barrier long after dark. At the time, we considered the adventure to be complete. A few years later, however, I started to plan a second part: riding from the Barrier east along the Thames Estuary to Margate.

Over the intervening years, I got more excited about other trips. I also either lost contact with a few of the old Thames Path gang or they got preoccupied with having babies. Early in 2024, the stars finally aligned, and the Estuary adventure popped right back up to the top of my cycling backlog.

The route to Margate mostly follows NCN Route 1, linking up with a stretch of the Route 15 Viking Coastal Trail at the very end. Handily, it runs almost entirely parallel to the main rail line between London and Margate, making trip logistics incredibly simple. We did it over a weekend, staying both Friday and Saturday night at the Victory Pier Premier Inn in Chatham.

Day 1: Thames Barrier to Chatham

Start: Charlton Railway Station, London, SE7 7QG, United Kingdom
Finish: Premier Inn Chatham/Gillingham (Victory Pier) hotel, Blake Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 1GB, United Kingdom
Distance: 62.8 km (39 miles)
Elevation change: + 408m / -409m (Net +1m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Capital Ring, Jubilee Greenway, Green Chain Walk, London Loop. Cray River Way, Hoo Peninsula Path, Weald Way, Thames and Medway Canal Towpath, Saxon Shore Way, England Coast Path, Strood Community Trail,
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, 125, 179, Q14
Pubs / Cafes on route: At Woolwich Arsenal (4km in), Erith (15km in), Dartford (25km in), Gravesend (39 km in), Rochester (57km in), Chatham (59km in)
Maps:
- Greenwich & Gravesend Map | East End, Docklands, Bromley, Sidcup & Thurrock | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 162
- Gravesend & Rochester Map | Hoo Peninsula | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 163
Links: Charlton, Thames Barrier, Woolwich Arsenal, Erith, Dartford, Gravesend, Thames and Medway Canal, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham

 

Like all Saturdays, the day started with a quick parkrun, this time at Great Lines Heritage Park, just over a mile from the hotel. From there, we headed to Chatham Station to catch the train to Charlton. The Thames Barrier is a very easy 1.4km ride from Charlton Station to officially begin the ride.

Navigation is very straightforward: you simply keep to NCN Route 1 all the way to Chatham. The first 20km hugs the riverside, passing a real mix of pleasant, gentrified areas like Woolwich Arsenal and much grittier industrial parts. After Erith, Route 1 cuts south away from the river towards Dartford to bypass the sprawling entrance to the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. We had originally planned a coffee and cake stop in Dartford, but nothing really inspired us, so we carried on. By the time we reached Gravesend, we were genuinely hungry and optimistic about finding pub food. We found Gravesend equally uninspiring, so we didn't stop there either.

After Gravesend, the scenery becomes significantly more pleasant, with Route 1 following the towpath of the disused Thames and Medway Canal. Keep an eye out for the historic obelisk that marks the exact halfway point between the cities of London and Rochester. Route 1 eventually leaves the canal at Lower Higham, which conveniently happens to have a train station. Brian was having serious problems with his wheel after several punctures, and we had run out of options to fix it at the roadside. We decided that Brian would head to Chatham by train, and I would finish the first day on my own.

As it turned out, Brian missed one of the best parts of the first day. The final section included lovely, quiet countryside and a sweeping descent down into Rochester. Had we kept together, we would have stopped in Rochester for food ahead of the final few miles, but I decided that I was on a personal mission to beat Brian's train journey back to Chatham, so I wasn't hanging around. The canal tunnel at Higham was actually bought by the railway network in the 1840s, so Brian was literally riding the train through the canal tunnel I was meant to be cycling over!

A 20-minute wait for his train meant that I was back at the hotel before Brian even arrived at Halfords in Chatham. With a newly fixed wheel and fresh supplies of inner tubes, we were ready for Day 2.

Day 2: Chatham to Margate

Start: Premier Inn Chatham/Gillingham (Victory Pier) hotel, Blake Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 1GB, United Kingdom
Finish: Margate Lighthouse, Harbour Arm, Margate, CT9 1AP
Distance: 87 km (54 miles)
Elevation change: + 514m / -513m (Net -1m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Saxon Shore Way, England Coast Path, Swale Heritage Trail, Invicta Way, Wantsum Walk,
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, 174, 15: Viking Coastal Trail
Pubs / Cafes on route: At Sittingbourne (22km in), Faversham (40km in), Whitstable (59km in), Herne Bay (66km in), Westgate-on-Sea (83km in) and Margate.
- We stopped at Cafe Guild in Faverham (40 km in) and The Ship Inn, Herne Bay (66km in)
Maps:
- Gravesend & Rochester Map | Hoo Peninsula | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 163
- Sittingbourne & Faversham Map | Isle of Sheppey | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 149
- Canterbury & Isle of Thanet Map | Herne Bay, Deal & Whitstable | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 150
Links: Sittingbourne, Faversham, Crab & Winkle Way, Whitstable, Herne Bay, Reculver, Westgate-on-Sea, Margate, Margate Lighthouse

 

Shortly after leaving the Chatham/Gillingham area, Route 1 passes through Riverside Country Park. It was very popular with dog walkers early that Sunday morning, so it was a good excuse to take it slow as we warmed up our legs. After the park, the route cuts away from the estuary from Rainham down to Sittingbourne.

Sittingbourne was our original plan for a breakfast stop, but we were similarly uninspired by the food options as we were on Day 1. By the time we arrived in Faversham with 40km down, we were starving. It was absolutely worth the wait, though. Faversham is a beautiful, historic Kent market town (famous for being home to Britain's oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame), and it has several brilliant cafes.

After Faversham, the route heads back towards the coast before taking a detour up the steepest hill of the entire trip to bypass Whitstable town centre. After a well-earned descent, we reached the Crab & Winkle Way: a disused railway path that once connected Whitstable to Canterbury. This was the exact point where we left NCN 1, which continues south along the old railway line. Instead, we followed the Crab & Winkle Way north to join the Route 15 Viking Coastal Trail at the Whitstable coast.

The final 28km along the Viking Coastal Trail from Whitstable to Margate was easily my favourite section of the whole route. This stretch sticks rigidly to the coast along wide, flat boulevards, passing classic seaside towns and the imposing, twin-towered ruins of the 12th-century Reculver Church. We had made very good time, so we stopped for a while at a pub in Herne Bay to gaze across the estuary and contemplate future adventures.

Our two-day ride finished right at the Margate Lighthouse, an obvious and highly photogenic place to mark the end of the estuary adventure. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and, barring the wheel and puncture issues at the end of Day 1, found it pretty easy going. I still didn't quite get that ultimate sense of completion, though. Yes, we had cycled the estuary to finish the Thames journey, but we had now left the southern section of NCN Route 1 uncompleted! Within a couple of days, I was already planning the next two-day adventure to complete both NCN Route 1 from Whitstable down to Dover and the rest of the Viking Coastal Trail.

 

The Full 2-Day Route

The Millennium Mileposts

Dotting the UK's National Cycle Network are over 1,000 unique markers known as the Millennium Mileposts. Unveiled in 2000, these cast-iron sculptures are more than just waymarkers. Designed by four artists, one from each nation of the UK, they celebrate the diversity of the cycling routes. These artistic mileposts come in various shapes and can be found in both bustling towns and scenic landscapes, adding a touch of artistic charm to a cycling adventure. Here are the 14 Mileposts that I spotted on the 2 day estuary adventure.

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Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Coast, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Thames, London, Kent, National Trails, England Comments
Walking The North Downs Way Part 7 - Gangers Hill to Westerham Hill

Coccolith, an artwork by INSTAR, near the Titsey Brewery on the eastern edge of the Surrey Hills AONB

Start: Gangers Hill Car Park, Gangers Hill, Woldingham, Godstone, CR3 7AD
Finish: The Velo Barn, Unit 1, Betsoms Farm, Pilgrims Way, Westerham TN16 2DS
Distance: 9.1 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +161m / -216m. Net -55m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Tandridge Border Path, Woldringham Countryside Walk, Vanguard Way, Greenwich Meridian Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Prime Meridian Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Velo Barn at the end of the route
OS Trig Pilllar: TP1536 - Botley Hill
Maps:
- Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
- Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Guidebook: The North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham to Dover (Cicerone)
Links: Marden Park, Oxted Downs, Titsey Place, LDWA: North Downs Way, National Trails: North Downs Way, northdownsway.org

This is the seventh of a series of short point-to-point walks along the North Downs Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent. Our walks took in short sections of 10 km to 13 km which we did with a friend over the course of a couple of years when our schedules coincided. The North Downs Way is well sign-posted however I highly recommend taking a map or GPX route to keep you on track. The Cicerone book on the trail is a great guide to the points of interest along the way.

For this section we left one car at the end of the walk near the Velo Barn on Westerham Hill and another at the start at Gangers Hill Car Park. It may be possible to use the car park at the Velo Barn but ask for permission first as the gates are locked when the cafe is closed. There’s a layby next to the barn on Pilgrims Way with space for 3 cars.

From the start at Gangers Hill Car Park, cross over The Ridge to pick up the North Downs Way heading east. This first section is a steep descent down into fields where the route runs parallel and close to the M25. After ~1.5km you’ll meet a path junction with the Vanguard Way and Greenwich Meridian Trail. If you want to visit Botley Hill, the high point of the North Downs, this is where you can take a diversion from the path for 1 km, returning back the same way. We kept on the North Downs Way but visited Botley Hill by car after the walk.

Continuing east along the North Downs Way you’ll soon pass a plaque marking the point where the North Downs Way and Vanguard Way crosses the Greenwich Meridian Line. Further along, at ~3km into the walk you’ll reach a T junction where the Vanguard Way splits off from the North Downs Way to the right. Take a left at this junction to follow Pitchfont Lane, a wide path heading uphill through land managed by the Titsey Foundation.

At the end of Pitchfont Lane you’ll reach a roundabout connecting Croydon Lane, Clarks Lane and Titsey Hill (road). Here you can take a 300m (and back) diversion to visit the Botley Hill Trig Pillar, just off The Ridge (road). Alternatively, there’s a free car park at the roundabout where you can return to bag the trig later.

Continuing east along the North Downs Way, the trail runs parallel to Titsey Hill (road) for ~800m then crosses through Crossharbour Beeches to meet Clarks Lane opposite the Titsey Brewery. Here you’ll pass the Coccolith artwork (see banner photo at the top of this post) and a great view to the south. You’ll also see one of the 12 wooden Surrey Hills boundary markers.

For the final part of this section continue east, crossing over Clarks Lane and onto Chestnut Avenue, then onto The Avenue. Look out for boundary stone near the western end of The Avenue which marks the Surrey/Kent border. When The Avenue meets Westerham Hill (road) take a right to follow Westerham Hill back to The Velo Barn.

This was the end of our first Chapter of walking The North Downs Way with our friend Mark. We had completed original objective was to complete the Surrey section. With our busy schedules it took us 2.5 years to cover the 7 sections. We’ll do the Kent sections one day but for now there’s other parts of Surrey to explore.

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Richard gowerTrek, National Trails, National Trust, Trig Pillar, Surrey, Kent, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 22 - Toys Hill and Ide Hill

Cows and oast houses near French Street

Start & Finish: Toys Hill Car Park, Toy's Hill Road, Westerham, TN16 1QG
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 215m
Greensand Way section covered: French Street to Ide Hill: 3.71 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Greensand Way, NT Octavia Hill Centenary Walk, Weardale Walk,
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: Cock Inn at Ide Hill (just off route at 1.8 km in), National Trust Cafe at Emmetts Garden (3.4 km in)
Map: Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Links: Toys Hill National Trust, Ide Hill, Emmett’s Garden National Trust, Weardale Manor

This is the twenty-second of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we parked at the National Trust Car Park at the bottom of Toy’s Hill and picked up the Greensand Way heading east after crossing Chart Lane. The route covers a lot of the same ground as the NT Octavia Hill Centenary Walk, but it’s not exactly the same so be careful when following route markers. After 1.75km you’ll reach Ide Hill village and will leave the Greensand Way but follow the Octavia Hill Walk north along Sundridge Road. Take a footpath on the right to leave the road, crossing a field to Norman Street then taking a left to return to Sundridge Road. Take a right, then a left into the lane that passes Ide Hill Cricket Club.

Follow the Octavia Hill Walk up through Emmett’s Garden National Trust where there’s a café. Shortly after the cafe you’ll leave the Octavia Hill Walk and continue west, now picking up the Weardale Walk. Follow this to French Street to join the Greensand Way at the point that you left it on section 21. Take the Greensand Way in a southerly direction all the way back to the Toy’s Hill Car Park.

The Greensand Way doesn’t cross over the top of Toy’s Hill so it’s worth taking a short out-and-back diversion from the path to the summit. At the top you’ll find the remains of Weardale Manor, a memorial and great views over the Kent and Sussex countryside.

Toys Hill

Significance: Kent Downs National Landscape High Point
Member of: England Peaks with 100 meters of Prominence
Parent Peak: Botley Hill.
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Betsom’s Hill
Elevation: 248m
Date climbed: August 13th 2023
Coordinates: 51°15'00.0"N 0°06'00.0"E
Map: Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Links: Wikipedia (Kent Downs / Toys Hill), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

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Richard gowerTrek, National Trust, Kent, EnglandComment
Holly Hill and Lost Village of Dode Circular Walk

Lost village of Dode

Significance:  Unitary Authority High Point for Medway
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Botley Hill. NHN = Detling Hill
Historic County: Kent (of which Betsom’s Hill is the County Top)
Elevation: 172m
Date “climbed”: August 12th 2013
Coordinates: 51° 20' 43'' N, 0° 23' 55'' E

Route Start & Finish: Holy Hill Wood Car Park, Holly Hill Lane (North Downs Way), Gravesend, DA13 0UB
Route Distance: 4.5 km (2.8 miles)
Route Elevation change: +/- 78m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
OS Trig Pillar: TP3974 - Holly Hill
Pubs / Cafes on route: N/A
Map: Maidstone & the Medway Towns Map | Kent Downs | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 148
Guidebook: N/A
Links: Wikipedia (Medway), Peakbagger, Lost Village of Dode

Holly Hill is the high point of the Unitary Authority of Medway within the Historic and Ceremonial Counties of Kent. We bagged it on a short walk that also takes in the Holly Hill Trig Pillar and the lost village of Dode.

The Holly Hill Car Park is open during the summer and is very close to the Trig Pillar. We chose to keep this to the end of the walk and headed up to the high point first. Not sure why the Trig Pillar and High Point are in different places. Turn left out of the car park onto the North Downs way and follow it for 250 metres then take a footpath to the right heading east. When the path enters into a large field take a left and follow the tree-line on the left hand side of the field to the top of the hill. The high-point is near the large tree in the corner of the field. There were crops growing at the time so we kept to the field edge which may have been a metre or 2 from the actual high point. There’s no obvious peak or anything to mark the summit.

Retrace your steps to the North Downs Way and follow it north but keep to the main track rather than take the right hand turn when the North Downs Way diverts to the east. When you reach Wrangling Lane take a left and follow it in a south-westerly direction. You’ll shortly pass the entrance to the lost village of Dode.

The lost village of Dode is a small hamlet in the North Downs of Kent, England. It is thought to have been abandoned in the 14th century due to the Black Death, a devastating plague that killed an estimated 30-50% of the European population. The only remaining trace of the village is its Norman church, which was built in the 12th century. The church has been restored and is now a popular wedding venue. It’s private property and the gate was locked at the time so we settled for some photos at the gate and continued along Wrangling Lane.

Keep on Wrangling Lane as it curves to the south and gradually ascends up to White Horse Road. Take a left onto White Horse Road then take the first footpath on the left to take you into Holly Hill Woodland. Keep to the paths following the easterly edge of the woodland and you’ll arrive at the OS Trig Pillar, an information board and a great view across to central London. The car park is a further 250 metres from the Trig Pillar.

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Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Trig Pillar, Kent, EnglandComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 21 - Crockham Hill and Chartwell

View across Westerham to the North Downs ride, Westerham Heights and Betsom’s Hill

Start & Finish: Westerham Village Centre, TN16 1AY
Alternative start point at: National Trust Chartwell Car Park, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1PS
Distance: 8.8 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 157m
Greensand Way section covered: Surrey/Kent border to French Street: 3.73 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Greensand Way, NT Mariners Hill Loop, NT Chartwell Walk, Weardale Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Westerham village at start and end. Cafe at National Trust Chartwell (5.3 km in)
Map: Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Links: Westerham, Crockham Hill Common, Chartwell, National Trust Chartwell

This is the twenty-first of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we attempted to park in Westerham village centre but we were thwarted by a lack of available paring spaces and on-street parking limited to maximum 2 hours. It’s a good place to start the walk if you can but we decided to start at the National Trust Car Park in Chartwell instead. If you’re a National Trust member it’s a good option as it’s free and you’re more likely to get a space.

If you start at Westerham pick up the Greensand Way spur on the south side of Vicarage Hill road and head south, crossing the Darent River than taking a right at the path junction with the NT Chartwell Walk. After 3km take a right to cross over Goodley Stock Road to meet the stone, last seen in section 20, that marks the Surrey/Kent border and the half-way point of the Greensand Way. After touching the stone, retrace your steps back across Goodley Stock Road to return to the path through Crockham Hill Woods. Take a right to continue south along this path and follow the Greensand Way as it curves in an anti-clockwise direction to the entrance to the National Trust Car Park at Chartwell. This is the point where you would start the walk if parking there.

From National Trust Chartwell continue following the Greensand Way in an anti-clockwise direction to French Street. Here’s you’ll leave the Greensand Way and continue in the anti-clockwise loop heading north-west to rejoin the NT Chartwell Walk. This will take you back to the Greensand Way spur back up to Westerham Village. If you started the walk at Chartwell there’s no need to go up to Westerham (unless you choose to). Instead continue along the Greensand Way Spur to the Surrey/Kent border stone.

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Richard gowerTrek, National Trust, Kent, EnglandComment
One Tree Hill and Ightham Mote Circular Walk

Ightham Mote

Start & Finish: One Tree Hill Car Park, Carter's Hill, Sevenoaks, TN15 0SN
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 197m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Greensand Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Ightham Mote National Trust Cafe
Map: Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Links: One Tree Hill National Trust, Ightham Mote National Trust, Shipbourne, Underriver

This is a great short circular walk in the Kent Downs. We used the free National Trust parking area near One Tree Hill, although the larger National Trust car park (free to members) at Ightham Mote is an alternative. There’s some steep parts and it can be very muddy in winter or after rain so wear good boots.

From the parking area at One Tree Hill cut through the woods, following paths in a south-easterly direction, to the top of the hill and the view-point to the south. Here you’ll reach the Greensand Way which you’ll follow in a east / south-easterly direction for 5 km.

After 3km on the Greensand Way you’ll reach the Ightham Mote National Trust Estate. If you’ve got time, it’s well worth stopping for an hour to visit the house and gardens. Even if you don’t have time to enter you can visit the café which can be accessed from the path at the south of the estate without having to pay to enter.

When you leave Ightham Mote you’ll continue along the Greensand Way, now heading south. After 2km you’ll reach the Church of St Giles at Shipbourne. Here you’ll leave the Greensand Way and take a footpath heading west across fields and into a wooded area called Cold Blows. Half way into the woods take a left hand path, heading south-west towards Mote Road. Cross over the road and continue along the paths heading west to Underriver.

When you reach Underriver, take a right onto Carter’s Hill road, then a left onto the lane opposite the turning to Underriver House Road. Continue up this lane in a north-westerly direction for ~400m then take a path heading north. This is a steep climb for another 400m back up to the Greensand Way. Take a right onto the Greensand Way and follow it to Carter’s Hill road. You can either follow Carter’s Hill road back to the One Tree Hill parking area or the parallel footpath through the woods to the right of the road.

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Richard gowerTrek, National Trust, Kent, EnglandComment
South East England parkruns

The parkrun Regionnaire status used to be a major part of parkrun tourism, with South East England being the largest region. Changes in the parkrun website in 2019 removed the regions making it harder to track completion status. All is not lost though as here’s the complete parkrun guide to what’s in and what’s out of the counties of South East England.

South East England is the most populous and economically significant region of the UK, excluding London, which it entirely surrounds on its southern and western borders. The region is composed of nine ceremonial counties: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey, and West Sussex. Geographically, the South East is characterised by its distinctive chalk ridgelines and ancient woodlands. It contains the majority of the North Downs (running through Surrey and Kent) and the entirety of the South Downs National Park (in Hampshire, West Sussex, and East Sussex). Coastal features are dramatic, notably the world-famous White Cliffs of Dover in Kent and the coastal resorts like Brighton.

parkrun event numbers per county

There are currently 124 parkrun events in the present-day counties of the South East region. The Historic Counties, prior to the various boundary changes had a further 36 events, most of these are now part of Greater London. Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

Notes and exceptions.

  • Numbers of event above exclude prison parkruns and permanently cancelled events.

  • Bournemouth, Highcliffe Beach and Moors Valley parkruns were part of historic Hampshire and would have been in historic South East England, but are now part of present-day Dorset, so would be in the South West England region.

  • Tidworth: South Tidworth where the parkrun takes place was moved from Hampshire into Wiltshire in 1992 but houses there still have Hampshire on their address for post.

  • Hazelwood was part of historic Middlesex and is now part of present-day Surrey.

  • Parts of Historic Surrey and Kent are now part of Greater London. See the individual pages for those counties for the list of which events are now part of Greater London.

The South East Counties parkrun pages

Click on each of the images below to go to the page with details of the parkrun events for the county. Isle of Wight is included in the Hampshire page.

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

Featured and popular parkrun posts:

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, EnglandComment
Walking The Turner and Dickens Trail
Margate

Margate

Start: Dickens House Museum 2 Victoria Parade Broadstairs CT10 1QS
Finish: Turner Contemporary, Margate, CT9 1HG
Distance: 6.2 km (3.9 miles)
Elevation Change: +36m / -54m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Ramsgate to Margate Coastal Walk
Other Routes Touched (cycle): NCN 15
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several. We stopped at the Red Lion in St Peters
Map: OS Explorer Map (150) Canterbury and the Isle of Thanet
Links: Turner Contemporary, Visit Thanet, Broadstairs, St Peter’s, Margate

After loving our previous day's Ramsgate to Margate coastal walk we were keen to do one more trip before heading home. The Turner and Dickens walk , also connecting both towns, walk is a good choice. The walk is well documented in this leaflet so I won't repeat any of it here. My main add is that it's a great companion to the coastal route. Doing both in the same day would make a fantastic 17.5km / 11 mile circular route.

route-31666880-map-full.png
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Richard gowerTrek, Coast, Railway, Kent, EnglandComment
Walking The Coastal Route from Ramsgate to Margate

Kingsgate Bay

Start: Ramsgate Tunnels, Marina Esplanade, Ramsgate CT11 8FH
Finish: Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG
Distance: 11.3 km (7 miles)
Elevation Change: +129m /- 127m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Broadstairs Town Trail, Turner & Dickens Walk, Sea it All Walk
Other Routes Touched (cycle): NCN 15, Viking Coastal Trail,
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots, especially in Broadstairs and Margate beach-side.
Map: OS Explorer Map (150) Canterbury and the Isle of Thanet
Links: Turner Contemporary, Visit Thanet, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, North Foreland Lighthouse, Margate

Ever since I’d started researching my family history I’ve had a trip to Broadstairs in the back of my mind. My Dad remembered being sent to a convalescence home there when he was a boy. He didn’t remember much of the details or even how long he was there for. His most vivid memory was being taken to a London train station by his parents and being met by some nuns. His only other memory was walking through a tunnel from the home to the beach where they would play in the afternoons.

Having read some of the blog posts from people who also went there it seems that vague memories are a shared experience. Some told of abuse by the nuns but there’s no evidence that it happened to my Dad. One day I’ll do some deeper research, but for now I wanted to visit the area and see where he spent some of his childhood.

This was also our New Years’ planning trip. We do something like this every January to reflect on the year before and decide what’s important for the year ahead. A long walk outside in an inspiring place puts us in the right mental state to work out what’s really important. The coastal walk from Ramsgate to Margate turned out to be a perfect location for such a walk.

Our walk started from a B&B that we rented on Granville Marina in Ramsgate. A visit to the Ramsgate Tunnels seemed very appealing but we had a long day ahead to do so we’ll do those on a return visit. The first section stays close to the beach following the Sea it All route. The painted shelters along the East Cliffs are worth a look but don't go too far as you'll get to a dead end. The best route is to use the stairs to the Winterstoke Gardens (~750m from the Ramgate Tunnels) and follow the cliff-top path through King George VI Memorial Park.

The route has options in several places to stay on the cliff-top path or take the beach-route. A lot of this will depend on tides so keep an eye out and stay to the cliff-top if in doubt. The first of these choices is at Dumpton Gap where there's a path down to the beach next to the old submarine telephone cable hut. From here both the cliff-top and beach walks take you to Viking Bay in Broadstairs.

At Broadstairs we met up with Mark, a new friend that we met on the Camino Portuguese last May. As well as being an all round great guy, his local knowledge made the trip even more special. We walked with Mark along Stone Beach, where the (now filled in) tunnel that my Dad remembers connected to St Mary’s Convalescence Home on the top of the Cliff. The bright sunny day was quite a contrast to the grim black and white image I’d had of my Dad's stay there. I’d always pictured his time there to be a lonely and scary experience but maybe it wasn’t. It made me think about how we often make up stories about other people’s experiences through a lack of information.

After Stone Beach the coastal path diverts off the cliff from behind the expensive houses on North Foreland Road. A highlight is North Foreland Lighthouse which towers over the original site of St Mary’s, now a private estate. After ~1km, you can return to the Beach at Kingsgate Bay. Our timing was great as the tide was out and we were able to walk all the way to Margate on the beach.

There's a lot of choice of things to do and places to eat after the walk. We opted for the quirky Double-Decker Bus cafe in the Old Kent Market for food and a rest before heading back. Regular trains run back to Ramsgate from Margate, making this an easy point-to-point walk.

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Richard gowerTrek, Coast, Kent, EnglandComment