Stour Valley Walk – Ashford to Canterbury

SOUTH EAST

TREK

Stour Valley Walk – Ashford to Canterbury

Sunday 27 August 2017

I knew this would be a big day and so I made an early start and headed back to Ashford International Station and back on the Stour Valley Walk path. It followed the river briefly before having to walk along the A292 before taking an alley up and over the M20 but you eventually leave the urban area behind and hit the country lanes and fields.

Day Two – Ashford to Canterbury (21 Miles)

The Stour Valley Walk is a long distance path along the valley of the River Stour from the source, through the Low Weald and North Downs and passing by the great Roman ruins of Richborough Castle, to the historic town of Sandwich

At Blackwall Farm, you turn left and head down to the railway line. I made my first error of the day here. I allowed myself to follow the track on the ground rather than look at the map and ended up in a field with no exit. I had to retrace my steps through two fields and follow the correct path.

Down by the railway line, it was so overgrown that I had to put my waterproof trousers on and push my way through the waist high stinging nettles. I had been stung a few times the day before but I wasn’t taking any chances here!

As I moved away from the railway line I came across a small footbridge and this is where I made my second error of the day. To avoid some more nettles I tried to walk through a gap on the left of the footbridge. I did not see that there was a fence wire that had been pushed down and was sitting about six inches off the ground in equally long grass and before I knew what hit me I was lying flat on my face being squashed by my heavy rucksack. I was grateful that I didn’t fall a bit further forward and fall into the Great Stour!

I dusted myself off and continued on my way following the path to the pretty village of Wye. I spent much of the time trying to figure out what the chalk carving was that I could see up in the hill above the village. I eventually saw that it was a crown and later discovered that it was carved in the chalk by students in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII.

I exited the plantation and into a large ploughed field and struggled to see a waymarker on the other side. I started across on what I thought was the right path but didn’t see the waymarked post until I was almost on the other side but managed to find my way into Beech Wood through a gap in the otherwise fenced off wood.I found a convenience shop in Wye and purchased a bottle of coke for a £1 and sat at the bus stop to drink it. There is also some toilets here that I made use of before heading behind the church and up a wide, track passed some nurseries and then diagonally across a field and into some trees.

This was followed by another field and another wood, Warren Wood, whereby I exited at the top of a steeply sloping field and almost missed the path on my left.

By now I was getting tired and hungry and so by the time I had passed Eaggarton Manor and climbed the hill to Blue Downs I was ready for a rest, a bite to eat and some coffee.

After lunch, I made my way to Chilmans Down through Down Wood. It was a little bit too hot now and the track was a little too boring and I was probably getting a little bit tired.

By the time I reached Chartham, I was pleased to be walking through something more interesting.

From Chartham onward, the route is a flat stroll along the riverside. There were plenty of people about. Children playing and families having picnics etc. The path takes you through a popular nature reserve so as you get closer to Canterbury the number of pedestrians, joggers, dog walkers and cyclists increases.

I was very tired by this time and just wanted to find my hostel, Kipps, which was a further mile or so away and uphill! The best bit about this section of the route is that you don’t actually feel like you are approaching a major urban area and it is not until the path takes you away from the river do you find yourself right in the centre of Canterbury and on the High Street.

I got there just as the day was beginning to end and checked in and was pleasantly surprised to be treated to a complimentary bottle of beer. I must have looked as though I needed it!

The hostel was great. Well equipped and the staff were really welcoming. The dormitory I was in was good enough for my needs.

I ended my day with a shower, some dinner and a pint at the Two Doves public house just down the road from the hostel.

The Route

Distance : 21 Miles

I started day two from Ashford and ended at the Kipps Hostel in Canterbury. Below you will find the GPX and map for the entire route which is 52 miles.

Click HERE for a GPX file of the route.

David Welch – View Profile

Are you tired of being stuck in the office? Bored of being chained to a desk? Counting down the days until retirement?

Me too!!