9 disembarked at Wye along with about 15 women from a London based French group who also walk every Wednesday. Conditions started sunny, but clouded over as the day progressed and it was chilly at times. After a stiff climb up to Wye Crown millennium stone we regrouped and made our way to the church at Crundale where we had a picnic lunch. We enjoyed a pleasant afternoon stroll over to Chilam, where most of the group caught the 16.12 train back to Ashford, with a couple stopping for a drink at The White Horse.

As always,thanks to Marcus for posting.

It is with great sadness that I have to report that Shelly's tearoom in Chilham, home of the best cream tea in Kent, closed at the end of December. The owners have emigrated to Massachusetts.

Nooooo!!!!

All is not entirely lost. The business will reopen, under new management and under the name of The Church Mouse Tearoom - on Monday 14th February.

Anyone getting the later train?

I plan to.

Not sure if it was the early start or appalling forecast, but just me, myself and I alighted from the designated train (not sure if anyone came on a later train), making for 1 in breezy and varied conditions . The climb to the escarpment never fails to get the blood flowing and the views from the top were fabulous -- amazingly far and clear not withstanding the high cloud....Likewise the Timber Batts never fails to amaze...surrounded by an intriguing collection of curiosities, lunch was an engaging affair (though not quite the same fine culinary experience as on Saturday's walk). After lunch, the skies actually cleared for a spell across the rolling down land to the Compasses Inn where I peeked in and found no familiar faces....The clouds then returned with some spitting rain and atmospheric wind gusts blowing through the trees...The route carries along the escarpment through some woods, then down across the valley to Godmersham Park where light rain finally set in requiring donning over trousers for just the final 2 miles into Chilham....In Chilham, tea shop fans will be pleased to know that there was plenty of activity in Shelley's -- getting ready for its reopening presumably (much more promising than any of the closed pubs from Saturday which were all quite desolate looking). Plenty of time for a post walk bevie in the White Horse before catching the 17:11 and swiftly home to wrap-up Sunday chores and have a relaxing hot bath to round out the day. A fine day in great company with varied and interesting conversation. Seen along the way: loads of snow drops, some daffs, a large herd of deer and a harris's hawk (resident at the Timber Batts). I have noted some "group cohesion" statistics in some walk reports -- a perfect 10/10 on this one.

Having read @Stargazer's post I was relieved to see that I was not the only walker on Sunday, so2 on a day of overcast with a stiff westerly breeze . I was surprised not to see any other walkers alighting from the 11:18 train at Wye, but at least it had the benefits of cutting down on idle gossip and making the occasional comfort stop much simpler. I agree that the view from the Crown never fails to disappoint, with magnificent far-reaching vistas. On a good day you can see Winchelsea. On a bad day you can see Ashford sewage works. Emerging from Collyerhill Wood I spotted a small group of roe deer at the far edge of the field and then took the long bridle path between freshly-flailed hedgerows to St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church, Crundale. This part of the route is beautiful in spring and summer when the Hawthorn is out, although the absence of foliage did make for better views. Having lunched alone on the bench just outside Sole Street, I popped into the Compasses, but, like Stargazer, saw no familiar faces. Enquiries of the staff revealed that they were not expecting any group bookings. I carried on across the escarpment, a weak sun at one point providing a shadow, my only companion, and down to Godmersham Park, beloved of Jane Austen (I wonder if it is possible to see inside the house?) Passing an abandoned building in woodland, sitting forlornly in a sea of snowdrops, I arrived at Chilham along the curiously-named Mountain Street. (Chilham is 125 feet above sea level.) The White Horse was busy, warm and welcoming and there was time for a pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord before a short walk to the station, now in drizzle, and the 16:11 train. So, no group cohesion, as it turned out, but an enjoyable walk anyway.

From Nick Ellison 20-08-21

The path at paras 36-38 are impenetrable so I would suggest the following.

36. In 70 metres you come out to a tarmac road where you turn LEFT. In 150 metres or so turn right down a stony earth track and in 60 metres go right over a stile.

37. Head slightly left down a faint grassy path aiming at the hedgerow where you will find an overgrown gap leading down through a metal gate. You may need to persevere to find this gap.

38. Having gone through the gate your way forward is across a field aiming for the left hand side of the industrial shed.

I am up for this. But I might take an earlier train. It'll be the HST.

Austen

I just tried calling the Bodsham pub to book for Saturday but no answer and the message said "we remain temporarily closed". Has anyone else tried? Peggy

Hi Peggy, the website says the pub is "temporarily closed" - but the pub's booking form for lunch remains operational for tomorrow. Perhaps try 'phoning again tomorrow from Wye.

The posting for this walk concludes with the observation that "This walk seldom disappoints". But today was one of the exceptions, at least for our fearless walk poster. He got as far as Ashford to realise that someone had shimmered off with his backpack, last seen resting in the rack above his seat. He felt the understandable need to turn back and go home. Our commiserations on this misfortune.

So it was that the 9 that gathered at Wye station did not include our selfless volunteer. Also there was one of our regulars leading his own independent group which was at least as large again.

Progress was uneventful to Sole Street, where five took a drink at the Compasses Inn, and the rest presumably had sandwiches nearby. The pub wasn't quite full, so it was willing to provide lunch to those without reservations, so long as it was inside, for no more than two people, and in an hour's time at 2:15. We confined ourselves to a drink in the very nice garden, where fancy and expensive umbrellas proved handy during a fleeting rain shower. That aside, weather was

some sunny intervals with a cool breeze . Towards the end of our stay there, an early starter appeared who had done a long version of the walk and joined us for the rest of the day, making a total of 10,

After lunch we heeded the posting of Nick Ellison of 20 Aug which warned of impenetrable passages and found the suggested diversion also impenetrable. Perhaps we didn't follow it accurately. We wound up reverting to the stony earth track he describes and following it for a mile or more until it rejoined the published route.

Four had speedily served beer and tea in the Tickled Trout and took the 1720 train. The others were believed to have managed to get the 1620, at least some of them by taking a shortcut along the road.

To David Colver

I am sorry that you were unable to follow my suggested route. Did you find the small stile on the right? I can understand that you did not find the gate in the hedgerow- the gap is there but is considerably overgrown.

We found a gate in the hedgerow.

The thought that it was the one you suggested

- was reinforced by its position and consistency with your description

- was cast into doubt by it being very well defended by nettles, giving no impression that anyone had been through or over it in a long time, and offering no obvious path beyond it.

These things led us to turn back to the stile and continue on down the track until it converged with the route some distance later.

We did the same as David, as it was just easier to follow the BOAT to its junction with the suggested route. Without Nick's suggestion we would have been stumped, so thanks for that. I have reported the obstruction to KCC's Rights of Way officer.

The walk from Southbourne to Chichester on Wednesday 25th August was fabulous.My first walk with SWC but definitely not my last.

Such a lovely and friendly group. Perfect weather, great company.

I loved the non hieraechical feel of the group. Brilliant website. Thanks in particular to Marcus for being so welcoming.

The day was an absolute joy!

Hoping to do the Hitchin Circular on Bank. Holiday Monday.

plus 1 on earlier train doing Wye Circ

12 on the platform, 1 met on the bridge over the Stour (off the train an hour earlier up from 7oaks), who had met 1 other SWC regular on his train, who had announced she would walk (some version of) the walk, ie 14 in overcast weather. All of us 13 walked the long version via Hastingleigh and Bodsham, although 1 or 2 took some improvised shortcuts in the pm to make early-ish trains to meet evening obligations. There was a 15 minute period of spittle, which - combined with the at the time (on top of the downs) hard wind - felt like rain but wasn't. Apart from the blustery period along the NDW on top of the downs the wind was not a big factor though. Mud: some unpleasant stretches in the bits of wood that we passed through, but a non-event on the downs and - surprisingly perhaps - neither in the many arable fields crossed. They looked soggy upon approach but proved to be carrying our weight w/o sinking in, and there were no mud agglomerations on boots either.

4 ventured into The Bowl Inn, which deserves any CAMRA accolade it gets in our views: welcoming, great beers, fine selection of snacks, a snug ('Adults Only'), shame it comes a bit early in the walk for a meal. On to the Timber Batts then, where all but the 5 picnickers had a meal (plenty of burgers and assorted other dishes, incl. one gumbo) and just as everyone was ready to move on (the picnickers had long left on account of the coffee machine being broken), one walker announced that he was not going to leave, come hell or high water, for at least another 10 minutes as he was following his football team's travails on the wifi-powered smartphone (loosing at home to their across-town smaller neighbours). That was enough of an excuse for everyone else to get another drink but eventually we moved on. We caught the others half-way through the pm and got to Wye in time for some to catch the 17.20 train. Others went to The Kings Head for a hot drink (mostly hot drinks anyway) and/or a quick pizza.

A fine route, less muddy than feared. Plenty of snowdrops, lots of crocuses, loads of daffodils in various stages of readiness, most beautifully in the churchyard in Wye, where they seem to plant more and more of them every year. Some wild garlic (more a scent than fully grown plants). Lots of beautiful quiet valleys (no roads through them, mostly). One Harris Hawk (in the aviary of the Timber Batts).

Just to clarify, the extended map-led route via Bodsham is the light-blue dashed line on the map for the Wye Circular -- Book 1 Walk 53.

16 off the appointed train with one early starter and one late starter (having transport problems en route to St. P) made for 18 on this rural delight...To my surprise, all but one (perhaps by accident) opted for the longer map-led route and most seemed to have no problem following the map or a line on a device....The early starter who we met at the pub took notes for the longer route -- so, hopefully, this well-received off-piste option will become official in due course...The Timber Batts did not disappoint -- about half of the group enjoyed lunch surrounded by a myriad of curiosities...and the sandwichers also enjoyed their drinks with a good look around the premises....After lunch some had a brief tour of the neighboring forge before setting across (small) hills and vales to the Compasses Inn and a return to the written word...We lost two to tea at the Compasses (and an alternate mode of transport) and the rest carried on at different speeds in a couple of small groups in the lovely afternoon/evening misty light, arriving in Chilham at dusk under a clearing sky with a bright moon...Post walk bevvies were split by the group between the two pubs -- most caught the 18:13...Of the 5 that lingered, two opted for a moonlight extension along the Stour Valley Walk to Chartham which proved very enjoyable and atmospheric along a clear path at the edge of some woods with good bright moonlight with the others presumably catching the 19:13...In addition to the eclectic collection at the pub, exotic spottings en route included a rhea (large ostrich-like bird) and lamas...slightly less exotic, but in great abundance, were vast displays of snow drops.

Conditions for the day ranging from heavy mist to hazy sunshine and finally a moonlit sky .

Directions for the Hastingleigh-Bodsham- Waltham "loop" now added to the on-line written Directions.

I am hoping to come on this walk, but will drive to Chilham and leave my car there, taking train to Wye, arriving about 8 minutes after the train from Ashford. Is anyone willing to ring me (07973 139358) to confirm I'm coming and persuade the group to dally for a few minutes? In return, I can offer lift for up to 4 from Chilham (best cream tea in Kent) to Wye or Ashford stations. (Chilham only has 1 train an hour.)

If you can resist having a beer in the pub, the best place for your picnic is about 15 minutes into the Chilham afternoon where you come out onto a beautiful downland escarpment with fine views. Another nice spot is at the church three quarters of the way through the morning.

I wonder if we will have the pleasure of Marcus's company on one of these walks

jfk

Dear Brian

If i manage to get the right train I would be happy to ring you and try to hold the party back

Best,

Jane

In reply to Jane, I hope to be back walking with SWC mid-week walkers "soon", when my health permits - but not quite yet. I hope you all enjoy what is one of my favourite mix and match walks.

Given that Marcus is sadly not intending to come on this walk I may bring a canine friend with me. Any objections? speak now or forever hold your peace. thanks

...as it says on this very website in the 'New Members FAQ' section: "Please read The Rambler's advice for taking dogs on a country walk beforehand, paying particular attention to 'sheep' and 'cows'." There is a link there to a pdf.

Can't come now anyway- commitment, happy walking!

Apologies, I wasn't able to make this walk after all, but thanks to Jane for offering to ring. Hope you all have a good day.

11 on this lovely outing. It is a pity its poster could not join us: we hope to see him back on the trail soon.

It was grey and drizzly in London, but sunny when we arrived at Wye. There was a line of cloud to the north west but it did not reach us till around 1pm. Even then the sun reappeared as we got to Chilham village. So sun then cloud then sun .

Everyone, I think, was on the high speed train apart from two who came from Tonbridge. Nearly all of us brought picnic lunches, several of us eating by the church late morning. Two ate in the pub, which was decently busy but not booked out. The two lunchers only had starters, however, which were little more than canapés. The rest of us had drinks.

In the afternoon a nice walk along a scenic ridge, then down to Godmersham and along to Chilham. There was a 50/50 split here between pub and tea room, with outside tables being put to good use in both places. The ones outside the tea room, sadly, were by an insignificant lane that turned out to be a regular M1, with one car passing every 30 seconds or so, blowing hot exhaust straight into our nostrils. The scones were huge, however and the cream proper clotted.

5.13 train home, mixing with the workers. Remember work?

https://the-timber-batts-pub-forge.business.site/

I hope that means a good view of the eclipse, cloud permitting?

hopefully.....we should be back by the Memorial Crown by about 21:00 with good views South....

You should also get a fine view of the Red Planet, rising in the south-east at nightfall. Its orange colour is unmistakable and shows up even more clearly in binoculars.

Perhaps it was the extreme heat of the day or the forecast evening thunderstorms or just an attack of the "work ethic"....whatever the reason, just 4-free-spirits met at Ashford for the connection to Wye under initially hot clear conditions with cooling breeze on the downs followed by dramatic thunderstorms for the inaugural late afternoon and evening walk. I think most agreed it was a lovely time of day for a country walk. We all enjoyed the Friday night special pizzas al fresco from a pizza oven in the forge and just as we were planning to leave noticed some rather dark clouds with lightening approaching... A good choice was made to see what was to follow....heavy down pour with dramatic thunder and lightening.....so, we opted for another drink inside and spent 45 minutes examining some of the curiosities of the pub more closely...before heading out in what had become light drizzle with the occasional flash of thunder and lightening...Alas, the clouds along the southern horizon proved too thick for any moongazing.....back in Wye we had a night cap before the 22:54 train.....

Extension via Hastingsleigh only adds 3.4 km; Extension via Hastingsleigh and Bodsham adds 5.0 km.

Planning to catch the train from Charing Cross instead of St Pancras. Anyone else?

Sure

9 takers for this early start (considering the clocks had gone forward overnight) in dry and warm weather. All walked the 'long' extension via Hastingleigh and Bodsham. And all enjoyed that very much. Plenty of quiet coombes with long views to walk through (i.e. also lots of up and down), a CAMRA-recommended pub in Hastingleigh (cash only), and then an absolute gem, the most quirky pub around, and that by a country mile: The Timber Batts and Forge in Bodsham. You have to see it to believe it. AND the food was tasty (burgers and fish & chips only, Pizzas on Friday evenings). AND the staff was nice. We will be back.

We got back to Wye early enough for one to dash to get the 17.22 train, all else went to the pub for a chill-down drink.

Oh: no mud! I repeat: no mud! Not even in the many arable fields.

But loads of daffs, in lots of places, but in Wye the churchyard was practically all daffodils.

12 walkers off the HS1-train at Ashford, who decided to rather take an imminent (delayed) train than waiting for the posted train from Victoria, getting us to Wye 10 minutes earlier than expected. 1 then waited at Wye for possible walkers off that Victoria train (in vain), while all else sped off.

2 other walkers had indeed tried to catch that Victoria train, but missed, so we learned later. They were therefore an hour behind (and later skipped the lunch pub and the out-and-back to it, so were only caught by the main group a few minutes before Wye).

So 14 in total in dry conditions.

Some of the many field crossings in the last quarter of the walk were a bit soggy after the recent rains, else a very fine walk, with plenty of quiet valleys and splendid views off the Downs.

75 minutes for lunch at the glorious Compasses Inn with its two fireplaces (some had 3 courses...) and a 10 minute delay in the afternoon caused by a very large herd of sheep being herded down the very lane we had to go up (let's just say they were not very co-operative), meant we only got to the Tickled Trout by the station at 16.35, to find it had winter opening hours (shut until 17.00)!

So 5 went back up into the village to the King's Head for a bevvie, which proved to be a very good choice. Do we have/can we concoct a walk that has this pub as a lunch destination?

A bottle of Rioja was purchased at the Co-Op by the SWC-Provisions Manager for the long journey back...

Thank you Bridie for all your hard work posting walks.

anyone feel like getting a bit later train ?

Excuse me, I am a new joiner. What does toughness 7 out of 10 mean? Is this path suitable for hiking beginners? Do we need to use both of our hands and foots on any part of the path? Thanks.

No, no, no, nothing like that. None of our walks require the use of hands! It just means it has a few hills. Actually I am a bit puzzled why this is a 7 out of 10. It starts on the flat, has a fairly gently graded climb up onto the downs, and then is mainly flat or undulating all morning apart from one steep-ish walk up a road to lunch. After lunch there is some ups and downs and then a descent to a valley and a finish along the bottom of that. I would say it is a very good walk for a beginner.

Yes Iwanted to get a later train but it will be very late now

Eliz parker, Sun 26 Jul 15, 17:08

Just thought that I'd let people know that there was a problem with the compass pub on this saturday's walk.the owner rang me to say that sat walkers were not welcome, as some walkers upset the staff! Not sure who.