The day started at Chilham and yesterday’s theme of wealth continued. If the Castle quietly exuded privilege, the church positively screamed it. Every corner was crammed with ornate memorials, usually to past owners of the castle. The one that most appealed was to James Wildman who owned the castle from 1794. Jane Austen (obviously!) visited… Continue reading Pilgrims Way (Part 2) – Day 4
Pilgrims Way (Part 2) – Day 3
This morning started rather mistily and the sun didn’t really breakthrough all day, but luckily it stayed dry. We began the day back at Charing station and walked the approximately 2km uphill to the Pilgrims Way from the station, via what was descriptively called, ‘The Hill’. The rest of the morning, we processed through some… Continue reading Pilgrims Way (Part 2) – Day 3
Pilgrims Way (Part 2) – Day 2
Day 2 began where yesterday left off, Bearsted station. The weather was expected to be a little cooler, with a chance of rain, and we were raring to go. The walk back up to the Pilgrim’s Way was taken at a more leisurely speed than we had descended yesterday afternoon and we took time to… Continue reading Pilgrims Way (Part 2) – Day 2
Pilgrims Way (Part 2) – Day 1
So, in August last year we completed a 7 day trek from Hampshire to Kent along the Pilgrim’s Way, finishing at Halling train station on the last day of the month. But we were never going to let that be the end of it and 7 months later we are back to complete the final… Continue reading Pilgrims Way (Part 2) – Day 1
Pilgrims Way – Day 7
Last day!! Breakfast was a hurried affair as we were eager to be off, we had a train to catch 🚂(in about 8 hours). However, we had not reckoned with the weather finally turning, so some time was spent hoicking out the wet weather gear. Our uneasy feeling that it was going to be an… Continue reading Pilgrims Way – Day 7
Pilgrims Way – Day 6
Today was a fairly easy day, part recovery after yesterday and part rest before a longish day tomorrow. We had a lovely unhurried breakfast at the George and Dragon and then wended our way from Westerham back across the M25 to the road out of Titsey known as ‘Pilgrim’s Way’. For the next 5 kilometres,… Continue reading Pilgrims Way – Day 6
Pilgrims Way – Day 5
We were worried about the amount of time today’s walk would take and so we had a hasty breakfast at the hotel and hit the road at just after 8 am. It seemed as though the route was determined to throw obstacles in our path! The route was blocked less than a kilometre in! That… Continue reading Pilgrims Way – Day 5
Pilgrims Way – Day 4
Breakfast at Denbies was, as expected, a rather superior affair. Washed down with freshly pressed grape juice! The day’s walking started easily enough with a gentle flat stroll along the side of the A24 Dorking bypass, followed by fun and games crossing the Mole River by stepping stones. It isn’t easy jumping from stone to… Continue reading Pilgrims Way – Day 4
Pilgrims Way – Day 3
The last two days could be fairly described as ‘rolling’ in terms of gradient, today however we moved towards the Surrey hills and so face a little bit more of a challenge. Leaving Guildford this morning, after a swift breakfast of pastries and coffee in Ole and Steen, we knew that we were in for… Continue reading Pilgrims Way – Day 3
Pilgrims Way – Day 2
After a comfortable night in the Princess Royal and a reasonable if unexciting breakfast, we set off on our trek along the A31 to Guildford (or at least roughly parallel to it😀). It has not been difficult to remember which route we are on, given the very large number of references to Pilgrims along the… Continue reading Pilgrims Way – Day 2