Pilgrims Way – Day 6

  • Start: The George and Dragon, Westerham, Kent
  • End: The Donnington Manor Hotel, Dunton Green, Kent
  • Distance: 15.51 km
  • Time: 04 hours 41 minutes 57 seconds

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, through sunshine and showers, we trudged along this road, the high hedges making it difficult to see anything other than the endless road before us.

Finally, we reached the end of the road at Sundridge Hill.

The end of the road!

The reason for our reprieve from endless trudging was because Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl Stanhope (1753 – 1816) decided in 1792 to close the section of the Pilgrims Way which went through his land, to stop the hoi polloi being able to gawp at his house. Ironically, Charles Stanhope was also known as ‘Citizen Stanhope’ because of his sympathy for the French Revolution, he clearly preferred the peasants who were murdering people over in Paris to the ones traipsing over his lawn!!

‘Citizen Stanhope’

After nearly a kilometre of significant climbing we entered Lord Stanhope’s domain, Chevening, via the Keepers Cottage.

The Estate was full of wildlife, deer and grouse in the fields and forests, and buzzards circling overhead. However, I only got two rubbish photographs because the buggers wouldn’t stay still! I don’t think I’ll ever make wildlife photographer of the year!!!

We wandered through the estate, (scaring the wildlife) and eventually sat down on a bench with lovely views over the countryside to have our lunch.

View over the Chevening Estate

This consisted of some freshly made sandwiches from a nice little bakery in Westerham, washed down with freshly squeezed Apple Juice.

Sandwiches 😋

Chevening is now the ‘Grace and Favour’ residence of the Foreign Secretary and although it was clear that David Lamy was not in residence (he certainly wasn’t fishing 😏), we were surprised by how close to the house the public footpath went, with no cameras or any other obvious security. I can’t believe that J D Vance’s security detail would have been happy a few weeks ago.

Chevening from public footpath

Having circumnavigated the house, we ended up at Chevening church, St Botolph’s. This lovely church built in 1262, with a striking 15th century tower, wasn’t open to the public sadly,

however it did have a handy bench aimed at tired travellers!

Bench and tired old pilgrim 😃

Finally, we crossed the M25 again, en route to tonight’s stop.

M25 – near Dunton Green

We are staying at The Donnington Manor Hotel this evening, a curious combo of ancient manor house and corporate hotel.

The Donnington Manor Hotel

They must have different planning laws in Kent to elsewhere in the country!

The hotel restaurant is in the old part of the hotel, dating from the 15th century. However, the pseudo 1980’s psychedelic decor gives it a distinctly weird vibe!

Restaurant at Donnington Manor Hotel

We both had the Piri Piri Chicken special tonight, which was fine, but hardly Nando’s, particularly given the lack of any spice whatsoever.

Piri Piri Chicken?

Tomorrow is the final day of our trek, sadly. We should arrive in the ‘no-longer a city’ Rochester-on-Medway tomorrow evening to complete our pilgrimage.

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