https://www.strava.com/activities/12392486422
Friday we have a big breakfast as we do all days but today bright and early in readiness for the longest walk of the weekend. It's a chilly start but we soon warm up striding along the seafront past Walmer and then up onto the cliffs. It's a day of ups and downs with great views out to sea and along the white cliffs where the edge cuts away from the sea. There are rows of big houses with big verandas and more being developed along some parts but others are just the fields falling back from the cliff edge. All along are military defences going back centuries including seaward facing pill boxes and strange concrete "sound mirrors" that were meant to focus noise from the sea onto mics, built but never used as radar was invented. Also a WWII air force museum including a Hurricane fighter plane and model of a Junker Stuka dive bomber crashed into the earth which I found a bit distasteful. We press on past artillery placements before dropping down into Dover to meet my work colleague Danny on the seafront. We wander along the front with Danny pointing out the different architecture and buildings by the castle going back to Roman times. After a chip lunch Danny takes us along Shakespeare's Beach just as the tide is coming in and leaves us to climb the cliff steps over the railway line. We're now high above the sea now and whilst we can see the busy A20 for a while it soon veers inland and we are left to see the fluffy white clouds above and out to France across the channel busy with ships. Through Duncan's binoculars we can see the houses in France which is impressive. After our late lunch sat on the cliffs we drop down into Folkestone past the Martello towers and eschewing the ska festival (our feet and knees are not up to an evening of skanking) we walk up the trendy hip street from the sea front and then trudge on to the railway station. Dark by now so the ride back to Deal along the coast we see the full-ish moon shining on the Channel. beer and veg curry are the order of the evening... then bed after our 20 miler.
https://www.strava.com/activities/12401676105
A leisurely breakfast and scout around Deal including the Saturday market then we head north along a long seafront path which is flat and unvarying. We pass three golf courses and a strange set of very big houses that look like an American film set. There's no breeze today and it's hot by the sea so I go for a dip at Sandwich Bay - it's cold but not freezing. Then after a while turn inland to come back on ourselves to Sandwich. The scenery is different but we're forced around large fields and coming into Sandwich we pass large industrial buildings on the Stroud river. Not as nice a walk as yesterdays but we have a pint in a nice enough pub, in the shade, and walk around the old medieval town before catching the train back to Deal with the carriage serenaded by exuberant youth. A beer in the back yard until it gets chilly and we walk along the pier having a quick pint before an excellent Thai / Chinese meal chatting to the owner from Plaistow.
https://www.strava.com/activities/12408980261
Our last day sees us drive to Barham for a 10 mile route crossing the A2 through various landscapes of grassy fields, crops, woods manor parkland and villages. We visit four churches all with their own points of interest and visit one pub for a pint at Bishopsbourne where we toast Matt's birthday RIP. We're only a mile or so from Thursday's walk so could have made a longer one if we'd had time. Soon enough we're back at the car and Duncan drops me off at Leatherhead where I train home. A great weekend.
https://www.strava.com/activities/12418002957
Thanks to Kent Ramblers for walks and guide books: https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/
Photos not in any particular order...
Various churches...
