3 men on a walk 2015: November 2015

Monday, 30 November 2015

Around Groombridge

Groombridge to Ashurst Loop

The weather forecast was dire but the forecasters reckoned that there might be a small lull in the rain for a few hours late morning. So we enacted "Plan B" and decided on a walk around Groombridge that could be as short as 4 miles but extended at several places to 6 or 8 miles if the weather would allow.

So we parked up at Groombridge and headed out through Burrswood and followed the Sussex Border path up to Ashurst. About this time the showers started but they were not continuous and after a couple of light down-pores it dried up for much of the rest of the walk.

After Ashurst we would our way South until we hit the old railway trail - Forest Way - which we followed back to Groombridge. In all we ended up doing the mid choice and walked 6.6 miles and we arrived back at Groombridge just in time to visit "The Crown" for lunch before the rain started again

A grey day over the Weald

Stats for the day were ...

Route: Groombridge Ashurst Loop

Activity: Hike

Weather:

temperature	12°C
humidity	82%
wind	16 mph SW

Explorer Link: http://walkmeter.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Hike-20151130-1026

Import Link: Download Google KML file

Started: 30 Nov 2015, 10:26:07

Hike Time: 2:14:59

Stopped Time: 6:59

Distance: 6.62 miles

Average Pace: 2.96 mile per hour

Fastest Pace: 15:28 min/mile

Ascent: 952

Descent: 980

Calories: 720

Monday, 23 November 2015

Another Lanberhurst Loop

Bewl Bridge to Lamberhurst and back

It was a perfect winter walk day. Arctic winds had been with us for a few days and so our balmy November came to a sudden end. But today the wind dropped completely and with a decent overnight frost in place the day turned out to be clear, bright and sunny but cold enough for gloves and a beanie hat - if you are Ivan that is! Todays walk was another "made up one". You know the drill by now: a) Choose the pub ; b) find a track back from it for about 6 or 7 miles and this is the starting point; c) from the pub find a trail back to where you would leave the car and hope it doesn't have too many hills on it.

So today we started at the Bridge on the south side of Bewl Water Reservoir and followed the edge of the reservoir NW and across the main dam. From here we headed out into the Weald and gently looped around to the village of Lamberhurst where "The Chequers" awaited us. This is an old favourite of ours. There is always a warm welcome from the landlady and in winter a lovely log fire in the very ancient bar room. Food is excellent too.

After lunch we picked up the trail to Kilndown Village which crosses the National Trust parkland of Scotney Castle. Once at the top of the hill it was a pleasant gentle downhill saunter back to the bridge and the car.

THere were a couple of notable things along the way today. We had a Spitfire overhead on a couple of occasions just soaring about above our heads. The sound of the Merlin Engine is unmissable. We also surprised a Woodcock which quickly flew away in front of us. On a small pond there was what I think was a Barnacle Goose and I don't think we have seen one of those before.

Frost alongside the lake as we set out

It didn't take long for the sun to break through

Walking over the dam

The parkland around Scotney

Lunch Stop - The Chequers at Lamberhurst

The smell and warmth of the fire greeted us.

Stats for the day were...

Finished Hike: 23 Nov 2015, 14:57:47

Route: Bewl Lamberhurst Loop

Weather:

temperature	6°C
humidity	93%
wind	5 mph SW

Explorer Link: http://walkmeter.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Hike-20151123-0958

Import Link: Google Earth KML download

Hike Time: 3:48:46

Stopped Time: 1:10:04

Distance: 11.16 miles

Average: 2.92 mile per hour

Fastest Pace: 13:28 min/mile

Ascent: 798

Descent: 915

Calories: 1172

Monday, 16 November 2015

Around the North Downs from West Kingsdown

West Kingsdown to Wrotham loop

We are fast running out of new places to walk so sitting in front of an Ordnance Survey map we selected this area of the North Downs as we have not really walked this part of the county before. So having decided that a good start point would be the village of West Kingsdown the next decision to make is where will we find a decent pub about 2 hours walk away! In this instance the ancient village of Wrotham fitted the bill and with THREE good pubs in the village we just had to plot a route that took us here.

The day started wet but the weather lady reliably told us that it would pass by 9-00am and the rest of the day would be dry with high cloud and also be un-seasonably warm at 15 deg C. By the time we had driven to our start and booted up it was 10-00am and Carol the weather lady was true to her word.

Just about half a mile from West Kingsdown we came across another Norman Church dating from the early 1100's. This is the second such church we have fallen across in the past 3 weeks and its marvellous to see these ancient structures not just still standing but being used regularly as well.

The paths we had chosen took us across the North Downs towards the southern escarpment and after about 4 miles we reached the southern edge and had to drop down the steep south face of the downs to reach the village of Wrotham nestled under it. It was "The Bull" that we ended up in for our lunch time stop.

After lunch the trail took us westward along the bottom edge of the downs for about 3 miles before turning us North and up the steep escarpment to reach the top of the downs once more. After a heavy lunch we all found the legs needed a bit of stimulation to keep pushing on, across the downs again and back to West Kingsdown and the car home.

The early Norman church outside of West Kingsdown

Lunch Stop

Wrotham High Street

Looking across to the Weald from the top of the North Downs

Stats for the day were...

Finished Hike: 16 Nov 2015, 15:20:31

Route: West Kingsdown Wrotham

Weather:

temperature	12°C
humidity	77%
wind	12 mph WSW

Explorer Link: http://walkmeter.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Hike-20151116-1003

Import Link: Download Google Earth KML file

Hike Time: 3:32:36

Stopped Time: 1:44:41

Distance: 11.08 miles

Average: 3.12 mile per hour

Fastest Pace: 13:37 min/mile

Ascent: 875

Descent: 905

Calories: 1142

Monday, 9 November 2015

Through the orchards around Matfield

Matfield loop via the "Halfway House"

We seemed to be plagued by "senior Moments" today. First Ivan got muddled on his way to the meeting point and ended up travelling towards Mayfield instead of Matfield - still they did both start with an "M"! 15 minutes after he should have arrived we got a phone call saying "where should I be heading" !! Later on at the lunch stop I checked to see how many miles the pedometer was saying we had walked only to find I hadn't switched the thing on!. So today's stats are a best estimate from the second half of the walk and adjusted to take into account that after lunch figures are usually DOWN on before lunch ones!

The meet point was at Matfield and we initially picked up the High Weald trail that we have walked before, walking in an easterly direction through Petteridge and on to Palmers Green. Just after Palmers Green we left the High Weald Trail and walked south east looping back towards the lunch stop at the Halfway House. For most of the 4 miles or so from the start we had walked through Apple Orchards, either newly planted or ancient old disused ones. The Halfway House is a new addition to our list of hostelries and a very old and very nice pub it was.

More orchard walking followed after lunch as we swung north to arrive back at Matfield. Generally a very nice walk and one that we should repeat in the spring when the Apple Blossom is out as the views through the orchards were amazing.

Apple Orchards outside of Brenchley

Apple orchards with Brenchley Church in the background

Lunch stop at the Halfway House Inn

Stats for the walk were (Estimated)

Finished Hike: 9 Nov 2015, 14:45:50

Route: Matfield loop via Halfway House

Weather:

temperature	13°C
humidity	72%
wind	20 mph SW

Explorer Link: http://walkmeter.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Hike-20151109-1324

Import Link: Download Google KML file

Hike Time: 2:45

Stopped Time: 38:48

Distance: 8.5 miles

Average: 3.0 mile per hour

Fastest Pace: 16:14 min/mile

Ascent: 1516

Descent: 1516

Calories: 908

Monday, 2 November 2015

Wye Loop via Devils Kneading

Wye and the North Downs loop

This was probably the prettiest walk of this year. Sure, the South Downs and their views across to the sea are wonderful but this section of the North Downs in the Autumn sunshine was exceptional as the photos below show. The drive to our starting point was mostly in heavy mist but as we hit the downs it magically lifted into a beautiful sunny day, with the mist just hanging about in the far distance.

We parked up at the wonderfully named "Devils Kneading" which is a car park atop the south escarpment of the North Downs just a couple of miles South East of Wye village. Whilst the car had taken us to the top it wasn't long before we were walking down and up the many valleys that cross the downs. The paths were in good condition and we reached the village of Crundale which has an early Norman church dating from the early 12th Century. This Church was sited in the middle of nowhere about a mile or so from the village in a wood yet we were able to enter it and marvel at its peacefulness and antiquity. I think only in the UK could this happen with something as precious as this and 900 years old!

From Crundale we looped around and headed towards the village of Wye which sits on the Great Stour River. Regrettably, this is not a picturesque village even though its very old and its own church is also Norman (see Wye Church History ). However, despite the village not being up to much the "Tickled Trout" pub nestling alongside the river was very good and made a perfect lunch stop! AS mentioned the weather was wonderful and must have made 18 deg C so we sat outside at the pub for lunch just admiring the wonderful chalk stream river.

After lunch we looked forward to the long slog uphill to get back atop the downs and back to the car. The initial uphill from the river was gentle but as we hit the escarpment of the downs we puffed and blew our way up a couple of hundred metres of climb. Ivan said it was the seven pints of Kent ale we had with lunch that must be slowing us down !! Anyway, arriving at the top we once again had the wonderful views across the Kent levels below which eventually migrate into the Romney marshes.

The path then took us back to Devils Kneading via a couple of mile trek along the edge of the escarpment so we had the views all the way back to the car.