The Kent Downs and Lyminge

We start out from Westenhanger station, along the Roman Road of Stone Street before passing through the village of Stanford. As we leave Stanford we will spot our first climb of the day, Tolsford Hill, where the route is fringed with damsons, cobnuts, sloes and blackberries, and views towards the English Channel and Dungeness. The steep, stony path leads us up towards the communications tower that you can see in some of the pictures, and will be a recurring landmark throughout the day. 

From the top of the hill we will pick up the Pilgrims' Way downhill, and pass under the dismantled railway line before another steep climb with some superb views. 

We will stop for lunch on the escarpment overlooking the Channel Tunnel terminal and Folkestone, and where we can ponder the scale and efficiency of the operation taking place below. 

After lunch we will turn inland and walk northwards across the North Downs towards the village of Paddlesworth, and from there onwards along byways to the village of Lyminge where we will stop for a drink the Coach and Horses pub.

From Lyminge we will walk across farmland towards Farthing Common and enjoy the far reaching views over Kent. We will then pick up the North Downs Way on our way back the the Stanford where, time permitting, we can stop for a drink in the Drum Inn.