Micro Event: Luddlesdown-Brimstone Wood: Llamas, & a Hare

Starting in the village of Sole Street this walk soon goes off road and straight through wheat fields. Lord Darnley of Cobham Hall would not allow the railway to build a station in Cobham so instead the station was built in Soul Street. In 1789 a varnish factory was set up in Soul Street using an old Huguenot recipe, children with whooping cough and chest infections were brought to the varnish factory to breath in the fumes.

We'll return to the road close to the Cock Inn which is a traditional pub built in 1700 and reputed to sell the best beer in NW Kent. We'll then go back off road along paths with a riot of wildflowers until we come to Henley Down where vineyards have been freshly planted, yellow flowers and red poppies bloom amid the rows of vines. Going steeply downhill will take us down to Luddlesdown. The village and church here go back to the Doomsday Book, the church was rebuilt in the 13th & 14th centuries but the roof fell collapsed in 1865.

We'll then walk to the Devil's Bowling alley, a long smooth valley, part of which has also been turned over to new vineyards. We'll cross the road and climb Hatch Hill following a route through the Gag Plantation before returning to the road close to the chapel at Dode, an abandoned plague village. 

We'll then head south west to  Boughurst Street Farm then north west to Brimstone Wood, I suspect the springs here may have been sulphurous but not even the locals can explain the name. Before reaching Brimstone Wood we have to cross Dean Lane where a farm keep Llamas in a field. On the other side of the road they keep sheep which is where I saw a hare, thinking at first that it was just a big rabbit.

It's a pleasant walk through woods and cornfields back to Soul Street.

Micro Events – IMPORTANT, Please read the following before you sign up to this event:

• Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, even if they are extremely mild, or who lives or is in a support bubble with someone showing symptoms, is asked not to attend. This is in line with the government’s coronavirus advice.
• All are required to practice social distancing – staying 2m (not 1m) apart at all times, including the lunch stop.
• Please join events within around one hour’s travel from your home, rather than travelling longer distances to get there.
• Unfortunately, there won’t be any planned pub / café stops en route or at the end, and please don’t share sweets or snacks with others – we’re sorry!
• Public transport use to the start point is discouraged, as this is a non-essential journey. No car sharing to the start point unfortunately either.
• Please bring your own hand sanitising gel for your own use throughout the day. Use of face coverings is at your own choice.
• Each person can only attend one OutdoorLads micro event a week. (Leaders to leave at least three days between events they lead.)
• On walks, one person to hold open gates and allow everyone to walk through – so minimising surfaces that multiple people touch. 
• Be aware that opportunities for toilet stops may be minimal if facilities are closed.
• Please, please cancel at your earliest opportunity if you are unable to attend or are unwell, so that we can allow others to take up these valuable event spaces.
• Much as it's difficult - no handshakes or hugs!

Micro Events Participation Statement

OutdoorLads draws your attention to the fact that travelling and being away from home increases the risk of receiving and transmitting Coronavirus, whilst it is present in the UK. You are likely to choose not to participate in OutdoorLads events whilst there is a risk of Coronavirus transmission. However, should you choose to participate in OutdoorLads events whilst the risk is present, you must be aware of and follow the law and government guidelines, both when travelling to and from events as well as when participating in events.

Please note that every person participating should be aware of (and accept) that those members perceived as ‘in charge’ or leading the event are not experts,  do not need to be experts, and are not regarded by OutdoorLads, or themselves as experts, but are amateurs with some experience in the event type and who are happy to impart their knowledge.  Any advice given should be considered with this in mind by the recipient.

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Please see our website for more information including an FAQ about our micro events.

Micro Events training Video: https://youtu.be/pRUhFQVIAPM

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Image Credit: Photos are provided by ODL member Richard Peel and OutdoorLads has permission to use them.