Port Lympne zoo and the Saxon Shore Way in Kent

The walk commences extremely close to Folkestone Race Course which is apparently closed at the moment. The station has the local line – which carries trains which stop - right next to the Eurostar’s high speed railway which carries trains which go straight through to Ashford International.

Unlike some of the other Kent walks, this one does not venture onto the North Downs Way which is on the other side of the motorway and railways. Our goal is South: the hills and former cliffs which formed the old Saxon shore: the former coastline.

On the way, we shall pass through the edge of the village of Aldington. This is steeped in history with more than 50 buildings of historical interest in its parish. The ruins of one of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s palaces lie next to the Church and Court Lodge Farmhouse which was the manor house and hunting lodge. Noel Coward lived just outside the village and both Julian Clary and Paul O’Grady reside hereabouts.

After this, we will join the Saxon Shore Way which runs right around the Kent coastline. The path is at the top of the hill for some of the way and we should get some magnificent views down across the flat expanse of Romney Marsh to the sea and the resort village of Dymchurch. We then descend to the level of the marsh to follow the Royal Military Canal path for a while.

The Royal Military Canal was dug between 1804 and 1809 as a defence against the threat of invasion during the Napoleonic Wars with France. It stretches for 28 miles from near Folkestone in the East to the Western side of the marsh at Pett Level near Hastings. It runs close to the line of the old Saxon Shore and it apart from its defence purpose, it also functioned to help drain the marshes in Winter and provide fresh water for irrigation in Summer. Its levels are now controlled by the Environment Agency and it is a valuable wildlife habitat and popular walk location.

We ascend the hill via a path which has wild animals grazing on each side of the fence in an extensive area of open parkland which can be seen from the marsh roads below. Halfway up the hill, a set of double gates allows the zoo visitors’ vehicles to cross the path without the animals following suit. This is where the giraffes were looking down on me.

At the top of the hill, we journey East and should again have magnificent views. The remains of Stutfall Castle can be seen on the slopes. This was a Roman defensive fort built AD 260 - 270 but was abandoned in the late 4th century.

Just beyond that is Lympne Castle which dates from the 13th century AD and once was occupied by Thomas a Becket. It is now a venue for functions, conferences and weddings. We will journey inland a bit from here to the actual village of Lympne where we shall hopefully visit its pub, The County Members before wending our way a little further to get back to the station.