"From the station you are soon striding across vast farm fields to meet the North Downs Way (NDW) at the foot of this open downland. Here, the 'Hucking Extension' makes a longer exploration of the attractive Hucking Estate. This 4½ km circuit goes out along grassy rides and woodland paths to the tiny hamlet of Hucking and loops back along a wide open valley. The walk climbs the ridge and continuing along the southern edge of the Woodland Trust's Hucking Estate, an unexpected oasis of grassland and woodland (including bluebells) in a landscape dominated by arable farming.
The final loop is around Leeds Castle on public footpaths. Modestly describing itself as “the Loveliest Castle in the World”, the moated setting of Leeds Castle is certainly spectacular. Subtract 5¾ km (3.6 miles; 1 hour 30 minutes) if omitting the Leeds Castle circuit.
Note: You are advised to use the latest directions, as the two Hollingbourne walks have had modifications, and are now combined into one document.
6 comments:
It's a really nice walk. When we did it in Spring 2023, those of us that visited Leeds Castle found the return path through the woods was flooded but you can avoid it by returning the same way that you went out.
As noted in the written directions many of the footpaths in the first two sections are not marked out, so if you're not familiar with the route then navigation can be a bit tricky. There are also notices saying that the landowner has applied to divert the rights of way in §B to accommodate a new vineyard, so the walk route will probably need yet more tweaking in 2024/25.
I haven't checked the Leeds Castle circuit recently. The link routes to/from the castle grounds are pretty dismal but you've always got the option of giving this loop a miss and exploring Hollingbourne Meadows instead (but sadly the wildflower meadow seems to be no more).
7 off the train, plus 1 car driver, ie n=8 on the walk.
2 of those quickly took up the backmarker slots and fell behind, while the others negotiated the large arable fields en route to the North Downs. They mostly had clear trod or ploughed paths, the sun was out, the ultra-green cereal and other plants were swaying in the breeze, ie: life was wonderful.
At the bottom of the Downs, 2 turned right to walk the shortest possible walk (16 km), lunching at the Hook & Hatchet and getting back to base in time for the 15.16 train.
The other 4 of the avantgarde stormed up the Downs and followed the Thurnham Extension. This was semi-treacherous, as the very many steep and sometimes stepped paths were proper soapy from recent rain, and with some of them kind of falling away as well, and often overgrown and/or blocked by fallen trees. We did survive without a tumble though. An almighty rain shower started when we were in the Thurnham Castle ruins, so much so that we stopped at the very treacherous steep descent from it on account that at least a few of us were more or less guaranteed to kiss the soil and slide down the hill on our backs. Back we went to Castle Hill road and down it to the village.
That's where we encountered The Black Horse, an ancient pub on the Pilgrim's Way. It was past 1 o'clock already, so we asked for a table rather than walking on to the Hook & Hatched. Incongrously, we spotted the 2 backmarkers inside (this was not on their route), with the SWC chips-and-cider man imbibing an almighty 8.4 % pint of cider, while his companion was awaiting some food.
We lost 1 of us to the backmarkers (all 3 were briefly spotted again in Hollingbourne near The Dirty Habit pub, them just ahead of us strolling down the road towards the station while we turned left for the remainder of the route).
What can be said about The Black Horse, Thurnham? What. A. Great. Pub!
Great historic building, with many levels sloping down the hillside, exposed beams, fireplaces, nooks and crannies, an ambitious food menu which DID deliver, attentive and friendly staff. Do we have more walks that use this pub? If not, why not?
All that more then compensated for being seated in the seventh circle of hell, where 3 of the other 4 tables in our corner had small and not so small children amongst them, some of which clearly hadn't benefited from much parenting so far. 105 minutes later, we left. The second shower of the day had passed while inside.
On up the Downs again, in a roundabout way, and then picking up the Main Walk route about 3 hours after we left it. We forwent the 2nd extension on account of time lost in the pub and on slippery paths, walked the Leeds Castle circuit (the 'Queen's Joust' evend had just finished and thousands of people went the other way to their car parks) and reached Hollingbourne village in the knowledge that the 18.16 had just left. Into The Windmill then for a couple of convivial snifters. 19.09 train for the London Bridge 2 (via Ashford), 19.16 for the Victoria bound 1.
Weather: w=sun-clouds-and-two-showers
Views: very fine
Paths: tough at times due to slipperiness and also overgrowth, fallen trees and exposed tree roots, but at least most of the grassy paths through meadows and paddocks were freshly mowed.
Wildlife: rabbits and plenty of birds, but best sight was a tiny wee ultra-yellow spider that had just started to eat a fly it had caught, while hanging upside down the frame of a metal gate.
Plantlife: buttercups and daisies galore, lots of cow parsley and that endemic Kent 'plant' commonly referred to as polytunnels.
Many thanks to Pete G for posting this, and for the walk author having created it in the first place.
The two ‘back markers’ abandoned hope of keeping up and decided to head for Thurnham rather than the prescribed route. A decision not taken lightly, having heard rumours of an 8.4% cider available in the Black Horse. We got there eventually, and, guess what readers. There was indeed an 8.4% cider and Mr Tiger could not be kept away from it.
The others showed up after a while (what kept them?) and one defected from them to us.
The fast ones were so well hidden, we presumed they had sped on.
Having heard of tricky sections on the rest of that loop we backtracked and continued round the main walk. There were allegations my gait was unsteady but this was mostly down to the uneven terrain.
The Black Horse is now an official Mr Tiger favourite.
Cricket enthusiasts walking the Thurnham option may be interested to know that Alfred Mynn "The Lion of Kent" or "Mighty Mynn" is buried in Thurnham churchyard.
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