"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, Extension 1 joins the NDW in the opposite direction for a 6 km circuit via the small village of Thurnham and The Blackhorse Pub ("What. A. Great. Pub!" - Thomas G). The route has a steep climb and descent. This goes out across a succession of sunken lanes and hollows in the hillside, climbs to some medieval castle ruins above the village and returns via parkland, field edges and paddocks.
The optional 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.
Note: You are advised to use the latest directions, as the extension route was modified in May 24
2 comments:
N=12 at the station on what turned out to be great walk, exceeding expectations. Plenty of shade and a nice breeze on the hills. The dry conditions were ideal for the ups and downs. Three cut out the ruin and had a picnic, and were later seen on the Leeds extension. 8 ate at the Black Horse in the garden, which was good except for one delayed main and another delayed pudding, coincidentally for the two butterfly hunters. One just having tea rather than the usual coffee. The afternoon saw some fragmentation. Some getting the 1617, and awkward timings left 3 aiming for the 1817,rather than rush a cup of tea, enabling the Leeds extension person to join us for a pleasant drink in the garden.
The unhurried tea drinker at the end of the walk was grateful to the other two for letting him enjoy his cuppa at leisure.
Some lovely flowers on this walk, including plenty of dreamy meadows and a whole hillside of oxeye daisies on the downs at one point, plus a very intense field of the same above Hollingbourne. The two butterfly enthusiasts clocked up twelve species and two of day flying moths, highlights being a painted lady, several lovely marbled whites - and most exciting of all, a small tortoiseshell (yes, they used to be common but are now almost extinct). Birdsong included chaffinch, chiffchaff, whitethroat, blackcap and yellowhammer.
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