An easy walk through fields in the Kentish Weald and an option to visit Sissinghurst Gardens (NT).
Difficulty: 3 out of 10 to Cranbrook or 1 out of 10 to Sissinghurst.
Trains: Take the 10.04 Dover Priory train from Charing Cross (10.07 Waterloo East, 10.13 London Bridge) arriving Staplehurst 11..03 Return trains from Staplehurst are at xx.18 and xx.48.
Buses run hourly to Staplehurst from Cranbrook (14.53, 15.57, 16.52, 17.50, 18.50) and from Sissinghurst (14.59, 16.05, 17.00, 17.58).
Lunch: The Bell and Jorrocks, Frittenden (01580 852415)
Tea: There is a cafe at Sissinghurst. Details of options in Cranbrook and Headcorn can be found in the directions
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2 comments:
N=18 set off from Staplehurst on a w=warm-mainly-sunny-day-with-a-light-breeze and some cloud which stayed in the sky creating what felt like a greenhouse atmosphere all day. It wasn't as hot as recent days and we were kept comfortable by many shaded footpaths along the way. We passed fields of tall grass and barley and there were plenty of foraging opportunities with blackberries in abundance and apple trees laden down with fruit. All 18 picnicked in the churchyard (two had hoped for a pub lunch but found the Bell and Jorrocks closed). It wasn't far from there to Sissinghurst Gardens and most stopped there for tea, scones and cake. Some NT members visited the gardens. A few bypassed the gardens and headed straight for Cranbrook where they had drinks in the George. The were joined at the bus stop by most of the Sissinghurst contingent who arrived just in time for the 15.57 bus which got us to Staplehurst with half an hour to spare before the 16.48 train. Some used the time to buy provisions from Sainsbury's and had a jolly journey home.
This was an attractive walk with no need for trekking poles as the paths were dry but severely rutted from previous muddy hikes. Shame that no one from the footpaths department of the local authority has done anything about two seriously dodgy stiles. Thanks to Joe who helped some of us with less agile knees get over one and to Angela for helping me over another. Great group cohesion today only marred by the pub not opening until 4pm so no lunch or drinks opportunity.
The return train journey was enhanced by the Sainsbury shoppers who offered me some delicious wine to beef me up for my return journey to Brentford where far right protesters were expected at the local immigration centre and local immigrants hotels. I decided to get out at Kew Bridge to avoid any confrontations to find the high street deserted of traffic but buses running so no problem getting home. Local Residents who decided to go and observe the demonstrations around Brentford station only found anti racist protesters numbering around 600 who accused anyone passing by on the opposite side of the road as being Nazi scum.
No damage to property as the far right demonstrators pulled a No Show obviously frightened off by the force of counter demonstrations in this very high diversity area of the Great West road stretching towards Hounslow where there has always been peace and harmony within the community even if you feel like an endangered species.
Thanks to Pete G for checking that trains were running from Waterloo.
Glad I wasn’t travelling to Walthamstow where there were huge crowds around the high street according to the news broadcasts. Brentford only got one brief mention as there was no aggravation.
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