Length: 17.2 km (10.7 miles) 2/10
OK I must admit I didn't even know where the Greensand Way ended until I searched on walks you could do from stations accessible by Thameslink or the Victoria line (which was running on the last tube strike week). As far as I can see this walk has never been posted!
It starts with a very acceptable urban stretch out from Ashford's station, following the Stour Valley Walk, through parks and along the Great Stour river. It then skirts Ashford's sprawling suburbs with its many new estates and passes a couple of farms. Some pretty countryside follows though, with tranquil pastures and the enchanting Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve, all the way to the fine village of Ham Street. There's an hourly train back from Ham Street but the village pub looks lovely.
Travel: From Victoria – 0955 arriving Ashford 1132
From Charing Cross – 1004 to Dover Priory (Waterloo East 1007, London Bridge 1013) arriving Ashford 1122
From St Pancras (High Speed ticket needed) – 1040 arriving Ashford 1118. Those on the last two trains please wait for the Victoria train.
Return train from Ham Street at 02 past the hour. 8 minute journey back to Ashford where you change for St Pancras, Victoria or London Bridge, Waterloo East and Charing Cross (last option very slow though).
Get a return to Ham Street
Lunch: Queen's Head in Kingsnorth. (9.1 km)
Tea: The Duke's Head in Ham Street, close to the station. A small coffee shop, The Cosy Kettle (01233-733030; is open to 4pm.
L=swc.153
#2026-05-20T10:00
1 comment:
Unforecast gloom threatened as we approached Ashoford but it turned out to be #sunny. Confusion started immediately on arrival when I took a few other Ashford arrivals to the “wrong” station exit. Others waited for us for a bit at the other side but then started walking, leaving just two of us waiting for walker #9 to arrive from Victoria. Some guidance on the start would have been appreciated as the way from the station to the Great Stour involves setting off in the apparent wrong direction, but walker 9 had some local knowledge and showed us the way to the underpass under the A292 leading to the river. Most others walked along the main road and found their way on to the route later.
The three regrouped with three others for the delightful walk along the river, with almost no sign that we were walking through a big town. Another unexpected highlight quickly followed, namely the charming village of Great Chart with lots of characterful houses from the 16th century if not before.
The next bit was less interesting and across the fields we could see the encroaching modern developments in stark contrast to the village we'd just passed. One field we walked through was earmarked for “623 dwellings” so it looks like this area will soon be a bulding site.
We eventually got to Kingsnorth: some picnicked on some benches across the road from the pub, others in a meadow a bit before. I think four then visited the Queen's Head (old building but modern inside); others forged ahead, and one got the bus.
The afternoon was unexpectedly tough in various ways – it seems the Greensand Way really fizzles out as a recognisable path after Kingsnorth, and waymarks were often carefully hidden. Broken stiles, locked gates, overgrown paths, unsignposted field crossings, horses and cows were all encountered. With some relief my companion and I reached the familiar ground of the Ham Street Woods and reached the station in time for the 1702 train. All eight who completed the afternoon section made that train, with nobody having time to visit the Duke's Head. An intrepid shopper dashed out of Ashford station to get “supplies” making for a convivial journey back to London for three of us on the London Bridge train, after an expedition probably not to be repeated.
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