The detailed route follows this narrative

5th March 2000

Hodsoll Street

This walk has a lot to recommend it in winter. There is a distinct lack of mud. It does occur in a couple of places, but it is insignificant. Much of the going underfoot is on firm grassy paths and the walk is quite short. If that doesn't impress you, then there is always the local pub.

The Green Man is no mean hostelry. The food is good and reasonable. The beer is fine too and the place has a friendly atmosphere, despite being very busy. It can be difficult to get a table at times, but they do their best to accommodate everyone. We did see other walkers in the pub, but none on the walk.

We took Jonathan with us. He was giving his parents a hard time and they were glad to offload him for a while. He was an awkward little so and so at first, but slowly unwound and enjoyed the walk. He clearly loves being outdoors and forgets his cantankerous behaviour during that time.

We did another walk here a few months ago, which I wasn't able to record, but were impressed with the pub food and thought the locality worth exploring further.

There are quite a few walks possible from the pub and we may try some more later.

Louise and I had properly baked potatoes and Jonathan had a giant sausage and chips. All were good.

There was some sun, but more cloud than requested. It seems the weather forecasters have as tenuous a link to the rain gods as anyone else. Still, we did not actually get rain.

The overall impression of the terrain is of soft contours and easy walking. There were no great contrasts of viewpoint to record, but no dingy grey-green either. No, I tell a lie. There were some colourful interludes. The turquoise painted barn was rather difficult to understand. What was understandable though, was the pink toilet suite someone had hidden in a hedge. Well, you would, wouldn't you?

There is a lovely long path through a trough-like valley with a wood to one side. Primroses are opening up with signs of early blossom on hawthorn bushes and Speedwell is in flower all over the field.

The Route:

Map: Ordnance Survey 148.

Start: The Green Man, Hodsoll Street, off the A227, nr Meopham.

TQ632621

Distance: 6.2km (3.85 miles)

Cross the triangular green outside the Green Man to a drive beside Holywell Cottage. Pass through a white gate onto a broad path with a barn to the right.

After about 40 paces, turn left, ignoring a footpath on the right. Keep to the left hand side of this paddock, following a shed wall.

Just past a turquoise painted barn, aim half right to the left of a big oak tree in the field. Continue past the tree to some metal gates in the fence.

Go through this kissing gate, cross a lane and go through another kissing gate directly opposite.

Aim off to a stile diagonally right, about 20 metres from the lane, but don't cross over it. Instead, keep the stile and the fence to your right and head up the field.

At the top, cross a stile into a lane (Bunkers Hill), then over another stile opposite and continue ahead.

At the end, cross another stile into a lane and keep directly ahead on the lane. You pass New Street Farm with a pond in it's garden.

After 150 metres, the lane bends sharply to the left. Just around the bend, take an enclosed track to the right. Just as it bends right, take a footpath to the left, effectively keeping to the same direction (North).

Near the end of this section, you will see a small chalk quarry on the right. Just after that, cross a stile into a meadow and proceed across it.

Some 15 metres from the far right corner, go through a sparse scrub boundary, to a stile just beyond. Cross the stile and continue into the next field, still in the same direction. Elbows wood is on your right.

After walking for some time on this fine grassy path, pass through a metal gate and keep ahead.

About 20 metres past the gate, a broad track comes down from the right. At this point, turn left and head downhill on a narrow path, aiming for a post in front of the copse opposite.

Enter the wood by the post and proceed up the slope for a short distance. At the top, cross a stile and bear left into the corner of a field.

Turn right at the corner of the field and walk slightly uphill with the wood to your right. This gives way to a hedge, which in turn, gives way to sheep fencing.

Ignore a stile in the sheep fence and keep ahead to the end of the field. Cross the stile at the end and turn left to a narrow path between the lane and some wooden fencing surrounding a property.

Follow the path around to the left and descend to the lane by some steps to New Street Road. Just past the stone steps, cross the road to a footpath into a field and turn left to follow the left boundary downhill.

Go through the gateway below with a metal water trough by it's right post and keep ahead.

About 20 metres on, turn left over a stile into a wood. Cross the wood on a well defined path going south.

At the opposite end of the wood, cross a stile between a beech tree and a sawn off tree stump. This takes you into another field. Go downhill towards the left hand edge of a wood and pass through the gateway there.

Aim for a point uphill where a deciduous wood meets a coniferous woodland shaw. At this intersection, cross a stile into a short enclosed path, then over another stile into a field.

Next, head half left on a distinct path towards the left hand edge of the copse in front.

Cross a stile about 15 metres from the far left corner of the field, then cross a ride and another stile into a wood. At the end of this short woodland path, cross another stile into Rectory Road and turn right.

Just after passing a shed on the right with what looks like plastic thatch, cross a stile to your left into a field. Then head for a point half right, between two corrugated iron barns and a house.

Go though a gateway into a lane and turn left passing the two barns. About 20 metres past the barns, cross a stile on the right into a field.

From the stile, go half left towards a manor house and a garish turquoise painted shed in the distance.

Go through a gap half way along the left fence and then head right (south-east) towards a gateway, some 25 metres from the right-hand fence.

Once through the gateway, aim slightly away from the right-hand fence, following a sheep track.

When this peters out by some trees in the middle of the field, aim towards the far left hand corner of the field.

The footpath ends by two large conifers. Go through a gate onto a tarmac drive with houses on either side. Past another gate you soon meet the drive to Holywell Park on the left with a rookery above you.

Turn right at this junction and you will soon be back at the Green Man.