Top of The Downs – Charing

Event Details

  • Start Date Saturday, 29th of July 2023
  • End Date Saturday, 29th of July 2023
  • Start/End Time 10:30 - 16:00
  • Near Ashford, Kent
  • Categories ,
  • Groups
  • Approx Distance 8 Miles
  • TerrainA moderate walk, with one or two climbs

A walk to one of the highest points on the North Downs, returning via the village of Westwell, taking in the rich wildlife of Longbeech Wood and Charing Beech Hangers, with a number of superb views across the surrounding countryside.

Starting from the historically important former palace, we soon commence a gentle ascent out of Charing and on to the North Downs Way (National Trail) for a short distance. Leaving the North Downs Way after a short climb we pass around the Kent Gliding Club (Challock) where we are likely to see gliders silently taking off to catch the thermal currents of the escarpment. Through woodlands we then reach the open space on the top of the North Downs where, if it is a clear day, there may be extensive views across Kent. We stop in the rural village of Westwell with a population of just 740 and where travellers once stopped on The Pilgrims Way on their way to Canterbury. The village is a conservation area in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the parish church of St Mary the Virgin dates back to at least 13th century. The Wheel Inn in the centre of the village may be open but do check if you want food, Sunday lunches may be popular and they may be very busy! It is advisable to bring a packed lunch. After lunch a bit of a climb back onto the North Downs Way which we follow most of the way back to Charing.

For those with an interest in archaeology, along the way we will pass evidence of Kent's more recent industrial past including the remains of the old lime kilns of Stubyer's Wood and Burnt House Farm. Various archaeological finds on or near the Pilgrims Way include a Romano-British cremation urn found in 1818 (Westwell Downs), a crouched Bronze Age burial and a late Bronze Age pot found in 1935 (Dencher Wood), just two of the significant finds in the surrounding area.

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