Greensand Way 11 : Ashford to Ham Street walk

17.2 km (10.7 mi) with 121m ascent

25.8 km (16.0 mi) if you combine this stage with the previous one from Pluckley to Ashford.

This is the 11th and final stage of the Greensand Way (GW) - from Ashford to Ham Street.

The morning of this walk 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, to regain the ending of the route from Stage 10. It then skirts Ashford's sprawling suburbs with its many new estates and passes a couple of walker-unfriendly farms. Some pretty countryside follows though, with tranquil pastures and the enchanting Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve (the latter along a mud-prone bridleway), all the way to the fine village of Ham Street.

The urban sprawl circling around Ashford makes this the least rural stage of the GW.

It is possible to merge this stage with the previous stage, Pluckley to Ashford, avoiding the routing to and from Ashford's centre, but it then comes in at 25.8 km / 16 miles.

Notes:

• the route shown reflects the waymarking on the ground as of December 2020; this differs widely from the route shown on OS maps and as described in Kent Council's outdated resources. All changes improve the route by avoiding busy roads or arable field crossings.
• At the end in Ham Street, the GW leads to the train station first, then on to its official finish at the pub in the village centre. To get to the pub first, fork left in the car park at the far end of Ham Street Woods, along a tarmac lane, and at a T-junction in the village turn right towards the pub at a crossroads. From there turn right towards the station.

Catch a direct train (normal or high speed) to Ashford. Buy a day return to Ham Street. Ham Street is 1 stop from Ashford on a branch line.

• Curious Brewery, by Ashford International station. Curious indeed, the beer and cider making arm of the Chapel Down winery, in a modern industrial building, food and drink served Thu/Fri evening, Sat all day and Sun to 18.00 hours, with views over the brewery hall!
• Swan and Dog, in Great Chart. At the point the Ashford Station spur rejoins the Greensand Way proper. [4.0 km]
• Little Black Dog, in Great Chart. At the point the Ashford Station spur rejoins the Greensand Way proper. Currently Closed. [4.1 km]
• Queens Head in Kingsnorth. [9.1 km]
• The Dukes Head in Ham Street, close to the station.

The walk starts by heading east from Ashford Station (retracing the end of the previous stage) to the outskirts of Ashford. It then circles around the city to the south (i.e. from "9" to "6" ), before heading across countryside towards Ham Street. I did look at a shortcut, due south from Ashford Station to regain the Greensand Way south of Ashford, thus missing out the urban sprawl around the outskirts, but could not find no suitable route. Suggestions welcome!