5 at the station in sunny T shirt weather We started off with a trip round Ham Woods, kthe muddiest bit of the walk. But not all that muddy. It was awash with wood anemones. One overkeen member of the group suggested an extended loop so that’s what we did. We eventually got out of there and along the canal to the Woolpack. They were only serving food to people who’d booked. So it was drinks only. From Kenardington church we took the longer route along the canal in hope of hearing the marsh frogs ‘laughing’. They weren’t. ( I heard later that the best way to get them to laugh is to tell a few croaks). Between you and me, with no laughs to lighten our way,, that route got a bit samey after a while. We got to Miss Mollets just in time to see it close. And the pub was shut. So it was off to the station for us. Except one who took a detour to the Ferry inn which was ‘open and thriving’. A 6 th walker (who had started an hour earlier) was discovered at the station.Trains out and back were standing room only.

12 gathered at the station on a dry overcast day. First stop, Ham Street Woods. I don’t like to use the L-word, as you well know, but some of us got a more than a little disoriented in Ham Street Woods. A very nice wood, a lovely wood, even, but we saw a bit too much of it. We did eventually escape and, despite SSW being both a compass bearing and short for the Saxon Shore Way*, it was not long before we reached the Woolpack and were banging on the door for sustenance and hearty fare.

And, guess what, who should be waiting there for us but the walk’s author, bringing the total up to 13

The food was good and the locally produced perry was out of this world. (As was I after a mere pint of it). After a protracted stay (short–staffed, service slow) we were off across large fields on sometimes indistinct paths. I hate to use the L-word but we went off-piste once or twice. This had the walk’s author scribbling furiously in a huge ledger kept for just such a purpose.

And so to Appledore and Miss Mollett’s High Class Tearoom. A recommended stop. The cakes, mmmm, the cakes. A final stretch across some more fields and we were on the train. A nifty change at Ashford (seconds to spare) and we were on our way to London. No frogs were heard.

*It’s all in the font. Bold for compass bearings.

At least 5 arrived on the Hi Speed to discover that the 11:25 to Ham Street had been “cancelled due to lack of train crew”. Thanks, Southern. There was supposedly a bus replacement but also a huge crowd waiting for it.

One of us returned home and 4 decided to switch to the Wye Circular. (This, strangely, was the traditional emergency walk in days of yore). The other 3 will have to tell their story. The slow guy at the back, your correspondent, (who thought he had successfully downloaded the Wye directions to his phone but hadn’t) found they disappeared along with the internet after the first hill. (Should know the route by heart by now but obviously doesn’t). Anyway he forsook the route for a magical mystery tour, taking in Wye NNR and the Devils Kneading Trough. One spectacular discovery – while still officially on the Wye Circular - was an impressive display of wild garlic in the wood coming down the other side of the “Crown” down. If anyone DID make it to Romney Marsh, were the frogs laughing for you? Weather, sunny turning colder

Three forged ahead and ate sandwiches on a sunny bench in front of Crundale church. We walked on to the lunchtime pub but eschewed a lunchtime libation in favour of three delicious pints at the Tickled Trout back at Wye Station. Indoors as the sunny garden was a degree or two on the chilly side.

The return high speed train was every bit as rammed as the morning one, pointing perhaps to an upsurge in staycations, or a Brexit related fall in foreign weekend trips. It looked like we'd have to stand all the way as we had in the morning until one of us worked out that if a single bicycle was moved, three jump seats would become available. Well done, that woman!

In all, a lovely day salvaged from the jaws of the railway goblins. Joe.

4

Here we go again. The peripatetic comment has come back here. Lets hope to stay this time .

"I moved this comment from here to the Ham Street walk but then I realised there is a Woolpack Inn on both walks so moved it back here again :( ....Mr M "

tartanrug, Sun 08 Apr 18, 17:43

9 warm humid , going was squelchy and muddy underfoot, acres of wood anemones after superb lunch in the Woolpack Inn followed by afternoon tea en plein aire before the train.

Were the frogs laughing for you?

Doing Appledore walk.

6

w = sunny then wet

A happy band of six on this one, including one making a comeback after too long an absence. Easy walking, frequently in sunshine, up to lunch in the highly characterful Woolpack Inn. Five diners: the two ladies were very pleased with their plaice; two gents found the lamb burgers tasty but overpriced, and the chips too easy to count; another gent's demolition of his dessert was so swift that I barely glimpsed it. Rain set in thereafter and did not relent as we churned through many a wheat field. Three had tea at Miss Mollett's in Appledore while the enterprising Comeback Kid charmed a kindly local so much that he drove us - in the manner of a getaway driver - to the outlying Appledore station. Recognising a distinguished group when he saw one, the ticket inspector then directed us to First Class and there we luxuriated for all 10 minutes of our trip to Ashford before a wait for the St Pancras-bound service that was enlivened by a sample of a Bee Gees classic extracted from one of our six, and more. Thanks to Bridie2 for putting the walk on and to my five genial companions.

I went on this walk with the Wednesday group last summer. Very worthwhile with some surprising gems and a great pub. Probably can't join you but have a good time.

Does the train call at Stratford International (just kidding!)

East London Folk can catch it there at 9:41am

18 on this walk, all but two or three on the high speed train. The weather was sadly cold and grey with just an occasional hint of blue sky - such a contrast with the warm sun of last week. But there were signs of spring in the woods with a few wood anemones out and lots more to come. In just three weeks this walk would be ablaze with these flowers, plus bluebells and some good fields of oilseed rape. Already in evidence, however, were lots and lots of lambs - cheering to see them.

Lambs were also in evidence in the Woolpack Inn, but this time in a vast pie - supposed to be for two but enough for four (and I speak as one legendary for his big appetite). This is a lovely pub and the food is excellent, but oh dear, another one falling victim to "We will take your order at the table"-itis, which pointlessly added half an hour to the meal time. For tea, the better-mannered among us gained admittance to Mrs Mollet's High Class Tea Rooms: the rest had to make do with the pub.

Most got the 6.06 train. Five of us lingered in the hope of moonlight but were thwarted for the umpteenth time this winter by leaden skies. We consoled ourselves with a train ride to Rye and a nice convivial curry.

Is booking necc. for Woolpack?

Will call them tomorrow. A new one for me. Looking forward to it. LM

Well done LM. I suspect walkers will arrive about twoish

AA

The 10.13 train from Waterloo East is the direct train to Ham St which the Ashford fast connects with to arrive at 1141.

Not so, Marion. The 1010 from Charing X (1013 W/East) gets to Ashford at 1128, giving you 5 minutes to nip across to Platform 1 for the 2-coach chugger to Ham Street. I've done that a few times but the CHX train is often a few minutes late and I've been lucky to make the connection. Up to you whether you take the risk.

As always well done Sean for accurate information

Thanks Sean as this is my only train option from West London and I'm not prepared to travel one hour to St Pancras i'l give this one a miss and do a Ramblers walk nearer home in the Chilterns.

14 on this walk with weather mostly sunny with some high cloud .

A slightly undulating walk with woods, meadowland and wheat fields (some being harvested) and two interesting churches. The section on the military canal was pleasant with water lilies,rushes wild fowl and swans adding interest.

Most agreed lunch at the newly re-opened Woolpack Inn was excellent and not expensive.

Five eager folk set off early after lunch with the lunchtime dawdlers following later.

AD

SWC Inspector's Report 2015/06/20/3/106b/Ham Street Circular. 0 walkers. Gloomy .

Full marks to Mark R for spotting that Warehorne's Woolpack Inn had reopened in May (the previous landlord having allegedly decamped with the Christmas money in 2013), making this walk on the fringes of Romney Marsh viable once again.

Not for the first time, this inspector failed to make it up in time to do the full walk but belatedly made his way to Warehorne, arriving at 12.40. Hopes were briefly raised at the cheering sight of 20+ walkers milling about, but all seemed to be on a local outing and inquiries about the Saturday Walkers elicited only blank stares of non-recognition. Were any hiding away in a back room?

In the interests of research I diligently sampled the craft beers and a couple of courses (excellent food, freshly prepared, promptly served), but no-one else appeared in the next hour. A desultory stroll across the marshes to Kennardington church and back alongside the canal almost tempted me to do some further research, but I decided instead to head for the tea stop on the Tonbridge-Hadlow walk. I can confirm Walker's report of a healthy attendance on at least one SWC walk.

PS. As one pub rises from the ashes, another bites the dust. Locals told me that the early lunch stop on this walk (the Blue Anchor in Ruckinge) is closed and up for sale.