Wye Circular walk

Out over the North Downs with breathtaking views to lunch in Sole Street. Back up over the Downs, then returning along the Great Stour river. Muddy in winter.

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Wed, 28-Sep-22 Wednesday Walk Wye to Chilham - the Crundale Downs, Sole Street, Godmersham Park, Chilham Castle, then tea in Chilham 9
Sun, 13-Feb-22 Sunday Walk - Wye to Chilham via a Museum of Curiosities 2 overcast with a stiff westerly breeze
Sat, 28-Aug-21 Saturday walk Wye Circular - the Crundale Downs and Great Stour River - and an oddball pub as a lunch stop option 10 some sunny intervals with a cool breeze
Sat, 22-Feb-20 a Saturday Walk - Change of Plan necessary: The most diverse lunch pub selection - Wye Circular (Long or Normal or Short) 14 overcast
Sat, 16-Feb-19 Why walk near Wye? 18 heavy mist to hazy sunshine and finally a moonlit sky
Wed, 17-Oct-18 Wednesday Walk Wye to Chilham - The Crundale Downs, Sole Street, Godmersham Park and Chilham Castle 11 sun then cloud then sun
Fri, 27-Jul-18 Friday Evening [Full Moon] Special Wye Circular 4 initially hot clear conditions with cooling breeze on the downs followed by dramatic thunderstorms
Sun, 25-Mar-18 a Sunday Walk - The North Downs: Wye Circular (Version of...) 9 dry and warm
Wed, 23-Nov-16 Wednesday Walk - The North Downs: Wye Circular 14 dry
Sat, 25-Jul-15 Saturday First Walk
Sat, 11-Apr-15 Wye Circular 12
Wed, 01-Oct-14 Wye Circular
Sat, 27-Jul-13 Wye Circular 7
Sat, 18-Feb-12 Wye Circular
Sun, 23-Oct-11 Wye Circular
Sun, 15-May-11 Wye Circular
Sat, 10-Jul-10 Wye Circular
Sun, 13-Sep-09 Wye Circular
Sat, 05-Jul-08 Wye Circular
Sat, 10-May-08 Wye Circular
Sun, 20-Jan-08 Wye Circular
Sun, 09-Sep-07 Wye Circular
Sat, 07-Apr-07 Wye Circular
Wye to Chilham - Morning leg of Book 1, Walk 53 - Wye Circular; Afternoon leg of SWC 138 - Chilham Circular
Length: 17.7 km (11 miles) Options to go longer or shorter (see the Directions)
Toughness: 6 out of 10
London St Pancras: 10-12 hrs Southeastern high speed to Margate
Arrive Ashford International: 10-50 hrs Change trains
Leave Ashford International: 11-05 hrs Southeastern stopping service from Victoria to Ramsgate
Arrive Wye: 11-11 hrs
Note: The Southeastern stopping service to Ramsgate leaves London Victoria at 09-25 hrs, before Senior Railcards come into play, but this service is good for those joining this train at Bromley South at 09-42 hrs. You stay on the train at Ashford International as it continues on to Wye
Return

Chilham to St Pancras: 11 mins past the hour, changing at Ashford International
Chilham to Victoria: as above, but stay on train at Ashford International as it continues on to Bromley South and Victoria
Rail ticket: Buy a day return to Chilham. You will need to pay the high speed supplement between St Pancras and Ashford International, and return.
Of our "mix and match" walks, today's combination is arguably one of the best as it incorporates the better (morning) leg of the Wye Circular walk with the delightful afternoon leg of the Chilham Circular walk. If you haven't tried this combination before I recommend it to you.
Leaving Wye railway station you cross the River Great Stour before walking along some residential streets which take you to Wye School. From here you take the North Downs Way (NDW) up through woodland onto Crundale Downs with its Crown Memorial, to enjoy some fine views. You stay on top of the downs in the open for a while before you leave the NDW, crossing over a field to take a track which takes you down to the hamlet of Crundale. Its Church of St Mary is worth a visit. From here its road walking up a steep hill to the village of Sole Street. The village pub - The Compasses Inn - is in fact an award-winning gourmet restaurant and to have lunch here you need to book ahead some days before. They do not usually accept walk-ins, although you are welcome to try. They will serve drinks, though, either for you to consume in their small bar area or in their extensive gardens. As this is the only eatery on today's posted walk I suggest everyone brings a picnic.
From Sole Street we switch walks, from the Book 1 walk to SWC 138. After a short woodland section you come out onto open hillside, for more lovely views. You eventually drop down to a quiet country road which takes you to the A28 road, which you cross with care. You are now in Godmersham Park, which you walk through to eventually rejoin the NDW . You walk alongside the high brick wall of Chilham Castle then up into the picturesque village. I believe what was the de rigueur tea place - Shelley's Tea Room - remains closed and up for sale, but there are two pubs nearby, one in the village centre and the other on the route to Chilham railway station. Allow at least twenty five minutes from the village centre to the railway station.
Recommended !
T=1.53
Walk Directions: you will need both the Book 1 and the SWC walk directions today



  • Wed, 28-Sep-22

    9 disembarked at Wye along with about 15 women from a London based French group who also walk every Wednesday. Conditions started sunny, but clouded over as the day progressed and it was chilly at times. After a stiff climb up to Wye Crown millennium stone we regrouped and made our way to the church at Crundale where we had a picnic lunch. We enjoyed a pleasant afternoon stroll over to Chilam, where most of the group caught the 16.12 train back to Ashford, with a couple stopping for a drink at The White Horse.

    As always,thanks to Marcus for posting.

Stargazer

Book 1 Walk 53/SWC 138 Wye/Chilham Combo with early start long option or a later start shorter option t=1.53

Distance: 14 miles/22.5 km for the longer route via Bodsham OR 11 Miles/17.7km for the classic combo

Difficulty: 6 out of 10

Train: For the longer route, take the 9:12 AM train from London St. Pancras (9:19 from Stratford International), changing at Ashford (arriving 9:50; departing 10:12) arriving at Wye at 10:18. For those planning to do the shorter version of the walk, you can take the 10:12 AM train from London St. Pancras. It is conceivable that the two groups could meet at/near the Compasses Inn. Return trains from Chilham at 11 minutes past the hour. Buy a day return to Chilham.

This route is a classic combo of two walks, creating a linear route from Wye to Chilham. It comes in a long or a short version. Given it is a Sunday and the intriguing Timber Batts Pub and Forge in Bodsham, a truly quirky experience and definitely worth at least a drinks stop, is open for lunch, the longer route is recommended….

For both routes, you follow the instruction from Book 1 Walk 53 from Wye up onto the dramatic North Downs escarpment with fine views. The shorter route then crosses the downs to the Compasses Inn in Sole Street where you switch to the picturesque afternoon route from SWC 138 to the charming village of Chilham; whereas the extended route diverts from the classic one on the escarpment, continuing along the NDW for a spell before turning off the escarpment towards Bodsham and eventually also passing by the Compasses Inn where you can pick up the afternoon instruction for SWC 138. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions/route here and here.

On the longer route, we will plan to eat at the Timber Batts and admire the interesting collection of curiosities. For those doing the shorter version, the Compasses Inn has been the traditional lunch stop, but it has become rather upmarket in recent years requiring carefully timed bookings and proving difficult for walking groups…so a picnic lunch may be required.

In Chilham, tea and other post walk afternoon refreshments can be had at Shelly’s Tea Room or the White Horse.

Enjoy the walk!

  • Thu, 10-Feb-22

    It is with great sadness that I have to report that Shelly's tearoom in Chilham, home of the best cream tea in Kent, closed at the end of December. The owners have emigrated to Massachusetts.

  • Thu, 10-Feb-22

    Nooooo!!!!

  • Fri, 11-Feb-22

    All is not entirely lost. The business will reopen, under new management and under the name of The Church Mouse Tearoom - on Monday 14th February.

  • Sat, 12-Feb-22

    Anyone getting the later train?

  • Sat, 12-Feb-22

    I plan to.

  • Mon, 14-Feb-22

    Not sure if it was the early start or appalling forecast, but just me, myself and I alighted from the designated train (not sure if anyone came on a later train), making for 1 in breezy and varied conditions . The climb to the escarpment never fails to get the blood flowing and the views from the top were fabulous -- amazingly far and clear not withstanding the high cloud....Likewise the Timber Batts never fails to amaze...surrounded by an intriguing collection of curiosities, lunch was an engaging affair (though not quite the same fine culinary experience as on Saturday's walk). After lunch, the skies actually cleared for a spell across the rolling down land to the Compasses Inn where I peeked in and found no familiar faces....The clouds then returned with some spitting rain and atmospheric wind gusts blowing through the trees...The route carries along the escarpment through some woods, then down across the valley to Godmersham Park where light rain finally set in requiring donning over trousers for just the final 2 miles into Chilham....In Chilham, tea shop fans will be pleased to know that there was plenty of activity in Shelley's -- getting ready for its reopening presumably (much more promising than any of the closed pubs from Saturday which were all quite desolate looking). Plenty of time for a post walk bevie in the White Horse before catching the 17:11 and swiftly home to wrap-up Sunday chores and have a relaxing hot bath to round out the day. A fine day in great company with varied and interesting conversation. Seen along the way: loads of snow drops, some daffs, a large herd of deer and a harris's hawk (resident at the Timber Batts). I have noted some "group cohesion" statistics in some walk reports -- a perfect 10/10 on this one.

  • Mon, 14-Feb-22

    Having read @Stargazer's post I was relieved to see that I was not the only walker on Sunday, so2 on a day of overcast with a stiff westerly breeze . I was surprised not to see any other walkers alighting from the 11:18 train at Wye, but at least it had the benefits of cutting down on idle gossip and making the occasional comfort stop much simpler. I agree that the view from the Crown never fails to disappoint, with magnificent far-reaching vistas. On a good day you can see Winchelsea. On a bad day you can see Ashford sewage works. Emerging from Collyerhill Wood I spotted a small group of roe deer at the far edge of the field and then took the long bridle path between freshly-flailed hedgerows to St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church, Crundale. This part of the route is beautiful in spring and summer when the Hawthorn is out, although the absence of foliage did make for better views. Having lunched alone on the bench just outside Sole Street, I popped into the Compasses, but, like Stargazer, saw no familiar faces. Enquiries of the staff revealed that they were not expecting any group bookings. I carried on across the escarpment, a weak sun at one point providing a shadow, my only companion, and down to Godmersham Park, beloved of Jane Austen (I wonder if it is possible to see inside the house?) Passing an abandoned building in woodland, sitting forlornly in a sea of snowdrops, I arrived at Chilham along the curiously-named Mountain Street. (Chilham is 125 feet above sea level.) The White Horse was busy, warm and welcoming and there was time for a pint of Timothy Taylor's Landlord before a short walk to the station, now in drizzle, and the 16:11 train. So, no group cohesion, as it turned out, but an enjoyable walk anyway.

Book 1, Walk 53 - Wye Circular

Length: 18.1 km (11.2 miles) Option to shorten by 2 km, or extend by 4.7 km for additional lunch pub options
Toughness: 7 out of 10 Several good ups and downs to keep you honest
Either
London St Pancras: 10-12 hrs Southeastern High Speed service to Margate
Arrive Ashford International: 10-50 hrs Change trains
Leave Ashford International: 11-05 hrs on Southeastern stopping service from Victoria to Ramsgate
Arrive Wye: 11-11 hrs
Or
London Victoria: 09-25 hrs Southeastern stopping service to Ramsgate Bromley South 09-42, Ashford International 11-05 hrs
Arrive Wye: 11-11 hrs
Or (if you wish to risk a tight change at Ashford International)
London Charing Cross: 09-40 hrs Southeastern fast service to Ramsgate London Bridge 09-49
Arrive Ashford International: : 11-00 hrs Change trains
Leave Ashford International: 11-05 hrs on Southeastern stopping service from Victoria to Ramsgate
Arrive Wye: 11-11 hrs
Return: Wye to Victoria: 20 mins past the hour Change at Ashford International for St Pancras or Charing Cross
Rail ticket: if travelling from or back to St Pancras make sure your ticket includes the High Speed supplement
In the original TO Book walk 53 was added for use when engineering work prevented the posting of one of the 52 walks in the annual rota. But so popular became walk 53 that it enjoys far more outings than was originally intended - for emergencies only.
When the original lunch pub in Sole Street, the Compasses changed from being a good country pub to being a rather pretentious gastropub a few years ago, an optional loop was added to the original route to incorporate the villages of Hastingley and Bodsham, each with a pub. Then the afternoon leg of SWC 138 - Chilham Circular was added for a more scenic afternoon route - but today let's do the original route, plus the additional loop for those who have not yet experienced one of the most "unusual " pubs in southern England.
Leaving Wye we climb up onto the Crundale Downs, just above the Crown Memorial cut into the hillside, with a Millennium Stone added for the year 2000. On top of the Downs, with lovely views, it's decision time - to continue on the original route, or visit the quirky, oddball pub in Bodsham - The Timber Batts pub and forge. Just before you reach Bodsham you walk through the village of Hastingley where you find the Bowl Inn open for drinks and maybe sandwiches on a Saturday.
If you keep to the original route and drop down to the hamlet of Crundale, with its loveley church - St Mary's, then you head up a steep road to the village of Sole Street where you find the Compasses Inn - said pretentious gastropub. But in fairness, the food is good - but you need to book in advance - they don't accept off street walkers, even when empty.
After lunch we tackle the original Book route, which in places is likely to be overgrown in summer. But with perseverance - and a walking pole - we should get through !
Back in Wye there are several pubs and cafes in the village for post walk refreshments but the recommended pit stop is the Tickled Trout pub, next door to the railway station.
This walk seldom disappoints.
T=1.53
Walk Directions are here L=1.53
  • Sat, 21-Aug-21

    From Nick Ellison 20-08-21

    The path at paras 36-38 are impenetrable so I would suggest the following.

    36. In 70 metres you come out to a tarmac road where you turn LEFT. In 150 metres or so turn right down a stony earth track and in 60 metres go right over a stile.

    37. Head slightly left down a faint grassy path aiming at the hedgerow where you will find an overgrown gap leading down through a metal gate. You may need to persevere to find this gap.

    38. Having gone through the gate your way forward is across a field aiming for the left hand side of the industrial shed.

  • Fri, 27-Aug-21

    I am up for this. But I might take an earlier train. It'll be the HST.

    Austen

  • Fri, 27-Aug-21

    I just tried calling the Bodsham pub to book for Saturday but no answer and the message said "we remain temporarily closed". Has anyone else tried? Peggy

  • Fri, 27-Aug-21

    Hi Peggy, the website says the pub is "temporarily closed" - but the pub's booking form for lunch remains operational for tomorrow. Perhaps try 'phoning again tomorrow from Wye.

  • Sat, 28-Aug-21

    The posting for this walk concludes with the observation that "This walk seldom disappoints". But today was one of the exceptions, at least for our fearless walk poster. He got as far as Ashford to realise that someone had shimmered off with his backpack, last seen resting in the rack above his seat. He felt the understandable need to turn back and go home. Our commiserations on this misfortune.

    So it was that the 9 that gathered at Wye station did not include our selfless volunteer. Also there was one of our regulars leading his own independent group which was at least as large again.

    Progress was uneventful to Sole Street, where five took a drink at the Compasses Inn, and the rest presumably had sandwiches nearby. The pub wasn't quite full, so it was willing to provide lunch to those without reservations, so long as it was inside, for no more than two people, and in an hour's time at 2:15. We confined ourselves to a drink in the very nice garden, where fancy and expensive umbrellas proved handy during a fleeting rain shower. That aside, weather was

    some sunny intervals with a cool breeze . Towards the end of our stay there, an early starter appeared who had done a long version of the walk and joined us for the rest of the day, making a total of 10,

    After lunch we heeded the posting of Nick Ellison of 20 Aug which warned of impenetrable passages and found the suggested diversion also impenetrable. Perhaps we didn't follow it accurately. We wound up reverting to the stony earth track he describes and following it for a mile or more until it rejoined the published route.

    Four had speedily served beer and tea in the Tickled Trout and took the 1720 train. The others were believed to have managed to get the 1620, at least some of them by taking a shortcut along the road.

  • Sun, 29-Aug-21

    To David Colver

    I am sorry that you were unable to follow my suggested route. Did you find the small stile on the right? I can understand that you did not find the gate in the hedgerow- the gap is there but is considerably overgrown.

  • Sun, 29-Aug-21

    We found a gate in the hedgerow.

    The thought that it was the one you suggested

    - was reinforced by its position and consistency with your description

    - was cast into doubt by it being very well defended by nettles, giving no impression that anyone had been through or over it in a long time, and offering no obvious path beyond it.

    These things led us to turn back to the stile and continue on down the track until it converged with the route some distance later.

  • Sun, 29-Aug-21

    We did the same as David, as it was just easier to follow the BOAT to its junction with the suggested route. Without Nick's suggestion we would have been stumped, so thanks for that. I have reported the obstruction to KCC's Rights of Way officer.

  • Mike
    Sun, 29-Aug-21

    The walk from Southbourne to Chichester on Wednesday 25th August was fabulous.My first walk with SWC but definitely not my last.

    Such a lovely and friendly group. Perfect weather, great company.

    I loved the non hieraechical feel of the group. Brilliant website. Thanks in particular to Marcus for being so welcoming.

    The day was an absolute joy!

    Hoping to do the Hitchin Circular on Bank. Holiday Monday.

Update on 19/02/20: Brockenhurst to Lymington moved to 21 March due to rail replacement service Winchester - Southampton to fix damage to line after freight train derailment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Length: 22.9 km (14.2 mi) or 17.7 km (11.0 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 423m or 419m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¾ hours or ca. 4 ½ hours
Toughness: 7 out of 10 or 6 out of 10
[Short Walk: You can cut the 17.7 km version of the walk by 2.0 km by cutting the out-and-back to the lunch pub, or even by 3.2 km if taking the shortcut from the church in Crundale (ie cutting out the ascent to Sole Street). Picnic Lunch!]
Take:
Either the 09.34 Ramsgate train from St. Pancras I’nal (Stratford I’nal 09.41, Ebbsfleet I’nal 09.52), change at Ashford I’nal (10.11/10.35) onto the below Ramsgate train from Victoria.
Or the 09.01 Ramsgate train from Victoria (Bromley South 09.29, Sevenoaks 09.43 etc.), arrives Wye 10.41.
Return trains : xx.20 and xx.54.
This walk goes high up onto the North Downs and turns north along the Crundale Downs (“crun” in Old English meant chalk, and ‘dala’ meant dell or valley), with breath-taking views and continues to an isolated Norman church at Crundale, then on to an outstanding gastro-pub in a 15th century inn for lunch. The walk then passes Crundale House and the manor of Olantigh, crosses the River Great Stour and returns to Wye through its churchyard, for tea at a pub or a teashop on Church Street or at a pub next to the railway station.
The longer version stays along the North Downs for longer and passes two totally different pubs: the best beer pub in the area, and the (so far) quirkiest lunch pub of them all: The Timber Batts.
Lunch Long Walk : The Bowl Inn in Hastingleigh (7.0 km/4.4 mi, food from 12.00): simple food choices, excellent beer choices. Or The Timber Batts Ale House & Forge (8.9 km/5.6 mi, food to 15.00) in Bodsham: Pizze, Burgers and Cajun & Creole food. In a forge. Think quirky. Think very quirky.
Lunch Normal Walk : The Compasses Inn (food to 14.30), in Sole Street (8.6 km/5.3 mi). Consistently one of the best gastro-pubs in the UK. As per their website: “If planning to eat we strongly advise booking!”. And be there at the time of your booking, else you are asking for trouble!
For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here . T=1.53.a
  • Anonymous
    Sat, 22-Feb-20

    plus 1 on earlier train doing Wye Circ

  • Sat, 22-Feb-20

    12 on the platform, 1 met on the bridge over the Stour (off the train an hour earlier up from 7oaks), who had met 1 other SWC regular on his train, who had announced she would walk (some version of) the walk, ie 14 in overcast weather. All of us 13 walked the long version via Hastingleigh and Bodsham, although 1 or 2 took some improvised shortcuts in the pm to make early-ish trains to meet evening obligations. There was a 15 minute period of spittle, which - combined with the at the time (on top of the downs) hard wind - felt like rain but wasn't. Apart from the blustery period along the NDW on top of the downs the wind was not a big factor though. Mud: some unpleasant stretches in the bits of wood that we passed through, but a non-event on the downs and - surprisingly perhaps - neither in the many arable fields crossed. They looked soggy upon approach but proved to be carrying our weight w/o sinking in, and there were no mud agglomerations on boots either.

    4 ventured into The Bowl Inn, which deserves any CAMRA accolade it gets in our views: welcoming, great beers, fine selection of snacks, a snug ('Adults Only'), shame it comes a bit early in the walk for a meal. On to the Timber Batts then, where all but the 5 picnickers had a meal (plenty of burgers and assorted other dishes, incl. one gumbo) and just as everyone was ready to move on (the picnickers had long left on account of the coffee machine being broken), one walker announced that he was not going to leave, come hell or high water, for at least another 10 minutes as he was following his football team's travails on the wifi-powered smartphone (loosing at home to their across-town smaller neighbours). That was enough of an excuse for everyone else to get another drink but eventually we moved on. We caught the others half-way through the pm and got to Wye in time for some to catch the 17.20 train. Others went to The Kings Head for a hot drink (mostly hot drinks anyway) and/or a quick pizza.

    A fine route, less muddy than feared. Plenty of snowdrops, lots of crocuses, loads of daffodils in various stages of readiness, most beautifully in the churchyard in Wye, where they seem to plant more and more of them every year. Some wild garlic (more a scent than fully grown plants). Lots of beautiful quiet valleys (no roads through them, mostly). One Harris Hawk (in the aviary of the Timber Batts).

Sat, 16-Feb-19 : Why walk near Wye? 18
Stargazer
Stargazer
Book 1 Walk 53/SWC 138 Combo with extended option via Bodsham t=1.53

Distance: 11 Miles/17.7km for the classic combo or 14 miles/22.5 km for the extended route via Bodsham

Difficulty: 6 out of 10

Train: Take the 9:34 AM train from London St. Pancras (9:40 from Stratford International), changing at Ashford (arriving 10:11; departing 10:35) arriving at Wye at 10:41. Return trains from Chilham at 13 minutes past the hour. Buy a day return to Chilham.

This route is a classic combo of two walks, creating a linear route from Wye to Chilham. For the standard route, you follow the instruction from Book 1 Walk 53 from Wye up onto the dramatic North Downs escarpment with fine views; then across the downs to the Compasses Inn in Sole Street where you switch to the picturesque afternoon route from SWC 138 to the charming village of Chilham.

The extended option via Bodsham requires a map-led route (which will be added to the GPX file on line) that some Sunday walkers explored last year and found very enjoyable. The extended route diverts from the classic one along the escarpment in the morning, continuing along the NDW for a spell before turning off the escarpment and passing by two alternate pubs, the Bowl Inn in Hastingleigh and the Timber Batts Pub and Forge in Bodsham, a truly quirky experience and definitely worth at least a drinks stop…..This route eventually also leads you to the Compasses Inn where you can pick up the afternoon instruction for SWC 138. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions/route here and here.

Traditionally, lunch on this route has been at the Compasses Inn, but it has become rather upmarket in recent years requiring carefully timed bookings and proving difficult for walking groups…So, the extended route provides two additional pubs (referenced above) which serve more basic fare and have a more flexible attitude towards life…..

In Chilham, tea and other post walk afternoon refreshments can be had at Shelly’s Tea Room or the White Horse.

Enjoy the walk!
  • Anonymous
    Fri, 15-Feb-19

    Just to clarify, the extended map-led route via Bodsham is the light-blue dashed line on the map for the Wye Circular -- Book 1 Walk 53.

  • Sun, 17-Feb-19

    16 off the appointed train with one early starter and one late starter (having transport problems en route to St. P) made for 18 on this rural delight...To my surprise, all but one (perhaps by accident) opted for the longer map-led route and most seemed to have no problem following the map or a line on a device....The early starter who we met at the pub took notes for the longer route -- so, hopefully, this well-received off-piste option will become official in due course...The Timber Batts did not disappoint -- about half of the group enjoyed lunch surrounded by a myriad of curiosities...and the sandwichers also enjoyed their drinks with a good look around the premises....After lunch some had a brief tour of the neighboring forge before setting across (small) hills and vales to the Compasses Inn and a return to the written word...We lost two to tea at the Compasses (and an alternate mode of transport) and the rest carried on at different speeds in a couple of small groups in the lovely afternoon/evening misty light, arriving in Chilham at dusk under a clearing sky with a bright moon...Post walk bevvies were split by the group between the two pubs -- most caught the 18:13...Of the 5 that lingered, two opted for a moonlight extension along the Stour Valley Walk to Chartham which proved very enjoyable and atmospheric along a clear path at the edge of some woods with good bright moonlight with the others presumably catching the 19:13...In addition to the eclectic collection at the pub, exotic spottings en route included a rhea (large ostrich-like bird) and lamas...slightly less exotic, but in great abundance, were vast displays of snow drops.

    Conditions for the day ranging from heavy mist to hazy sunshine and finally a moonlit sky .

  • Tue, 26-Feb-19

    Directions for the Hastingleigh-Bodsham- Waltham "loop" now added to the on-line written Directions.

Wye to Chilham Morning leg of Book 1 Walk 53, and afternoon leg of SWC 138

Length: 17.7 km (11 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10

Either
London St Pancras: 10-08 hrs Margate service
Arrive Ashford International: 10-46 hrs. Change trains
Leave Ashford International: 11-05 hrs Canterbury West service
Arrive Wye: 11-11 hrs

or - for South Londoners
London Victoria: 09-25 hrs Canterbury West service (as above) Bromley South: 09-42 hrs
Arrive Wye: 11-11 hrs

Return

Chilham to St Pancras: 17-13 (change at Ashford International -AI), 18-13 (AI), 18-44 (AI), 18-46 hrs (change at Canterbury West)
Chilham to Victoria: 16-13, 17-13 and 18-13 hrs

Rail ticket: buy a day return to Chilham


This mix-and-match walk takes - arguably - the best legs of two walks which, when put together, should give you a delightful walk.

The morning leg is the Book 1, Walk 53 - Wye Circular walk, which takes you up onto the Crundale Downs, then down to the Church of St Mary in the village of Crundale, before you head back uphill, steeply, on quiet roads to the village of Sole Street. You might be lucky and manage to obtain lunch at the gourmet lunch pub, the Compasses Inn (01227-700300) but you usually have to book in advance. Best bring a picnic, and have a beer in the pub.

The afternoon leg follows the homeward leg of SWC 138 through woods and valleys - with some stunning views - then through Godmersham Park and on to Chilham, for tea at cosy Shelly's Tea Room. It's then a fifteen minute walk to Chilham railway station for your journey home.
T=1.53

Walk Directions: here for the Book One walk. L=1.53

Here for the afternoon leg of your walk



  • Brian Ferris
    Sat, 13-Oct-18

    I am hoping to come on this walk, but will drive to Chilham and leave my car there, taking train to Wye, arriving about 8 minutes after the train from Ashford. Is anyone willing to ring me (07973 139358) to confirm I'm coming and persuade the group to dally for a few minutes? In return, I can offer lift for up to 4 from Chilham (best cream tea in Kent) to Wye or Ashford stations. (Chilham only has 1 train an hour.)

  • Sun, 14-Oct-18

    If you can resist having a beer in the pub, the best place for your picnic is about 15 minutes into the Chilham afternoon where you come out onto a beautiful downland escarpment with fine views. Another nice spot is at the church three quarters of the way through the morning.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 14-Oct-18

    I wonder if we will have the pleasure of Marcus's company on one of these walks

    jfk

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 14-Oct-18

    Dear Brian

    If i manage to get the right train I would be happy to ring you and try to hold the party back

    Best,

    Jane

  • Sun, 14-Oct-18

    In reply to Jane, I hope to be back walking with SWC mid-week walkers "soon", when my health permits - but not quite yet. I hope you all enjoy what is one of my favourite mix and match walks.

  • Anonymous
    Mon, 15-Oct-18

    Given that Marcus is sadly not intending to come on this walk I may bring a canine friend with me. Any objections? speak now or forever hold your peace. thanks

  • Mon, 15-Oct-18

    ...as it says on this very website in the 'New Members FAQ' section: "Please read The Rambler's advice for taking dogs on a country walk beforehand, paying particular attention to 'sheep' and 'cows'." There is a link there to a pdf.

  • Anonymous
    Tue, 16-Oct-18

    Can't come now anyway- commitment, happy walking!

  • Brian
    Wed, 17-Oct-18

    Apologies, I wasn't able to make this walk after all, but thanks to Jane for offering to ring. Hope you all have a good day.

  • Wed, 17-Oct-18

    11 on this lovely outing. It is a pity its poster could not join us: we hope to see him back on the trail soon.

    It was grey and drizzly in London, but sunny when we arrived at Wye. There was a line of cloud to the north west but it did not reach us till around 1pm. Even then the sun reappeared as we got to Chilham village. So sun then cloud then sun .

    Everyone, I think, was on the high speed train apart from two who came from Tonbridge. Nearly all of us brought picnic lunches, several of us eating by the church late morning. Two ate in the pub, which was decently busy but not booked out. The two lunchers only had starters, however, which were little more than canapés. The rest of us had drinks.

    In the afternoon a nice walk along a scenic ridge, then down to Godmersham and along to Chilham. There was a 50/50 split here between pub and tea room, with outside tables being put to good use in both places. The ones outside the tea room, sadly, were by an insignificant lane that turned out to be a regular M1, with one car passing every 30 seconds or so, blowing hot exhaust straight into our nostrils. The scones were huge, however and the cream proper clotted.

    5.13 train home, mixing with the workers. Remember work?

Stargazer
A special map-led Friday full moon Wye Circular.....to visit one of the most quirky pubs ever.....the Timber Batts Inn in Bodsham...basic website details below in comments (thanks A) -- but you can also look them up on Facebook. Some of us frequented this eclectic establishment on a Sunday walk earlier in the year and thought that it would make a fun evening destination....Added bonus...possible glimpses of a full moon on the return to Wye....T=1.53

Walk details:

Train: 15:12 Margate train from London St. Pancras (Stratford International 15:18) changing at Ashford (arriving 15:50; departing 16:05), arriving Wye 16:11. Return trains are at 21:56 and 22:56 (changing at Ashford). Buy a day return to Wye.

Distance: 12.2 miles/19.7 km

Difficulty: 6.5 out of 10

This new map-led route initially follows the original Book 1 route from Wye to the Memorial Crown and slightly beyond. It then diverts to Bodsham for an early dinner at the unique Timber Batts Inn. After dinner, we will circle back to the North Downs escarpment. Hopefully, with views of the rising moon in its full eclipse state (roughly 21:00-22:00)….You can see the route as the "blue" alternative route on the OS Map tab of Book 1: Walk 53.

Enjoy the walk and happy moongazing!

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 20-Jul-18

    https://the-timber-batts-pub-forge.business.site/

  • Sun, 22-Jul-18

    I hope that means a good view of the eclipse, cloud permitting?

  • Mon, 23-Jul-18

    hopefully.....we should be back by the Memorial Crown by about 21:00 with good views South....

  • Thu, 26-Jul-18

    You should also get a fine view of the Red Planet, rising in the south-east at nightfall. Its orange colour is unmistakable and shows up even more clearly in binoculars.

  • Mon, 30-Jul-18

    Perhaps it was the extreme heat of the day or the forecast evening thunderstorms or just an attack of the "work ethic"....whatever the reason, just 4-free-spirits met at Ashford for the connection to Wye under initially hot clear conditions with cooling breeze on the downs followed by dramatic thunderstorms for the inaugural late afternoon and evening walk. I think most agreed it was a lovely time of day for a country walk. We all enjoyed the Friday night special pizzas al fresco from a pizza oven in the forge and just as we were planning to leave noticed some rather dark clouds with lightening approaching... A good choice was made to see what was to follow....heavy down pour with dramatic thunder and lightening.....so, we opted for another drink inside and spent 45 minutes examining some of the curiosities of the pub more closely...before heading out in what had become light drizzle with the occasional flash of thunder and lightening...Alas, the clouds along the southern horizon proved too thick for any moongazing.....back in Wye we had a night cap before the 22:54 train.....

Length: 17.7 km (11.0 mi) [or longer, see below]
Ascent/Descent: 395 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 ½ hours
Toughness: 5 out of 10
Take the 09.10 train to Ramsgate from Charing Cross , (09.13 W’loo East, 09.21 LBG), arrives Wye 10.38.
Alternatively , take the 09.09 Margate train from St. Pancras, (09.16 Stratford I’nal), change at Ashford (arr. 09.47, dep. 10.11), arrives Wye 10.17 (or wait in Ashford for above train).
Return trains: xx.21 to Victoria, xx.55 to Charing Cross (shave off 30-60 mins in each case by changing at Ashford onto a High Speed train to St. Pancras).
This is a very nice walk in its normal version that suffers from an uppity gastro-pub that doesn’t really want walkers, definitely doesn’t really want walk-in custom, does want customers to turn up exactly on time and expects customers to settle for a long and drink-fuelled meal. That’s not great a combination for the average SWC-punter. So why not try a slightly different route (longer, you guessed it), that goes past one or two other pubs to check them out for a possible revised route? Check the route map on our webpage here for an idea.
The description for the normal walk goes like this:
“This walk goes high up on the Crundale Downs (“crun” in Old English meant chalk, and ‘dala’ meant dell or valley), with breathtaking views. The walk comes to an isolated Norman church at Crundale, then on to a 15th century inn for lunch. The walk then passes Crundale House and the manor of Olantigh, crosses the River Great Stour and returns to Wye through its churchyard, for tea at a teashop at the bottom of Church Street or at a pub next to the railway station.”
Lunch : The Compasses Inn in Crundale (8.8 km, food to 14.30) on the normal version of the walk. You should book a table for 13.00 hours or thereabouts to guarantee you’re not late for the booking.
Else it’s either The Bowl Inn in Hastingleigh or The Timber Batts Pub & Forge in Bodsham.
Tea: The Kings Head or The Wye Coffee Shop and Kitchen (open to 17.00) in the centre of Wye, or The Tickled Trout near the station.
For walk directions, map, height profile, and gpx/kml files click here . T=1.53.a
  • Thu, 22-Mar-18

    Extension via Hastingsleigh only adds 3.4 km; Extension via Hastingsleigh and Bodsham adds 5.0 km.

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 23-Mar-18

    Planning to catch the train from Charing Cross instead of St Pancras. Anyone else?

  • Fri, 23-Mar-18

    Sure

  • Sun, 25-Mar-18

    9 takers for this early start (considering the clocks had gone forward overnight) in dry and warm weather. All walked the 'long' extension via Hastingleigh and Bodsham. And all enjoyed that very much. Plenty of quiet coombes with long views to walk through (i.e. also lots of up and down), a CAMRA-recommended pub in Hastingleigh (cash only), and then an absolute gem, the most quirky pub around, and that by a country mile: The Timber Batts and Forge in Bodsham. You have to see it to believe it. AND the food was tasty (burgers and fish & chips only, Pizzas on Friday evenings). AND the staff was nice. We will be back.

    We got back to Wye early enough for one to dash to get the 17.22 train, all else went to the pub for a chill-down drink.

    Oh: no mud! I repeat: no mud! Not even in the many arable fields.

    But loads of daffs, in lots of places, but in Wye the churchyard was practically all daffodils.

Thomas G
Thomas G
Length: 17.7 km (11.0 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 395 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 ½ hours
Toughness: 5 out of 10
Take the 10.08 train to Margate from St. Pancras , (10.15 Stratford I’nal), change at Ashford (arr. 10.46, dep. 11.05) arriving Wye at 11.11 .
The train you are changing on to is the 09.22 from Victoria to Canterbury West.
Return trains: xx.21 hours to Victoria, xx.51/2/3 to Charing X (shave off 30-40 mins in each case by changing at Ashford onto a High Speed train to St. Pancras).
This walk goes high up on the Crundale Downs (“crun” in Old English meant chalk, and ‘dala’ meant dell or valley), with breathtaking views. The walk comes to an isolated Norman church at Crundale, then on to a fifteenth century inn for lunch. The walk then passes Crundale House and the manor of Olantigh, crosses the River Great Stour and returns to Wye through its churchyard, for tea at a teashop at the bottom of Church Street or at a pub next to the railway station.
Lunch will be at The Compasses Inn in Crundale (8.8 km, food to 14.30). A table has been booked for 13.15 hours.
For walk directions, map, height profile, and gpx/kml files click here .
Next Week: SWC 44 Didcot Circular 22.1 km/ 13.8 mi, 3 /10 rating.
T=1.53
  • Wed, 23-Nov-16

    12 walkers off the HS1-train at Ashford, who decided to rather take an imminent (delayed) train than waiting for the posted train from Victoria, getting us to Wye 10 minutes earlier than expected. 1 then waited at Wye for possible walkers off that Victoria train (in vain), while all else sped off.

    2 other walkers had indeed tried to catch that Victoria train, but missed, so we learned later. They were therefore an hour behind (and later skipped the lunch pub and the out-and-back to it, so were only caught by the main group a few minutes before Wye).

    So 14 in total in dry conditions.

    Some of the many field crossings in the last quarter of the walk were a bit soggy after the recent rains, else a very fine walk, with plenty of quiet valleys and splendid views off the Downs.

    75 minutes for lunch at the glorious Compasses Inn with its two fireplaces (some had 3 courses...) and a 10 minute delay in the afternoon caused by a very large herd of sheep being herded down the very lane we had to go up (let's just say they were not very co-operative), meant we only got to the Tickled Trout by the station at 16.35, to find it had winter opening hours (shut until 17.00)!

    So 5 went back up into the village to the King's Head for a bevvie, which proved to be a very good choice. Do we have/can we concoct a walk that has this pub as a lunch destination?

    A bottle of Rioja was purchased at the Co-Op by the SWC-Provisions Manager for the long journey back...

Sat, 25-Jul-15 : Saturday First Walk ?
Bridie
Bridie
I will be standing down shortly - I go away in S ep tember
So a new volunteer poster is needed - or volunteers: it is perfectly OK to volunteer for every other week or even one week in four.
Traditionally this slot has been chosen from B ook 1 or Book 2 walks and the feeling is that it would be good to continue this.

The work involves c hoosing a walk - ch oosing a train time and posting it.
The posting team will be very happy to give the new poster/s support
To volunteer email saturdaywalkersATyahooDOTcoDOTuk (or post a comment if you have a question).

Meanwhile here is this weeks walk
Book 1 Walk 53 Wye Circular
18 Km (11.2 miles)
7 out of 10

map available here
https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_53/map.shtml


Take the 09.22 from Victoria to Wye arriving at 11.09
or
St Pancras at 10.08 (Stratford Int 10.15) with a change at Ashford to also arrive at 11.09


Lunch
at The Compasses in Sole St ( http://www.thecompassescrundale.co.uk/ 01227700300 )
From the comments section
The menu is a mix of fairly gourmet mains at around £14-15, but also with a Ramblers Menu which includes huge doorstep sandwiches, nice soup, sausage and mash. They are very walker-friendly and urged us not to take our muddy boots off.
I just rang and they have tables available for next Saturday for lunch

Tea
at Kings Head or Crown Coffee in Wye
There is a new pub in Wye called the Barbers, which is a micro pub.

More info and directions here
https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_1/walk_53/index.shtml


  • Anonymous
    Mon, 20-Jul-15

    Thank you Bridie for all your hard work posting walks.

  • Anonymous
    Thu, 23-Jul-15

    anyone feel like getting a bit later train ?

  • Anonymous
    Thu, 23-Jul-15

    Excuse me, I am a new joiner. What does toughness 7 out of 10 mean? Is this path suitable for hiking beginners? Do we need to use both of our hands and foots on any part of the path? Thanks.

  • Fri, 24-Jul-15

    No, no, no, nothing like that. None of our walks require the use of hands! It just means it has a few hills. Actually I am a bit puzzled why this is a 7 out of 10. It starts on the flat, has a fairly gently graded climb up onto the downs, and then is mainly flat or undulating all morning apart from one steep-ish walk up a road to lunch. After lunch there is some ups and downs and then a descent to a valley and a finish along the bottom of that. I would say it is a very good walk for a beginner.

  • Anonymous
    Sat, 25-Jul-15

    Yes Iwanted to get a later train but it will be very late now

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 26-Jul-15

    Eliz parker, Sun 26 Jul 15, 17:08

    Just thought that I'd let people know that there was a problem with the compass pub on this saturday's walk.the owner rang me to say that sat walkers were not welcome, as some walkers upset the staff! Not sure who.