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INDEX fitness Get your


boots on! F


Discover the natural beauty of Kent with a walk in the countryside – taking in Canterbury on the way


ew counties could be so lovely for walkers as Kent. You can enjoy green hills, woodland and spectacular coastline at your own pace. Stroll along the shoreline, amble across breezy downlands. You’ll see nature at its best and enjoy an escape into Kent’s marvellous outdoors. Kent offers many attractions


for walkers to explore with more than 180 gardens open to the public, bustling market towns, picturesque villages, hidden hamlets and of course the glories of Canterbury itself. There are three key long- distance walking routes through Kent. The North Downs Way, Kent’s premier walking route, runs through the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with magnificent views, and largely follows the historic Pilgrims Way. The Saxon Shore Way offers


incredible landscapes including Dover’s White Cliffs and the golden sands of Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate, to the wildlife sanctuaries of the Medway Estuary and Cliffe Marshes and the haunting scenery of Romney Marsh. The third route, the


Greensand Way, passes through much ancient and semi- mature woodland, and has had a significant number of


magnificent houses, gardens and parks built along the Greensand ridge.


Over 4,200 miles of footpaths criss-cross Kent and there’s something for everyone. So leave the car behind and ‘go green’ walking. Feel your senses come alive, spotting rare orchids and butterflies in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or ambling past oast houses and hop fields. The North Downs Way


starts at Farnham on the Surrey- Hampshire border and ends at Dover - gateway to England. There is a loop at the eastern end to take in the historic Cathedral City of Canterbury. Much of the trail follows the


Pilgrims Way: the legendary route used by pilgrims on their way from Winchester to Canterbury to pray at the shrine of St Thomas Becket. Modern day pilgrims who


walk the route enjoy some of the finest scenery in east England. The route takes the traveller through a rich tapestry of heritage and history. Along the route, the trail passes three cathedrals, castles, palaces, stately homes, ancient sites and endless defensive fortifications. Much of the Downs


are covered with rich woodland and rare chalk grasslands, which encourage a rich diversity of flora and fauna.


There are nature reserves, rare


plants and butterflies - but wherever you find yourself on the Downs, there will always be a new discovery or a breathtaking view just around the corner. If you prefer shorter walks, you can download five short circular walks from the North Downs Way National Trail website and enjoy ambles around Barham and Adisham, Harrietsham, Kemsing, Otford, and Shoreham and Wye. Or download Lost Landscape leaflets that include walks at Chartham and Chilham. To find out all that the trail


can offer, from scenic circular walks to longer routes, and for all your accommodation needs, see www.nationaltrail.co.uk or www.kent.gov.uk/explorekent For a shorter trek, seven miles to be precise, the Crab and Winkle Way between Canterbury and Whitstable explores a delightful slice of east Kent. The path takes its name from the pioneering railway line which ran between


Canterbury and Whitstable in the 19th century. With an area


designated as a World Heritage Site, there is a lot to see and do in Canterbury. From visiting the cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and Canterbury museum, to exploring the city’s lanes and countless historic buildings. On the way to Whitstable, the path passes through the Blean, with its 13th century Church of St Cosmus and St Damian, and Blean Woods, an RSPB nature reserve covering more than 11 square miles. A stroll along the Saxon


Shore Way and the cliff-top lawns of Tankerton Slopes, with their colourful wooden beach huts, offers perfect views of `The Street’ - a narrow shingle ridge stretching half-a- mile out to sea at low tide. Once in Whitstable, seafood is high on the agenda and places to consider include the Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company, Wheelers’ Oyster Bar, Birdies Eating House and the Crab and Winkle restaurant. Just the place to rest those weary feet.


www.indexmagazine.co.uk


15


The INDEX magazine February 2012


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