EAST HOLLINGBOURNEWalk
The village of Hollingbourne is nestled just below the beautiful North Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Just five miles from Maidstone, this walk is the perfect way to escape busy life to enjoy some amazing countryside and experience several fantastic views. The walk takes you through parts of the extremely rare ancient woodland of Britain which has remained untouched for hundreds of years and probably existed prior to human settlement.
The walk starts at Hollingbourne
Station, so is highly accessible by train. Walk to the left of the station and up a footpath that climbs a bank. Cross the stile and head right. Once you reach a field, bear left across it towards a stile. Cross it, and walk along the field edge and then in between two hedges. Follow this path over another stile. When you reach a road turn right and then at the T-junction turn left on to Musket Lane. This will bring you to the small hamlet of Eyhorne Street. The word ‘street’ in its name suggests it was located along a Roman road, and therefore the settlement must date back to this time.
Once you reach another T-junction,
turn left and then take the footpath down the side of the Windmill pub. As you come to a large, modern barn bear left and go through the field gate behind it. Continue along the path until you reach a waymarker post. Then walk diagonally across the field towards large tree. Cross the stile and turn right following the path into a garden. Keep right and cross another stile. Head straight on, before bearing left and crossing a stile into another garden. Leave it by crossing a stile onto a small bridge. Follow the field edge on your left before heading towards an arch under the railway. Pass through it and then over the stile and up a driveway.
Cross the road and continue on the
footpath. When you reach another road, turn right and then left down Greenway Court Road. Head right and follow the road until you reach a byway on your left. Follow the byway until you reach a T-junction where you should turn right, joining the North Downs Way. You should then reach a junction with two
Location: Hollingbourne (ME17 1TX) Distance: 8 miles (12.8 km) OS Explorer Map: 148 Terrain: Mostly along public footpaths in fields and woodlands. One relatively steep climb.
24 Mid Kent Living !
Start/Finish
8miles (12.8km) Gate
Stile
© Crown Copyright and database right 2015 Ordnance Survey 100019238
! 0
00.5 Km
00.5 Miles
1
tracks off to the left, take the second one. As you walk uphill stop to look at the amazing views of the beautiful countryside below.
When the path divides, head left
through woodland. Follow the byway along the edge of the wood and then across a field between two fences. After a short distance you will come to a narrow strip of woodland on your left. Not far from here is a WWII ‘fox hole.’
This is part of a network of secret
bunkers found here to prepare in case of an invasion. A ‘secret army’ were recruited whose task would have been
to sit in bunkers through an invasion and then emerge behind enemy lines. They were recruited in utmost secrecy and were likely to be farmers who had a detailed knowledge of the area.
When you reach a road turn left and
continue on the byway to the right through two sections of woodland. Once you have passed through a gate, turn left and look out for a stile on your left. Pass over it and walk diagonally across the field, heading for the stile to the right of some farm buildings.
Cross the stile and eventually turn right up the side of a small valley. When
Information and images supplied by Explore Kent
j
j
j
j
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64