Today we would be enjoying a walk that we were familiar with and had become fond of right from our very first lap, a little over three years ago. This seven-mile loop was one of the first we went on when we started walking semi-regularly on our weekends and was possibly the very first one that we really fell in love with. As a result, we had intentionally saved this one for the summer, when the weather would definitely be warm and the skies clear. Naturally, this being Britain, it doesn’t always work out this way, and we woke to find a day that promised winds, rain, and patches of sun for good measure. However, with a busy summer schedule ahead, we couldn’t afford to be fussy and needed to take every available weekend we had left to us! And so, at about 11 o’clock, we parked up on the Matfield green on the edge of the Weald and set off into what remained of the blustery morning.
Shortly after turning down the day’s first footpath, Beth pulled out her raincoat for extra warmth against the wind. Due to this distraction I’m sure, she then walked straight past the stile leading left through the adjacent field. After retracing her steps, we walked through the walk’s first couple (of many) of sheep fields, as the sky began to noticeably spit. Thankfully we made it across and into the woodland on the other side before the clouds really opened for the first time. The sound of raindrops showered against the canopy above as we walked along a raised wooden walkway, which was a little slippery and definitely looking more tired than it did a couple of years ago.
A few minutes later as we emerged back into the open air, the sun was once again shining down on us. The path slopped upwards, the summer undergrowth scratching at our legs from time to time. As it levelled out we found ourselves in what is now something of an overgrown orchard, the day now getting hot, before emerging onto a country lane. After a hundred meters or so, we turned right and quickly found ourselves back in woodland, which was fortunate because ten minutes later, as we made our way up a still muddy track, the rain began to pour, for reals this time. The leaves were no longer enough to protect us from all of the water, and so with hoods up, we carried on through the rain on this classic July day. Far from spoiling things, this downpour actually ended up adding to the experience, and once again, as we began to emerge from the trees, the sun began to shine down on a shimmering world of green.
The next portion of the day was through large, well-kept apple orchards, the sweet scent filling the air. After walking through the middle of a farmyard and past a farm shop, we crossed a large bridge over a busy road to find ourselves looking down at a small, familiar reservoir. After a brief descent and ascent past the water, we turned off onto a footpath passing the grounds of Kent College, which sounded like they were in the midst of their sports day. These fields are always full of sheep, and today included a trio ambling about beneath a tree and a handful who stood mesmerized by my epic animal communication skills. They eventually turned and trotted away, and a few moments later in the distance, the rest of the flock began to leg it in the same direction. Was this our fault? Possibly.
Beyond these fields awaits a small patch of woodland. Previously, we have managed to come unstuck here, on more than one occasion. However on this, our fourth visit, we managed to follow the correct path from start to finish, even noting the remnants of the spring’s wild garlic colony, and made a note to come back next April. After this, we emerged into the day’s longest stretch of farmland, and after exiting the first field settled down beneath a tree beside a pool next to an orchard, for some well-earned lunch. Quite a nice spot, but as the day was still blustery we chose not to sit down for longer than necessary, for fear of getting cold. As we continued to make our way through a string of pretty orchards, I noted the sheer number of butterflies all around us (seriously, they were everywhere you looked). ‘They can’t all be grandad’, Beth commented, referencing her family’s belief that butterflies could be lost loved ones coming to say hello. ‘Perhaps it’s all of our ancestors’, I suggested, which quickly prompted a thought. A little while ago, my Dad invested rather a large amount of time and effort into tracing back our family history. Of course, this did end up revealing further-afield branches here and there, however the overarching message was clear; as a family, we rather like it around here! Throughout our traced history, our family had stayed largely in the Kent and High Weald sort of area. This is not actually something I had considered up until this very moment, but as we made our way through the pretty countryside, I suddenly realised that I was only the latest of a long line of descendants to walk these paths and admire the magic of the world around us. No wonder I have loved exploring the High Weald and felt some kind of affinity with it; it has always been our home.
With a suddenly deeper sense of connection to everything, we continued through the last of the day’s many orchards, where I briefly went the wrong way and was saved by Beth (1-1), before descending down a steep field and through a short woodland path, before emerging onto a curious patch of marshy land. The elevated wooden trail led right through the middle and was lined with pretty, if a little spiky, tall flowers, many of which grew above head height. After this began the final couple of long sheep fields, where butterflies continued to serenade our journey. Many of the field’s residents were surprised at our appearance, including one poor sheep which seemed to be without its ears. This suggested that the path itself is not regularly used, particularly when we disturbed a large gathering of sheep at a crossroad of footpaths.
At the end of the sheep field we found that one of Kent’s trickiest styles had been replaced with a small metal gate, and went through to find ourselves precariously close to the edge of a very fast and busy road, which we needed to cross. This is definitely this walk’s one Achilles heel. Not pleasant, but doable, for a pair of adults, but I would suggest avoiding this one with small children. Once across, you have to quick-march it for a few meters to pick up the footpath on the other side, before you are back in a position of safety and can relax again. This eventually takes you past a few paddocks of ever-changing livestock (llamas, sheep, horses, all seen there so far) and down into Jurassic Park. Obviously, there are no dinosaurs, although there was one large hawk flying about, and the tall trees and foliage certainly felt pre-historic. On the other side of the dip, the woodland continues and was very muddy today, enough so that I ended up with a wet sock. The mud didn’t completely give up until we had crossed a small woodland stream and again climbed back up the opposite slope, which in places was waterlogged to the point of having algae-like plants growing on it!
Emerging back out into the open, a spattering of rain began again but fortunately didn’t last too long, as we made our way upward through a small nature reserve. After this began the day’s final run-in, past a few fields on the outskirts of Matfield. On a particularly hot day, this stretch can feel quite lengthy at the end, although on this occasion was perfectly fine. Soon enough, we stepped back onto the roads of Matfield, just in time for the heavens to open one final time, giving us a last laugh. As the village green, and crucially the car, came back into sight, the sun began to shine through the rain, which really was the perfect one-line summary for the day.
This walk has always been one of our favourites and continues to be so. Come rain or shine (apparently!) this walk never fails to deliver. This may be down to the fast-changing environments you find yourself in, keeping things constantly new and interesting. From woodland, to orchards, to sheep and much more, you have to try this one, and is a fantastic example of just why we love walking. In the end, maybe there is not so much difference between us here today and our family members hundreds of years ago. We came, we saw, we liked it, and so we stayed – thank you very much!
Original route provided by Kent Ramblers and is available at http://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_035.htm
Matthew G. Huggins 