Summer adventure number three, and we return to one that we first walked back in late 2023. On the previous occasion, the experience was slightly tainted by me thinking I had lost my watch on the way around (in reality, I had left it at home). We carefully noted at the start that, by chance, I would not be wearing my watch this time either, as it is off being fixed. No need for unnecessary dramas again!
We parked up at the edge of the large green at the heart of Benenden at about half past eleven, and set off into what promised to be a hot day. As we walked down the side of the green to the main road, we realised something was happening just before a crowd of bikes came riding past, evidently in some kind of race, as they accepted and expelled water bottles from their awaiting assistance. Once they had all passed, we crossed the road and made our way out of the village.
We could recall that previously, the farmer who owned the first stretch appeared not to be super pro-footpath; the barn even bore the painted motif “Trespassers will be shot”. Again on this occasion, we found that the stile into the first field was not maintained at all, and so for the second time, we chose to take the handy diversion provided on the instructions (the farmers reputation must proceed them). We made our way through the woods instead, which were much drier than last time, as was the track beyond, which back in the autumn of 2023 had been nothing short of an endless passage of thick mud, which left us clinging to the hedges. Fortunately, this time it was a pleasant, green passage littered with fluttering butterflies. The day was however already feeling hot, something we had noticed before even leaving the shade of the trees.
We made our way across the farmyard, decorated with a glittery cow’s head at its gate and across a small field where the grass was growing thick. Over the stile on the other side, we spotted some beasts, and were delighted to find not only a pair of Donkeys, but a tiny baby donk as well! The baby hopped and skipped as we approached, and they were more than happy to accept cuddles and scratches. This was obviously amazing, and we spent a good few minutes enjoying their company, before waving them goodbye. Things took a minor turn in the next field, when we spotted fresh cow pats. We soon spotted the culprit; a large cow with a calf laying down beneath a tree in the corner of the field. This obviously made us wary, but she was not bothered by our presence and we passed through without hassle. Before leaving the farm, we also passed another couple of large cow herds with both bulls and calves included, one of which we didn’t realise we were sharing a field with until we were across; fortunately they were far enough away and on the other side of a hedge line.
The next portion began walking up a driveway and picking up a footpath to the right. This took us past an orchard and onto an open field, past a handful of horses on some kind of sponsored hack. We then made our way through a Christmas tree plantation, up through a couple more sunny fields and through the next farmyard. Soon after we noted that it was about lunch time, and recalled a nice bench we had stopped at previously. A few minutes later, we had climbed up to said bench, and were enjoying the views back over the farm as we enjoyed the day’s lunch. Before leaving, Beth once again had to read the historical information board, before we turned and made our way into Rolvenden.
The long enclosed path into the village brings you out next to The Bull Inn, and it is only a short way down the high street where you take your exit, opposite the Church and out the back of the school. There is a thick area of bushy foliage to navigate before coming back out into the countryside, where both of us received stings as we passed through with our bare legs. On the other side though, the green fields once again march away before you. We turned left and made our way through the next farm. This included passing another herd of cows, as well as several flocks of sheep (including, interestingly, a sheep who seemed to think he was a seagull). It was also around this point that I noticed that the patch which had been stung on Beth’s leg was suddenly really inflamed, and very hot to the touch – thankfully she had taken some antihistamine tablets before we set off, otherwise this might have been even worse.
We then reached the point where last time I thought my watch was missing, and I settled in to enjoy what I had probably been too distracted to fully appreciate. First up was a field containing a small flock of sheep. They had evidently been sheered lately, as the remains of the woold lay about a small metal pen, and so I took the opportunity to gather some last-minute wool for our upcoming nuptials. Next we passed through a large orchard, then a patch of woods and out into a sunny meadow with more sheep, who hopped away from our presence. The following field was similar, apart from the sheep were less fussed, and we then came back out onto concrete. This continued for a while and was a fairly long stretch of road walking, however it was little more than a quiet driveway.
For the days final stretch, we turned right onto a long woodland path running closely along side bright arable fields. The high canopy glowed green as we passed beneath, grateful for the shade. The shelter did eventually come to an end, when the path brought us out onto a long, sunny and gently sloping crop field. A little cloud cover did provide some relief for a good portion of this, taking the edge of the heat, and once at the top, it was a simple case of crossing the corners of a couple more fields (past the horse who had attempted to bite us last time), which then led us back into Benenden.
In the centre of the village, the walk’s true reward awaited; The Bull. This is one of our very favourite pubs, and we love sitting out front in the sun for a couple of pints. And so we took our seats overlooking the green, and enjoyed some Angry Orchard cider, which I was most pleased to find they still had on draft, after a fantastic summer’s adventure. Beth even had a whole pint to herself, which of course went exactly as you’d imagine. By the time we left, she was rather giggly, stating “Your monkus, you’ll serve me”, which translates to “Your monkeys, your circus”.
Matthew G. Huggins 