The day was somewhat grey and we knew that there was more than a chance of rain due to arrive in the middle of the afternoon. However, it had been a whole three weeks since our last walk, and Beth was itching to get her boots on. We decided to go for it, and so we returned to one of last year’s walks, up on the North Downs. We set off from the starting point of Camer Park at half past eleven, after Beth visited the loos, where a four-year-old girl inspecting the toilets in the hunt for a clean one loudly announced from one cubicle, “There’s a sh*t in this one.”
Turds aside, we made our way through the park, where the autumn colours were vivid, and the few spots of rain that had hit the windscreen on the way over seemed to have blown away. We exited the back of the park and turned down a farm track around the edge of a large, ploughed field. A couple more field-edge paths led us up through some further farmland and through a small patch of trees. On the other side our eyes were greeted with thousands of yellow leaves rolling away in front of us, which made up the vineyard through which we would be walking for a large portion of the walk. We began walking downhill through the vines as a crow called out above, before quickly climbing back upward. This undulating theme would make up the majority of the day’s route, as we continued through a patch of countryside which, on our first visit, we had both found surprising. Sat atop of the North Downs, this hidden patch of countryside is a real, undisturbed gem. It is also a middle ground between where the two of us had grown up, which gives it a particularly pleasant aspect for us. We walked along, stopping so that Beth could read all the new noticeboards which had been put up since last time.
So far, the rain had held, but as we reached the end of the vineyard and the turning point of the route, a large grey cloud began to loom ominously close. As we turned our faces back toward the finish line, we began to climb, which soon led to the steepest portion of the day. This involved climbing a flight of woodland steps, during which time I trod on an old metal rod poking up out of the earth, and Beth got a little out of breath. We agreed that this would be a good moment for lunch, both to regain our energy and avoid eating in the rain. We perched ourselves on a stile, and ate our sandwiches, just as the first spattering of rain began to fall.
Our timing turned out to be quite good. Shortly after getting back, we entered a descending, tree-covered track, which looked out across a large, far-stretching sheep field. Just as we entered the cover of the remaining leaves, the heavy rain arrived, and we were able to enjoy the sound and watch it wash across the Downs in relative comfort. The worst had passed by the time we reached the bottom and came back out into the open. At this point on last year’s walk, we had encountered a sheep on the wrong side of the fence, which had caused the entire flock to come running from all corners of their paddock to see what was going on. On this occasion, the gate was open and the sheep were already grazing both fields. However, the nearest sheep looked rather surprised at our appearance. They stared. Then, one decided it would be best to bolt through the gate. This then caused their neighbour to bolt. This then had a knock-on effect, as word spread through the flock that, once again, something was happening, and that they should all leg it to the gate. The sheep came in great waves, sometimes pausing to stare in large clumps of wool, before once again charging through to join the others. I don’t know what it is with the particular flock. Perhaps they don’t see people often. Whatever it is, they are notably more reactive and ready to activate their flocking instinct than most of the sheep we encounter.
We continued on our way, with the rain coming and going, but mostly light when it did arrive. We walked back across a couple of crop fields, and up through a small woodland, before rejoining the morning’s outward route, which took us safely back to the park. Before we re-entered, we could see a large, dense cloud a short distance across the farm, and drawing closer. Sure enough, as we made our way back through the park, the rain began to pour, at its heaviest rate of the day. Fortunately, the car was only a few minutes away, and so we arrived without getting too soggy. Our timing was about right, because the skies grew darker and darker as we drove home.
We once again enjoyed this route, which even on a slightly rainy and grey day was still beautiful. It is quite possible that this might just be our favourite North Downs walk.
Full route available at https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_182.htm
Matthew G. Huggins 