North Downs Way - Day 5

Wrotham to Thurnham
Distance: 24 miles
Ascent: 700m maybe
Weather: warm and sunny
Buzzard, chiff-chaffs, robins, bunnies, squirrels, some other birds.
Realisation we know nothing about birds.
Warning: deep water (in a bucket)
Abandoned socks: 1

We were off at a 8:15 this morning as we knew we had a long day ahead. There was some sort of networking meeting thing going on at the hotel which was a bit weird and overly jovial first thing in the morning.

The NDW goes from the top of Wrotham village (by the recycling bins) and heads towards a busy roundabout that we got to  at pretty much the middle of rush-hour.  We managed to cross eventually and then headed down a quiet lane and a footpath which returned us to the lane just as a large skip lorry was reversing back up it. Thankfully a lady came out to help the driver and we were able to get by.

The paths led though field edges,  the clouds burning off and the day warming up considerably.

We walked by some National Trust signs for Wrotham Water which is very dry for water.

At the Trosley Country Park visitors centre, we visited the loos, as you need to take advantage of these things and admired their rainwater collection system. There are lots of local walks around here, and about three dog walkers.

One very friendly dog wanted to come with us, possibly because they thought we had food, or maybe just wanted to play.

We had a sit in pretty meadow and an apple. Some insects came to say hi.

Some woods and fields later, we emerged into a little dry valley which was much like the Yorkshire Wolds.  There were sheep grazing and a buzzard circling overhead.

At about midday we crossed the river Medway,  which involved much traffic, many bridges, roundabouts and pavements. Pedestrians and cyclists have their own little section,  thankfully. The tide was out, there was a very long drop and some interesting looking marshes far below. It's about a mile to walk across, not especially attractive but it actually made an interesting change from woods and fields.

We bought lunch at the co-op in Borstal,  dominated in name and location by the young offenders detention centre on the hill above it, and then followed lanes and tracks around the hillside to the south.

It was very warm by now in the open sun, cooler under the shade of the trees. We stopped briefly at Bluebell Hill view point,  from which there are fine views.

An odd little paved path lies down to the by side of a busy road, where there were speckled brown butterflies. We took the underpass and a green lane.  Both Rob and I noticed that the signpost was red, which usually means a byway open to most vehicles - and thought that must have been a mistake as you wouldn't get a car down here.  But no!  Not only can you get a car down here, you can get two! As long as they are going in the same direction.

Towards the end of our (long) day there were some more ups and downs, in order to cross a horrible dual carriageway which runs through the middle of Detling village - which would otherwise be a lovely little place. Thankful for, plus sad because of the necessity of it and reasons for its construction, the fine bridge over the A249.

A few more ups and downs around a very pretty view point at Hare Hill and we arrived in Thurnham.  We are at The Black Horse Inn,  which is much larger than I expected and serves excellent food.