Walks from Ashford International

Pastures, orchards, woods, commons, bogs, parkland estate and riverside parks into a town centre.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Good views of the North Downs and Wye Crown. Flat, easy walking that largely follows the Stour Valley through the flood plain, on field paths and tracks through arable land, pasture and woodland, with some lane walking. A stile, several kissing gates and uneven woodland ground and a couple of steep paths restrict access for some. Can be very waterlogged in wet spells. Follows much of the Stour Valley Walk via Wye, Crundale, Godmersham and Chilham. Can be split at Wye, Chilham or Chartham, which all have stations with an hourly service.

Time: 6h30–12h30

Lunch: Pubs and toilets at Wye, Chilham and Chartham; food stores at Ashford and Wye.

Warnings: Navigation across the large, flat fields south of Wye can be difficult when a new crop has germinated and no path has been worn. A couple of fallen trees have required temporary diversions.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A long walk with about a mile less road walking than the alternative, mostly on quiet lanes and footpaths and climbing to King's Wood with its sculptures. Some field-edge alternatives avoid problem paths. A short 40m stretch of A251 road walking near Boughton Aluph looks uncomfortable. Five sculptures in King's Wood are on the route. Possible break-out points by bus, train or pub at Kennington, Wye, Challock, Badlesmere, Leaveland, Sheldwich or Selling.

Time: 6h30–13h

Lunch: Pubs on the route at Kennington, Boughton Lees and Molash.

Warnings: There are 40 metres of road walking on the A251 near Boughton Aluph that looks a little uncomfortable; regular runners keep off the road using the adjacent field edge instead.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A short walk with lots of twists and turns before joining the Greensand Way, which is quite overgrown and leading into Ashford. The overgrown sections create accessibility issues. Follows the Greensand Way. A former large deviation near the end is no longer necessary thanks to a new pedestrian route.

Time: 3h30–7h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A route designed to stay on higher land, easier going than nearby routes but with still-waterlogged fields near Westwell and several wide deep puddles on the Pilgrims Way towards the Lenham end. Varies between arable fields, grazing, woodlands, farm tracks and small lanes and separate footpaths; the North Downs Way runs just below the steeper slope with views across the vale. Follows the Pilgrims Way / North Downs Way for easier navigation. The pub in Westwell is closed. A small detour reaches Charing, a pretty village with places to eat, shops and a station. Roman snail shells can be found near Cobham Farm.

Time: 5h30–10h30

Lunch: The pub in Westwell is closed; a detour to Charing reaches several places to eat and shops.

Warnings: Designed for very wet conditions with high groundwater, flooding and frequent waterlogged fields, with deep puddles on the Pilgrims Way needing leaping or hedge-clinging.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Lovely scenic places. Almost no gradient and with a nice mix of road and cross-country field paths. Generally easy once past the opening stretches. Frequent public transport from Ashford back to the start at Headcorn.

Time: 6h–12h

Warnings: Leaving Headcorn along Smarden Road involves a very fast stretch of road that some may find intimidating, though Love Lane runs alongside it. A short section of field path about 3.3km in (after the railway bridge) is very poorly maintained; an on-road alternative avoids it.

Walk details: Slow Ways.