Walk 6 - The Hythe Ring Directions

Directions - route runs clockwise:

SSW - Saxon Shore Way | EVW - Elham Valley Way | NDW - North Downs Way | ECP - England Coast Path | FP - Footpath | TR - Turn right | KG - Kissing Gate | TL - Turn left

1. Begin the walk at Portland Road car park. Leave by the ‘no entry’ exit and cross the road taking the path between the Royal Military Canal on your right and building on your left to Dymchurch Road. Cross Dymchurch Road by the pedestrian crossing, TL and then after a few yards TR down the path alongside the canal. This area is known as Holman’s Field and you will pass the information Plaque to John Charles Holman.

2. At the end of the path, when you reach Scanlon’s Bridge Road with the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway facing you, cross over and continue straight on along the towpath keeping the canal on your right. Follow the path until you reach a grey bridge where you will find an explanatory panel for the Sound Mirrors and a mock -up for you to practise on. Bear left and TR, crossing the main road and following the England Coast Path (ECP).

3. Pass Willow Tree farm on your left and TL into Kingfisher Avenue keeping to the England Coast Path. Keep to the road and TL into Herons’ Way. Straight ahead take the FP between two houses, still keeping to the ECP. Go straight, TR and at the end cross the bridge. TR, continue to the end of the tarmac path, pass through the KG and continue straight keeping the ditch on your right.

4. TR across the bridge and continue along the edge of the field with the hedge on your left. Go over the stile, cross the road, take the FP and go through the KG into the field where you will have a magnificent view of Lympne Castle, Lympne Church and the hillside.

5. Walk diagonally across the field, cross the bridge and continue straight on the FP keeping to the edge of the field with the hedge on your right. Pass the low buildings on your right and take the path between them and the first house. When you reach the end of the FP cross the bridge over the canal.

6. Pass the 3mile marker and cycle network marker on your right, pass the turning to the dam on your left, pass an interpretation board ‘A view into History’ on your right.

7. Continue along the path to the second footpath on the right. This takes you alongside the wildlife park where you can see a variety of animals including, zebra & giraffes. TR and head up the hill past the giraffe house to the top. TR before the main road and follow the Saxon Shore Way (SSW). This takes you down a clear path and over a driveway. Continue on the Saxon Shore Way.

8. After a short distance, pass an information panel for Stutfall Castle on your left. The Millennium Wood is on your left. Leaving the top of the escarpment, bear left then slightly right between two buildings at the end of the path.

9. At the road, TR, then keep straight on passing the signpost for Lympne School. On the right is Lympne Castle and ahead is Lympne Church. TL into the Castle car park continuing round to the right. Go around the gate at the end of the path and continue to the main road.

10. TR onto the main road, pass the Shepway Cross and the road on your right. Cross the road, go over the stile and take the footpath. Go straight towards the stile on the far side, passing a derelict stile on your left. When you reach the end of the hedge and a stile, turn right at 45 degrees crossing the field heading for the corner of the wood. Cross the field diagonally aiming for the end of the wood on your left. Continue straight, diagonally across the next field.

11. Go through a gap in the undergrowth, where you meet a crossroads of paths. Carry straight on towards a green barn in the distance. As you near the barn, pass between two ditches and turn immediately left, through the gate keeping to the SSW. Proceed diagonally across the field and go through the gate on the far side. Continue on the BW to the main road.

12. TL onto the main road and after 20 yards TR along a track. TR, keeping Pedlinge Church on your LHS. Go over the stile and continue to follow the Saxon Shore Way diagonally across the field to Chesterfield Wood. Go through the KG and follow the track through the wood. After crossing a stream via a bridge, climb the hill to a gate. Go through the gate and follow the FP through the field to Sandling Rd.

13. Cross the road and continue on the Saxon Shore Way through Willow Wood. The FP climbs to a gate. When you reach the second gate TL.

14. Continue along the BW until you reach the road. Bear left, and go straight, continuing on the SSW, passing the entrance to Hayne Barn Estate on the LHS. Cross over the railway and motorway bridges and continue to the end of the lane.

15. At the main road, turn left, cross the road and go through the gate onto the FP. Cross the field diagonally and after 200 yards follow the hedge round to the left. After 100 yards, turn left through the hedge and go through the KG onto the road. Turn right, walk up the FP passing the gates to your left and right, and join a BW. At the crossroads of a FP and BW, continue straight on up the hill.

16. Pass a FP on the RHS and continue up the hill with Tolsford Hill on your LHS. Looking back there is a great panorama down to the sea with Summerhouse Hill straight ahead.

17. Go through the seven-bar gate and continue straight up to the top of the hill, passing between two wooden posts at the summit. When you reach the fence around Tolsford radio Station, bear right onto the concrete path remaining on the SSW.

18. When you reach the seven-bar gate and KG do not go through either but turn right and walk straight across the field keeping the line of trees on your LHS. At this point there is a fine view to your left down to Etchinghill and further on a good view on your RHS down to the sea. As you near the end of the field, bear left pass through the KG and continue straight between the two lines of trees. You are now on the SSW the EVW and the NDW.

19. Pass the ‘Poetic’ bench on your RHS enjoying the view of Summerhouse Hill and the view down to the sea. Go through the KG and bear left between the trees keeping the fence on your LHS. Go through the next KG and continue straight down. Go through the next KG and down to the main road.

20. TR onto the main road and after a very short distance TL down a lane marked as a dead end, continuing on the NDW and EVW. When you reach the CG TL. Go over the stile, and head diagonally across the field towards the wooden fence in the corner. Go over the stile. After a short distance go over a bridge. When you reach the fork continue round to the right, go over the stile and TR down to the field.

21. TL and follow the Iine of trees. At the corner of the field TL up the slope, go through the KG. continue straight, then TR onto the Permissive FP. You are now on the old railway route.

22. Continue straight for some distance. Pass through the KG, carry straight on, cross the road with Peene Railway Museum on your LHS. Go through the gate and continue straight up the hill on the BW and EVW. After a short distance you meet a track. TR, following the signpost to ‘Learn about the landscape’, remaining on the EVW.

23. At the end of the FP go through the gate onto the road and turn left, continuing on the EVW. TL in front of the War memorial along School Lane. At the fork, bear right onto the FP continuing along the EVW. At the fork, bear round to the right and TL at the main road and TL under the motorway bridge.

24. Immediately after the bridge, cross the road and continue up the slope on the EVW. Go straight, take the bridge over the motorway, then TR down the slope. At the bottom TL along the EVW through the wood.

25. Go under the railway bridge and TR (EVW) onto a tarmac road. Continue straight, passing the information panel for Dibgate Military Training Area. Continue straight to the top of the hill and continue straight towards the wooden gates.

26. Go through the gate and TL. The FP goes down through a field, through another gate down to a stream. Go through the gate after the stream and follow the path round to the right. This leads to gate by a track. TR and follow the track to Underhill Rd. TL passing the stables on the right to reach Horn Street.

27. Cross the road and TR. Before the Pub, TR crossing the road. Immediately take the track on the left. Go up the hill and TL through the Horn Street Park, following the path through to the other side (play area on L). Before the housing estate, TL and follow the path down to Horn St.

28. Cross Horn Street and go over the stile. Follow the Footpath through the wood, which takes you up to a Military Cemetery. TR and follow the FP down the side of the Cemetery to the bottom of the hill.

29. Cross the road (Hospital Hill) and TR. Follow the path until the main road (Seabrook Road). Cross the road and TL. Follow the path until the canal basin. TR and follow the path which leads to the Seafront. Cross the road and TR.

30. Follow the seafront path (Princes Parade) until you reach Fisherman’s beach. You will pass the Hotel Imperial, the Swimming Pool and the Waterfront Restaurant on your right. Look out for the Old Lifeboat Station and Martello Tower on your left.

31. Follow the Road as it bends to the right (St Leonard’s Rd). Continue down the road passing the ancient Animal Pound on your right. TL onto the Green and follow the path to Portland Rd Car Park.