25 January 2022: White Cliffs Walking Festival 2022 Announced

This year's White Cliffs Walking Festival will take place from 25 to 30 August.

Welcome to this beautiful and historic area of Kent recently identified by Lonely Planet as 4th on the list of the world's best regions to visit in 2022.

The White Cliffs walking festival aims to showcase the many varied scenic delights, historical and natural through a variety of walks suitable for all ages and abilities. Everyone welcome. Walks are mostly free. Donations are appreciated.

Visit the website at whitecliffswalkingfestival.org.uk for more information.

12 January 2022: New Section of England Coast Path Opened in Kent

The 46 mile stretch of the England Coast Path between Woolwich and Grain was opened on 12 January despite cancellation of the planned ceremony in Woolwich due to Covid restrictions.  Read more on the Ramblers' national site.

We still await opening of the section from Ramsgate to Iwade sections while the Sheppey and Iwade to Grain sections are held up pending a decision by the Secretary of State on objections to the line of the route by landowners.

The Coast Path came about thanks to campaigning by the Ramblers and the work of many volunteers such as our own Coastal Access Officer, Ian Wild.  Kent Ramblers has produced a guide to the Camber to Ramsgate section of the path and is working on guides to the rest.

The map below shows the newly opened stretch.  Click on the map for a larger version and click again to magnify further.

15 December 2021: New Annual Review Published

Our 2021 Annual Review is being printed and should reach members between Christmas and the New Year.

The Annual Review is also available to download here:

Higher resolution version (72 MB)

Lower resolution version (13 MB)

If you receive a paper copy but would prefer just the on-line version next year, please email your membership number and postcode to nopaper@kentramblers.org.uk.

26 September 2021: Wealdway40 Celebrations at Tonbridge Castle

The Wealdway 40th anniversary celebrations reached their climax when walkers gathered at Tonbridge Castle to hear speakers including the Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling before setting off on three separate walks incorporating parts of the Wealdway.  Full details of the event can be found at http://www.kentramblers.org.uk/wealdway40 and a gallery of photographs from some of the 26 walks organised as part of the celebration at http://www.kentramblers.org.uk/wealdway40/gallery.

Photograph © Scott Wishart

25 August 2021: Wealdway40 Celebrations Commence

The programme of 25 walks to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Wealdway began today with a walk from Mereworth.  The walk was organised by Tonbridge & Malling Ramblers.  Click here for more details including a full list of the walks still to come.

Photograph © Fiona Paterson

16 June 2021: White Cliffs Walking Festival

The festival, organised by the local White Cliffs Ramblers group, is now in its 7th year and is one of the top walking events of the year in the UK.  In 2019 we attracted over 1250 delighted walkers visiting this historical area from the far-flung corners of the UK and abroad.

Centred on the historic towns of Dover, Deal, Sandwich and Folkestone, this festival features 34 walks ranging in length from 2 to 30 miles.  Whatever your walking ability or interest, we offer walks that will tempt you to discover our beautiful coast and nearby countryside.  Immerse yourself walking among Dover’s fascinating military fortifications or take in the delightful coastal views. Most walks are free, though a voluntary contribution would be appreciated please.  A few of our special guided walks cost a very modest amount to cover the costs of specialist speakers.

The Festival will take place from Thursday 26 August to Tuesday 31 August 2021.

Visit us or contact the festival through our website www.whitecliffswalkingfestival.org.uk.  Booking in advance is essential, a maximum of 20 on each walk.

5 May 2021: International Recognition for the Ramblers!

The French television channel France 2 contacted Kent Ramblers to request an interview as part of a short report for the evening news.  The report was highlighting the UK’s success in reducing the effects of the pandemic and how normal life is now resuming.  As well as recordings in a care home and in a vaccination centre, they wanted footage of a midweek ramble in which an older tranche of the population was involved.
 
As a former teacher of languages, Colin Philpott of our Maidstone Group was happy to discuss the arrangements with the French journalist and suggested they come the next day to White Horse Country Park, near Maidstone.
 
So, on Wednesday 5th May two journalists joined Maidstone Group for the first hour of their ramble along the North Downs. They spoke to three of the Maidstone group and showed group shots of the 25 participants enjoying the beautiful scenery.
 
The report is due to be broadcast on national TV news next week.

19-25 April 2021: Canterbury Walking Week

Canterbury Ramblers and the Canterbury Rings team are planning a new event, Canterbury Walking Week, to take place in April.  Full details are on the Canterbury Rings website.

Photograph: North Downs Way near Wye Crown

12 February 2021: CPRE Sussex Festival of Spring Countryside Talks ….

"Looking for lockdown entertainment?  From the comfort of your armchair, hear from inspirational people who love nature, the countryside and the Sussex landscape and help raise vital funds for a beautiful and thriving Sussex countryside that enriches all our lives!

We have Sir Charles Burrell – rewilding pioneer, Prof Dave Goulson – author and campaigner for Bumblebees and all small creatures, our brilliant local crime novelist – William Shaw and local Sussex historian and landscape expert Dr Geoffrey Mead who will bring his enthusiasm and knowledge to bear on all things Sussex.
Find out more and book your tickets at: https://www.cpresussex.org.uk/news/cpre-sussex-festival-of-spring/."

24 December 2020: New Annual Review Published

Our 2020 Annual Review has been printed and is in the post, so it should reach members between Christmas and the New Year.

The Annual Review is also available to download here:

Higher resolution version (38 MB)

Lower resolution version (16 MB)

If you receive a paper copy but would prefer just the on-line version next year, please email your membership number and postcode to nopaper@kentramblers.org.uk.

19 December 2020: Group Walks Suspended Again

Following a brief period when we were able to run led walks again, the latest restrictions on meeting and movement have forced us to suspend our programme again.  We currently have no idea when we might be able resume this activity.  You can still walk locally on your own, with members of your household or with one person from another household, provided that safe distancing is exercised.  There are many good walks on our walking routes page and we remain happy to supply the items listed on our publications page.  Our Groups look forward to restarting led walks as soon as they are permitted to do so.

Photograph shows Lower Halstow on the Saxon Shore Way.

10 September 2020: Lost Ways Update

Kent Rambers' Lost Ways project aims to identify public rights of way that were omitted from the definitive map when it was created in the 1950s and 1960s and apply to have them added before the 1 January 2026 deadline.  For the past three years one of our Vice Chairmen, Neville Machin, has been leading the project.  Neville has now handed over this responsibility to Colin Sefton who can be contacted on lostways@kentramblers.org.uk. 

1 September 2020: High Weald Walking Festival

The High Weald Walking Festival was a highlight of Autumn 2019 but this year the organising team felt that it would be impractical to offer led walks while complying with guidelines for meeting in groups and ensuring everyone's safety from infection.  Instead the team has put together a "virtual" festival of fifty self-led walking routes, available for the month of September only.  Please visit the Festival web site for more details.

19 August 2020: New Walking Guide Published

Kent Ramblers has today published a new walking guide to the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk.  The 80 page guide also includes a Tunbridge Wells Town Trail and six Walks Through Time from Cranbrook.  The guide adopts the same style as our two previous guides with full colour 1:25,000 mapping created especially for the book using up to date Ordnance Survey data.  Although the cover price is £7.50, we are currently offering the guide for £6.75 including P&P.  For more details please see our publications page.

28 May 2020: White Cliffs Walking Festival Cancelled

Sadly we have had to cancel this year's festival because of the continuing restrictions on personal contact and proximity due to the Covid-19 outbreak.  We thank everyone for their support and hard work and look forward to seeing you at the 2021 festival.

26 December 2019: Kent Ramblers' 2019 Annual Review Published

The Annual Review is now available on-line.  There are two versions so that those with slow internet connections can choose a smaller file but with poorer quality images than the larger, higher resolution version:

2019 Annual Review Hi Res (52MB)

2019 Annual Review Low Res (12MB)

Nearly 40 members have chosen to forego a paper copy of the Annual Review and have on-line access only.  All other members should by now have received a copy in the post.

14 September 2019: Opening of the High Weald Walking Festival

The Festival, organised by Sussex Ramblers, runs from 14 to 22 September, offering a choice of 46 walks over nine days.  Every walk has a theme.  There are easy walks, leisurely walks and moderate walks.  All offer lovely scenery and most are in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Outstanding it certainly is.

There are more details here:

https://www.highwealdwalks.org/

Kent Ramblers will be at the launch at the Hub at Quarry Farm in Bodiam – we hope to see you there.

22 August 2019: Opening of White Cliffs Walking Festival

Ramblers' Chair Kate Ashbrook today opened the sixth annual White Cliffs Walking Festival.  Immediately after the brief ceremony at the bandstand on the sea front at Deal the walkers departed on one of the three walks scheduled to start from Deal that morning.  The festival runs until 28 August and more details can be found at www.whitecliffswalkingfestival.org.uk.

2 July 2019: Grand Opening of the Kearsney Loop

Ramblers's volunteers,  Dover District Council staff and military personnel gathered at Bushy Ruff Country Park today for the opening of a new walking route whose creation has been made possible by new access arrangements across land owned by the Ministry of Defence.  The permissive path provides the missing link in a 2.6 mile circular walk that previously involved walking along a very busy road with no verge or footway.  To encourage more people to enjoy the walk, volunteers from Ramblers' White Cliffs Group have, with the support of the MOD's Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Dover District Council, installed gates, steps, posts and waymarks throughout the route except for a short section within Bush Ruff and adjoining Russell Gardens.

Starting close to Kearsney Abbey Gardens, the new route offers an excellent opportunity for those amongst the many visitors for whom a walk in the park is just a little too tame to enjoy a health boosting extension offering fine views up the Alkham Valley.  With good train and bus links and with an enlarged car park currently under construction, the walk is readily available to a large number of people in the Dover and Folkestone area.

Kent Ramblers has produced a leaflet to promote the walk and describe the route and its points of interest.  You can dowload it here:

Kearsney Loop Leaflet (7 MB download)

As well as being a part of the Kearsney Loop, the new access arrangements create opportunities for longer walks in this delightful part of Kent where the North Downs approach the sea at the White Cliffs.

The pictures show today's opening ceremony and one of the new posts bearing a waymark with the specially designed Kearsney Loop logo.

The Canterbury Pilgrims Festival 12-15th June: 

Celebrate Canterbury's Pilgrimage history and traditions; there will be guided walks, talks and a delicious feast. 

Booking required per activity - don't miss out!

Find out more and book http://www.bit.ly/CanterburyPilgrimsFestival

The programme can be downloaded here.

31 March 2019: White Cliffs Walking Festival

Planning is well under way for this year's White Cliffs Walking Festival and last week the organising team issued a media release anticipating the pleasures in store for those who take part.  The full release is available here.

3 May 2019: Annual Footpath Meeting

The annual workshop for all those interested in footpath matters in Kent will be held on 3 May 2019, as usual in Lenham Community Centre.  All are welcome – you don't need to be a current volunteer although we will be delighted if the meeting inspires you to offer your time to help protect the county's paths.  Advance booking is essential: there are more details here.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL  BOOKING ESSENTIAL

1 January 2019: 2018 Annual Review Published

The 2018 Kent Ramblers Annual Review has been published and posted to all our members.  If you are a member and have not received your copy then please get in touch at info@kentramblers.org.uk.

You can also view our Annual Review on this site.  The high resolution version is a huge download (over 180 MB) so we have provided a low resolution version too (around 18 MB).  You can view the versions using the links below:

Annual Review 2018 High Resolution

Annual Review 2018 Low Resolution

29 December 2018: Stepping Out Walk: Margate

The project's first winter walk for carers and those they care for took place in Margate.  Les Preston from White Cliffs Group was there to help and sent these photographs.  For more information on Carers' Walks, click here.