Day 2 - Sandling to Ashford international

The route (all links open in a new window)
Start point: Sandling
w3w: ///openly.novel.dunk
Distance: 16 miles

Accompanying video

Day 2 started off in Sandling. Sandling station is a small station with, as it turns out, a bit of a history when it comes to train lines as I found out in the first 5 minutes of the walk. A tunnel had caught my eye on the previous day which gave me cause to research why this piece of infrastructure was abandoned and why it was built in the first place.

The abandoned infrastructure was a train line known as the Sandgate branch and it looks like the Sandgate branch actually created the necessity for a station at Sandling. In 1874 the Sandgate branch was built and the Sandling station opened 1 January 1888. The Sandgate branch struggled to attract use and was eventually closed, likely as part of the Beeching cuts in 1951.

It is quite extraordinary what history can be right underneath our feet sometimes.

Pedlinge Chapel-of-ease. Another piece of history along the trail.

The route took me past Port Lympne wildlife park where the giraffes had just been let out to forage. One particular giraffe must have heard me as I stomped along the footpaths as it's eyes locked onto me and its gaze would not leave me. They are a suspicious animal which obviously serves them well in the wild. They'll get no trouble from me though.

After Port Lympne there is a long section along the Royal Military canal which, whilst not making for great video content (I left most of it out of the accompanying video) it does relax the soul and is easy walking since it is very flat. It is picturesque and on a sunny day at the weekends families frequent this lovely piece of nature and rightly so. I can imagine this has created many a fond memory for people over the years.

A rehydrated meal is a banquet when you're hungry. Leave only footsteps. 

Onwards and I took a quick glimpse at The Cosway Monument which is a piece of architecture that I had seen before but never really researched it. The monument was erected in 1835 to commemorate a local philanthropist would died in a coach accident. The monument is grade II listed and stands tall and proud atop the hills. It boggles the mind to think of the changes and weather this monument has seen. I'm glad our paths crossed.

Onwards and upwards, heading north the route joins Greensand Way which is a 'shorter' long-distance path (some 111 miles) which stretches from Hamstreet in Kent to Haslemere in Surrey. Whilst I will be travelling a lot of the Greensand Way I will be breaking away from it to end/start days at convenient points. It is a stunning walk however and if you are looking for a decent long distance path then this one should be on your bucket list. I sometimes feel it is overlooked in favour of the Pilgrims way or the North downs way which is a shame because the scenery it offers is outstanding.

The day finished with me detouring into Ashford Town to catch a train at Ashford International. I always feel like I belong when I am in nature but that feeling does not carry into vast concrete jungles. I wonder if I am alone in that feeling. It doesn't feel natural.

Day 3 will be Ashford International to Headcorn and I have yet to decide which route to take. I'll likely join up with Greensand Way again because it has served me proud today.

A full video of the day can be seen via "The Long Distance Walker"