Harrietsham Circular – North Downs Way Rail Trail
Although Harrietsham lies along the A20, it’s not long before you are out of the village and away from the traffic on this route up on the Downs. Using part of the North Downs Way, the route offers some excellent views of the surrounding countryside from the Downs. There is a chance to rest at the Ringlestone Inn which was built in 1533 and retains many original features. Harrietsham has long been a settlement on the lower slopes of the Downs, with evidence of activity from the Bronze Age through to Saxon times, and is noted in the Domesday Book as a key location along important routes including the Pilgrims’ Way, railway and M20; the Pilgrims’ Way itself was traditionally followed by travellers journeying from Winchester to Canterbury and is now a long-distance trail of around 192 km (119 miles). The area also reflects later history, including Marley Works, once a major site for concrete tile production and wartime manufacturing.
ROUTE DIRECTIONS
- From the station car park, cross the footbridge and turn right to follow the path alongside the railway line.
- Pass through a gap in the fence line andcontinue onthe path uphill. A short distance on, cross over a road and continue uphill.
- Continue past a gate until reaching a junction with the North Downs Way/Pilgrims’Way and turn left.
- Look out for a gap in the fence on the left at the junction with the footpath. Turn right here to follow the path up a steep hill across a field. A short distance on, follow the hedge line on theleft handside.
- On reaching a stile in the hedgerow on your left, cross the stile and turnimmediatelyright, continuing along the hedge line.
- At the end of the hedgerow, cross the stile and head towards a gate to the right of the farm buildings. Pass through this gate and continue ahead over anotherstile. Follow the path through the farmyard.
- On reaching a stile on the left, cross over and follow the path across the field towards a group of trees. On reaching the trees, turn left to follow the way marker along the field edge and bear right at the corner.
- At a junction with another footpath, continue to the right of the line of trees ahead.
- On reaching a road, go overstileand cross the road. On the other side, go through the gate and continue ahead with the woodland on the right-hand side.
- On reaching a gate on the right-hand side, bear left across the field to a way marker sign on the other side and bear right. Go through a gate and continue ahead until reaching theRinglestonePub on the left.
- Here you can either stop for a well-earned break orcontinue onyour walk by turning right and crossing back across the field towards the telegraph pole and a gate.
- Go through the gate and continue across the field towards another gate in the fenceline.
- Go through the gate and follow the path with the woods to the right. Keep following the way markers until reaching a stile in the fenceline.
- Cross thestileand follow the path bearing left across the field.
- Go over a stile, cross the road and then over another stile to continue ahead on the path.A short distance on, cross another stile and follow the field edge with a hedge on the right-hand side.
- Pass through a gate, cross a stile and follow the path across the field towards a large tree. Follow the path to a stile in the corner of the fieldata road.
- Cross the road, go over another stile and bear left. Head across the field towards 2 trees and the corner of a wood.
- Cross a stile in the corner and follow the path through a paddock to cross another 2 stiles.
- Turn left and follow the fence. Near the telegraph pole, turn right and head downhill towards the buildings in the distance.
- Cross a stile in the fence line and head across the field to the left of the telegraph pole.
- On reaching a fenced area, follow the path along the fence on the left, until reaching a stile on the left. At this point, bearrightto follow the path uphill to a stile near the road.
- Cross the stile, go down four steps and turn right to follow the Pilgrims’ Way. On reaching a crossroads, continue straight ahead along the North Downs Way/Pilgrims’ Way.
- Turn left and retrace your steps back toHarrietshamstation.
