Apples Galore – The Fruit Bowl of England Walk
Newington Hartlip Circular Walk
An uplifting rural walk through the North Kent Fruit Belt where apple orchards abound. Along quiet country lanes to the picturesque village hamlet of Hartlip with its pretty church and characterful houses nestling on the edge of the North Downs. Across open fields spotting birds of prey and lapwing on the loop back into Newington. A walk that will warm your heart and feed your soul.
You are free to start your walk at any point on the map: as this is a circular walk, you’ll always return to where you began. To help you plan your walk we’ve flagged where you’ll find a pub, restaurant or coffee shop along the way – for a little break during your walk or to reward yourself with a welcome treat once you’ve finished!
Download the PDF map which will include a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the route, in addition to the map, and will also highlight some points of interest along the way. Remember you don’t need to start at No.1 – you can start the walk at any point. Your walk, your choice!
This walk undulates across fields, paddocks and, quite literally, through orchards, over unmade paths and down country lanes. Here are some of the things you will discover along the way:
Hartlip – A beautiful, picturesque village in an agricultural region of high quality fruit farming, hops andgrain. The name Hartlip derives from the Old English ’hliep’, which meant a gate or fence. In combination with ’heorot’ (hart or stag), the name therefore means a “gate over which harts leap”.
St Michael and All Angel, Hartlip – A beautiful Grade listed 14th century flint-built church. The church has a peal of 6 bells, the oldest (bell number 5) being cast by Robert Burford between 1392 and circa 1418. Adjacent is the Hartlip Endowed Church of England Primary School, one of the oldest primary schools in Kent, set up and maintained by the Mary Gibbon Trust from the 1600s. The school and church have enjoyed a closely knit relationship for centuries ever since. Many village homes still treasure Mary Gibbon Bibles presented to former pupils. The church is open during the day and there are benches outside in the churchyard for a rest and quiet reflection with beautiful views over orchards to the rear. The church serves coffee on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday morning of the month to which walkers are very welcome.
The Rose & Crown, Hartlip – A small traditional country village pub & restaurant serving a selection of real ales and home-made food. Dogs are welcome in the public bar. Open fires. The garden has a large enclosed covered area known fondly as “The Lockdown Shed” with heating and plenty of comfy seating. The pub is situated at the lower end of Hollow Lane, a lane whose name is reputed to come from a secret tunnel leading to it from the church! Open Tuesday to Sunday.
Newington – A large village located beside the A2 road (originally a Roman road), with a station on the mainline between London and the Kent coast, surrounded by Kentish countryside, orchards and home to the national collection of Witch Hazel. There is a pub (The Bull) and coffee shop (Albion Cafe) just off Bull Lane on the High Street.
The Fruit Bowl of England – This area is part of the North Kent Fruit Belt, where both the soil and the climate are ideal for growing top-fruit. Although the Romans and the Normans planted here, fruit growing had fallen into decline by the 16th century – but was revived by one Richard Harris, who planted 105 acres with cherries and apples in Teynham, just a few miles away. Others followed suit and you still see throughout the area extensive orchards today. It is also ideal for growing hops, as evidenced by the number of oast houses still standing. Both crops required armies of fruit pickers – many were Romany Gypsies, while tens of thousands from London’s East End also came “hopping down in Kent”.
Step by step guide
1. From Bull Lane in Newington keep walking straight ahead and immediately after the turning for Playstool Road turn right off Bull Lane down a footpath between houses – it’s very uneven, take care. At Pear Tree Walk garages turn left along the footpath – there’s a sign up high on the garages - and continue forward passed the houses. The footpath (ZR62) bears right running alongside a fruit orchard.
2. Take the footpath (ZR62) on your left and head across the orchard – the wet clay can be waterlogged in winter. Pass through a gap in the hedge and head across the apple orchards until you come to a track with a footpath sign pointing to the left and right. You are now walking in an area that is known as The Fruit Bowl of England.
3. Turn right down this track (ZR68) and keep going forwards.
4. At the end of the orchards keep going straight on, through an opening to the left of the conifer trees. Continue forward along the footpath through a wooded area to the kissing gate at the end – you have reached the village of Hartlip on the edge of the North Downs.
5. Turn left along Lower Hartlip Road - this can be a busy road with no footpaths, so do take care.
6. Turn right at The Rose and Crown pub, up Hollow Lane alongside fields. This country lane has no footpaths.
7. At the top of the hill turn left at the T-junction into The Street.
8. Continue forward turning right at the public footpath (ZR79) signposted to the village hall.
9. At the village hall go through the gap in the hedge along the public footpath (ZR79) running alongside the allotments and then through an opening into a field.
10. Head left diagonally across the field and exit through a gate at the end of the field (Hartlip Place is opposite you)
11. turn right along the road (Place Lane). This is a quiet country lane with no footpaths. Fields and paddocks and a few attractive houses greet you along the way.
12. At the house called Place Corner on your right and Place Stables on your left, turn right into Dane Lane and take this quiet country lane around the village of Hartlip. Check out Pope’s Hall on your left. Originally built in the 15th Century, this home is named after Thomas Pope who once lived there. Continue along The Street until you reach St Michael and All Angels Church on your right.
