A Rail Adventure to the North Downs Way National Trail

On a beautiful sunny day last week, I attended a guided walk from Charing station to Harrietsham station. The guided walk was led by Therese, a Project Officer at the Kent Community Rail Partnership and a North Downs Way ambassador. The walk was free for people to join and was funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes Fund (FiPL) with the aim of encouraging more people to access the countryside by rail.

I started my journey at Maidstone East station, and it was a quick and easy ride to Charing, near Ashford. It was great to see 36 people turn up (and 5 very well-behaved dogs!) and it was a wonderful day getting to chat with people from all walks of life while enjoying the beautiful surroundings.

The walk was a leisurely pace over a total of approximately 8 miles (12.8km) in total, including a well-deserved break at the Cherry Downs picnic site. Cherry Downs is part of the Kent Orchards for Everyone project. It boasts a charming little Morello cherry orchard that celebrates the area’s rich heritage. You’ll find 28 sour cherry trees, along with some sweet cherry and plum trees, plus apple and pear trees dotted around the edges.

We also passed the Lenham Cross, a striking chalk cross on the hillside, which stands as a memorial to the sacrifices made during the world wars. It was designed by Mr Groom who was the headmaster of the village school, who had also taught many of the men that had lost their lives. It was completed in 1922 and was paid for by local donations.

No walk along this section of the North Downs Way is complete without snapping a photo with Percy the Pilgrim. This charming sculpture is part of the Pilgrim’s Rest bench, unveiled in 2007, and marks a route used by pilgrims for centuries.

You might also spot scallop shells along the trail. Historically, pilgrims used these shells to scoop water from streams and fountains. Today, they mark routes along the Camino de Santiago and can be seen on signposts, walls and even on pilgrims’ backpacks.

Our walk finished in the picturesque village of Harrietsham, where many of us enjoyed refreshments at Percival’s Rest before catching the train back home. Travelling by train was super easy, with many stations on the North Downs Way near the train line. To find out more visit: North Downs Way National Trail – Explore Kent

Interested in joining a guided walk? Check out our Events Page where you will find many guided walks across Kent and Medway.