Harrietsham North Downs Walk (Heart Of Kent Walking Festival)

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On the 25th of March 2026 we will be strolling from Harrietsham, exploring the surrounding countryside of the North Downs along ancient routes and woodland paths as a part of Heart of Kent Walking Festival.
The walk will start at Harrietsham Station, making it easily accessible by train, with limited parking available nearby. From here we will leave the village behind, passing Harrietsham Church, whose long history reflects centuries of worship and settlement at the foot of the Downs.
From the church we will enter the beautiful surrounding countryside, walking through fields and woodland as the land begins to rise. The route takes us through quiet wooded areas before joining the ancient Pilgrims Way, a track followed for generations by travellers and medieval pilgrims on their journey towards Canterbury.
Walking beneath the Downs, with chalk hills rising above us, we will experience a landscape shaped by farming, belief, and movement over thousands of years, before looping back through woodland and open countryside to return towards Harrietsham.
Along the way we will hear tales of pilgrims and medieval travel, life beneath the Downs, ancient routeways, and the long human story written into this landscape.

Schedule
Date: 25 March 2026
Meet & Start Time:
Meet at 10:00 am
Walk starts at 10:15 am
Walking Time:
Approximately 4.5 hours (includes a lunch break)
Walk Leader:
Ian Henderson

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Location
Meeting Point:
Harrietsham Station, Station Rd, Harrietsham, Maidstone ME17 1JA
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Car Parking:
Parking charges are not included. There is on-street parking available, or paid parking at the station. Please park responsibly.

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Route Details
Terrain: One steep incline
Distance:
Approximately 11.8 km (7.3 miles)
Walk Type:
Circular walk

This particular route explores the historic landscape around Harrietsham and the North Downs, following ancient trackways, woodland paths, and chalk hillside routes that have been used for centuries. Shaped by geology, farming, and long-distance travel, this landscape reveals the enduring relationship between people and the Downs, where movement, belief, and daily life have left their mark long before modern roads appeared.
Starting from Harrietsham, the walk leaves the village behind and passes Harrietsham Church, a focal point of local life since the medieval period. From here, the route enters the surrounding countryside, moving through fields and woodland at the foot of the Downs. These quieter paths reflect a working rural landscape shaped by agriculture and seasonal movement.
The walk continues through woodland and open countryside before joining the Pilgrims Way, an ancient route that once carried medieval pilgrims travelling towards Canterbury. Running beneath the chalk escarpment of the North Downs, the Pilgrims Way offered a practical and symbolic journey, linking villages, churches, and resting places along one of England’s most important pilgrimage routes.
Walking beneath the rising slopes of the Downs, the route reveals a landscape shaped by centuries of farming, travel, and belief. Chalk grassland, wooded slopes, and long-established paths create a setting that has changed little in its essential form, despite the passing of generations.
This walk is led by Ian and starts promptly on time. If you’re running a little behind schedule, please get in touch to let us know.

Dogs on Walks
We welcome friendly dogs on our walks
Dogs must remain on a lead at all times
Owners are fully responsible for their dog throughout the walk

Photography Notice
Photos may be taken during our walks for promotional and training purposes. If you would prefer not to be included in any photographs, please inform us on the day of the walk.

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Cancellation Policy
If a participant cancels within 4 days of the activity, full payment will be due.
Cancellations made more than 4 days before the event will receive a credit note, valid for 90 days and redeemable against a future walk.
Please ensure cancellations are made at least 4 days prior to the event to be eligible for a credit.