Walmer walk

Please note this is a change to the originally scheduled and advertised walk at Hawkhurst, which is now on a new date at the end of May

In a bid to escape the heavy going of recent weeks through the mud, we will head to the coast for a 12.5 mile walk. This one goes along a mix of mostly tarmac, tracks and firm grass paths around historic Walmer, Deal and Sandwich Bay, and as it virtually flat throughout the pace should be good, with little or no mud to slow us down.

We begin by circumnavigating Walmer Castle, which was built in 1540 and is the home to the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, before we explore some of the local landmarks as we proceed towards, then through neighbouring Deal. We will pass the former Royal Marines School of Music Barracks, then continue on our merry way to reach the site of Sandown Castle, but very little now remains of this fortress.

Heading slightly inland we proceed along across the 'Ancient Highway' through the edge of Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course, which twice hosted the Open Golf Championship in 1909 & 1920. Another famous course on the current Open Championship rota is Royal St George's, which we cross to reach Sandwich Bay. Once we reach the shoreline we turn right along the Saxon Shore way and make our way back towards Deal and eventually back to our starting point.

There will be the usual picnic lunch stop en route and ample pubs to choose from for the group to mingle in during the latter stages of the walk

Walk leader is Kevin Hall