Set aside a sunny summer’s day and prepare to enjoy all that irresistible Elham has to offer on this month’s 6km (3.7km) countryside circuit.
Nestled right in the heart of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the historic village of Elham is the ideal destination to stretch your legs this summer. Comprising a pretty village square, miles of wide-open landscape, and home to over 40 listed buildings, ramblers won’t be short of spots to stop and soak up the scenery surrounding them.
The route
Start and end today’s circuit outside St Mary’s Church, situated within the historic village square.
With the church sitting in front of you, walk downhill along Duck Street until you reach a footpath signposted to your left that leads you into a large, open field. Enter this field and keep to the path that leads along the field’s bottom edge. Just after the path bends around to the right, pass through a metal kissing gate set into the hedge.
Continue straight along this field until you arrive at a second metal kissing gate. Here, pass through the gate and turn right onto a narrow lane. Follow the lane for a few metres before turning left just in front of the large house ahead.
Follow the path as it leads you along in front of the house, before turning into a grass pathway, and arriving at a metal gate.
Pass through the gate and continue straight ahead through a large expanse of field. Soon you’ll see a metal kissing gate in the fence line to your right, which you’ll need to cross through, following the yellow way markers as they lead you straight on.
Follow the path as it leads you through a gap in the hedge into the next field. Here, look out for a wooden post near the left boundary edge (before the field opens up), which will direct you to turn right, with the route then climbing up a steep bank to the top of the field. Catch your breath as you reach the top, and admire fantastic views across the landscape below!
Here, aim for the left-hand corner of the field where you will find a wooden stile. Cross the stile and walk straight through this next field, crossing a further stile to the road.
Turn right and walk along the road until you reach a footpath through a field marked on your left. Enter this footpath by climbing a further stile, and follow the pathway straight through to a metal kissing gate.
Cross this next field, until you reach a further metal kissing gate leading you onto a narrow road. Turn left and walk a few metres before taking the footpath signposted on your right, across a long field.
At the far end you should pass through another kissing gate into a small field with a pond sitting on your right, and an industrial farm building. Head along the driveway to the road, walking for a few metres before crossing back into a larger field on your right with power lines up in front.
Pass through two further kissing gates, a further field, and yet another kissing gate into a large open field.
Here, follow the boundary on your right. When you reach the corner of the hedgeline on your right, continue to follow this clearly marked path in the field ahead to another metal kissing gate.
Once through this gate, follow the pathway as it leads downhill towards the first field that you entered on this route. Pass through one final kissing gate (this is a walk packed with opportunities to show your companions affection!), follow the pathway straight through the field, and retrace your steps back up Duck Street to arrive in front of St Mary’s Church once more.
Steps, stats & stiles: At around 3.7 miles (6km) long, you should allow approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to complete this countryside circuit. The circular route contains a mixture of terrains, including tarmac roads, and open landscape, along with a number of stiles which walkers will need to climb in order to complete.
Make a day of it: With today’s walk located just 8 miles inland from Folkestone, why not seek out some sea air by heading coastbound post-circuit? Sitting atop the iconic White Cliffs at Capel-le-Ferne the Battle of Britain Memorial offers an incredibly humbling look at the heroic and selfless deeds of the men who won the Battle of Britain.
Refreshments: Perfectly situated in Elham High Street, enjoy a quintessential pub experience at the Grade II Listed Rose & Crown pub. Stocked with real ales, craft beers, fine wines and freshly prepared food this country pub’s ideology is simple: to source local, seasonal (and delicious) produce.
Route followed: For this month’s walk we followed the Elham Circular Walk map on the AllTrails app.
