White Cliffs Ramblers Walking Week 2026.
Following on from previous successful White Cliffs Ramblers Walking Weeks, the 2026 Walking Week took place from 4th to the 10th of October 2026. The week was open to Rambler’s members and non-members who wished to join us. The aim was to arrange at least one walk every day designed to showcase the scenic coastline and beautiful countryside of Kent; most walks included a visit to a local hostelry, place of interest or a theme. Some of this year’s Walking Week walks celebrated the opening of the King Charles III England Coast Path.
This year the 2026 White Cliffs Ramblers’ Walking Week formed part of the White Cliffs Walking Festival from the 3rd – 10th October arranged by Dover District Council’s White Cliffs Country team. Some of the Festival Walks made a small charge or request a donation, however all of the White Cliffs Ramblers walks were free.
First Walking Week Walk
A great start to the walking week. Old faces, new faces and non-ramblers made a great mix. Wonderful walking weather with some stunning sea views along King Charles III England Coast Path.
Walking Week Day 2 – Kearsney walk
18 walkers and a dog came along for Dan’s 5.5 mile walk from Kearsney. We enjoyed fine weather again.
Thanks, Dan.
Royal Kentish Camino walk Canterbury to Folkestone. Day 1
The Camino links together three sites where members of the local Saxon Royal Family founded very early Christian communities. We’ll be walking the whole way over three days and visiting each of them. The walk is linear each day, so I suggest using the number 17 bus to take you back to Canterbury (or start by travelling by bus to the start point. There’s varied and beautiful scenery along each section. Full details, as always are in our programme at whitecliffsramblers.org.uk.
Thursday 8th October 8.25 miles
Today, we start from Canterbury Bus Station at 10am. As we set off from Canterbury, we’ll see statues and tell the story of King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha who invited the Pope to send a mission, led by St Augustine, to Canterbury. We’ll then pass by St Augustine’s Abbey and stop briefly at St Martin’s Church where Queen Bertha worshipped around 600AD and which is now the oldest church in the Anglican world still in use as a place of worship.
Our route then follows the Via Francigena pilgrimage route which leads eventually to Rome, before turning off at Patrxibourne to reach the Elham Valley at Bridge. We’ll then continue along the Valley via Bishopsbourne and Kingston to finish our walk for the day in Barham.
Royal Kentish Camino walk Canterbury to Folkestone.
The Camino links together three sites where members of the local Saxon Royal Family founded very early Christian communities. We’ll be walking the whole way over three days and visiting each of them. The walk is linear each day, so I suggest using the number 17 bus to take you back to Barham (or start by travelling by bus to the start point. There’s varied and beautiful scenery along each section. Full details, as always are in our programme at whitecliffsramblers.org.uk.
Friday 9th October Day 2 Barham to Lyminge 7.5 miles
Meet outside Barham Village Hall-cum-shop for 10am start.
If you are arriving in Barham by car, please park considerately along the main road – not in the village hall car park.
This is the most rural section of the walk through the beautiful Elham Valley.
Our route climbs the Eastern valley slopes with views along the Valley and across to the vineyards at Railway Hill. We’ll then make our way through woods and across fields before descending footpaths to the village of Elham where we’ll stop for lunch. Refreshments are available at the Kings Arms pub or at the Elham Tea House or bring your own packed lunch.
The last part of our walk follows the Nailbourne Stream towards its source in Lyminge, where there’ll be the option to see the displays and explanations at St Mary and St Ethelburga’s Church showing the results of the archaeological excavation which revealed the foundation of the early Saxon church and community founded around 630 AD by Bertha’s daughter, St Ethelburga.
Thank you to Bernie for yesterday’s walk to the South Foreland Lighthouse.
Weather was beautiful and the scenery. Sorry I didn’t get many pictures.
Walking Week – Capel & The Warren
Thanks to the 15 who joined me on the walk from Capel through The Warren, Folkestone. Great to see 5 new walkers on the walk. Well done to everyone for the hill climb back towards Capel. Special thanks to Lee Pickup for backmarking!
A very scenic walk today around Capel le Ferne, the Warren, through the ancient woodland and along the cliffs. Strenuous at times but worth it for the views.
Thanks Lee for leading. Just a few more photos
Pegwell Bay to Ramsgate Walk Tuesday 6th October
Today’s 6 mile walk led by Peter saw 12 walkers make our way from Pegwell Bay to Ramsgate and return. Thanks Peter.
Thank you to Morag for leading today’s walk from Whitfield. Good company, dry morning bit of a wet and windy walk back after our cosy break at the Lantern in Martin Mill.
There were actually some crops in the fields not just soil which was nice.
West Hythe to Dymchurch and return circular walk.
First proper day of Autumn today (steel grey skies and rain) for a 9-mile circular walk from West Hythe to Dymchurch via the Royal Military Canal & Burmarsh. Six hardy Ramblers followed my lead across ploughed fields and along the coast.
Seven intrepid walkers and one hi-viz dog, led by Bob, ventured out on this 9 mile walk despite the forecast rain. In the event, it remained dry for most of the walk with just some not too heavy rain towards the end. Thanks Bob.
Walking Week Day 5 (Thursday)
A breezy and bright walk from Ripple today. Many thanks to Lee P for leading.
Photos from the first 5 miles. Good company and some great views.
Royal Kentish Camino walk Day 1 Canterbury to Barham.
As part of our White Cliffs Ramblers’ walking week, 18 of us walked the 8.25 mile route. We visited the statues of King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha at Lady Wootton’s Green, paused at St Augustine’s Abbey and visited the outside of St Martin’s Church as we set off from Canterbury to help us understand their respective roles in introducing Christianity in Kent at the end of the 6th Century AD.
We then followed the Pilgrim route towards Dover and Rome for a few miles to Patrixbourne, where, fortunately, we didn’t miss the turn off point to follow our Camino route via Bridge to the Elham Valley – so we didn’t accidentally end up in Rome!
We stopped for a lunch break in Bishopsbourne where we found the Mermaid Inn closed as it is just in the process of being taken over by a new landlord. The weather was beautiful, however, so we were able to use the benches and picnic table in the nearby recreation ground to have our lunch.
We arrived in Barham around 14.30 with time for refreshment at the pub or the village shop before the 3 o’clock bus back to Canterbury. Some of us will be starting again tomorrow from Barham for the next leg of our walk to Lyminge.
A chilly wind but blue skies on today’s walk from Solley’s Farm. Thank you to John for back-marking and the 17 people who joined me. Had a lovely day leading. A few pictures.
Thank you to Peter for leading today’s walk from Deal Pier and to Clair for back-marking.
No rain a bit windy good company.
Royal Kentish Camino walk Day 2, Barham to Lyminge 8 miles
Today’s weather forecast was a little less promising than the glorious sun and blue skies we enjoyed yesterday, so the 12 walkers who came along today were well-prepared with rain wear but in the event, luck was on our side and it was not only warmer today, but it remained dry and we even saw occasional glimpses of blue sky and a bright shiny object poking through the clouds!
We enjoyed good views along and across the Elham Valley as we climbed out of Barham. Our route then took us through woods and across fields before descending the Valley side to our lunch stop in Elham. Suitably refreshed, we continued our way to Lyminge where some of us visited the displays at St Mary’s and St Ethelburga’s Church showing the results of the archaeological project which unearthed and re-interpreted the remains of the very early Saxon church founded by Ethelburga around 630 AD.
Thanks to Morag, who – once again – took on the role of backmarker – and to all the walkers who joined me today. Special mention goes to Tomasz who travelled all the way from London to take part today.
Few pictures on the Western Heights walk today. First half was a challenge second half a flat walk back.
Here are a few pictures.
Royal Kentish Camino Day 3 – 8 miles Lyminge to Folkestone
Today 16 walkers made our way from Lyminge, over the Downs to Paddlesworth and then via Gilbraltar Lane and Crete Road East along the top of the Downs above Folkestone with magnificent views over the Channel to France and along the coast to Dungeness. After a lunch stop at the Valiant Sailor in Capel-le-Ferne we made our descent past The Warren to Wear Bay and down to the Harbour before climbing the Old High Street to The Bayle and to our journey’s end at the church of St Mary and St Eanswythe. We were welcomed into the church by Pam and Jan, who told us the story of St Eanswythe, her miracles and her relics which survived hidden in the church until Victorian times and which have recently been conserved in a brand new reliquary. A great finish to our three day Camino walk.
This mornings Royal Kentish Day 3 Lyminge to folkestone started at Lyminge library where 16 ramblers arrived Dear Andrew led the walk backmarked by lovely regular lady rambler I forget her name just now apologies for this .A very special pilgrimage I missed the two before but thoroughly enjoyed this 8 mile walk that took us through fields past red house farm White Dove farm Sunningdale farm a historic trackway through Paddlesworth past Gibraltar farm .Sopped at the Valiant Sailor a lovely welcoming pub and served by Debbie the manager who I remember from work years ago .We then took the very steep foot path nect to the pub down to the coast and beautiful views of the warren and we walked through along towards the sunny sands and along the stade up the old highstreeet and through to the bayle and entered St Eanswythes where we were pleasantly met by Pam and Jan who gave us all a lovely natural fruit drink ( a choice of).They gave a wonderful talk of the history of the famous nun a saint Eanswthe who sadly died in her twenties a very special saint who is laid to rest here . I have included some history of The Custard Pot Pub that we passed by .This poignant walk was a linear walk and we boarded a number 17 bus back to lyminge to our starting point x Thank you so much Andrew and to you all.
