The journey today went from Elham, to Barham, Kingston, Bishopsbourne Bridge to Patrixbourne. Not too long a route, just a bit of 12 miles, but it gave me some time to look around as well.
Also as the walk followed Elham valley and beyond I followed more or less the course of the Nailbourne. Yesterday at Lyminge I saw the source of this stream, but most of thr time it is dry, and only flows whenever there's been a lot of rain.
The following is a view back over Elham in its valley.
And this is the house that enjoys that view!
The route went over fields
And through woods
The latter is from Bedlam Wood, it seems to be an unmaintained coppiced wood, and everything seems dark and tangled up.
On entering Barham, my first view of the Nailbourne, even though I have been walking parallel to it since Elham.
The church in Elham (St John the Baptist)
It has some nice more modern stain glass windows
On the main street the Nailbourne again.
I took a little detour to visit Barham's shop by volunteers, to stock up on some fruit and snacks. They also did coffee, so I stayed there a while to enjoy that, sitting outside. The weather was turning slightly, becoming more cloudy and threatening rain, but it was still pleasant to sit outside.
Leaving Barham there was a bit of a climb resulting in a nice view over Barham and the wider valley.
One bit of the walk went over the remains of the Elham Valley railway line, which goes on to Canterbury and if I would have been able to follow I would have ended up very nearly home!
But the route went next to Kingston and to St Giles.
I very significant Anglo-Saxon broach was found here in the 18th century.
Through the village next to Bishopsbourne - the villages are now very close together... Just half an hour walk or so.
Bishopsbourne Church is very opulent.
but very nice tiles on the walls .
From there followed the Nailbourne to Bridge.
St Mary's there has a nice Romanesque doorway.
and a new stain glass window.
The other discovery in Bridge is Mahony's, had a very nice BLT.
It just started raining a bit on leaving Bridge, not bed for a day threatening to rain. One more time crossing the Nailbourne...
...before arriving at St Mary's Patrixbourne.
My home for tonight!
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