insideKENT Magazine Issue 64 - July 2017 | Seite 40

DAYSOUT
FRUITY DELIGHTS
UNDER SUMMER SKIES
SET IN PICTURESQUE KENTISH FARMLAND, WITH ACRES OF WONDERFUL FARMLAND, YOU’LL
WALK THROUGH ORCHARDS FIRST PLANTED BY KING HENRY VIII’S FRUITERER RICHARD HARRIS.
BACK THEN THE FRUIT WOULD HAVE BEEN RESERVED FOR ROYALTY, BUT TODAY THE FRUIT
SUPPLIES THE NATION AND IS SOLD THROUGH MAJOR SUPERMARKETS. YOU’LL WALK PAST
TRADITIONAL FARMSTEADS, OAST HOUSES AND LUSH GREEN PASTURES. SUMMERTIME IS THE
SEASON FOR THE KENT CHERRY, SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR PLACES TO PURCHASE SOME LOCAL
PRODUCE ALONG THE WAY.
Heading out from Teynham Railway Station
you’ll cross the bridge and head down the
road turning right into Station Row. Walk past
the pretty row of cottages and onwards
towards the orchards in their peak of summer
splendour. Join the footpath with the
paddocks on your left and continue right
keeping an orchard on your left. Carry straight
on at the crossing in the footpath and pass
through the kissing gate. You’ll now be
heading out into wonderful countryside with
grazing sheep. Walk onwards through three
more kissing gates keeping the apple and pear
orchards to your right. Cross the wooden
bridge and stop to admire the view of the
Swale Marina at Conyer to your left.
At the road, join the Saxon Shore Way ahead
into the quay. Stay on the road until you reach
the Ship Inn on your left. Recently renovated,
and formerly known as the Ship and
Smugglers Inn and Restaurant, the pub offers
a local menu usi ng produce from nearby and
40
a range of local beers in a contemporary
atmosphere.
At the junction, with Conyers Wharf on your
right, turn left to follow the road out of the
village – expect to see geese and hens foraging
amongst the delightful apple and pear
orchards as you make your way out of this
traditional village. Further along you will notice
an option to take a short detour to St Mary’s
church, one of Kent’s few pre-conquest
churches. Continue straight ahead until you
reach Peete House, be sure to notice the dyke
in front on the house. The crystal clear waters
are home to watercress when in season (April-
September). Take the footpath uphill to the
left of Peete House across the field, keeping
the hedge to your right. Then bear right onto
a country lane.
Follow the country lane past an expanse of
wonderful orchards when you’ll shortly pass
Nichols Farm, where generations of the same
family have produced fruit and juice to
supermarkets. The orchards are farmed using
traditional methods and you may even see
pigs foraging amongst the trees. Look out for
homes selling local produce along the way,
the best way to sample locally made food!
Cross under the railway bridge then turn left
at the T-junction, then right alongside a
driveway of a country house (look for the cycle
route sign on a lamp post on your left.)
Continue along the path, passing a disused
quarry on your right through arable fields.
With more orchards on your left continue
through an open field towards the road ahead.
Cross the road carefully and take the footpath
opposite, where you’ll pass through fields and
orchards. The hedgerows are full of summer
delight – look out for early blackberries and
cherry plums. Continue ahead, past a farm
track crossing to the unusually named Worlds
End. Turn right at the junction with Lewson