DAYSOUT
TAKE A WALK ON THE NORTH SIDE
THE CHARMING VILLAGE OF CHESTFIELD IS SITUATED ONLY A MILE AWAY FROM THE NORTH KENT COAST AND OFFERS STUNNING VIEWS OVER THE VILLAGE TO THE SEA . THE WALK TAKES IN SOME FASCINATING HISTORY AND HERITAGE , INCLUDING A GORY LEGEND THAT ST THOMAS MORE ’ S HEAD IS BURIED IN THE GROUNDS OF THE OLD MANOR HOUSE NEAR THE DROVE . THERE ARE SOME FABULOUS ANCIENT HOUSES ON THIS ROUTE , MANY OF THEM BUILT USING RECLAIMED LOCAL MATERIALS . WALK ACROSS STUNNING OPEN FIELDS PASSING ALONGSIDE SWALE BROOK AND SKIRT THE WONDERFUL MANICURED GROUNDS OF CHESTFIELD GOLF CLUB PASSING BY PLENTY OF MANAGED WOODLAND AND SEMI NATURAL PLANTING .
Leaving Radfall recreation ground , you ’ ll walk towards Chestfield Road following an ancient right of way marked by a blasted oak ; a stone white , 15-foot-high tree stump destroyed by lightning over 30 years ago .
Continue under the Thanet Way Bridge taking care along this busy stretch of road before picking up a track that runs alongside the Thanet Way . You will enter Chestfield Golf Club , with its undulating fairways , greens and magnificent views , taking the field side path passing a belt of trees .
You ’ ll climb up a fairly steep hill at this point but the great views of the village at the top makes the climb worthwhile . You ’ ll be able to see right out to sea on a clear day so be sure to bring your camera .
Following the woodland path , you will walk over the Thanet Way Tunnel , the landscaped roof providing a perfect example of shallow earth planting . Continue straight on , following The Drove until you come to a wonderful white finger posted crossroads .
Looking to your left you will see an ancient manor house . The daughter of St Thomas More , who was councillor to Henry VIII and Lord High Chancellor of England until 16th May 1532 lived here . His daughter , Margaret , was the daughter of Alice Middleton , his second wife . Margaret was the only member of More ’ s family who witnessed his execution in July 1532 . Margaret recovered his head following the execution , reputedly burying it in the manor gardens . It has never been discovered .
As you leave the crossroads , look at the ancient houses including an old Tythe Barn embellished with church materials and with a magnificent stone rose window .
You ’ ll shortly join a long straight road ; the environment here has been carefully managed to enable landscape walking in an urban environment . It includes hedging , wide grass verges and narrow paths with semi natural planting . You will also pass a large number of young trees that were planted in a special collaboration between the Parish Council and local residents . The council paid for trees if the residents provided the space in their gardens and planted the trees themselves with guidance from City Council horticulturalists .
Continue along a traffic-free bollarded road passing the rugby club and playing fields , follow the ridgeway past Sainsbury ’ s and cross a footbridge over Swale brook to Grasmere Pastures . Continue through the pastures , over two more footbridges , and you ’ ll enter a road which contains properties typical of the early development of Chestfield as a village . The road is unadopted and has individually constructed houses of very varied sizes built and rebuilt since the 1920s .
Continuing to Blackberry Way , you will see in complete contrast a modern unified development , landscaped with very different kinds of planting and leading down to open fields . Continue onwards past the cricket ground and Swale Brook , back to the recreation ground where you will reach the end of your walk .
This is a wonderful walk that takes in the history and heritage of Chestfield right up to the present day . It ’ s a great walk if you want to keep active and with an outdoor gym on the village green you can finish your walk with a mini workout too !
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