This week I went for a circular walk around Appledore in Kent.  I took the route from the Explore Kent website which starts and ends next to the Church on the High street.

The walk starts through the vineyards of the Gusbourne estate including a panaromic view of New Romney and onwards towards St Mary’s church, Kenardington.

Onward following a trudge over open fields the route meets the Royal Military Canal and a delightful wide, grass walkway between the canal and an accompanying stream.

Here I saw rabbit holes, swans, sheep and a squirrel which ran across my path and jumped fearlessly onto a overhanging branch to cross the stream.

The path follows the canal as it passes a World War II pill-box and winds round on the other side of the stream to the Recreation ground and vineyards at the beginning of the trail.  The walk finishes at the peaceful and cosy church of St.Peter & St.Paul,  Appledore.

The route was approximately 5 miles and took me 3 hours at a leisurely pace with a few stops.

The Royal Military Canal starts at Seabrook, Kent for 28 miles to Cliff End in East Sussex and I’m sure it will be a trail I return to in the future.