A Short Stop in Bearsted

The traditional cricket match - an English institution

Bearsted is a village surrounding a green complete with a pond, pubs shops and that old English tradition of a saturday Cricket match. We had had a traumatic day, my sister and I, her little Jack Russell bitch was suffering from multiple wasp stings and was very ill. This 'rotten dog'; a Jack Russell with attitude at eighteen suffered a dreadful shock to the system and despite the fact that she has never been an obedient dog, will fight any dog in front of her, is totally and embarrassingly loyal to my sister, I felt sorry for her. We had to take her down to the pet hospital for them to look after her and from there, the place is at Newham shopping centre, we wandered on to find a place to eat and maybe a therapuetic stroll.

We parked in the White Horse pub car park and went inside looking for refreshment and sustenance. A pleasant surprise. The pub is beautiful inside, is located overlooking the green with tables outside where we could watch lovers and children on the green and idly follow the progress of a cricket match. It mattered little who the teams were or how good they played, what was so pleasant was the sunshine, the excellent shared meal, the good and friendly service and in spite of the passing traffic, the tranquility of an English village. As can be seen from the picture on the right it was a beautiful day for a drink and a snack outside.

Right - The Old Manor House

The contrast with our last visit earlier in the year when we were rained out, had a meal in the Oak on the Green and cut short our walk beacuse of the weather, was that this day we had the best of a late September sun. From Bearsted, if you wish to dine first at the White Horse which I can recommend you can take a stroll around the green and then on up Thurnham road. Take the public footpath across the golf course to honeyhills wood and tthen down to Chapel Lane farm and the lane back into the village. Or, if you wish you can carry on up to Thurnham and up Castle hill to the remains of Thurnham Castle. From there you can walk a part of the North Downs Way or return to the Pilgrims Way and take the footpath leading past Thurnaham Keep farm to Water Lane and back to Bearsted for a reviving pint in The White Horse.

Of course if you are feeling really intrepid you can walk across the hills to Detling and make your way back to Bearsted from there.

Whatever you do take a little time to stop at the White Horse and watch the activity on the green. Most relaxing.