Why walk in Wye?

Wye, a village in Kent that has a fascination for many summer visitors. Set below the North Downs in the Great Stour valley it is a North Downs village or where I am used to living we would call it a township. This was a small voyage of discovery for myself and Sister as we entered the village from Boughton Aluph rather than from Ashford driving down the A251 from Challock. A quick tour by car, we were looking for a car park and a pub, and we arrived at The New Flying Horse where we stopped for lunch. Although winter is not the time to visit Wye the treat was the warm fire in the pub bar and the friendly staff who were willing to expound the virtues of the Inn. From what I can see it is the place to stay in Wye boasting good food, ample parking, family friendly with the right balance of exclusiveness for adults who do not want children in the bars with them yet caters for children's meals. The place has summer tea room and gardens that replicates its model shown at the 2005 Chelsea Flower show which is one of reasons why I feature the pub. As part of the attractions of Wye this is a place to visit. The picture above is the garden in its winter glory.

From the pub and as you walk around Wye itself you catch a glimpse of the chalk crown carved on the hillside which is another draw for the casual walker. Wye is a stop on the pilgrims way which for the modern traveller is easily negotiated by car or bike but for the traveller who wants a little more casual journey before descending on Canterbury the area of downs around Wye is worth exploration following as you will parts of the North Downs Way.

The church and is a mixture of development from its early beginnings and standing on its own is a wonderful focus for the village.

However, the Wye has other attractions. We had only a few hours in the afternoon but saw enough to be attracted by the idea of stopping during the summer and hiking up into the hills. A feature of Wye is the green and the magnificent church alongside of which is the ancient Wye College which we learned from a graduate is about to be closed down as a functioning university college - belonging to the University of London - and is likely to become a problem as a grade I listed building for the local council. Let uas hope the place will remain a functioning building. Where once it was a college of Agriculture and related business studies along with the farm campus outside the village it may be split up to serve other less accessible purposes.

The paddocks above Wye bridge covered in water. Motorists stopped waiting for the railway gates to be re-opened were agog at the amount of fast flowing water.

We took a stroll, in the increasing cold, to the river where we were not surprised to see it in spate after the recent heavy rains and stood on the bridge looking down at the old mill house and the weir on one side and the Tickled Trout pub on the other. We remembered a visit some years back when we sat in the sunshine lunching at the Tickled Trout dodging the wasps and watching the tranquil clear water swimming with trout and water birds. The river burbled over the stones as quietly musical as someone softly singing a favourite tune. This day the paddocks above the bridge were flooded and the mill house threatened by rising waters should the rain increase.

Apart from the significant buildings; a winter visit for the casual walker should embrace the buildings becasue from experience the paths are exceedingly muddy, there is much of interest to see and enjoy in Wye as it is a mix of old and new in a reasonable representative progression. From 16th C buildings, some Georgian and Victorian there are also some modern buildings that go to make up the face of Wye. At times in its history it is obvious that councils have attempted to follow the general look of Wye and atlhough it is certain that some of these are ex-council houses they seem to fit in. In the centre of the village is the Old Bailiff's House shown here with sign above the door.

The unusual church building - Methodist I believe - in the centre of Wye.

But take a walk in the centre and you will believe you are in an earlier time as long as you can filter out the parked cars. You will be surprised by some little nooks that in spring and summer will be filled with flowers and birds and you will forget you are within a few minutes driving of Ashford and imagine the horse, donkeys, and weary foot travellers of a past time and wonder if they might have stopped by the river or called at the Inns to spend the night before heading off again for Canterbury.

And that I think is why you should take a walk in Wye.