Camer, Cobham and watching for Choo-choo's

Witht the dog eager to get going we set off to avoid skinny roads and combine harvesters - a wise ploy as the harvest is well under way and hoofing great trucks and machines dominate the minor roads in the rural districts. Squeezing past is not an option and when you are not that good at reversing a car over a distance my sister's preference was for the fatter, more urban roads.  We used the M20 and the A227 to get to Meopham and hence to the parking lot at Camer Country Park.  Our destination was a little vague but we had a mind to call in at The Cock Inn for lunch.  This as it turned was a good idea. 

But first. to the park itself.  The park has a snack bar with seating outside, a children's playground and water tap with a trough for dogs to drink from - we had to turn the water on for our dog which was a waste of time because he preffered the water from the puddle below. From what we saw of the layout of the park this was once a country estate laid out well with specimen trees  now complimented by hedges and natural growth and well kept grassy areas (a few grassy knolls so Presidents and world leaders beware).  We wandered and left the park on the bridleway and weald way path leading to Luddesdown following that to where the weald way turns left towards Henley Street.  The path droppped down past a fence line presenting wild flowers and butterflies on our left and growing sweetcorn and a new forestry plantings on the right.

The pub was on the left from Henly Street and we were pleasantly surprised to see a large car park, well kept buildings with hanging baskets and neatly painted accoutrements.   Dog friendly, the Cock Inn was a treat with a pleasant bar room and a garden filled with colorful flowers and shrubs, bird feeding sacks and a fountain.  The beer was Adnams, and good, and the lunch was excellent.  We had filled rolls which were fresh, tasty with salad and at a nice affordable price.  Our hosts were cheerful and friendly with a professional approach.  We liked the place.

From the pub we walked down to Henley Street and headed up toward the railway cuttings.  At Batts cottages turn left on the road and cross the rail bridge and a few metres on is a pathway with Cobham church in the distance. 

First choo-choo of the day.  We stopped to look back at the railcutting and watched a train pass by on its way to London musing on why we were daft enough to call it a choo-choo.  No problem, we live in a world of our own where Eccles is king, Neddy Seagoon rules the world and Bluebottle is always being deaded.

At Cobham we did a walk around the church, had a chat with a church warden, as you do, and ate berries from a blackbury vine, our first of the year and headed back to Camer Park through the churchyard to Gold Street crossing the road there - the path is marked through orchards although you have to guess part of it - to the railway cuttings crossed by a rusty footbridge. 

Second choo-choo sighting.  Sole street is not that far away so we expected a train to come and it did. What an exciting day!

The walk back to the park covered some of the ground already covered so it was pleasant when we could walk on the park on a different route back to the car park.  In all a pleasant walk even with a dog who wanted to run and run and run with other dogs.  We have to take him on the lead until he gets the hang of doing what my siter tells him to do. He enjoyed it, I am sure. 

This is our second visit to the area this year and I am sure we will find another reason to visit again. I can certainly recommend the Cock Inn as the place to stop.