A Quick look at Detling

Broken building Detling

The North Downs are always a place to go when winter is still hitting the weather trail.  For the casual walker the promise of a sunny afternoon after a rain filled week and the chance of a quiet walk is attractive.   The dog Zoid was eager to get going but we had to wait for news of a niece in transit from surgery before we could set off so an afternoon was in the offing.

House in the Woods

On the hills above Detling there is the newly created forest or woodland and not far along the Pilgrim's Way there is Thurnham and the castle both places where people tend to go.  The attraction of Detling apart from the village is the woodland known as The Larches and the walk to Boxley and the Warren.  We took the walk past there to the woodland beside the Pilgrim's Way and at the end of the bridleway followed a path between the avenue of beeches leading down the slope to Boxley and the farm track that stretches between Boxley and Detling.

The day began cold and wet but as the afternoon grew to evening the sunshine arrived and we were too warm. It was amusing to watch two intrepid walkers with sticks consult their map, pointing and gesticulating like the two spies in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and moving off with serious faces.  The assumption was that they were following the North Downs Way.

We made a short excursion into the village to look at the church, a wrecked building and to use the pub toilet (price £3.80 for two coffees) and take pictures of the place.  The Cock Inn is a good food pub and a place to lunch if walking in the area. From past experience we can recommend it.  Beer is good too.

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Detling Millenium Sign

The attraction of the walk is that with care and by following the off road pathways you can avoid traffic. Suggestion for those who wish to walk from Detling to the Warren is to park at the Cock Inn and take a walk to Thurnham Castle via the hills, have a lunch at the Cock Inn and walk from there along the Pilgrim's Way and either walk into the Larches and hence up onto the the North Downs Way crossing Boxley hill and going on down to the Warren from there or to turn down to the farm track to Boxley to the village and follow the paths beside the King's Arms and crossing two fields turn toward the hills and meet the Warren there.  You can choose your own walk back but once on the ridge of the hills a pleasant walk can be had which will lead you down to Detling.

Fly Tipping?

The fun is to explore the options and trust to your directional ability - discard the Sat - Nav and walk.