Newnham, Doddington, Seed and Eastling

The walk begins and ends in Newnham. In around six and a half miles, it passes through cherry and apple orchards, mixed woodland and old parkland. These are not the richest agricultural lands in Kent, but they are a testimony to the countless men who produced the intensively worked landscape that we see today. The gathered flint from the fields to build their houses and there are many simple cottages along the route that are worth studying for the workmanship and their harmony with the countryside.

From Newnham, the route climbs steeply, giving delightful views over Newnham village and church and its surrounding hills. It passes Champion Court, the chief manor house of Newnham and, in origin, one of the oldest in Kent.

The remains of an avenue of deodar and atlas cedars with later-planted sweet chestnuts line the road from Champion Court to Sharsted Court. Sharsted Court is ancient and extensive. Building has gone on here from the 14th century. On the right, as you approach, is a 19th-century servant's wing. In the centre of the huddle of roofs is a flint and stone gable, a survivor of the medieval house. In 1711 there was a major remodelling for Colonel William Delaune. The 1711 front can be viewed through the 18th-century wrought iron gates further along the footpath. The Garden Pavilion, or Gazebo, and many of the high brick walls are 18th century.

From the gates of Sharsted, a long straight drive plunges through mixed woodland towards the church in Doddington. The path crosses the drive to Doddington Place and a pleasant diversion can be made to the 10 acres of gardens surrounding this Victorian mansion. The house was built in Elizabethan style in 1870 for Sir John Croft of the port and sherry family.

Doddington church stands almost alone above the village, sheltered by huge lime trees and ringed by parkland. In 1650 the bell tower was destroyed by lightning. The present tower, with its white painted weatherboarding and its wooden battlements, gives the flint church a jaunty air. Inside there appeared to be two chancels and two naves, and the impression is reinforced by the rare double squint (an oblique opening through the wall of the church that gives a view of the altar) which pierces the central pier.

The northern chancel, with its curious arrangement of lancet windows over the altar, is the earlier. The couthern chancel is in fact the 13th century Sharston Chapel. King Edward I stayed at Doddington in July 1305 probably at Sharston, and the royal heads on window terminals in the chapel may commemorate this visit.

The route goes on, via the hamlet of Seed, to the village of Eastling through rolling arable farmland with skylarks and swallows overhead. As you approach Tong Farm, you can see one the first experimental wind power generators to the left. This was one of the first of which there are now many. South of Eastling church near the path is a meadow that in summer is full of clover, cornflowers, ox-eye daisies, meadow vetchling and corncockles. A short diversion to the Carpenter's Arms will provide sustenance before continuing into Eastling village.

At the entrance to Eastling church is an ancient and colossal yew tree. Yew trees have pagan religious associations and gods may have been worshipped here long before Christianity. The church as a Norman doorway. Inside, a bench along the south wall dates from the time before seating was provided and recalls the saying 'the weakest go to the wall'. In the north wall there are four unique early English arches for singers or musicians.

Newnham village is full of charming cottages. Calico House has a medieval timber frame, modernised in 1710 when the striking wall paintings were done. An artist used an earth colour worked on the plaster while it was still wet. The red and white plastering resembles printed calico cloth of the early 18th century, hence the name of the house.

The Norman church is much restored. In the South aisle is a charming, homemade memorial. The letters made with an auger on a tile - 'Here lyeth the body of Henerey Cromp' 1692 . From the church, it is a short walk along the street to the point where you started the walk.