High Halstow Times - August 2013

Here’s the latest edition of the High Halstow Times - packed full of stories, reports and things to do. Click the image below to see the full copy.

This edition includes details of the High Halstow and District Gardening Club’s Annual Show (on Saturday 24 August), an update on the ongoing Village Hall refurbishment works, a report from the High Halstow Hikers and information about the very exciting fun packed High Halstow Charity Fun Day taking place on Saturday 21 September.

The High Halstow Times is the magazine of High Halstow Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

High Halstow Times - April 2013 Edition

Here’s the latest edition of the High Halstow Times. Once again the magazine is packed full of stories, reports and things to do in the village. Click on the image below to see the full copy.

This edition includes a report by High Halstow Cricket Club, details of the Parish Council Annual Meeting (beginning at 8pm on Wednesday 17 April at The Memorial Hall), updates on the High Halstow Hikers, details of the summer show by Dramarama (taking place in early June) and lots of other useful local information.

The High Halstow Times is the magazine of High Halstow Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

High Halstow Times - May Edition

Here’s the latest edition of the High Halstow Times - sorry for the delay in adding it to this website! Once again the magazine is packed full of stories, reports and things to do. Just click on the image below to read the full copy.

This month’s edition includes details of Diamond Jubilee events taking place in the village - the Jubilee Party in the Park on Monday 4 June and the Jubilee Afternoon Tea event on Sunday 3 June. There’s also information about the next walk being organised by the High Halstow Walkers - taking place tomorrow (Saturday 12 May). And you will also find details of the next Project 90 community action morning, also taking place tomorrow, in the village centre. There’s useful diary dates and a report from the High Halstow and District Gardening Club, information about a night of musical entertainment with a Take That tribute band on Saturday 26 May, and plenty more reports, updates and local advertising!

The High Halstow Times is the magazine of High Halstow Parish Council. Take a look at their website by clicking here.

  

High Halstow Walkers - April Walk (Sunday 15 April 2012)

The next walk organised by the High Halstow Walkers is taking place this Sunday (15 April).

Starting out at 10am, the walk will begin at the Kings Arms at the top of the High Street in Upper Upnor. Parking is available at the car park on Upnor Road.

The walk is being led by Alan Wilson and will go from Upper Upnor to Lower Upnor, Cockham Fort, Hoo Marina and then back. The walk, which I’ve done a few times myself, covers about 6 miles and follows the route of the old Saxon Shore Way. You can expect good views of Chatham Dockyard, St. Mary’s Island, the shore way, the river Medway and lots of fascinating local history.

So, if you fancy some fresh air, exercise and good conversation, this walk is for you. 

Other walks taking place this year are listed below. The start time for each walk is usually 10am, but confirmation of this, and meeting points, will be posted on this website every month.

13 May - Cranbrook and Sissinghurst. 10 June - To be announced. 8 July - High Halstow to Egypt Bay.

If you’d like to find out more about the High Halstow Walkers, get in touch with Mitchell by phoning 01634 254428 or send him an email here.

  

High Halstow Walkers - March Walk

The next walk being organised by the High Halstow Walkers is taking place this Sunday 11 March. Starting out at 10am, from Brickhouse Farm, St Mary Hoo, this excellent walk to Allhallows is around 5 miles. It’s mainly on the flat and takes in a walk along the sea wall.

To get to Brickhouse Farm, take the turning for Allhallows (on the A228) from the Fenn Corner roundabout and head about 2 miles further up the road. Mitchell will be waiting at the triangular island where the road bends, to direct you to the best place to park.

Other walks taking place in 2012 are listed below. The start time for each walk is usually 10am, but confirmation of this, and starting points, will be posted here every month.

15 April - Upnor and the River Medway. 13 May - Cranbrook and Sissinghurst. 10 June - To be announced. 8 July - High Halstow to Egypt Bay.

If you’d like to find out more about the High Halstow Walkers, get in touch with Mitchell by phoning 01634 254428 or send him an email here.

  

High Halstow Walkers – February Walk

Details have now come through about forthcoming walks organised by the High Halstow Walkers right through from February to July.

The next walk is taking place on Sunday 12 February, and will start at 10am from Sutton Valence for a 5 mile wander through some classic Kent countryside to Ulcombe. The return journey in particular has lovely views from the Greensand Way. There is one modest slope and some of the paths are likely to be a bit muddy, so be sure to wear suitable clothing and footwear!

Sutton Valance can be reached by taking the A274 from Maidstone. Take a left turn at the start of the hill as you come into the High Street (where cars should be parked). If you are joining the walk, please gather near the old church in the centre of the village.

Other walks taking place in 2012 are listed below. The start time for each walk is 10am, but confirmation of this, and starting points, will be added to this website every month.

11 March - Brickhouse Farm (between St Mary Hoo and Allhallows) to River Thames and St Mary's Bay. 15 April - Upnor and the River Medway. 13 May - Cranbrook and Sissinghurst. 10 June - To be announced. 8 July - High Halstow to Egypt Bay.

If you’d like to find out more about the High Halstow Walkers, get in touch with Mitchell by phoning 01634 254428 or send him an email here.
 

High Halstow Walkers - January Walk

The next walk organised by the High Halstow Walkers is taking place this Sunday (8 January) around Trottiscliffe, which is a couple of miles from West Malling. The walk will be led by Alan Marshall, who has supplied the following information:

North Downs and Coldrum Barrow Walk

Meet at the Village Hall car park, School Lane, Trottiscliffe at 10am. From the village we will be walking up the Downs to Trosley Country Park (a bit of a climb, so we'll take our time!). Then we'll walk along the main path of the park, through ancient woodland. There are some spectacular views along the way looking south towards the Weald. We'll then make our descent and visit the very atmospheric Coldrum Barrow, a Neolithic burial site, and make our way across the fields back towards Trottiscliffe village, passing the ancient church on the way.

I would estimate the walk to be 5 miles or so in length. The Plough is a great pub to have a drink in afterwards, and the food is very good there too. Make sure you have some reasonably stout footwear, as inevitably some of the tracks are a bit on the muddy side at this time of year. If you're lost, running late, or want more details in advance, call me (Alan Marshall) on 07534 989438. Look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

The High Halstow Walkers organise monthly walks and details of all those planned for 2012 will follow soon. I’m told they will include Sutton Valence and Ulcombe, St Mary Hoo, Allhallows, Cranbrook, Sissinghurst, High Halstow and Egypt Bay.
 

High Halstow Hikers – upcoming walks . . .

A couple of walking dates for your diary . . .

November Walk

On Sunday 13 November the High Halstow Hikers will be walking along the Medway, taking in Teston, West Farleigh and Wateringbury - a varied walk with lovely views across the river. Just over 2 hours to complete, the distance will be about 5 or 6 miles. It might be muddy, depending on what the weather has been like, so wearing appropriate footwear is encouraged. Dogs will need to be on leads for much of this route. And for anyone interested - there’s excellent ale and food served in the Tickled Trout afterwards - so don’t forget to bring some money if you’ll be staying for food!

Setting out at 10am, the meeting point will be the public car park at the bridge by Teston lock - a short distance from the A26 on the B2163.

December Walk

On 18 December the group will be taking a local route right here on the Hoo Peninsula. It’s one of my personal favourites, taking in Northward Hill Woods and the farm tracks leading towards Cooling and the RSPB reserve at Bromhey Farm. This walk will take around 2.5 hours and cover 6 miles or so.

Meeting at 10am at the High Halstow Village Hall Car Park (The Street, High Halstow).

For further details contact Mitchell by emailing here, or phoning 01634 254428 - or if you want to join the group for one of these walks, just turn up!
 

Kit’s Coty Walk (High Halstow Hikers), Sunday 14 August 2011

High Halstow Hikers are heading to Kit’s Coty, close to Bluebell Hill, Maidstone, for their August trek this Sunday.

The walk begins at 10am, meeting at the first car park you come to when arriving at the Friars at Aylesford Priory, ME20 7BX (N.B donation for parking requested).

Directions: Leave the A229 at the bottom of Bluebell Hill and drive to Aylesford through Eccles. The Friars is then signposted on route.

The walk, which includes some hilly areas, will be 5 ½ miles and take around two and a half hours to complete.

Michael Bannar-Martin, who will be leading this walk, can be contacted on 01634 251075 if you would like more information.
 

High Halstow Hikers (June Walk), Sunday 12 June 2011

The High Halstow Hikers will be heading west of the Hoo Peninsula for this month’s walk.

June’s walk (Sunday 12) will begin at 10am in Shoreham, taking a circular route along the Darent Valley Path to Otford, which is about 7 miles.

The meeting point is the road opposite Shoreham Place, in the road that leads from the A225 past Shoreham Railway Station towards the village. An area map is available here (courtesy of Google Maps).

Other High Halstow Hikers walks will take place on 10 July (Oare Marshes), 14 August (Kits Coty) and 11 September (Cuckmere Valley and Seven Sisters). More information will be added to this site when available, or contact Mitchell Dowsett by emailing here.
 

High Halstow Hikers (May Walk), Sunday 8 May 2011

The High Halstow Hikers will be heading west of the Hoo Peninsula for this month’s walk.

Tomorrow’s walk (Sunday) begins at 10am from the main car park of Shorne Country Park (meeting close to the Visitor Centre). A map of the location is available here.

The walk will be through well-established woodland tracks and will follow the Darnley Trail, which is about 6.5 miles.

More High Halstow Hikers walks will take place on 12 June, 10 July and 14 August – more details will be added to this site when available, or contact Mitchell Dowsett by emailing here.
 

High Halstow Hikers (March Walk), Sunday 13 March 2011

The next High Halstow Hikers walk will take place on Sunday 13 March.

Meeting at High Halstow Village Hall (The Street, High Halstow), the group will set-off for Stoke at 10am. Covering a distance of around 6 miles, there might also be an opportunity to explore some of Stoke Saltings (depending on what the weather is like).

This walk is being led by Alan Marshall, who I joined last summer for a really interesting walk around Lower, Middle and Upper Stoke - learning lots of fascinating things about our local history and environment.

For more information about the High Halstow Hikers, email Mitchell Dowsett here.
 

High Halstow Hikers (February Walk), Sunday 13 February 2011

The High Halstow Hikers will be heading away from the Hoo Peninsula for this month’s walk.

Meeting on Sunday 13 February at 10am, the walk will begin at the main car park of Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve. This is on the right-hand side of the A228 if travelling towards Cuxton from Strood, and after the roundabout above the junction with the M2 (location map).

The walk is expected to be quite muddy in places so, if you are going along, make sure you wear suitable clothing and footwear.

More information about this walk can be obtained from Mitchell Dowsett by emailing here.

Details of future monthly walks organised by the High Halstow Hikers will appear on this site.

 

High Halstow Hikers (November Walk), Sunday 7 November 2010

I joined the High Halstow Hikers this morning for a nine mile trek along country lanes and farm tracks between High Halstow and Cliffe - with the farmers’ permission where there were no public footpaths. The weather was crisp and sunny and almost 20 people turned-up. We set-off from High Halstow Village Hall at just after 9.30am and headed down Cooling Road, turning into Wybournes Farm and then towards Cooling. After stopping for a quick look at St. James’ Church in Cooling, we headed for Cliffe, passing through Rye Street. The return journey to High Halstow took us through Morning Cross, Cooling Street, Spendiff and Cooling Court, before a pit-stop at The Horseshoe and Castle, in Cooling. We arrived back at High Halstow at just after 1pm.

It was nice to meet so many people enjoying a really well organised walk. High Halstow Hikers’ next event will be held in early December and posters will be displayed around High Halstow village.