2009

2009 31 MAY
Royal Military Canal Walk 5 Print
Sunday, 31 May 2009

Royal Military Canal Walk 5

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Ham Street Wood
I had looked forward to doing this, the fifth walk to include part of the Royal Military Canal, for a long time as it starts in the village of Hamstreet.  The first section of the walk follows the Saxon Shore Way footpath, which goes through Ham Street Woods. The woods, which we had never visited before, are part of a much larger complex of woodlands that are remnants of a large post Ice Age forest. It’s an example of ancient oak woodland with a long history of coppice management. It was also one of the first National Nature Reserves in England.

 

It was while walking through the woods that we heard our first Cuckoo of the year which we were chuffed to bits with. We were beginning to wonder if we were ever going to hear a cuckoo this year, especially as we had heard reports of numbers declining. At the same time we also heard a Nightingale, which is always a pleasure. The reserve is home to many nationally rare species of moth and I have heard it’s very good for many woodland butterfly species too. I know having walked just a small part that I’m keen to return and get to know the woods better.

As well as the Saxon Shore Way footpath passing through the wood, the Greensand Way footpath does too. The Greensand Way begins (or ends) in Hamstreet and follows a 107 mile route along the Greensand Ridge to Haslemere in Surrey crossing some of the highest ground in Southern England.

Ruckinge village sign
When we started the walk it was already quite warm so walking in the shade of the trees was very welcome but all too soon that section of the walk had finished and we were out onto cultivated fields and we also passed plenty of grazing sheep. After 2½ miles we reached the delightful village of Ruckinge. We were really impressed by the detail on the village sign which included many things significant to the village. Our path passed through the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene which was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The main structure of the building dates from the twelfth century and it certainly is a striking building too.





Around 1800 the whole Romney Marsh area was rife with smuggling. Ruckinge was the home for many generations of the Ransleys, the leaders of the infamous band of Smugglers called the Aldington Gang. Two of the brothers were buried in the churchyard but when we looked for the grave (which is depicted on the village sign) it seemed to be hidden by a large conifer. 

When we reached the canal we soon set about finding somewhere to stop and eat our lunch and in the end we chose a spot in the long grass beside the canal. It was a very warm day with a cool breeze to stop us feeling too hot. The section of walk following the canal was very pleasant indeed and we saw quite a few swans trying their best to swim through the large quantity of water lilies now covering the water surface.

Friendly faces
Swans on the canal
















Once back in the village of Hamstreet we enjoyed first an ice cream and then some rehydration in the Dukes Head pub; a very sociable local pub it is too.

I have to say that so far in all the walks we have completed including the Royal Military Canal this has been my favourite and it’s certainly one I would like to repeat sometime.

 

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