Day 4 – Reigate Hill to Dunton Green
I’d got the early start bug by this time, and left the hotel at 4:30am, stopping at the 24hr garage next door to pick up some sandwiches for later.
The first part was steep, up a gloomy track, but by the time I’d got to the top it was brightening and I re-joined the NDW.
After Merstham the route crosses the M25, then M23 near their interchange.
After Oxted the Pilgrims’ Way sticks to the more original route along the base of the Downs, whilst the NDW keeps higher up and no doubt provides pleasnater walking, but you see less of the villages and history of the route. Much of this PW section is now on road, but thankfully there is very little traffic.
The PW, has however now been disrupted by two estates – Titsey and Chevening – which for the last couple of centuries no longer allow use of the original route. In both cases, the diversion takes you up to the top of the North Downs and then down again.
The Titsey diversion takes you to Botley Hill, apparently the highest point on the walk – although there is no view at all from there due to the woodland plantation
Back down onto the metalled road and onwards to the edge of Chevening Park, detouring up onto the Downs before descending and getting a good vista of the main house which is used as a grace and favour retreat for the Home Secretary. It reminded me of walking the Ridgeway and passing in front of Chequers.
I stopped at St Bodolph’s and got my only passport stamp of the day.
St. Botolph was one of the earliest and most revered of East Anglian saints, and became known as the patron saint of wayfarers. He died in 680AD after founding a monastary in Suffolk. The monastery was destroyed by Danish invaders in 870AD. King Edgar (963-967AD) ordered that the remains of the saint be taken from the monastery ruins, and be divided into three parts: the head to be taken to Ely, the middle to Thorney, and the remainder to Westminster Abbey.
Onward, passing more vinyards. I arrived at Donnington Manor Hotel around 1:15pm having covered approx 20 miles in 9 hours. I ate in the nearby Rose & Crown pub which was excellent.
- Day 1 – Winchester to Alton
- Day 2 – Alton to Guildford
- Day 3 – Guildford to Reigate Hill
- Day 4 – Reigate Hill to Dunton Green (near Sevenoaks)
- Day 5 – Dunton Green to Aylesford
- Day 6 – Aylesford to Kennington (near Ashford)
- Day 7 – Kennington to Canterbury