Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #274478 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-31
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Synopsis
Explore the beauty of Kent with this slim-line pocket-sized walking guide with a range of walks to suit the casual walker and the hiker (between three and eight miles in length). 30 walks are fully annotated with places to visit on the way with each one highlighting a particular feature, including wildlife, history and the countryside. Ten extensions are provided also to reveal shortcuts or more challenging possibilites. 10 non-mapped routes provide simple linear walks such as nature trails or canal towpaths.

Customer Reviews

Use with caution
This book provides ideas for some excellent walks in Kent but it has some serious weaknesses as a walking guide. The directions provided lack the accuracy and detail needed to guarantee completion of each walk successfully. One major problem is the absence of any indication of approximate distances between the landmarks described. These distances are often much greater than expected, which is not reassuring, and can easily lead to the walker taking a lengthy detour before it becomes apparent from the description that a wrong path has been taken. The inaccuracies are not limited to the inevitable changes to hedges, stiles and fences that occur over the years. More than once we found the directions using the word `right' instead of `left' or vice versa. A classic example is when we followed Walk 33 (Along the Medway) where the directions go completely awry in part 2 after passing the Tickled Trout pub. We ended up following the instruction to turn right (when it should have been left) and looking for a non-existent wartime pill box, that eventually materialised on later section of the walk after we eventually managed to get back on track. In part 5 of the same walk the directions are typically vague and inaccurate for the route leading to Farleigh Church. In fact, on approaching the church, the footpath passes through a sports (cricket) field with a distinctive thatched pavilion that has clearly been around for a very long time. No mention is made in the book of this obvious landmark. It seems almost as though the author has written the directions from memory after getting back home. The problems on this walk were encountered despite the provision of a sketch map. Not all walks are accompanied by a map, and this only adds a further element of challenge to the hike.

Having said all that, the book does have value in terms of providing interesting background information for each walk. I would recommend using the book in conjunction with the relevant OS Explorer map and studying the directions provided in order to trace the route on the map before setting out. This should lead to less stress and more enjoyment while on the walk itself.

Buy this book if you like getting lost.
I have never written a review before but this book has given us so many unhappy times ("it's that way", "no it isn't it must be that way!") that I had to write. We have tried 4 of the walks and have got lost on every one. We are not 'real' walkers with OS maps of every area, just a couple who thought we would enjoy walking in the Kentish countryside.
This book was not a good introduction.
The instructions given are far too loose, no mention that some sections are on busy roads and no indication of the distance before you need to 'take the stile on the right'. Finally last week we both became so incensed with the bad route instructions that the book was thrown into the nearest rubbish bin.

Very frustrating so far.....
As my wife and I had exhausted the excellent Pathfinder book of walks for Kent we thought we'd try this one. So far we've done two walks and have got lost both times. Anything other than an OS map is always going to be a little bit hit and miss but I am not impressed so far - some of the walks don't even have a map!
For example walk 5 tells you to turn right down a road until you come to Elm Tree Farm - what you are not told is that it's a mile down the road. What it also doesn't tell you (and this is the most unforgivable part) is that it's down a side-ditched and hedgerowed two lane road with no path or pavement with 2 or 3 S-bends on which cars are travelling at 40 mph - walking on this type of road is dangerous and should be avoided - I accept that occasionally you will have to cross main roads and walk for a short distance along them but in my opinion a Sunday afternoon walk in the countryside should not involve walking along anything other than footpaths, bridleways, farm tracks, cycle paths, tow paths, roads with pavements or very quiet country roads. I would have thought the AA should be promoting road safety - hence 1 star. Having said that, the book is nicely laid out with useful pointers of historical interest etc. and suggestions for refreshment. Please bear in mind that, as you are in Kent, your standard pub bar meal can come a bit posh and not cheap.