Bekesbourne and Wickhambreaux

Map = Explorer 150
Start = Bekesbourne Hill station or Wickhambreaux Church
Terrain = Field, orchard paths
Distance =7.5 mls or 10kms
Walking time = 4 hrs
Suitable for = All
Nearest Town = Canterbury
Refreshments = The Duke William @ Ickham ***
The Unicorn @ Bekesbourne ***

Last walked = 30th June 2002
*** recommended for lunch stop  
Place names and grid references
Bekesbourne Station (start) 189560 Wickhambreaux church (start) 220587
Ponds cottages194573Littlebourne Church214581
Littlebourne Mill214581 Woolton Farm 190568
Mill End225586Ickham Church221581
Lower Garrington Farm206563Parsonage Farm192557
Walk Information
This walk closely follows two East Kent `rivers` (streams) the Nail Bourne and the Little Stour. It is hard to believe that in medieval times Bekesbourne came under the jurisdiction of the Cinque Ports Confederation and the Nail Bourne was a navigable waterway providing access to the sea! Today it hardly holds much water and in times of drought part of it becomes a grass ditch. 

The Little Stour, from which the village of Littlebourne takes its name, is as the name suggests `Little` yet within 2 kms of its length there are three water mills, Littlebourne, Wickhambreaux and Seaton. There are also three churches, Littlebourne, Wickhambreaux and Ickham. Perhaps the mill owners spent a lot of time praying for rain!

You can start this walk at Bekesbourne station or Wickhambreaux church.


The Unicorn @ Bekesbourne
Bekesbourne to Wickhambreaux
Map Overlay
Wickhambreaux to Bekesbourne