THE CINQUE PORTS 100 NEXT year’s Cinque Ports 100, The route then swings northwards, and follows organised by LDWA with the River Rother for four miles to join the Sussex help from our good friends from Border Path for a short time before going across Sussex, will offer walkers the some very pleasant countryside to reach opportunity to discover some of Wittersham. the best coast and countryside Then it is on to Tenterden via the Kentish Weald, walking in Kent and . following the High Weald Landscape Trail. Tenterden The route then swings northwards, taking the High is one of Kent’s gems, with an impressive Weald Landscape Trail to join with the Sussex Border Conservation Area. Path for a short time before going across some very The next leg takes walkers through more very pleasant countryside to reach Wittersham . nice countryside to Appledore, and then it’s The Cinque Ports were a group of towns which , which is certainly flat but so from the 11th to the 14th centuries were interesting – it has been labelled ‘wildest Kent’. The responsible for protecting the coast and providing next town visited is Lydd, which is a Cinque Port most of the English Navy. The old Norman French Limb (meaning that at the time it was attached to word for five, cinque, is pronounced ‘sink’ rather the Cinque Port of Romney). than ‘sank’ in this part of . The next leg is 3.3 miles to New Romney – The event will be based at the Duke of York’s the second Cinque Port Littlestone water tower. Royal Military School, just outside Dover, with to be visited and which Photo entrants transported by bus to Sussex Coast was called Romney theromneymarsh.net College at , where the Lord Warden of the when it was a sea port. Cinque Ports, Admiral the Lord Boyce, will address The going, mainly across them at the opening ceremony. fields and using good The walk will start on Hastings seafront, going to paths, is easy. the Old Town and then up East Hill before entering Then it’s another Hastings Country Park, one of the highlights of the short leg (excuse the route. Walkers will take part of the Saxon Shore cricket term – but a Way to Level, where the first checkpoint - one couple of Kent LDWA of only two outdoor ones on the route - is by the members do follow Kent Royal Military Canal. County Cricket Club) of The next leg follows the canal – built in the 4.5 miles as walkers early 1800s to thwart a possible invasion from leave Romney Marsh and the French - before taking the 1066 Country march along the seafront Walk to , claimed to be the smallest to Dymchurch. There town in Britain, and then Rye, a fascinating town are extensive views which has its own harbour. These are both across to , Ancient (or, as they were known then, Antient) and the speedsters will Cinque Port Towns. be in their element.

Hastings Old Town, with the castle in the middle.

6 6 East Sussex countryside near Winchelsea. Deal Castle Photo Rob Riddle.

The White Cliffs of Dover, as seen from Folkestone Warren.

Next it’s on to another Cinque Port, Hythe, on a seafront here is delightful, and walkers will pass the leg of 8.7 miles, via some delightful South Kent bandstand built as a memorial to the 11 Royal countryside which takes in the village of Burmarsh Marines who were killed by an IRA bomb in 1989 and another stretch of the Royal Military Canal, and which stages concerts during the summer. Deal before climbing up the escarpment to , with is another Cinque Port Limb. fine views across Romney Marsh, and past Port Walkers then return to the seafront, with Lympne Wildlife Park. Then it’s a brief visit to extensive views ahead to Pegwell Bay and Thanet Brockhill Country Park before entering Hythe and (which in medieval times was actually an island, as it the breakfast stop at the sports pavilion. was separated from the mainland) to turn left to The next leg takes walkers onto the greensand cross Royal St George’s Golf Course, where The ridge, taking woodland paths before dropping down Open has been held and will be staged again in to Folkestone Leas. Walkers will pass under the 2020. Then it’s on to the next and last Cinque Port, World War One Remembrance Arch and then visit Sandwich, which in medieval times was a major The Warren, with fabulous views of the White port (the sea retreated centuries ago). Sandwich is Cliffs of Dover. They then ascend those famous another charming town, and the checkpoint is at its White Cliffs to Capel before moving inland along lovely Guildhall. some very nice paths which take them to the Then it’s another short leg (4.7 miles) and easy outskirts of Dover – the next Cinque Port and, of going to Northbourne, passing a signpost which course, the only one still a port - where they actually says HAM SANDWICH (Ham is a nearby ascend one of the town’s many hills to the Western hamlet), then it’s 3.7 miles through more nice Heights and the Drop Redoubt, an intriguing countryside to the last checkpoint (and only the fortification built in the 1800s against the threat of second outdoor one) at Maydensole Farm. invasion. The last leg is 3.4 miles and mainly follows the Then it’s up to those White Cliffs again via the North Downs Way to Guston (pronounced Bleriot Memorial (which remembers the French Gusson by locals) and then the Duke of York’s aviator who in 1909 was the first person to fly Royal Military School – where walkers will get a across the Channel). The route goes away from the warm welcome, showers in the school’s swish new cliff edges to reach St Margaret’s. sports complex and a fine meal prepared and Then it’s on to Kingsdown and Walmer – where served by Joy Davies and her catering team. the castle is the home to the Lord Warden of the Entries open on October 9. Cinque Ports – and Deal, passing the spot where it For Cinque Ports 100 news, visit is believed Julius Caesar landed in BC55. The www.ldwa.org.uk/2018Hundred 7 7