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Join our jubilee jaunts

Stodmarsh
Stodmarsh

Geoff Rambler will be leading three bespoke walks for What's On readers this month to celebrate the county's historical connections with royalty.

Geoff Rambler’s unique guided walks are not just a walk through history and the Kent countryside. He adds a theme to his rambles and the Jubilee anniversary walks will also celebrate the contribution that ‘invisible women’ have made in shaping the throne over the centuries.

Geoff said: “In medieval times, when kings exerted power through the sword and women applied their influence through intelligent use of their beauty and charm, the women were also exploited by unscrupulous men who wanted to advance their own causes.

“I will stop at various points along the way and tell parts of intriguing stories, linked to royalty, to add another dimension to the walks.”

The three walks are free but at the end of each one there will be a voluntary collection for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Walk 1 - Canterbury

The marital intrigues of ‘The Fair Rosamund’ and ‘The Fair Maid of Kent’

Saturday, June 2 at 10am. Meet at Stodmarsh Nature Reserve car park (CT3 4BA).

A 7.25-mile circular walk, with no big assents, taking in the nature reserve, Wickhambreaux and Stodmarsh.

Our walk will take us out on to the marshes that probably have changed little since the monks used them to put out their horses to stud, hence the name of ‘Stud-Marsh’ from this time. On reaching Wickhambreaux we will take a short detour to view the outside of the manor house that in times gone-by was the home of Rosamund Clifford, ‘The Fair Rosamund’, mistress of Henry II.

It was later the home of Joan of Kent, ‘The Fair Maid of Kent’, who married secretly at 13, entered into a bigamous marriage, was ‘reclaimed’ by her first husband and, once widowed, had a love-marriage to the Edward of Woodstock/Prince of Wales, later known as The Black Prince, and thus became the first English Princess of Wales.

Ruined chopel, near Aldington
Ruined chopel, near Aldington

Walk 2 - Ashford

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Tuesday, June 5 at 10am. From the Walnut Tree Inn, Aldington TN25 7DT.

A 6.75-mile circular walk to Royal Military Canal Path via Court-at-Street returning via Aldington Knoll.

There are probably more historic links per mile along this walk than any other Geoff has previously led.

The walk gets under way at the headquarters of the Aldington/Blue Gang smugglers before heading to the ruined chapel, where Elizabeth Barton, a domestic servant, had the vision that led to her becoming known as The Nun of Kent. She was then used by others to become significant thorn in the side of Henry VIII.

The walk will then return via Pitt’s Ditch and the grave of a giant that is guarded by the spirits of seamen who lost their lives at sea.

The Pepperbox Inn, Ulcombe
The Pepperbox Inn, Ulcombe

Walk 3 - Maidstone

What price did they pay for the ‘love’ of a man?

Sunday, June 24 at 10am. From the Pepperbox Inn, near Ulcombe ME17 1LP.

A 7-mile circular walk to Sutton Valance Castle, via Pleasure House Lane, before returning along wealden paths via Ulcombe.

On this walk we will have, weather permitting, fantastic views of the Weald as we make our way along the Greensands Way to ‘The Pleasure House’ a country home of Alice Keppel - the last official Royal Mistress - and then on to the ruins of a castle once owned and then lost, by Eleanor of England.

As we approach Pleasure House we will pause a while to reflect on the role of the Edwardian hostess, in a society where it appeared to be acceptable for wives to take influential lovers to advance their social standing and their husband’s careers.

For more information, walk updates or any last-minute unforeseen changes visit www.geofframbler.co.uk

Walking advice: Good stout shoes / walking boots advised as ground can be uneven, and bring plenty of water.

Dogs must be kept on a lead / under-control in the Nature Reserve or when walking through fields of livestock.

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