Marden Walking Group
Marden Walking Group was established in February 2005 and is affiliated to the Marden Society. Its original aim was to update the “Walks around Marden” leaflets originally published by the Marden Society in the 1970s. Our first set of “Six Walks Around Marden” was published in 2006, followed by a second set of “Six More Walks Around Marden” in 2009. When these ran out in 2016, the Group decided to revise the routes as they were 10 years old and many had changed significantly, due to all the recent development in Marden. The new set of “Six New Walks Around Marden” was published in January 2019 and updated in March 2021. These are available from “No 47 High St.” for £5 per set. These walks are:
Walk 1: Circular walk starting and ending at the Unicorn. 2¾ miles/4½ km
Walk 2: Circular walk along the River Beult from the Stilebridge Inn. 4¾ miles/7½ km or 3½ miles/5½ km
Walk 3: Circular walk to Marden Meadow to view the flowers. 4½ miles/7 km
Walk 4: Marden Diamond Jubilee Walk. 6 miles/9½ km
Walk 5: West End Wander. 6½ miles/10½ km.
Walk 6: Circular walk to Turkey Farm. 4 miles/6½ km or 2¼ miles/3½ km
A further set of Historic Walks was published in March 2022, cost £6 and also available from “No 47” . Details as follows:
Walk 1 Trees of Marden 3 or 4 miles
Walk 2 Historic Farmhouses around Marden 6¼ or 9 miles
Walk 3 Hops and grapes in Marden 5½ miles
Walk 4 The PLUTO Walk 6½ miles
Walk 5 Marden’s Aviation History – East 5½ miles or 7 miles
Walk 6 Marden’s Aviation History – West 7 miles
The Walking Group helps to maintain the many footpaths within Marden Parish (the largest in Kent!). All paths have official KCC numbers which are displayed on the Fingerposts where footpaths intersect with roads (e.g. KM240) which are referenced in our walks leaflets. It is important that walkers should ONLY use these footpaths which are Public Rights of Way (PROWs), unless there is a specific Permissive path, to respect the farming community.
We normally organise three series of regular walks:
Saturday Strolls: These are held on Saturday afternoons for 1 – 1½ hours around Marden with no stiles. Routes depend on the weather and conditions underfoot. Meet at 2 p.m. outside the Library.
Sunday Walks: These are generally held on the first Sunday of each month and are usually 5-6 miles over paths around Marden (or other local villages) including stiles. Meet at 10.00 in the village car park unless informed otherwise.
Long distance walks: These are long distance trail, such as the Saxon Shore Way which are walked in sections of 8-10 miles over a period of time.
We are aware that the dog population has increased significantly since lockdown, and the Parish Council have increased the number of dog litter bins in the village, so please do use them. We do not normally invite dogs on our scheduled walks but we do urge dog walkers to use the correct PROWs as shown in our leaflets.
Our current programme of Walks is given below, If you would like further information, or would like to be put on an e-mail list to receive information on future walks, please contact Steve McArragher (steve.mcarragher@btinternet.com).
Programme for June2026
Long- distance walks
Long Distance Walks along the North Downs way are almost finished, the last two legs will be walked on 30th June and 1st July. The next walk being considered is the Weald Way from North to South, but no definite plans yet.. If you are interested please contact Ian Balmer on 07528 801306 or igbalmer@gmail.com.
Our next Sunday Walk will be on 7th June along the River Beult led by Sarah. Please meet as usual outside the Library at 10.00 to share cars and drive to the Stilebridge Inn.
Weekly Saturday walks continue starting at the Library at 2.pm and lasting for an hour or so. The proposed walks for June are:
JUNE 6th Turkey farm via Westfield House, no stiles.
JUNE13th Copper Lane via Stanley road, no stiles.
JUNE20th Poulters Hall: arable, vines and orchards, circular no stiles.
JUNE 27th Car Share to Boughton Monchelsea and along the Greensand Way
For further details of these please contact Colin Coomber at colyn1@yahoo.com
Programme for July2026
Long Distance Walks along the North Downs Way will be finished by the end of June. The next walk being considered is the Weald Way from North to South, but no definite plans yet. If you are interested please contact Ian Balmer on 07528 801306 or igbalmer@gmail.com.
Our next Sunday Walk will be on 5th July led by Ian, with the route to be decided. Please meet as usual outside the Library at 10.00.
Weekly Saturday walks continue starting at the Library at 2.pm and lasting for an hour or so. The proposed walks for July are:
July 4th: North across railway bridge to Underlyn Lane and return
July 11th: South to Plain Road thence to Solar Farm and return
July 18th East toward The Community Orchard then through Cemetery
July 25th West toward Plain Road and onwards through vineyards and orchards and return
and also …..
MONDAY 27th: TRAIN TREK to Dymchurch, return by bus or Steam train. Meet at station at 8.50.