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. A further update is underway and they will be republished in late 2026.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 October 2026
LONG DISTANCE WALKS
The “1066 Harolds Way” walk in reverse from Hastings to Westminster is now well underway, and on 22nd Sept they will be walking from Benenden to Knoxbridge. This will continue on Tuesdays till the end of October and then resume in the spring. If you are interested please contact Ian Balmer on 07528 801306 or igbalmer@gmail.com.
SUNDAY WALKS
The next Sunday walk on 4th October will be a 6-mile Staplehurst walk called “Little and Great Wadd”, led by Ian. Meet at the Library car park at 10.a.m. to share cars to Staplehurst.
SATURDAY WALKS will continue throughout October. All start at the Library at 2.pm. and are approximately an hour long.
Oct 3rd : Over the railway to Underlyn Lane and return, secateurs will be useful! No stiles
Oct 10th : Circular through, vines and orchards. No stiles
Oct 17th : Copper Lane via Plain Road and Stanley Road. No stiles
Oct 24th : Past rear of Parsonage Estate to Turkey Farm. No stiles, secateurs will be useful
Oct 31st : Car share to Cranbrook car park to Charity Farm
Train trek to be announced
Please contact Colin Coomber at colyn1@yahoo.com or more details of these walks.
Programme for November 2026
LONG DISTANCE WALKS
The “1066 Harolds Way” walk in reverse from Hastings to Westminster continues as above on Tuesdays.
The Sunday walk on November 1st will be led by Sarah and is a circular walk of approximately 5 miles from Linton Church car park west along the Greensand way. Meet at 10 a.m. in the library car park to car share to Linton.
Weekly Saturday walks are continuing. All start at the Library at 2.pm and are approximately an hour long. We have been fortunate that although the weather in October was mixed, the ground on the whole has been firm. Unfortunately, as the weather in November can be unpredictable and the mud can be a problem, the route of the walks may be altered on the day.
November 7th Turkey Farm via Wheelbarrow Park
November 14th Cemetery via the Community Orchard.
November 21st Plain Road through orchards and vineyards
November 28th Car Share to East Peckham
Monday Walks:
9th November: Scotney castle for autumn leaves. Shared cars subject to numbers and drivers.
30th November: Train trek Yalding to Wateringbury.
Contact Steve McArragher on 01622 831007. Email steve.mcaragher@btinternet.com or Sian Burr sianburr@hotmail.co.uk for more information