Alkham Valley ride
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Saddle up for a wonderful ride in the Alkham Valley, part of the
Kent Downs Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty.
This 8.5 mile (13km) route explores the peaceful countryside
around Alkham village. Alkham, from Ealh-ham, means 'settlement
beside a heathen temple.' The village was established about 1,400
years ago by Anglo-Saxon settlers.
The route is just 4 miles from the coast and with woodland,
chalk streams, downland and grassland all found along the way, it
offers a wide range of habitats to explore and enjoy.
In the valley bottom lies the course of a stream, which only
flows when the underlying water table is high. These intermittent
chalk streams are distinctive features of chalk downland areas.
In the past, their temporary nature was believed to be a
harbinger of misfortune or scarcity - hence their traditional name
of 'woe waters'.
The riding route also passes close to the ruins of St Radigunds
Abbey. The abbey, now a farm, dates back to about 1190, but was
already in a very ruinous condition by the time of the dissolution
of the monasteries in 1539. This was due to "the abbot having
wasted the income of his house on licentious pleasures."
It is advised that the journey is followed in an anti-clockwise
direction and, due to it being quite hilly, it's not recommended
for novice riders or for horses that are not regularly ridden out.
Please take care when crossing any roads.
For those seeking local accommodation, Alkham Court Bed and Breakfast
is a working family farm with stabling available.
For more information about riding in Kent, download the
Ride Kent (PDF, 3.5MB) guide.
Community project
The Alkham Valley Community project is a charity which provides
horse riding, carriage driving and horticultural sessions for
disabled and disadvantaged adults and children. For more
information, visit www.avcp.co.uk.
Postcode starting point: CT15 7BX.
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