Walk 2444 - printer friendly version

Wye, Crundale & Wye Downs Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.6 miles / 14 km

Ascent - 1000 feet / 303 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference TR054468
Lat 51.1835160 + Long 0.9376096
Postcode TN25 5AL (approx. location only)

A circular walk from Wye exploring the North Dows to the east. The route follows part of the Stour Valley Walk to the isolated church at Crundale. Turning south the route crosses the Crundale Downs to join the North Downs Way for a northerly traverse of Broad Downs and Wye Downs. It is on this section that the walk passes above the Devil's Kneading Bowl a coombe cut into the escarpment. The last point of interest is the Wye Crown which was cut to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII.

The walk starts from near St Gregory and St Martin church in Wye where on-street parking is available nearby (grid ref. TR054468). It arriving in Wye by train, then it is about 600 from the station to the church. To start the walk, enter the churchyard, and follow the North Downs Way and Stour Valley Walk which keeps to the right of the church. Pass between allotments and turn right by a gate and continue to Occupation Road. Cross to the road opposite and continue onto a track along the right-hand edge of fields. Pass a path on the right and 300 metres beyond this walk half left on the Stour Valley Walk across a filed and into trees. Shortly after you reach a road (grid ref. TR066472).

Cross the road to a track slightly left. Continue to telecom mast, cross another road, and into trees. Exiting the trees turn right along the edge of the wood. The path bears left across the field. The onward path rises steeply through Beech Wood. Cross two fields to a kissing gate. Follow the path which briefly descends before rising to a metal gate (grid ref. TR075478) at Ash. Cross the byway and continue along the Stour Valley Walk. The route continues down through Marriage Wood. Leaving the trees turn left with Warren Wood above on your left and continue for 450 metres to a sunken byway just before entering trees (grid ref. TR076488). Turn right and continue ahead, cross a concrete track pass a cottage on your left. At the next signpost, turn right, cross stile on the left and head half-left up a steep slope to cross a track with St Mary's Church, Crundale, just beyond.

Turn right along the byway for nearly two kilometres passing through Towns Wood to reach a farm track (grid ref. TR087469). Cross the track to the gate opposite and continue along the right-hand edge of a field. After 600 metres you reach a sunken byway (grid ref. TR084463). Bear right and shortly after the byway bends left. Leave the byway which turns right and continue ahead beside a line of trees. Cross stile in top field corner, pass through a metal gate, cross two more stiles to a kissing gate by a copse. Cross a paddock and follow a drive left. The drive soon becomes a surfaced lane. Reaching a crossroads, go straight across and continue to pass through Cold Blow Farm and the North Downs Way (grid ref. TR087449).

Turn right along the well-waymarked National Trail soon entering Wye National Nature Reserve. Keep to the higher path along the crest of the ridge soon having a superb view into the Devil's Kneading Trough which was formed by melting ice. Continue north to a road. Cross the road to continue left along the North Downs Way. After passing the Wye Crown, the path turns right at the edge of a food and continues to a lane (Grid ref. TR072468). Turn left and after 250 metres turn left, still following the North Downs Way. The path descends through woodland and across a field. Go straight across a lane and rejoin the outward route. Continue back to Wye.

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