This was a slightly longer walk, with the 2 sections (as organised in the official NDW guide book by Colin Saunders) Otford to Cuxton, and then Cuxton to Detling adding up to 27.5 miles.
Sadly public transportation is not forthcoming at Detling and a further short walk is required to Bearsted station for the train home. Overall this makes it about 30 miles, hence the need for the earliest start possible.
I found the route well signed for the first few miles, however there were enough instances where this was not the case to make the official guide book invaluable.
The walk starts with a fairly steep climb, enough to get the blood pumping! There are some exceptional sections, I would say that the Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve is one of those. With 560 acres, it includes extensive ancient woodland, fields entirely enclosed by woodland that appear to be 're-wilding', some highly impressive vistas and a sense of peace and tranquillity that would be difficult to surpass on the walk overall so far.
Yet shortly after this section you reach the impressive Medway bridge, and in the distance you can see Rochester Castle. The bridge walk is quite pleasant and a contrast to other sections of the walk.
This was a very hot day, but with storms later on, and with some impressive thunder and lightning! I had to take plenty of water and it was needed, plus some easy to use tinned food and high energy flapjack bars. Not to mention my usual spare pairs of socks for zero blisters yet again, plus with some (Wim Hof style) good deep 'lungfuls' of air, especially when climbing I managed to avoid anaerobic respiration and it's associated lactic acid - no muscle aches or pains whatsoever. This is something I've tried in recent times (i.e a slight over-oxygenation when walking, particularly climbing) and I recommend it.
A highly enjoyable day despite some rain towards the end, but due to the heat it was soon dry again.
