Way of St Augustine

[OnHellas]

Well, another part Camino completed…and weren’t we lucky with the weather.
We, that is my mate Stuart and I decided to take a walk.
Two days from Canterbury to Ramsgate.
We only live 8 miles from the cathedral in Canterbury so we walked there, meeting up after a mile or so from our respective homes.
Luck had us pick November the 29th and 30th. Although it was cold it was dry and Storm Arwen, or what we got of it here in Kent had gone.

Stuart had bought a guide book and along with the helpful little stickers and direction plaques we ended the day some 18 or so miles later at The Grove Ferry Inn. About £90 for a twin room with breakfast. Nice.
The route passes quite a few churches, crosses some wet, obviously as it was November, areas and some very pretty Kent villages.

Day two was a bit warmer and a small English Breakfast set us up nicely for the 13.5 miles to Ramsgate. Again wet and a bit slippery in places underfoot, navigational errors were kept to one adding a bit of distance on the way in to Minster.
But I’m Minster we found the tea room at the Abbey. Lemon cake, tea and a complimentary mince pie added to a rest for our feet made a win win situation in my book.

So, not much detail but a thumbs up for the mini Camino that virtually runs by more front door. We recommend it.
Now we need to go and do the but from Rochester to Canterbury.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Well, another part Camino completed…and weren’t we lucky with the weather.
We, that is my mate Stuart and I decided to take a walk.
Two days from Canterbury to Ramsgate.
We only live 8 miles from the cathedral in Canterbury so we walked there, meeting up after a mile or so from our respective homes.
Luck had us pick November the 29th and 30th. Although it was cold it was dry and Storm Arwen, or what we got of it here in Kent had gone.

Stuart had bought a guide book and along with the helpful little stickers and direction plaques we ended the day some 18 or so miles later at The Grove Ferry Inn. About £90 for a twin room with breakfast. Nice.
The route passes quite a few churches, crosses some wet, obviously as it was November, areas and some very pretty Kent villages.

Day two was a bit warmer and a small English Breakfast set us up nicely for the 13.5 miles to Ramsgate. Again wet and a bit slippery in places underfoot, navigational errors were kept to one adding a bit of distance on the way in to Minster.
But I’m Minster we found the tea room at the Abbey. Lemon cake, tea and a complimentary mince pie added to a rest for our feet made a win win situation in my book.

So, not much detail but a thumbs up for the mini Camino that virtually runs by more front door. We recommend it.
Now we need to go and do the but from Rochester to Canterbury.

You could do the part of the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Dover next. The stamp from Canterbury cathedral is quite nice and the church at Shepherdswell sell a lovely red and white patch for your pack!

 

[mspath]

Thanks for your update and pics. Glad that all went well. Lemon cake plus mince pie for tea sound great.
Looking forward to reading your next chapter as we all keep on keeping on.
Stay safe and Carpe diem.

 

[Henry B]

Well, another part Camino completed…and weren’t we lucky with the weather.
We, that is my mate Stuart and I decided to take a walk.
Two days from Canterbury to Ramsgate.
We only live 8 miles from the cathedral in Canterbury so we walked there, meeting up after a mile or so from our respective homes.
Luck had us pick November the 29th and 30th. Although it was cold it was dry and Storm Arwen, or what we got of it here in Kent had gone.

Stuart had bought a guide book and along with the helpful little stickers and direction plaques we ended the day some 18 or so miles later at The Grove Ferry Inn. About £90 for a twin room with breakfast. Nice.
The route passes quite a few churches, crosses some wet, obviously as it was November, areas and some very pretty Kent villages.

Day two was a bit warmer and a small English Breakfast set us up nicely for the 13.5 miles to Ramsgate. Again wet and a bit slippery in places underfoot, navigational errors were kept to one adding a bit of distance on the way in to Minster.
But I’m Minster we found the tea room at the Abbey. Lemon cake, tea and a complimentary mince pie added to a rest for our feet made a win win situation in my book.

So, not much detail but a thumbs up for the mini Camino that virtually runs by more front door. We recommend it.
Now we need to go and do the but from Rochester to Canterbury.

 

[Henry B]

Well, another part Camino completed…and weren’t we lucky with the weather.
We, that is my mate Stuart and I decided to take a walk.
Two days from Canterbury to Ramsgate.
We only live 8 miles from the cathedral in Canterbury so we walked there, meeting up after a mile or so from our respective homes.
Luck had us pick November the 29th and 30th. Although it was cold it was dry and Storm Arwen, or what we got of it here in Kent had gone.

Stuart had bought a guide book and along with the helpful little stickers and direction plaques we ended the day some 18 or so miles later at The Grove Ferry Inn. About £90 for a twin room with breakfast. Nice.
The route passes quite a few churches, crosses some wet, obviously as it was November, areas and some very pretty Kent villages.

Day two was a bit warmer and a small English Breakfast set us up nicely for the 13.5 miles to Ramsgate. Again wet and a bit slippery in places underfoot, navigational errors were kept to one adding a bit of distance on the way in to Minster.
But I’m Minster we found the tea room at the Abbey. Lemon cake, tea and a complimentary mince pie added to a rest for our feet made a win win situation in my book.

So, not much detail but a thumbs up for the mini Camino that virtually runs by more front door. We recommend it.
Now we need to go and do the but from Rochester to Canterbury.

I enjoyed a wonderful 4 days walking from Rochester Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral along the Pilgrim Way via Aylesford (Priory) Lenham and Broughton Lees during October. Dodged most of the rain, visited several beautiful churches, much appreciated the quiet of the Priory and after 60 miles had the nice surprise of free entry in to Canterbury Cathedral as a genuine pilgrim, and, yes, the Cathedral stamp is pretty good. Planning to walk from Salisbury to Winchester next. At 24 miles the only decision to be made is 1 day or 2? Probably the latter. Buen Camino

 

[dougfitz]

I walked the Augustine Camino in December 2019, starting at my son's home in Rochester. I had first visited the Cathedral there in 2018, returning home from walking the S:t Olavsleden. It was an interesting walk to do, and in winter one could not expect to see many others using these paths, and I didn't.

I did use the services of Andrew Kelly, who was instrumental in establishing the route and co-authored a guidebook, to book accommodation. That worked well enough, although there were some legs that involved walking in the dark for other reasons on top of the shorter winter days.

Andrew also arranged for churches and other significant buildings to be open, and being the only pilgrim, I had delightful personal guided tours of some wonderful churches along the way and at the end. Perhaps the highlight was a blessing by a deacon at Canterbury Cathedral after evensong.

I will be back in the Rochester area for a few days in January, and intend to walk the four one day pilgrimage routes that all lead to the Cathedral - the Justus Way, Ithamar Way, William of Hoo Way and Gundulf Way (see https://britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/rochester-cathedral-pilgrimage-in-a-day/ for descriptions).

 

[Sixwheeler]

Well, another part Camino completed…and weren’t we lucky with the weather.
We, that is my mate Stuart and I decided to take a walk.
Two days from Canterbury to Ramsgate.
We only live 8 miles from the cathedral in Canterbury so we walked there, meeting up after a mile or so from our respective homes.
Luck had us pick November the 29th and 30th. Although it was cold it was dry and Storm Arwen, or what we got of it here in Kent had gone.

Stuart had bought a guide book and along with the helpful little stickers and direction plaques we ended the day some 18 or so miles later at The Grove Ferry Inn. About £90 for a twin room with breakfast. Nice.
The route passes quite a few churches, crosses some wet, obviously as it was November, areas and some very pretty Kent villages.

Day two was a bit warmer and a small English Breakfast set us up nicely for the 13.5 miles to Ramsgate. Again wet and a bit slippery in places underfoot, navigational errors were kept to one adding a bit of distance on the way in to Minster.
But I’m Minster we found the tea room at the Abbey. Lemon cake, tea and a complimentary mince pie added to a rest for our feet made a win win situation in my book.

So, not much detail but a thumbs up for the mini Camino that virtually runs by more front door. We recommend it.
Now we need to go and do the but from Rochester to Canterbury.

I used to go to the Grove Ferry Inn for lunch with my family many years ago on exeat from school. My family are from East Kent.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I used to go to the Grove Ferry Inn for lunch with my family many years ago on exeat from school. My family are from East Kent.

It's not as good as it used to be:

Deconstructed Fish and Chips - with batter scraps, skin-on lemon salted fries and pea and mint purée £14.95

I wonder if they still keep those rare breed pigs in the pen out the front?

 

[dougfitz]

It's not as good as it used to be:

Deconstructed Fish and Chips - with batter scraps, skin-on lemon salted fries and pea and mint purée £14.95

I wonder if they still keep those rare breed pigs in the pen out the front?

Nothing is ever as good as it used to be!! Always going to new places is one solution, and I keep getting closer to the other as I get more forgetful. Soon, everything old will be new again.

 

[OnHellas]

I certainly agree that the food probably isn’t as good as it used to be…….the kitchen was closed on the Monday night!!

Beer and crisps on arrival worked for us though.

Luckily M&S in Canterbury had sandwiches in stock for us to take with us……and biscuits.

 

[gollygolly]

Well, another part Camino completed…and weren’t we lucky with the weather.
We, that is my mate Stuart and I decided to take a walk.
Two days from Canterbury to Ramsgate.
We only live 8 miles from the cathedral in Canterbury so we walked there, meeting up after a mile or so from our respective homes.
Luck had us pick November the 29th and 30th. Although it was cold it was dry and Storm Arwen, or what we got of it here in Kent had gone.

Stuart had bought a guide book and along with the helpful little stickers and direction plaques we ended the day some 18 or so miles later at The Grove Ferry Inn. About £90 for a twin room with breakfast. Nice.
The route passes quite a few churches, crosses some wet, obviously as it was November, areas and some very pretty Kent villages.

Day two was a bit warmer and a small English Breakfast set us up nicely for the 13.5 miles to Ramsgate. Again wet and a bit slippery in places underfoot, navigational errors were kept to one adding a bit of distance on the way in to Minster.
But I’m Minster we found the tea room at the Abbey. Lemon cake, tea and a complimentary mince pie added to a rest for our feet made a win win situation in my book.

So, not much detail but a thumbs up for the mini Camino that virtually runs by more front door. We recommend it.
Now we need to go and do the but from Rochester to Canterbury.

A great couple of days…

Augustine Camino – Find routes, maps, descriptions and services for your walk

augustinecamino.co.uk

 

[Corned Beef]

Thanks for the bump. I've bookmarked it for later in the year. Interesting accommodation.

The Friars - Aylesford Priory, Maidstone, Kent

Set in the heart of Kent, England, The Friars - Aylesford Priory - is an ancient religious house of the Order of Carmelites dating back to the 13th Century

www.thefriars.org.uk

And you can also stay within the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral though that does not seem to be mentioned.