Walking
Our guided walks packs
The Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership have produced two fascinating walk packs of ten circular walks focusing on the Royal Military Canal and another ten that explore the wider Romney Marsh. Each guided walks pack includes walk routes of interest to both the novice and the experienced country walker. The walks range from three to nine miles in length. Each walk is unique, and introduces the reader to a mix of interesting wildlife and historical features that they may come across along the way. Each walk in the pack includes: an illustrated map of the route; route directions; and information regarding key places of interest that you pass along the route, from the historic churches to the natural history.
How to buy a walk pack
The packs are priced at £8. You can obtain a copy by sending a cheque made payable to Dover District Council, to:
The Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership
C/o Dover District Council
White Cliffs Buisness Park
Whitfield, Dover
CT16 3PJ
Alternatively, if you would like to pay by bank transfer, please contact us at: RMCP@dover.gov.uk, and we can provide you with the details.
Upcoming guided walks
To find out more about upcoming guided walks across the Marsh see our events page or find us on eventbrite.
Walking on the Marsh
When walking on the Romney Marsh it is easy to get a feeling of remoteness that is difficult to find elsewhere in the South East of England.
The farmland of the Romney Marsh has hundreds of miles of footpaths which, together with the quiet country lanes and bridleways, make it simple to organise walking routes that suit you.
Hawker dragonfly
The blue markings and eyes on this dragonfly show it is a male, the female has yellow or green marking and brown eyes.
Wildlife
Whilst walking on the Marsh you are sure to encounter some of the unique wildlife. It is impossible not to notice the charismatic marsh frogs and other wetland inhabitants such as dragonflies and reed warblers which bring the ditches alive during the summer. Keep an eye out for the shy water vole which is still common on the Marsh but declining dramatically across most of the United Kingdom. The area is also popular with bird watchers and most of the farmland bird species such as corn buntings, yellowhammers and skylark can be seen.
History
As you walk on the Romney Marsh you will see signs of its long and fascinating history. You may find one of the unusual and few remaining Looker’s Huts which once provided shelter for a shepherd. You may find yourself walking along one of the ancient sea walls, now far inland and evidence of the dramatically changing coastline.
Invasion Coast
There is a long history of conflict associated with the Romney Marsh largely the result of its proximity to the continent. There is early evidence of Roman, Viking and Saxon invasions and settlements dating back to the third century AD. Early in the 19th century the Royal Military Canal was built along with a line of Martello Towers to protect against a Napoleonic invasion. The full 28 miles of the canal is now open for walkers and provides an excellent long distance trail. In the last century, World War II Pill Boxes were constructed along the coast line in response to Britain’s most recent threat of invasion.
Smuggling
Wherever you walk on the Marsh you will hear tales of smuggling. Whether they are about the notorious Hawkhust Gang, Dr Syn, secret tunnels and hideaways, the fact and the fiction is often hard to separate and has provided inspiration to both authors and artists alike. To find out more about the smugglers on the Marsh, contact us to buy the Royal Military Canal walks pack for £8 and follow in the trail of the notorious smugglers, the Ransley’s.
