Walk of the month: Horton Kirby

Walk of the month: Horton Kirby

This relaxing walk along one of the most picturesque stretches of the River Darent is the ideal route for all the family

Location: Horton Kirby, DA4 9GR

Distance: 3.2 miles (5.1km), allow 1 hour 30 minutes

OS Explorer Map: 162

Gates: 5

Terrain: riverside paths

Step count: approx 6,400

Parking: sports field in Horton Kirby

Refreshments and facilities: toilets at Horton Kirby car park; public houses in Farningham and Horton Kirby

Leaving the car park behind, follow the path through the gate towards the way-marked route to the river, which swirls over the weirs. The river is a Kentish tributary of the River Thames. Its name is believed to be from a Celtic word meaning 'river where oak-trees grow'.

Ponies graze on the open fields and sheep can be seen on the hillsides before you rejoin the river and pass under the M20 and then the A20 to head towards Farningham. Here the Lion Hotel, a popular haunt with generations of keen anglers including the writer Charles Dickens, overlooks the river.

The village flourished in the 18th century when it was an important overnight stop on the coach road from London to the coast and its fine inns are still popular with both visitors and local residents.

Just across the road from the Lion Hotel stands one of the finest mills in the valley. The corn grinding stopped at this picture book, white weather boarded mill in 1900. Past residents at the Mill House have included the infamous Captain Bligh, who was in command of The HMS Bounty when the notorious mutiny occurred in 1789.

Fifteen years after the Bounty mutiny, he was appointed Governor of New South Wales in Australia, with orders to clean up the corrupt rum trade of the New South Wales Corps, resulting in the so-called Rum Rebellion.

Cross over the town bridge and past the site of a former castle and medieval fairs – now Market Meadows, a village open space. Continue up the main street with its well-preserved stately Georgian houses and turn left just after Farningham House, opposite the Pied Bull public house, to follow the path back across the fields and along to the banks to the river.

Keep an eye out for the resident wildlife that the area harbors. The yellow breasts of grey wagtails are regularly seen along this stretch of the river and numerous holes in the bank are clearly the homes for small creatures such as water voles.

Passing over the river to the eastern side you will return back to Horton Kirby village. The White House on the main street is a place of significance in the area. It was believed to have been the centre of a thriving smuggling business handling spirits and silks at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries.

Wildlife Watch

When looking for wildlife on walks such as this, moths might not be the first species that come to mind, but August is a great month to see moths; including some day flying ones.

● Of the 2,400 moths that have been recorded in Britain, the majority are the so called micro-moths; small, brown and nocturnal for the best part.  Although an essential part of the ecosystem, these species can be hard to identify and the 800 or so macro-moths might provide a better introduction to the beginner moth spotter.

● Species to see in August include the silvery, a long-distance migrant and day flying moth; also look out for the five spot burnet, this is the black and red moth that can be seen on meadows during the daytime.

● Colourful species to look out for in your gardens this month include the garden tiger and magpie moths; both of which could be confused with butterflies.  However, the vast majority of moths hold their wings along the length of the body, in contrast to butterflies that hold their wings above the body at rest. 

● The caterpillars of some moths are very distinctive; look out for the elephant hawk-moth caterpillar, completed with false snout and eyes to warn off predators!

What else to look out for in August

For many species of wading birds, this is the month for migration between the Arctic Circle and Africa.  Places such as Pegwell Bay, Oare Marshes and Cliffe Pools are vital stopping off points for godwits, dunlin, greenshank and a host of other species as they build up there energy before migrating further south.

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