From the National Trust car park at Ightham Mote, there is an enjoyable one hour circular walk up nearby Wilmot Hill. Clearly marked by green arrows, the walk starts with a dull climb on a wide mud path lined by weeds and woods. But stick with it. After about a mile, the route cuts through some trees and, just before the top, there is a small bench with a spectacular view across the forests and fields below. The path then descends on the edge of a surprisingly steep and dramatic escarpment, offering more timeless vistas through the precarious and sometimes ancient trees. Shipbourne's sturdy Victorian church is one of the few buildings to intrude on this snapshot of rural England. The route then rolls back to Ightham Mote where you can get a well-earned slice of coffee and walnut cake in the restaurant overlooking this Medieval moated manor house. 8/10
