Parish Peregrination is intended as a circular walking route, as opposed to a cache and dash circuit, linking our additions to sadexploration's Church Micro series here at Goodnestone ( GC2VNYW - CM 1820), Nonington (GC2VPVE - CM 1822), Womenswold (GC2WDV5- CM 1859), Barfrestone (GC2VKH4 - CM 1817), Chillenden (GC2VKF6 - CM 1815),and Knowlton (GC2TEA6 - CM 1786).
The route is intended to start at and will be described from Parish Peregrination - Rosings. The entire route is approximately 14 miles (22.5km). It will take in the 6 fore mentioned Church Micro's plus 23 additional 'trail' caches. There is an opportunity to split the route into two, one of 6.5 miles (10.5km) the other 8 miles (13km). The route is via public rights of way with a number of moderate climbs and descents, BUT does require some quiet lane walking where the usual care will be needed. There are NO FTF prizes as such, although a number of the small caches only contain a very neat LED Torch, so PLEASE Trade Up - Trade Even - Or Don't Trade these items folks.
From Parish Peregrination - Carvet continue along the bridleway where you will pass under the main Canterbury to Dover railway line. As you exit the tunnel, there once existed a row of cottages on your right, demolished in the 1950's. Also on your right as you reach the road is an early 17th century brick built and Dutch gabled farmhouse. In the 1830's this small holding were purchased by the Goodnestone Estate and the then smaller property, used as a game keepers cottage, hence it's name, Keepers Cottage. Keeper's Cottage and a Victorian farmhouse named Acholt House, further right down the Snowdon to Aylesham road and still known locally as it's predecessor, Misery Farm, are all that remains of the once thriving hamlet of Acol. Carefully cross the road and follow the bridleway towards co-ords for Parish Peregrination - Acol Wood.
1800's map of route from Nonington to Womenswold
Acholt derives from the Old English meaning oak thicket or wood. The original East Kent dialect pronunciation was Acol (Aye-Kull), with a long AY and dropping of the T. The 'new' name Acholt, with a 'foreign' short A and use of the T, only came into general usage with the huge influx of 'northerners' , miners and their families, who arrived in the area in the late 1920's to work the new Kent Coalfields.
Following the cache refer to GC2WP3G Parish Peregrination - Wymynswold
Covid-19: If you have no intention of signing the physical logbook in this geopot at this time, please visit when you are prepared to sign it. ALL physical logbooks MUST be signed for a claim to a find to be made.