Exploring the 5th continent: Ashford to Folkstone 30 miles

The Central London Outdoor Group (CLOG) (founded 1937) https://www.clog.org.uk has one easy cycle rides in the countryside nearly every week between March and October ranging from 20 to 35 miles. These are easily accessible by public transport from London and are on quiet roads or cycle paths.

By bike we explore rivers, canals, forts, castles, coast, marshes, gardens, woods, ruins, churches, mansions, cycle-ferries, churchyards, villages, lost railways....

Non members can come up to 3 cycle rides or other events to try us out before joining. To join CLOG, visit our website https://www.clog.org.uk and click on the orange join us button.

Photos from past cycle rides and walks: https://www.flickr.com/photos/clogpics/albums/

We also do around 20 trips away(weekend or longer) in the UK and abroad every year.

Cycle ride: Exploring the 5th continent: Ashford to Folkstone 30 miles

Jul 14, 2018
(Cycling)
'The World, according to the best geographers, is divided into Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Romney Marsh' Thomas Ingoldsby

'Romney Marsh, where the roads wind like streams through pasture and the sky is always three-quarters of the landscape.' John Betjeman.

A day exploring the mysterious 5th continent by bicycle - we will be cycling from Ashford to Folkstone. Bring your cameras!

We catch the HighSpeed train to Ashford International where we start the ride. This time we head southwest out of Ashford on cycle route 18 through Chilmington and Shadoxhurst. After 11 miles we stop for morning tea at the Miss Molletts High Class Tea Rooms: http://www.missmollettstearoom.co.uk

Then back on our bikes to head towards Ivy Church where we will have lunch at the 16th Century Bell Inn: http://www.thebellinnromneymarsh.co.uk. After lunch we cycle through Newchurch and Royal Military Canal where we are parallel to the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (the most complete collection of one third size Steam Locomotives in the world, running on tracks just 15 inches apart!). They are lovely to watch (and photograph).

After Hythe we drop down the coast and cycle by the sea towards Folkstone and Folkstone West station where we catch the train home.

Meeting up.

Be on the 9:41 am High Speed Train from Stratford International (not regular Stratford) getting into Ashford International at 10:15. This train starts from St Pancras International.

http://trains.im/schedule/W40234/2018/07/14/


Buy a super off peak day return from Stratford International (not regular Stratford) to Folkstone West (via Ashford Interntional) £21.60 with a discount card as we will be starting at Ashford International and returning from Folkstone West

Alternatively you can catch the slow train from Charing X to Ashford International leaving Charing X at 8:10 calling at lots of stations and getting into Ashford International at 9:30. There is a long wait for the above High Speed train to get in.

http://trains.im/schedule/W41432/2018/07/14/

For the slow train, buy an super off-peak day return to Folkstone West (via Ashford International) for £17.45 with discount card

The leaders mobile number for use on the day only can be found on the relevant event on the events calendar on the CLOG website.

Important - please read!

Do check our website (https://www.clog.org.uk/) in case of updates to this event. NB Only small selection of our events are on Letsride but they are all on on the web calendar, so this is another reason to check.

• Letsride followers (and other prospective CLOG members) can come on up to 3 events to try us out but after that you need to join CLOG (https://membermojo.co.uk/clog) to continue with us.

• Most attendees are members of CLOG and not on Letsride, so RSVPs do not indicate the total numbers expected.

NB Central London Outdoor Group is non-commercial and events are organised by other members of the club on a voluntary basis. All participants should make themselves aware of the risks inherent in walking, cycling and other outdoor activities and take responsibility for their own actions and choices of activity.

If you are interested in cycling trips abroad, we have the following provisionally planned for 2018:

• Easter 2018 Puglia (heel of Italy) cycle trip. Full, Waiting list in operation

End April 2018 Italian section of Ciclovia Alpe Adria Radweg (Alps to Adriatic), Tarvisio to Trieste. Hire bikes, Full, Waiting list in operation

• Early July Baltic sea trail Lubeck to Stralsund. Own bikes, Overnight ferry from Harwich and train

• Late August Jutland.

• Late September Dolomites to Carinthian Lakes

For more details, see: https://www.clog.org.uk/p/cycl.html

NB You need to have been on at least couple of day rides with us before you come on a cycling trip abroad AND you need to be a CLOG member. More information on CLOG membership can be found on our website:http://www.clog.org.uk (http://www.clog.org.uk/). These trips are often oversubscribed.

Don't forget to follow CLOG on social media
https://www.facebook.com/CentralLondonOutdoorGroup/
https://twitter.com/Clogtweets
https://www.flickr.com/photos/clogpics/albums/

Or visit our website
https://www.clog.org.uk/