Life in London undoubtedly comes with numerous perks of a big city, but it proves quite strong in opportunities to get close to the nature too, with plenty good walking spots all around the metropolis. That being said, there are times when I crave a proper hiking experience – or at least one that resembles a hike to some degree. There aren’t any proper mountain ranges close enough to London to go on a day trip, but I have managed to find a few places where I can challenge my legs by going uphill and enjoy beautiful views from a hilltop. One of those spots was near a small village called Wye, placed in the heart of Kent.

How I find good walking trails

I’m often asked about the logic I follow when I plan my trips. After all, I’ve only lived in the UK for four years, and I’ve visited more places than many of my British friends have! Planning a hike from Wye – which, at first glance, might seem like a desolated town in the middle of nowhere – isn’t an every day affair for most people. But for me, anything goes! My logic usually goes as follows. First, I go on Google Maps and look for green patches on the map – close enough to London, ideally ones I haven’t been to before. If it’s an area marked as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, that’s even better. Next, I Google the name of the Park/Forest/AONB and look for officially marked walking trails. Finally, I check whether I can get to the starting point of the trail by train. It’s a hit or miss, and unfortunately I’ve had to pass on many great potential hikes because there wasn’t a train station anywhere nearby. But sometimes, it’s a hit, and a plan is born.

Starting Point: Wye Train Station

Our adventure kicks off at Wye Train Station, an idyllic spot in Kent, England. In order to get there, I took a southeastern train from Stratford International to Ashford International, and then changed to a train to Wye. The route between Strtaford and Ashford is served by numerous trains per hour, which makes it an easy journey. Trains from Ashford to Wye are less frequent, typically running once or twice every hour. Despite having to change trains, you can get from London Stratford to Wye in under 50 minutes.

The Trail Begins

From the train station, I followed the road towards the centre of the village. After a short walk, I turned into an uphill path along the fields, towards a forest. After reaching the trees, I followed the woodland path and within a short climb, I reached the first spectacular view.

Lush Wye Countryside Views

As I treaded on, the surrounding countryside started to unfold like a canvas. Lush meadows, rolling hills, and the occasional glimpse of quirky British wildlife proved that I had made a great choice of destination. It’s the kind of scenery that makes your heart swell with appreciation for the great outdoors. Not a bad place to sit down and enjoy a meal!

Devil’s Kneading Trough

Now, the highlight of our journey: Devil’s Kneading Trough. This peculiar natural formation has a mysterious aura, with its peculiar rock formations and peculiar legends attached to it. Folklore has it that According to legend, if you walk around the Devil’s Kneading Trough seven times and then drink the water from the natural spring, you will see the devil! Whether or not you believe in old tales, there’s no denying the otherworldly beauty of this place.

Animal encounters

One of my favourite parts of nature walks are animal encounters. I like to feel like a Disney princess, at one with the nature. In the city, I’ll often go to local parks to hand feed squirrels and parakeets. I’m a frequent visitor to urban farms, and London parks with free roaming deer are some of my favourites. So, when I go on my hikes, I always cherish any unexpected animal encounters. On my hike in Wye, I had two of those.

When I entered an overgrown path through thick bushes and trees, I managed to capture one of my favourite shots of all times. In front of me, in the middle of the path, there was a doe staring right at me. I wish I had had a better camera with me that day, but I still love this picture. There were more does in the area, all shy and skittish – the one in the picture only stood still for a short moment, before running away.

The second animal encounter of the hike was much longer, and much less serene.

On my way back, I heard a sudden noise of something moving through the dry leaves behind a bush. I looked for the source of the sound and spotted a beautiful peasant. Large and colourful – not an every day sight for a city animal I am. I immediately reached for my phone and started taking pictures of the creature. I expected it to get scared and bolt away as soon as he realises he’s got company, so I tried my best to make the most of the opportunity and take plenty of photos. However, instead of running away, he came out of the bush and slowly walked around me, almost as if he was posing for better shots. What a treat! I took dozens of pictures, but eventually, it was time to head off – I didn’t want to miss the train.

The peasant, however, had a different plan.

I only managed to make a few steps when the bird materialised in front of me again. ‘That’s cute’, I thought. ‘I made a friend!’. I apologised to him telepathically, explaining that I had to go. I tried to walk around him, but he blocked my way again. Cute…? The awe and amazement quickly left me when I realised that the peasant had no intention of letting me go. Panic started to creep in. I even reached for a long stick, trying to scare him away (without hurting or even touching him at all, of course – just swishing the stick around to make him go away). He didn’t budge. Whatever direction I tried to walk in, he immediately blocked my way, effectively forcing me to stay in one spot, desperately using the stick to keep some distance – the peasant was getting too close for comfort.

The awkward dance lasted a few painfully long minutes. I was mentally preparing to fight for life and death with a colourful bird, on a hiking trail in the middle of nowhere. I even started to wonder how long it would take for my remains to be discovered. Possibly, not too long, as the encounter took place next to a big industrial farm with hundreds of sheep. Funnily, the area had plenty of signs informing that CCTV was in use. To this day I wonder if the situation was seen by anyone monitoring the cameras. Especially the grand finale, which must have been a hilarious sight for an external observer.

Having exhausted all other options, I had one final idea left. I ran. And boy, what a sprint that was! I ran away like my life depended on it. The peasant didn’t give up immediately, no – but after a hundred of meters, I came out victorious. I still can’t believe that an encounter which started as a cute, peaceful Disney princess moment ended up being an embarrassing sprint, my last resort to escape the sharp claws of the beautiful but frightening bird.

Happy Hiking!

So, there you have it, fellow adventurers. My hike from Wye Train Station to Kent Downs AONB, including Devil’s Kneading Trough, was a memorable experience. Rich in breathtaking views, and with an added bonus of an embarrassing animal encounter. One I won’t ever forget! I spent around 3 hours on the hike with frequent breaks to breathe in the views, but it’s easy to adjust the length of the walk to your needs. You can cut it short and head back to the village early, or you can keep exploring, following some of the many pathways. I will definitely go back to Wye and Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s a great destination for any hiker looking to travel from London using public transport. The commute of under an hour makes it a fantastic choice for a quick hiking trip. Happy exploring!

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