Lymhaw two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Lymhaw here.

This was a good route to walk with some very lovely views but I can't recommend using it. There is one footpath that has been deliberately blocked and some other mapping issues which made the navigation somewhat uncertain, including inside a Military Training Zone where soldiers were actually firing towards the path. I think the cumulative effect is too great to recommend this exact route as uploaded so I’ve uploaded a new version, essentially the same, but you can trust it where you can't trust the OS map. Perhaps for other Slow Ways I’d just have highlighted similar issues in the review but the gunfire was uncomfortable, although they didn't actually shoot towards me, and hopefully were using blanks. Finding a way out of the cemetery was timewasting and led to me twice disturbing a couple laying wreaths on graves, uncomfortable in a different way.

The attached map (photo 1) shows where there are issues with the Ordance Survey Map (marked as 1-7), or with the line of LymHaw 2 (A-F). A-E are because this route uses an approximate line drawn between landmarks. For some routes that will work out, but here in combination with the other issues it didn't. The line in the new gpx file fits tightly to the physical line you walk along. This route could also cause problems if someone is using OSM mapping, like the Slow Ways apps and website, as they don't differentiate Rights of Way from private paths or tracks, or show field boundaries.

In descending order.
6 and F: In Hawkinge Cemetery a public footpath (from east to west) has been blocked by a rough hedge probably quite recently (photo 2 and 3). There wasn't a diversion sign on either side of the hedge. The alternative in the new route is to the north and should keep you off the graves and away from mourners at crematorium services. From the notes on their photo survey by the route's author I think it’s the route they actually walked along.
1, 2-4, C, D, E: Inside the military training area. Either the OS line is on the other side of a fence from where the path in use is, or the LymHaw 2 route line does the same. But in different places. The distances aren’t always significant but neither system is reliable and 2-4 in particular made me question the map vs the landscape clues. The issues were magnified by the stern “Danger” signs to stay on the path (photo 4, they don't mean the path shown on the goverment issued maps!), the gunfire (photo 5, weapons pointing at the path I’d just walked along!) and the 'stiles' (photo 6) at each OS theoretical cross-over position. Granted they weren’t typical stiles and I couldn't see any yellow arrows, but I’ve come across boundary cross-overs which looked much less likely and few fences with deliberate sturdy frames that are only in specific parts of the fence and kept clear of vegetation.
7: OS path from road into cemetery has long been blocked by a stone wall / hedge (photo 7). It’s not actually used by the route but checking it began my distrust of the OS mapping.
A, B: not serious but farm gates do exist at the points where LymHaw 2 crosses to the wrong side of a boundary, again, could be a problem with OSM based mapping. Sometimes the OS map path line was on top of the boundary instead of along one side, which also might not help.
5: Sends you through someone’s garden. On the ground this was not inviting unlike staying on the lane (photo 8), but added to my sense that OS maps were unreliable in the area.

I’m a bit perplexed that issues 1-4, 6 and 7 even exist. You’d think that the MoD and the Folkestone District Council have the knowledge and experience to use the proper process for diverting a PRoW. But if that happened why aren’t the diversions registered on Kent County Councils maps, which are generally very up to date.

My test was in the last week of February 2024. There were several places that were very muddy and wide areas of waterlogging even on the tops of hills and on slopes. But I think this is very unusual, February was the wettest since something or other, the whole winter had been really wet. On the next leg of my journey, LymBar 1, many fields beside the River Nailbourne were partially flooded.

And Stephen, the original author, if you read this Hello, thanks for showing me a lovely walk, and I hope you understand why I'm being cautious. I think you actually walked the tighter-mapped version I've posted as LymHaw 3 so your review and survey would work just as well there if you can re-post them.

An alternative start to Lymhaw one walk. Walking down a track which takes you to open fields and up towards Great Shuttlesworth Farm farm with great views behind you. Pass through farmyard to more open fields up to Country lane and turn left. Walk along lane until Acrise Court turn right and walk through more open fields finishing at Paddlesworth where you join Lymhaw one. Turn left down lane and then right over stile to walk across fields to Crematorium. Walk through Crematorium to drive entrance. Turn left towards roundabout, go straight across and head in to Hawkinge and end at Tesco. Taking this route is easier on feet and with better views (my opinion).

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