ROUTE 1066 – Day 7: Sunday 8 November 2026 – CANTERBURY to SITTINGBOURNE (18 miles)
The truth is that, in researching my ROUTE 1066 path from Canterbury into London, I have not been able to ascertain the precise, or even the imprecise, campaign trail of William the Conqueror-to-be and his army. With the force of numbers it is reasonable to assume that little would have stood in the way of the invaders, and also, having made the decision to leave Dover and then Canterbury, William was likely to be in a fair hurry to reach London in order to claim the English throne: at least (as a non-historian) that is my take on the research. I am sure that others may have more details, but I am taking a relaxed view on historical accuracy in favour of a good walk – and so, for safety and amenity reasons, I am avoiding walking up the A2 (a Roman Road that presumably would have been at William’s disposal) and opting for a route north of this artery, through the town centre of Faversham. In so doing I have also parted ways, at least for now, with the North Downs Way, as the latter heads off into the hills to the south of the A2. So my ROUTE 1066 path now follows the lower ground, through which William, just maybe, led his army 960 years ago to the month.
I was not to be disappointed in my choice of paths. I had not before heard of Blean Woods Nature Reserve, but on climbing out of Canterbury I was soon to be enlightened – both educationally and literally, as the sun broke through the early morning mist and lit the oak and chestnut forest through its full autumnal spectrum. I was lucky today, at the end of the first week of my ROUTE 1066 trek, with both the route that I chose and the weather – another super day on the trail!
With my feet up in the town’s Travelodge, I want to finish today with a thank-you to Steve, Emma and the team at Mix 92.6 radio in St Albans – for all of their support for my ROUTE 1066 walk and of the SAVE CASTLE FIELDS campaign. I have been sending in a two-minute audio update each day to Mix, and the station have been playing this at around 11.30 every morning – and yesterday was even more special as Steve interviewed me live from the trail, up on the Kent Downs! So if you have a moment please do listen in, on http://www.mix926.com to hear my latest news.
Thank you for following my ROUTE 1066 journey – re-tracing the steps of William the Conqueror in 1066 on his 360-mile campaign trail from Pevensey Bay, via Berkhamsted, and on to Westminster Abbey. If you are following my Blog, enjoying the ramble, and would like to help us to SAVE CASTLE FIELDS for future generations by pledging £39 to sponsor a 3×3-metre square of the land, then please click on this link:
THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING MY ROUTE 1066 WALK, AND FOR HELPING TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF CASTLE FIELDS
‘Do You Know Where You’re Going To’, my Blog heading for today, borrows from the title of a song that was originally recorded on the Tamla Motown record label by Thelma Houston in 1973. Written by Gerry Goffin and producer Michael Masser, some may associate the song closer with Diana Ross, who covered the number as the lead single from her eponymous 1975 album, as well as performing the song on the soundtrack of the film ‘Mahogany’ in which she also starred.
