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Canterbury ales: Kent beer-hop

Posted on 7 May 20238 May 2023 by Rob Ainsley

I’m diligently researching a ride for an article that asked me to combine beer and cycling. Hmm. Clearly a mix to be approached with care, like ice skating while juggling machetes, or putting Brexiteers in the cabinet.

Sells everything under the sun: Faversham market square

I came up with the idea of a circuit round Kent: Canterbury–Ashford–Tenterden–Faversham–Canterbury.

Post haste: NCN1 west of Faversham

This should be an enjoyable one- or two-day ride in its own right, even for teetotallers, but also give those who enjoy a drink in moderation the chance to moderate quite a lot.

Flight of fancy: Beer tasting in Shepherd Neame Brewery

Because it goes through hop gardens, past oast houses and barley fields, enables tours round a hop farm and Britain’s oldest brewery, and ends in a historic city with some excellent pubs and microbreweries.

Ambitious

Chaucer’s band of storytelling pilgrims would surely have approved.

Side trip: Crab & Winkle Way south of Whitstable

Anyway, I spent three pleasant days riding some of Kent’s back lanes to investigate all this. Day 1 was Faversham to Canterbury, including an outstanding tour of Shepherd Neame – that ‘oldest brewer’ – and the Crab and Winkle cycle path from Whitstable to Canterbury.

Beer pilgrimage: Sun Hotel, Canterbury

There was quite a sidewind, which may help explain the name.

Obviously I think York’s better: Canterbury Cathedral

Day 2 was Canterbury to the hop areas of Tenterden along the River Stour cycle path via Ashford, home of the much newer Curious Brewery, next to Ashford ‘International’.

Sweet and Stour: River Stour path west of Canterbury

If Shepherd Neame is all about Olde Englande to the strains of Elgar, Curious is a US-style factory-chic brewery-tap and Oasis.

You’re never alone on a bike tour: River Stour path

Day 3 was a lovely jaunt from Tenterden back to Faversham. I went all along quiet singletrack back roads through picture-postcard villages that could serve as a backdrop to Darling Buds of May simply by getting rid of the parked cars.

Glad of those chunky tyres

Probably easier to build a period set from scratch, then. But I also went past countless former oast houses, all now converted to private dwellings (see also Post Offices).

Don’t ask

Eventually I’ll put up the route in detail. Meanwhile, here’s a few more images from the trip.

Think I prefer the white horses
Beer in Ashford? That sounds intriguing
This way out: Following the Stour west from Ashford
Blue notes: Bluebell wood outside Tenterden
Pole star: Hukins Hop Farm outside Tenterden
A quick look around Smarden village
I dread to think
Raise an oast: Converted old beerhouse outside Pluckley
Herd of cowls: More oast houses outside Pluckley
Take me to the ridge: Top of Hart Hill
Tree wishes: Woodsy lanes south of Faversham
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