Click on thumbnail to view full size picture of the Chase at Monkton Farleigh Manor

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LONGSPLATT to MONKTON FARLEIGH

Part of the route follows the MacMillan Way, a 390 mile coast to coast route running diagonally across England from east to west. It was originally devised to raise funds for the Macmillan cancer charity, now it is fully way marked and has recently been extended with connecting loops to other major routes.

The most intriguing part of Monkton Farleigh is underground! Soon after you leave way point 13, two fields over to your left, you might just see the thin chimneys of a small factory like building. This is almost the only surface evidence of a massive 80 acre World War 2 secret underground ammunition dump, the largest in Europe. To conceal its operation trains entered nearby Box tunnel and diverted under Monkton Farleigh to unload. Suspicion over disappearing trains was prevented by a decoy train leaving the exit end of the tunnel as if it had made a normal passage. Nowadays this deceit would not be necessary, the train service is so erratic nobody would notice. If you want to see pictures of the ammunition dump go to www.undergroundkent.co.uk and select "outside Kent". 

You may think it odd to double back on yourself between waypoints 15 & 18. This has been added for the views westward from the golf course. If you want to shorten the route you can walk down the road from waypoint 15 and join up again at waypoint 19 but my advice is don't miss this.

There are  three pubs on the route.

How to get there:- From the junction of the A365 and the B3109 south east of Box at ST 8390 6711 take the road signposted to Kingsdown. Go up a hill and take the second road on the right to Longsplatt at ST 8289 6726. Almost immediately there is a small lay-by on the left, park there.