Ightham Mote estate walk

I have been trying to get my steps up as working from home means I rarely move unless it is to get up for a tea and a wee. Obviously when we worked in the office I was still doing a desk job but I would get up more to use the printer, talk to colleagues, go get something for lunch. Now I just don't move!

I was recently gifted a smart watch and it has really shown me how I am not taking enough steps each day so I found a nice walk for Mr Poachie and I to do last weekend. We started off at Ightham Mote and set off on our merry way.

The Chaser Inn is a really great pub and thankfully they were open for campachoochoo's (takeaway) which made Mr Poachie happy.

We walked towards Plaxtol and it had some stunning views of the great Kent countryside.

The whole walk took around two hours and we walked about 10,000 steps which is more like it. Mr Poachie says that you only really need to walk around 6-7000 per day for it to make a beneficial difference. Obviously anything more is great but that's a minimum. 

I go for walks daily but its just for 30 mins, its quite a schlep up some steep hills so I know it is getting my heart rate up but I need to find another route just to get me over the 5000 mark.

We are so lucky to live where we do. I spent most of the walk looking at the treetops as I want to find some mistletoe and I read that it grows on other trees like a weed. We did spot some but it was metres high and we had no hope of getting to it!

Good old National Trust.

I think this is my favourite view of Ightham mote. 

I need to invest in some good walking shoes as I currently have my Hunters or a pair of Timberlands. Neither are very good for doing long walks.

Mr Poachie recently walked 30k as he is training for a charity 100k walk next year.

So that was our circular walk, very scenic and good for the soul.

My ingredients for the perfect walk is an interesting landmark or historical house, livestock, some sort of water feature and views to die for!