One of the roads around here that I really love to ride is that which runs through the Elham Valley. It goes from the A2 Dover-Canterbury, just above Barham, down to the A20 just below Etchinghill.
There's some attractive villages along the way too, and a lot of history!. As usual, I worked out where I wanted to go, and what I wanted to see, and it should have been easily achievable- do the entire length of the valley and then tuirn left and pick up a couple of extra villages on the end.
Problem is, the British weather thought otherwise. I managed to get half way along, and it started to rain. Only lightly, but I had three washing machine loads on the line at home drying. Oh well, there'll be other days.
So, I covered tiny little Postling, then on to Etchinghill, Lyminge and Elham, with a tiny diversion between Postling and Etchinghill to find a small war memorial alongside the A20 where it just encroaches on Sandling.
Now, when I got to Elham, I walked around the village, and as I walked back to Twinkle, the bell on the church clock reminded me it was lunchtime and I was hungry.
I was almost back to the Abbot's Fireside, when I spotted a new tea rooms that wasn't there last time I went through the valley.
One bottle of sparkling Kingsdown rhubarb (my new favourite) and a delicious cheese and tomato sandwich later, served by a lovely lady, I thought this is so me.
It's a very pretty place, the food and drinks are locally sourced, the service is impeccable and the pricing appropriate to the style of food they serve. I for one will make it a regular stop every time I pass between those hilly sides.
So, unusually for me, this is a firm recommendation:
Go on, treat yourself - The Elham Tea House, two doors down from the Abbot's Fireside in the centre of the village, right on the main road. Please visit and show your love by signing the petition on the counter, to stop the Parish Council limiting their hours unfairly.
clicky-wicky their web-site above too.
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