Up the garden path

On a clear sunny day we went with friends to Kemsing and climbed the hill crossing the North Downs Way. Our walk took us across fields of buttercups and through shady woods. We eventually arrived at The Risng Sun pub in Cotmans Ash.

This is a very quirky pub where time has stood still. No food is served, one real ale on pump, no music but a very welcoming landlady whose home this is. The inside bar/her living area is very dark with cluttered possessions and old furniture. The epitome of "vintage" and has probably been the same for the past fifty years.

The garden is beautiful with planters of colourful flowers. There are chickens in pens and a friendly labrador who was one of the nine pups born there when we last visited a year ago.

This 'off the beaten track ' pub had one other customer apart from us. A cyclist who had come across it by chance on his ride, and who coincidentally was a good friend of the people we were with.

We spent a couple of hours relaxing in the sunshine. The pub had no other visitors except for the landlady's family who were having a barbecue, which they kindly invited us to join. We refused as food was awaiting us back at home.

A lovely downhill walk back to our cars and a sunny drive home through the Kentish lanes. Apart from Eynsford and Shoreham that were crowded with day trippers, there were very few people about.

The rest of the afternoon and evening, we spent eating and drinking in the garden. A good ending to a lovely bank holiday weekend.

The extras are our friends enjoying the view down to Kemsing.