Ashford is far closer to Calais (48 miles) than to London (82 miles). If you travel by Le Shuttle you can be parking your car and walking out into the French countryside little more than an hour after leaving Ashford. By train and ferry you can do the same trip in two hours.
Since the opening of the Tunnel, links of all sorts have grown up between Ashford and the Continent; naturally, Ashford Ramblers have not been slow to take advantage of these.
Kentish walkers have been twinned with our energetic opposite numbers across the Channel, the FFRP (Federation Francaise de la Randonnee Pedestre) for the past three years. More and more of us from Ashford are enjoying day visits to France and many Ashford Ramblers are discovering the pleasures of walking, eating and drinking there. Our FFRP friends in the Pas-de-Calais and Nord Departments - and their excellent maps and guidebooks - are helping us to discover the pretty villages and to explore the attractive countryside of this nearest part of France on foot, away from the motorways which are all that most British visitors see as they rush by.
For many years, too, Ashford Ramblers have exchanged visits with walkers from our twin town in Germany, Bad Muenstereifel. We have spent wonderful weekends walking with them in the hilly Eifel countryside and have greatly enjoyed showing them the delights of walking around Ashford.
If you would like to join us and to help further the Entente Cordiale, why not get in touch.