Coldrum Long Barrow & the Lost Village of Dode (4K)

[@touriel8943]

Hawling and Mawling my dear! My family were Romany travellers who were horse keepers, blacksmiths, farm workers of Burham, Strood area, and cement workers in the Snodland chalk Quarries. They were mainly Harriss/ Kitney/Tiverrell. My grandad moved to a farm in Higham, when he and two Trice brothers (Titch & Tango!) married 3 Wain sisters from Dartford.

[@N-M362]

I was always told it is pronounced Mailing?

[@touriel8943]

@@N-M362 Ah. My great-aunt Violet lived there and we all said Mawling (to ryhme with Hall/Mall) but maybe there were different dialects. Working on the fruit fields I didn't even know a lot of our words were Romany Pogadi...I just thought it was Kentish.

[@Seansaighdeoir]

@@N-M362 Interesting never heard Mailing before. Lived around here all my life always heard it called Mauling / Mawling and Hauling / Hawling....

[@lindasueanderson8024]

I am glad you sat for an hour in that beautiful place - it deserves to be honored by our attention.

[@OkieJammer2736]

As I was thinking, 'Oh, you'll have to double your steps on that walk-away shot...', you said, '... 'cause I'll have to come back and get the camera.' WHAT a lovely video. THANK YOU!

[@morriganwitch]

This is so odd I was only looking this up this morning xxx

[@1958pobs]

Welcome to my little corner of Kent 🙏

[@louis_0064]

Really enjoyed the surprises on the walk back to Snodland -- that kind of thing is so gratifying.

[@pedallinraw]

Nice walk,like those trodden tracks beside the fields,I always look and feel a little sad looking down from a hill....sure it’s picturesque and beautiful but sometimes all I see is fields,hedges and fences and try to imagine all the woods and trees that have been cut down,those small areas of corpses of trees.....😔....still lots of woodland around but not enough anymore ....🙂👍🏻

[@RubbishGimpy]

You'll be hiking Snowdonia by the end of summer. Everything looks so sparse and isolated once you leave London. You know that 'feeling' that The Detectorist telly show gave, that summery, calm nostalgia, this is what your sunny videos project.

[@thewalkingman777]

So I visited the Lost Village of Dode too about 6 weeks ago, drawn in by the grisly info about it on Wikipedia. I found it a bit underwhelming to be honest as there is nothing really there other than that church building, which I couldn't go in. Luckily for me, the visit was redeemed by the fact that there were two men there who have been building a columbarium (I'd never heard of the word before) at the far end of the grounds behind those stones you showed. They let me go inside the columbarium to take a look and I spoke to the stonemason, who was from Dorset. It was very interesting and atmospheric. I had planned to visit Coldrum Long Barrow afterward but had already walked to Dode from Gravesend and so couldn't be bothered, so am well pleased that I have got to see it after all via you...thanks !

[@markriley4665]

Lovely walk John. I find the ancient histories of landscapes fascinating and you talk with such enthusiasm. Thank you.

[@Justificus]

Once again....so great... what an adventure! Thanks so much for taking us with you John!!

[@davelucraft5825]

Fantastic walk. 12 years ago I walked the Wealdway which runs from the Thames estuary to the South coast and actually passes by the Coldrum Long Barrow. I had wild camped close to the stones and on a beautiful summers early morning stood amongst them without anybody about. An uplifting experience. Thank you for helping me revisit that memory.

[@hazelwarwick3886]

Thank you I have justed last weekend an open day for the lost village of Dode and look forward to exploring the are this Summer. I found you video very interesting

[@chriscaughey1103]

Great walk for the beginning of April 2022!

[@karenbright3737]

I used to live in Snodland, by the clock tower. Beautiful place and lots of happy memories of our first family home.

[@cooper68ns]

Thanks john . Very much enjoyed that one cheers.

[@vinyldeptford919]

The church inside is enchanting and magical. If ever get a chance do it (it is hireable for events I believe)

[@sjsull]

Great film again, John. Isn’t it wonderful just to sit in the sun and ponder the stories already told. Thanks….

[@JTTW1455]

What an enchanting walk. Such history all around you. Thanks John.

[@MrNas42]

Isn't that part of Kent simply stunning? Planning on revisiting some of the Kent Megaliths this Wednesday in fact!

[@markames3688]

Beautiful country side. What a walk.

[@meruliouslacrimens5154]

About 40 years ago i did a walk down that way and although the villge was abandoned, the church was still there and it can be visited once you have obtained the keys from Gravesend council. Also in more or less same area is Kit's Coty and toad rock in Tonbridge woods.

[@michaeldillon3113]

Great walk - much of which I am familiar with . Many other ancient sites near coldrum - Chestnut long barrow , Addington long barrow , kits coty and little kits coty .

[@kimrobinson6280]

Smashing John 👍😍

[@cienfuegos1228]

loved that. i live in Lima and your vids really make me want to head back ... wherever that may be.

[@adrianlawrence5208]

Fantastic film. I feel very chilled having watched it.🙏

[@AlannahRyane]

Really Awesome thank you

[@paulcharlesworth9114]

What a beautiful walk - those shadowy lanes and undulating fields were so atmospheric. And walking to these sites is the best way to experience them. You get a real sense of the theatre of their location. Thanks for sharing.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

wow. made me feel so emotional. thank you very much.

[@philburdett]

Lovely walk sir...I was born in Kent so 'my roots' ye could say...

[@brianscales9912]

Another great walk and video John! I was born and grew up in North Kent so know Snodland and Halling. It's always great to learn new things and your videos are ALWAYS packed full of information! You picked a good day to enjoy the beautiful Kent countryside. 👍🙂

[@Dujfjfo]

I love your London videos so much. However, I am so pleased to see you venturing out. Love your channel whatever you upload. :)

[@tracik1277]

This one is going on my favourites list!

[@pwhitewick]

Your passion is a contagious John. What a joy this walk was, very much up our street, in fact we walked part of the Pilgrims way here in Hampshire a few years back. Thanks for sharing.

[@crackonchief]

Brilliant vid John not sure how I missed this one 👍🏼

[@dylvasey]

I'm an urban wanderer, but you may just have twisted my arm into venturing further afield with this video. Fantastic as usual.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

I'm an avid hiker out in the Canadian bush, this channel makes me want to take a stroll from one end of England to the other. My kind of weather.

[@brianturner5052]

Thank you John that was absolutely delightful. One of our favourites. Keep them coming.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Brian

[@Theoobovril]

Much enjoyed, John.

[@lizstevenson7801]

What a delightful walk, thank you John. I love this sort of walk and all the history, my cup of tea as they say. 💕🇦🇺

[@luapnosboh7421]

Lose yourself 😁

[@londonlocalbusinessdirecto4736]

I really love your country walks..the city is steeped in culture and history, but the country has a radiance that is so captivating...

[@annescott2748]

So interesting, thank you! 🌞

[@stephenspilsbury1975]

Love ur walks John perfect Sunday evening viewing….look forward to it every week. 👍

[@hArtyTruffle]

Poor you, being forced to go to the Red Lion. Terrible state of affairs! 😂 Lovely chalkie walkie ✨👊🏼✨

[@2H80vids]

What a beautiful walk John and so much better than you expected, especially towards the end. I always loved the name Snodland but only know it as a railway station, never having been there. I must admit, the picture in my head was nothing like the real thing though. For some reason, I imagined a smaller version of Basingstoke, with more concrete than charm. I do tend to misjudge the Southern Rly area, classing most of it as extended suburbs of London. I should know better, as I've found some beautiful places in that broad area. Thanks for another great wander.👍😁

[@sofa-lofa4241]

Our mini-Basingstoke is a couple of miles away, it's called Strood, Snodland is an idyllic dream in comparison! Growing up locally I have always called Snodland... The land of Snod

[@2H80vids]

@@sofa-lofa4241 HaHaHa, love it!! And it applies to a sleepy wee place too - perfect.👍😁

[@williamrobinson7435]

Can't tell you how great it was to see this film. A truly magical location, beautifully filmed. I trust The Red Lion lived up to expectations! 🍓🦁(there is no icon for proper beer on my phone) 😂👍

[@davidhumphrey1558]

Wow! Reminds me of the Germanic burial sites in the Teutoberg forest. Fascinating!

[@martinjames9250]

Yet again. Another great video! --- I've walked some of those footpaths myself with my dogs as I lived in the Medway towns (Strood) for many years. I used to ride my motorbike along all those lanes and Byways too. Even had a wander round that wedding location when it was empty and in a very sorry state. Good times but years behind me now. --- Thank you AGAIN !!!

[@gedm7949]

Can't believe you came to my neck of the woods!! It's such an historic part of the world - which is so easy to forget at times :-)

[@RollcageHiggins]

What a lovely walk so much to see and so peacefull

[@Jason.Brayshaw]

These rural hikes are so amazing. Even just watching them on my phone they're mesmerising. I envy the folks who watch these on a large screen TV :-) Great work, John!

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

That’s a special place John… made even more so by your visit 👌👍

[@maryraftery5583]

Definitely a Buzzard. a lovely walk as always.resident of Canonbury, but currently relaxing in a cottage by the River Nene

[@sofa-lofa4241]

Yeah, my moneys on Buzzard too, The Kites have been moving in though!

[@KarenSmith958]

A pretty special day. Makes me homesick :/

[@stuartshipton5612]

Glorious walk. I watched this on a miserable Monday morning, with the rain falling down outside, now longing for summer! Thanks John, much appreciated as always.

[@MeTheRob]

I walked half of the Pilgrims' Way in 1967 - from somewhere near Guildford to Canterbury - so long ago. It was the first time I ever slept out in a tent and didn't wash for days. Dreamy weather and wide views on your walk. Same here in Scotland late March, though we have had more snow since. Freezing today.

[@michaelmiller641]

I've never heard of Dode! And I live in Medway! Thanks John!

[@janebaker966]

Magical,evocative walk and places I've not heard of.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Great walk! Grandparents used to live at Larkfield, not far away. I remember as a boy, travelling on the bus through Snodland, when it was enveloped in dust etc from (as I recall) a cement works. I must revisit sometime.

[@sofa-lofa4241]

That was the blue circle cement works, later bought and run by lafarge, now a housing estate

[@michaelbrown984]

Lovely walk john.always interesting..

[@elizabethhammond5545]

What a great walk. Magical to see the long barrow.

[@MRoderick89]

I need to get walking more again but need places to sit down every do far as I have nerve damage and chronic pain in lower back and both legs. I will just take it easy and try getting further each 2 weeks. This place looks stunning. Thanks John

[@randallcosta74]

I'm like you with lower back pain, osteoarthritis and disks that disintegrated. Walking any distance is near on impossible for me. I love watching John's walks. I had always wanted to visit Britain but life got in my way. So I watch John and loves to listen to him speak about where he walks.

[@MRoderick89]

@randallcosta74 damn sorry to hear that buddy I was hoping to visit other countries in the near future but getting the medication there and the bother it can cause just puts me off as with stress it causes even more pain. Just need to find ways around it. Hope you have had a good weekend 👍

[@randallcosta74]

@@MRoderick89 Getting meds for pain can be harder tgan it needs to be and I live here!

[@MRoderick89]

@randallcosta74 I'm in the UK and getting the medical cannabis is ridiculous my Dr and specialists are all on my side about it but the government are so slow at moving on things I will be dead by the time they give it the green light

[@randallcosta74]

@@MRoderick89 I live in the US. My statejust legalized cannabis last year. There aren't many places where I can purchase it local to where I live. Communites are trying to decide where those places can be allowed. I do know it can be very expensive to make legal purchases. But as long as you have identification with a photo it shouldn't be difficult to buy. Get a card from a doctor is easy. The only ppl I know who got cards were those who had failured back surgeries. I don't know anyone who is better off after spinal surgery. In fact I had heard several admit they are worse off after the procedures then they were prior.

[@damedavidfrith55]

Thanks for another cracking ramble and not getting lost was a lovely week weather wise

[@jamesleighninger1828]

Just discovered your channel. Enjoyed this one and subscribed. I watch other similar videos, but for some reason, you make your video feel like you are really talking to me, as I walk along with you. Thank you for that! So, hello from Missouri, USA.

[@emmadudney2504]

lovely video john. It reminded me and my husband of when we lived in halling, We moved up to northumberland 3 years ago, What can i say. As you climbed down from holly hill on to the northdowns way if you would of turned left you would of come across a carpet of wild garlic. That was our favourite stretch of the north downs. Many thanks

[@Adventures_with_Sog]

Very enjoyable watch, thanks for taking us along with you 🙂👍

[@robbojax2025]

Beautiful walk. So relaxing to watch

[@keithallen4313]

I have ridden past the Lost Village a lot of times on my mtb and me and my dad have sat in the field at the top of Holly hill to watch the world go by. Paul and Rebecca Whitewick have just done a video on lost villages and worth watching.

[@john80c]

What a wonderful walk with its own lost village.

[@daveconyard8946]

Thanks John Keep Safe

[@dolorespinto3106]

So beautiful.

[@Micktyb]

Excellent walk in the good weather 😎👏👏👍thanks

[@tomaswest6541]

Excellent walk John. I saw three Buzzards on my walk today in North Dublin. The birds you filmed looked very like them. Buzzards?

[@Seansaighdeoir]

Wonderful stuff John, didn't realise your walks were out of London as well. I live fairly near this area but not done much walking it, although have been to Coldrum a few times. Plan to add this to my list coming up - many thanks for the tip!

[@DaraM73]

Lovely film and thoughts, John.

[@orangeedo]

I enjoyed that, thx

[@paulbillingham4594]

What a beautiful video John. It is freezing cold at the moment and this really cheered me up. I watch when I get home about 1 am after my shift in a hospital and watch as a wind down before turning in to bed and this one really touched me. Thank you for posting. You have prompted my wife into producing you tube films about churches. Your music choice is also just perfect.

[@darrenrobson5977]

Cracking stuff John the long barrow looked truly amazing

[@Badpenny13]

The bird of prey was probably a Red Kite judging by it's silhouette and flight. Another great walk, would love to spend some quiet time at these Coldrum stones on such a beautiful day.

[@awotnot]

Beautiful

[@gabriellaclarke9834]

Fantastic walk, beautiful landscape and really interesting, thanks John

[@AmandaGreenman]

I know this video is a bit old for me to comment on, but I want to say how much I enjoyed it. My maternal great-great grandmother and great-great grandfather were born in this area and then immigrated to the US around the turn of the century. So my genealogical record of their families + back as far as we can go list many of these little towns and villages in this area of Kent and on your map. It was so lovely and amazing to see you walk through this region. I hope to visit someday and walk the same path you did in this video. Thanks!

[@Steveoaudioandstuff]

I love the start of this one: lost villages of the plague, Neolithic sites and best of all, "I haven't worked out the distances, but I know it's walkable". Feels like this is gonna be another stonker John.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Steve - hope you enjoyed the rest of it

[@Steveoaudioandstuff]

@@JohnRogersWalks it was fab, what an amazing place to be, on a glorious day. Glad you made the train, thanks for sharing.

[@iainmacvicar5858]

Loved this. Used to live in Gillingham many years ago. Moved away when I was 19 just as I was becoming interested in the general area. Snodland seemed to have atmosphere about it.

[@janewalden2213]

Wonderful! Thanks, John

[@CthulhuInc]

that was terrific! i really enjoyed seeing the neolithic site, in particular! Please, if you haven't any more of those in your itinerary, i do ask if you can add a few, cheers! 😊

[@littleacornslandscapes2935]

Lovely walk, thanks John.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Little Acorns

[@AngelaHavey]

I loved this walk. I did this when I walked the North Downs Way (diverted to see both sites on route). Loved this walk.

[@peterspencer396]

Lovely one John! You had the weather for it! Well done.

[@stevegasparutti8341]

Thank you John. This is my local area (well nearly, im at Gravesend). This area is really beautiful and Dode is in an incredibly isolated valley quite cut off considering its in Kent. The church is a fine example of an unaltered Norman church, minus the aisles and tower, typical of later additions on Kentish churches. Please John come and do a walk around Gravesend itself - its full of History.

[@nelliemelba4967]

What a great place to start your summer walks, especially on such a beautiful day, but then I am biased as I know the area, and it's lovely countryside and views! Thanks for doing and sharing it.

[@lesliegprice6652]

Great walk in a beautiful part of Kent , I really enjoy your walks when they go wonky ! Nice to be reminded of the warm weather , it's currently -7 C at the moment ! Blessings ❤️

[@mamnisel4815]

Another scenic walk through the Kent countryside and lovely spring weather to xspur you on John.I trust a pint or two was consumed on the way back home,and deservedly so!!!

[@royhumphrey49]

Beautiful area for walking - short walks or long walks. Accessible by train in the Medway Valley by changing at Strood.

[@waynehicks2035]

WOW, what a beautiful video. I am a little biased as you are showing off my home county. Both those sites are very special to me. Watching the sun rise on the summer solstice from the Coldrum Long Barrow is quite something. Please revisit the area in late spring/early summer - the chalk grassland comes to life in a magical display of wild flowers!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Wayne I’m really looking forward to returning to walk some of the Pilgrims Way

[@Tom_J23]

Thanks John for video!

[@gparry42]

What a wonderful walk, I walked the north downs way many years ago and this brought back some happy memories which included aching limbs!!

[@rexharvey8420]

I have been introduced to you John, by my longest known friend Anthony Pickles and this area was our stamping ground in our youth in the fifties and sixties and was witness to some incredible times with butterfly nets on the Coldrum Downs, and saw in August 1959 the most profound experience of my (and maybe Tonys life) at a little cottage at Luddesdown near Dode. A great video obviously made by a cameraman with such enthusiasm. Thanks for stirring memories of a very happy childhood.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks for sharing those memories Rex

[@QatarSandMan]

Lovely Video

[@karljoachimgoll]

What an incredible walk! Here (SW Germany) it snowed last night after pouring down several days..🙁

[@thfccfht]

watched Oxford and this video back to back, great stuff, bit late now but there is a pub by he river, named the Head of the River...by the Thames/Isis...so much see in Oxford, a favourite City...