When in Folkestone, you can’t help notice the surrounding backdrop of the North downs hills.  There was a break in the gloomy winter weather, it was going to be a sunny day, blues skies and a gentle breeze.  I was heading up those hills of the North Downs Way.

Folkestone Sunrise

I was up early that morning walking along the Leas of Folkestone snapping some compositions with my mobile.  I was not ready to sacrifice a cooked breakfast for being up on top of the north downs in Kent for sunrise.

the Leas sunrise

North Downs Way

Initially it was cold, with some frost but a beautiful clear day.  I love exploring new areas and really appreciate walking in the sunshine, today was going to be a good day.  I parked up at the Folkestone White Horse and began my walk from there.  I was heading west along the north downs way towards Summerhouse hill not east towards Dover Hill and the Warren.

I could do the walk east another day.  I wanted the low rising sun of December behind me and not in my eyes.

It surely was a glorious day to be out walking with my camera taking landscape photos.  Compositions were presenting themselves everywhere.  I was making my way to that furthest peak in the distance called summerhouse hill.

I was at this point still just hand-holding my camera.  Ensuring I had a fast enough shutter speed to capture the slow-moving cattle.  You can always make sure of this by pushing up your ISO one or two stops.

National Trails

The North downs way also intersecting here with the Saxon Shore way is one of many national trails throughout the UK.  The North downs way stretches 153 miles from Fareham in Hampshire to Dover in Kent.  I would love to spend a few weeks out wild camping covering the distance of these national trails all on foot.

The low directional light of the early December morning sun was providing many opportunities for capturing compositions.   I was hoping to get lucky during my road trip and to have many days just like this.

Reaching Tolsford hill, early afternoon and the light was still fantastic.  With the sun at right angle to me I made good use of my polariser with my DLSR.

The Hill too Far

Branching off to the footpath south before Etchinghill takes you off the north downs way and along the Saxon Shore and Elham valley way.  I took a rest at this point and knew I had a long walk back to my car.  Summerhouse looked like the hill too far at this point.

A fantastic walk along the north downs way behind Folkestone in Kent.  I really hoped for more winter days like this during my road trip.  I was planning on visiting the west country next Devon and Cornwall.