I am a staunch defender of the Ramblers. I’ve seen what it can do first-hand… the Ramblers knows how to work for walkers, and it knows how to have fun doing it. We recognise that we need to find our feet in a rapidly changing world. But I know this is just a matter of time, because we are as important now as we’ve ever been.

The river is dotted with brightly painted houseboats and even the residential properties on the opposite bank have a colourful carnival appearance. Every so often a blustery shower passes over, disappearing as soon as we secure hoods or open umbrellas

It was raining steadily as I made my way to Higham, to join the Metropolitan Walkers “What the Dickens” ramble to Rochester, in celebration of Charles Dickens’ bicentenary…