Not far from home is the Leybourne Lakes Country Parks. An ideal place to catch the superb golden light.

My walk before the sunset had been through Leybourne Woods and then on other local paths in the area. All the time keeping an eye on the time and the descending sun so I could be on the Lakes footpaths at the right time!

On the 17th Feb I'd walked from home to the top of the North Downs near Holly Hill. Then descended and joined the surfaced bridle way that heads SW from Birling Place Farm to Coney Lodge Farm. Just at the right time!

The 18th February promised to see some fog, and then an overnight change in the weather. So I determined to make the best of it and headed up onto the North Downs at Birling Hill, then descended onto the North Downs Way and passed the Coldrum Long Barrow on my way to Trottiscliffe Church. With fog forming the brightest part of the sunset was some way before the glowing orb reached the horizon.

I'd forgotten to bring a torch which I would have needed if I wanted to walk due East to home. So I decided to walk back via Ryarsh, the bridge over the M20 and then alongside the A20. And was I pleased I went that route as I would never have looked back if I had taken the direct route!

Just a few metres over the M20 bridge near Ryarsh. Exactly 40 minutes after sunset my final photo of those 3 wonderful cold and clear February local Kent walks was perhaps the most spectacular.