A blast of arctic air late in November was followed by the heaviest snowfall in Kent for 25 years. Not Alpine depths, but just enough to get my snowshoes out. And I was able to walk from my front door and back to my front door on snowshoes. These photos were taken on 3rd December, but could have been taken on 2nd December when I had done the same snowshoe walk: a four and a half hour slog each day. Locally and mainly in Leybourne Woods where I do most of my daily hill walking training.

Trees and bushes laden with snow in Leybourne Woods.

Some small trees so heavily laden they were bent right over the tracks.

A steep section, and I edged down down the virgin snow, with snowshoes at 90 degrees to my intended direction.

More conventional snowshoe tracks on an easier grade. Along with signs of my Leki sticks fitted with large snow baskets.

I worked hard in the woods. Alternating between climbing the short but steep slopes in virgin snow with re-using tracks I had already made. All the time taking in the wonderful impact of the heavy snowfalls.

Leybourne Woods in winter

Leybourne Woods in winter

A glimpse of the small brook, with ice starting to form in places.

Fresh snowshoe tracks in a very wintery Leybourne Woods.

Another view of the icy cold brook in Leybourne Woods.

My hard four and a half hours on snowshoes was ending as I passed close to the small brook. Well satisfied with taking the opportunity to snowshoe directly from my home in Kent.