Walk along the seaside: Faversham to Whitstable

Come and join us on this beautiful Seaside walk to celebrate summer. We will start this walk in Faversham, then followe the little known marshy coast of North Kent to Whitstable, where we can dip our feet in the sea and enjoy a drink and some seafood, before we take the train back home.

Faversham is an unexpected delight, with picture book medieval streets radiating from a pretty and bustling market square. We take a little time to admire this beautiful town. We will find Kent’s oldest street market and quaint streets lined with tea rooms. We will pick one to have a coffee break before we start our walk.

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As we make our way from Faversham, we will follow its historic waterway, we will reach the land that once formed the Larder of London. From here vital supplies of grain, fruit and hops were sent to the capital by sailing barge. On the other side of the creek we will see the Shipwright’s Inn, widely thought to have been used by smugglers until recent times, because of its extremely isolated position.

We will continue our way along the shoreline Saxon Shoreway, passing the Swale Nature Reserve, a stopover for many rare bird varieties.

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Along the way we will find a nice spot for a picknick, enjoying the wide open views.

We then walk to our final destination, the picturesque fishing and harbour town of Whitstable. We will stop for a drink at The Old Neptune and/or a snack at the beach.

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How to get there:

We meet up at 9.15 am at Denmark Hill train station to get the 9.44 Southeastern train, which should arrive at Faversham at 11.07 am.

Tickets:

We will be getting a return ticket to Whitstable. The regular price for an off-peak day return ticket from Denmark Hill is £27.40. Don’t forget, if you have a freedom pass, you only need a ticket from Gravesend to Whitstable

We can get 1/3rd off if we buy with Groupsave if we buy our tickets together, in in groups of 3 to 9 people. That will bring the ticket price to ca £18.50 p.p for non-Freedom pass holders and ca £12.20 for Freedom pass holders.

There are always long queues for both the ticket office and the machines, so please arrive at on time if you wish to get a GroupSave ticket (and bring some cash to make buying the tickets easier).

Important – while we will try on the day to get people in groups of 3 or more to access the GroupSave tickets, this is not always possible and you might need to buy a full-priced ticket. If you buy a GroupSave ticket, please bear in mind that you have to stay in groups of at least 3 on your return journey, otherwise the ticket will not be valid.

You can either meet us at Denmark Hill, or you can meet us along the way or in Whitstable. Please take note of Tony's mobile 079 7030 4223, just in case you can’t find us!

If you do get the train at a different station, please make sure you text Tony on 079 7030 4223 to tell me you plan to do that, and then again once you are on it, and in which carriage you are, so we don't get all worried that you are not there! :-)

Terrain and length of the route:

The route is about 9.5 miles/ 15 kilometres. This walk mostly follows the river banks and the sea, so is fairly flat.

Toilets, food/drinks & what to bring:

I suggest we bring a pick-nick and enjoy our lunch outside, but if the weather isn’t very attractive for eating outside, there is a tea room along the way in Sea Salter.

Don’t forget to bring something to drink for on the way!

This walk will happen in any weather, unless it is unsafe, so bring your waterproofs and (preferably waterproof) shoes with a good grippy profile. I am optimistic about the weather and have a reputation to uphold, so I am counting on sunny weather. So make sure you don’t forget to bring a sunhat/cap and sunscreen!

Who can join?

Anyone who can comfortably walk 10 m/15 km.

If you have ever walked with us at Silverfit Burgess park, and you are comfortable walking in the medium/social walking group speed you will be fine, and if you walk with me in any of our Fit and Happy Outdoors walks, you will be totally fine too.

Feel free to bring a friend or family member, with or without poles. Nordic Walkers or not, that doesn’t matter, as long as they are Fit (enough) and Happy! 😊

Are you a Nordic walker but don’t have your own poles? Would you like to borrow some from me? Text Tony on 079 7030 4223 and we will bring you some.

Cost:

£10 or, if you are one of our regular Fit and Happy Outdoors walkers, one stamp on your 10 session card.

If you are genuinely poverty stricken- £5

(Train tickets and food or drinks at café not included)