Hargra three

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

This is a quieter and safer way to walk between Longfield Station (Hartley) and Gravesend. It also uses field paths which are more reliably restored after ploughing and has a much safer crossing point over New Barn Road.

This route quickly leaves Longfield (aka Hartley) to climb straight up the side of the steep valley with skylarks nesting in the long grass and views to the towers of central London from the top. As you pass around the edge of New Barn along the valley there is a good view north to the Thames.

The land gently falls towards quiet Southfleet along footpaths and a particularly quiet lane. You leave Southfleet on a footpath tucked beside Broadditch Duck Pond, at the junction with New Barn Road which is often busy, but the sightlines here are relatively good. There are some more field footpaths and a few sections of quiet lane to get across a pretty valley before the bridges over the HS1 line and the noisy A2.

Through Gravesend it avoids the busiest roads (unlike HarGra 1 and 2) and uses two "green" footpaths as well as going through a couple of parks. You could just walk past on the road, but it'd be a waste not to pop in and enjoy the greenery.

There is a long, fairly steep climb of about 200m leaving Longfield but otherwise it is fairly gentle. There are a few kissing gates, two flights of wooden steps and some potentially muddy bits across fields. If you are coming from Gravesend the footpath entrance off the lane off N. Green Rd at TQ 6243 7106 is somewhat hidden, the hedge appears to have grown up around the fingerpost.

There is a pub and farm shop at Broadditch Green, there is also a picnic spot here, hidden behind the duck pond, entrance just off the footpath. There are also occasional buses (474, 475, 489)

This is a quieter and safer way to walk between Longfield Station (Hartley) and Gravesend. It also uses field paths which are more reliably restored after ploughing and has a much safer crossing point over New Barn Road.

This route quickly leaves Longfield (aka Hartley) to climb straight up the side of the steep valley with skylarks nesting in the long grass and views to the towers of central London from the top. As you pass around the edge of New Barn along the valley there is a good view north to the Thames.

The land gently falls towards quiet Southfleet along footpaths and a particularly quiet lane. You leave Southfleet on a footpath tucked beside Broadditch Duck Pond, at the junction with New Barn Road which is often busy, but the sightlines here are relatively good. There are some more field footpaths and a few sections of quiet lane to get across a pretty valley before the bridges over the HS1 line and the noisy A2.

Through Gravesend it avoids the busiest roads (unlike HarGra 1 and 2) and uses two "green" footpaths as well as going through a couple of parks. You could just walk past on the road, but it'd be a waste not to pop in and enjoy the greenery.

There is a long, fairly steep climb of about 200m leaving Longfield but otherwise it is fairly gentle. There are a few kissing gates, two flights of wooden steps and some potentially muddy bits across fields. If you are coming from Gravesend the footpath entrance off the lane off N. Green Rd at TQ 6243 7106 is somewhat hidden, the hedge appears to have grown up around the fingerpost.

There is a pub and farm shop at Broadditch Green, there is also a picnic spot here, hidden behind the duck pond, entrance just off the footpath. There are also occasional buses (474, 475, 489)