Hargra two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Hargra here.

Accurate and decent route.

Not as good as it should be. I've tested various ways between Gravesend and Longfield since walking this. I found a good one and uploaded it as HarGra 3.

The route from Gravesend Station to the A2 was entirely along the busy A227. By the junction of New House Lane I'd had enough and followed a quieter way through which is part of GraSol 1 which often overlaps with this route. When I crossed the A227 later the traffic was no better.

Where the two routes rejoined is a long green space that separates the edge of Gravesend from the A2 (pretty much a motorway here) and the High Speed 1 train line, this was a bit noisy but quite pleasant. Beyond the A2/HS1 it was an enjoyable rural walk to the pretty hamlet of Nash Street.

A few hundred metres later is a crossroads of footpaths and at this point I went to Meopham Station instead. There's a short bit of footpath down into the valley and up again to Park Hill which I haven't tested. Marc tested the same bit on HarSol 2, his review says "My wayfinding app had difficulty plotting the route from Nurstead Court towards Park Hill lane. Nurstead Court have flagged each gate with a yellow-topped post which should be visible from either side of the field. On the other side of Wrotham Road the suggested footpath across the field has been ploughed over by the farmer and the footpath signs damaged -- I ended up following the edge of the field to reconnect to the route."

I have walked along Park Hill and it was a lot busier that I'd expected. Walnut Hill Road to the north is quieter. The residential streets in New Barn are low traffic, big front gardens, all very green and quiet. But New Barn Road is very busy and a bit faster than the 30mph it should be (see also HarGra 1), you have to cross somewhere between Fairlight Cross and Fawkham Avenue but the sightlines are spoilt by the curve of the hill and a bend. I'm surprised there isn't a traffic island or crossing given that the road cuts the village in two.

On the edge of New Barn this route goes down the hillside then on to Longfield on the B260. There is only a full pavement on the south side. There is a particularly lovely footpath along the top of this hill used by several other local Slow Ways.

There were no mid-route rest points, but there is Shell garage on the edge of Gravesend. There is a bus stop (306, 308) where Nash St meets Wrotham Rd and Meopham Station (Mep-um) is less than 1km south from Nurstead Court, very handy if you unexpectedly need to stop early.

I think HarGra 3 is the best alternative as it's shorter and has a pub and picnic spot halfway. But if you are set on going past Nash St and through New Barn I advise combining GraSol 1 and HarSol 3 to make a safer and more enjoyable version of this route.

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