Description
This route is far more varied than NorGra 1 which is almost all alongside one busy road which has a lot of HGV traffic. Some parts of this share some of that traffic, but you also get to be up close to the river, and see some interesting signs of how the area has changed over the last few centuries.
Most of the route uses the England Coastal Path by the River Thames through a a mix of small and large scale industrial areas with intermittent views up and down the river. Towards Gravesend there is an increasing amount of housing redevelopment. At Gravesend are signs of faded grandeur, the once record-breaking pier and the High Street aka Gravesend's "Heritage Quarter" and you can visit the burial place of Pocahontas with a tiny detour into the churchyard.
The England Coastal Path signage is pretty consistent but there are currently two medium-term diversions (in that short stretch!) so of course this route uses too. When those paths are reopened the route will still work, but you might want to use the reopened bit at Rosherville, between the new housing estate and the river. Consider sticking with the diversion at the Northfleet end though, it goes past Northfleet Harbour, a nature reserve, and also through the Tarmac works, which was strange and interesting with a good view across to the entrance to Tilbury deep water port
This route is far more varied than NorGra 1 which is almost all alongside one busy road which has a lot of HGV traffic. Some parts of this share some of that traffic, but you also get to be up close to the river, and see some interesting signs of how the area has changed over the last few centuries.
Most of the route uses the England Coastal Path by the River Thames through a a mix of small and large scale industrial areas with intermittent views up and down the river. Towards Gravesend there is an increasing amount of housing redevelopment. At Gravesend are signs of faded grandeur, the once record-breaking pier and the High Street aka Gravesend's "Heritage Quarter" and you can visit the burial place of Pocahontas with a tiny detour into the churchyard.
The England Coastal Path signage is pretty consistent but there are currently two medium-term diversions (in that short stretch!) so of course this route uses too. When those paths are reopened the route will still work, but you might want to use the reopened bit at Rosherville, between the new housing estate and the river. Consider sticking with the diversion at the Northfleet end though, it goes past Northfleet Harbour, a nature reserve, and also through the Tarmac works, which was strange and interesting with a good view across to the entrance to Tilbury deep water port
Status
This route has been reviewed by 4 people.
There are no issues flagged.
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 4
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (4)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 2
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Northfleet
Grid Ref
TQ6162174438
Lat / Lon
51.44587° / 0.32436°
Easting / Northing
561,621E / 174,438N
What3Words
wells.churn.moving
Gravesend
Grid Ref
TQ6459174000
Lat / Lon
51.44108° / 0.36686°
Easting / Northing
564,591E / 174,000N
What3Words
zips.feeds.behind
| Northfleet | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ6162174438 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.44587° / 0.32436° |
| Easting / Northing | 561,621E / 174,438N |
| What3Words | wells.churn.moving |
| Gravesend | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ6459174000 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.44108° / 0.36686° |
| Easting / Northing | 564,591E / 174,000N |
| What3Words | zips.feeds.behind |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
Jane Taylor
27 Apr 2024Walked Gravesend to Northfleet.
An interesting walk giving views across the Thames to Tilbury, and a close up walk-thru view of the local industrial area. The Andrex factory was a surprise bonus!
Daisy’s description and review pretty much sum up my experience too. Not much traffic, but where there is it may include HGVs and tankers.
People were chatty: the fisherman told me he was fishing for flat fish that come for the prawns by the Ebbsfleet creek, we discussed the water quality; and the HGV driver outside the Andrex factory told me he used to work there but doesn’t any more, but he still likes to park up his HGV next to the ‘no HGVs’ sign by the gates.
The giant white brick photo, I assume this is paper waiting patiently outside to be turned into Andrex, although it doesn’t seem to be rain proofed.
Had a good lunch at a cafe in Gravesend, an interesting town. Sadly the ferry to Tilbury in Essex has stopped running, I hope it doesn’t damage the local economy too much. The Slow Way to Tilbury, and with it the direct Kent -Essex connection, have gone.
Steps, several, especially at Gravesend on the sea wall. (Photo).
Andrew
16 Feb 2024I've not walked NorGra one, but I'm pretty sure that this alternative is much better!
Despite following the River Thames for much of the way, this is a very industrial/urban route. It passes through a number of industrial sites and areas under active redevelopment (Feb 2024), so be prepared for diversions, and expect some sections where pedestrian traffic is strictly segregated from industrial vehicles (for obvious reasons).
Although there are good views up and down the river at times, is not always a pleasant walk along some of the industrial estate roads. However once you get to the new Cable Wharf development at Rosherville it is much less stressful, and a straightforward walk into Gravesend, with a fair bit of historical interest along the way.
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Daisy C
23 Sep 2023NorGra 1 looks dull and grim. This route has a lot more variety and was pretty quiet, perhaps because I walked through the industrial section after 5pm. There were many interesting things to see onland and I'm a sucker for views across the Thames, although it would be a bit more interesting, for me, with a bit more exposed mudflats and possibly wildlife. Highlights, apart from the river views: Gravesend's high street, the Andrex Tower, and watching two (maybe three?) tug boats masterfully pull, nudge and shove an enormous container ship through a near 180 turn into Tilbury docks. And I probably should have stopped to look at Pocahontas memorial.
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