Queenborough — Faversham
Quefav four
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Quefav here.
Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Quefav here.
By Daisy C on 06 May 2023
Description
TLDR: Things to see: grazing marsh and freshwater pools, orchards for spring blossom, saltwater creeks with small boats and birds, Conyer village (attractive moorings, good pub), urban green spaces, quiet country lanes, interesting old houses and churches. An unavoidably long Slow Way but with lots of pitstop and public transport options.
This route goes through the Swale RAMSAR site, a nationally important natural area, and has some beautiful views over (and within) freshwater grazing marsh, and some views over mudflats and patches of saltmarsh from the bridges over the River Swale and Milton Creek. There are important bird populations and other less visible but equally special plant and animal species. Otherwise the majority is through agricultural areas, and within the residential areas mostly uses greenspaces, including Milton Creek Country Park. There is a very high density of tree-fruit orchards along the way so this is a good route for spring-blossom, particularly east of Conyer where there are also some charming old houses and cottages. Conyer is particularly pretty, with timbered buildings along a winding creek with small boat moorings. You might even get to see the Kingsferry Bridge spans lift for river traffic. This route uses the best bits of the other 3 routes rethink the rest of the route based on the best bits of the other 3 routes, my recent test-walks and some desktop research.
A new route is necessary even though none of the original (three!) routes have been tested yet. SitQue one, which overlaps them, has been tested though and there’s a big wet problem. You can’t use it unless you’re sure it’s been dry (including tides) and is warm enough to paddle. The Neatscourt Marshes footpath (Isle of Sheppey) uses a ford not a bridge (TQ 9156 7024) and can range from shoes-off to needing wellies through surrounding fields let alone the ford itself. The SitQue 2 route has more details plus why the apparent alternatives can’t be used.
This is one of the 3 longest Slow Ways in Kent, which are coincidentally in a chain, Queenborough-Faversham-Ashford-Hythe. As the crow flies QueFav is already 15km long, but a single crossing point on the River Swale, and again over Milton Creek forces a much longer route, the shortest possible is 22km, using many busy with no pavement or decent verge. At the other extreme a 36km lovely, if rather remote route could be along the Coastal Path on Sheppey (when it's finished) then through Iwade, rejoining the Coastal Path after Milton Creek then all the way round to Faversham.
A long route should have rest, feed and transport options, so the longest gap is 6km rather than 10 or 15! Here's a list.
* Queenborough: head back to quayside, 6 pub/tea room/cafes, a shop and kebabs or fish & chips. * Swale, just after bridge: train station. * Iwade: pub, chippy, cafe, mini-mart and buses. Or change your mind and swap to a shorter Slow Way to Sittingbourne. * Kemsley: mini-mart and train station. * Sittingbourne Golf Course, Tonge: bar/restaurant open to everyone. * Conyer: a pub, I can recommend it. You could branch off here to end early either at Teynham Station (footpath from The Moorings, 1.8km), another mini-mart there, or carry onto Teynham X3 bus stop near Lynstead Lane (a further 1km on Station Rd). * Davington (Faversham outskirts): another chipshop and mini-mart, near Roebuck Rd. * Faversham: an abundance of places to eat and shop, starting from Preston St immediately next to the station, no route deviation required.
You could apply the Sheppey dry diversion to QueFav 1 or 2 or 3. But using the Slow Ways criteria QueFav 4 is the best ;-> and here’s why...
Keeps your feet dry on the Isle of Sheppey. Doesn’t use the fabulous, but lonely and long Coastal Path.
At Kingsferry Bridge avoids unnecessary scramble down overgrown and steep bank TQ 902 683.
Just before Iwade the OS marked public footpath is impenetrable, this follows an actual path in next-door field (same farm) used by locals TQ 902 683. Within Iwade and to the A249 footbridge: simpler to navigate, non-pavement road walking is quieter and slower traffic. Goes through the centre of an orchard for spring blossom TQ 894 664. Kemsley to Milton Creek: uses an off-road route through Milton Creek Country Park, starting at TQ 9067 6579. These paths are not shown on OS maps. Murston to Tonge: avoids extensive flytipping near caravan site TQ 926 649 and the extremely wet (in wet weather) lane through marsh north of Little Murston TQ 934 660. Takes straightest and simplest foot route through Murston from Central Park TQ 922 644 out to Lomas Rd. Tonge Mill to Conyer: uses access-only unclassified roads selected for National Cycle Network Route 1, and passes the golf course. Avoids Lower Rd (tertiary) through Teynham which is straighter, wide enough for two cars to pass, and has more traffic plus a 1.9 and a 1.2 km no-pavement sections. Conyer to Faversham outskirts: uses Swale Heritage Trail (no longer promoted) on small quiet roads (also NCN 1) and footpaths - orchard views and very old churches. Again avoids busy Lower Rd and long Coastal Path. Does intersect Coastal Path so you could join for a section (see QueFav 3). From near Luddenham to Faversham Station: a shorter off-road route to Faversham town edge, then a direct route to station
TLDR: Things to see: grazing marsh and freshwater pools, orchards for spring blossom, saltwater creeks with small boats and birds, Conyer village (attractive moorings, good pub), urban green spaces, quiet country lanes, interesting old houses and churches. An unavoidably long Slow Way but with lots of pitstop and public transport options.
This route goes through the Swale RAMSAR site, a nationally important natural area, and has some beautiful views over (and within) freshwater grazing marsh, and some views over mudflats and patches of saltmarsh from the bridges over the River Swale and Milton Creek. There are important bird populations and other less visible but equally special plant and animal species. Otherwise the majority is through agricultural areas, and within the residential areas mostly uses greenspaces, including Milton Creek Country Park. There is a very high density of tree-fruit orchards along the way so this is a good route for spring-blossom, particularly east of Conyer where there are also some charming old houses and cottages. Conyer is particularly pretty, with timbered buildings along a winding creek with small boat moorings. You might even get to see the Kingsferry Bridge spans lift for river traffic. This route uses the best bits of the other 3 routes rethink the rest of the route based on the best bits of the other 3 routes, my recent test-walks and some desktop research.
A new route is necessary even though none of the original (three!) routes have been tested yet. SitQue one, which overlaps them, has been tested though and there’s a big wet problem. You can’t use it unless you’re sure it’s been dry (including tides) and is warm enough to paddle. The Neatscourt Marshes footpath (Isle of Sheppey) uses a ford not a bridge (TQ 9156 7024) and can range from shoes-off to needing wellies through surrounding fields let alone the ford itself. The SitQue 2 route has more details plus why the apparent alternatives can’t be used.
This is one of the 3 longest Slow Ways in Kent, which are coincidentally in a chain, Queenborough-Faversham-Ashford-Hythe. As the crow flies QueFav is already 15km long, but a single crossing point on the River Swale, and again over Milton Creek forces a much longer route, the shortest possible is 22km, using many busy with no pavement or decent verge. At the other extreme a 36km lovely, if rather remote route could be along the Coastal Path on Sheppey (when it's finished) then through Iwade, rejoining the Coastal Path after Milton Creek then all the way round to Faversham.
A long route should have rest, feed and transport options, so the longest gap is 6km rather than 10 or 15! Here's a list.
* Queenborough: head back to quayside, 6 pub/tea room/cafes, a shop and kebabs or fish & chips. * Swale, just after bridge: train station. * Iwade: pub, chippy, cafe, mini-mart and buses. Or change your mind and swap to a shorter Slow Way to Sittingbourne. * Kemsley: mini-mart and train station. * Sittingbourne Golf Course, Tonge: bar/restaurant open to everyone. * Conyer: a pub, I can recommend it. You could branch off here to end early either at Teynham Station (footpath from The Moorings, 1.8km), another mini-mart there, or carry onto Teynham X3 bus stop near Lynstead Lane (a further 1km on Station Rd). * Davington (Faversham outskirts): another chipshop and mini-mart, near Roebuck Rd. * Faversham: an abundance of places to eat and shop, starting from Preston St immediately next to the station, no route deviation required.
You could apply the Sheppey dry diversion to QueFav 1 or 2 or 3. But using the Slow Ways criteria QueFav 4 is the best ;-> and here’s why...
Keeps your feet dry on the Isle of Sheppey. Doesn’t use the fabulous, but lonely and long Coastal Path.
At Kingsferry Bridge avoids unnecessary scramble down overgrown and steep bank TQ 902 683.
Just before Iwade the OS marked public footpath is impenetrable, this follows an actual path in next-door field (same farm) used by locals TQ 902 683. Within Iwade and to the A249 footbridge: simpler to navigate, non-pavement road walking is quieter and slower traffic. Goes through the centre of an orchard for spring blossom TQ 894 664. Kemsley to Milton Creek: uses an off-road route through Milton Creek Country Park, starting at TQ 9067 6579. These paths are not shown on OS maps. Murston to Tonge: avoids extensive flytipping near caravan site TQ 926 649 and the extremely wet (in wet weather) lane through marsh north of Little Murston TQ 934 660. Takes straightest and simplest foot route through Murston from Central Park TQ 922 644 out to Lomas Rd. Tonge Mill to Conyer: uses access-only unclassified roads selected for National Cycle Network Route 1, and passes the golf course. Avoids Lower Rd (tertiary) through Teynham which is straighter, wide enough for two cars to pass, and has more traffic plus a 1.9 and a 1.2 km no-pavement sections. Conyer to Faversham outskirts: uses Swale Heritage Trail (no longer promoted) on small quiet roads (also NCN 1) and footpaths - orchard views and very old churches. Again avoids busy Lower Rd and long Coastal Path. Does intersect Coastal Path so you could join for a section (see QueFav 3). From near Luddenham to Faversham Station: a shorter off-road route to Faversham town edge, then a direct route to station
Status
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 1
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Queenborough
Grid Ref
TQ9129872086
Lat / Lon
51.41551° / 0.74966°
Easting / Northing
591,298E / 172,086N
What3Words
plodding.hurray.leafing
Faversham
Grid Ref
TR0153860948
Lat / Lon
51.31195° / 0.89042°
Easting / Northing
601,538E / 160,948N
What3Words
safely.tortoises.chins
Queenborough | |
---|---|
Grid Ref | TQ9129872086 |
Lat / Lon | 51.41551° / 0.74966° |
Easting / Northing | 591,298E / 172,086N |
What3Words | plodding.hurray.leafing |
Faversham | |
---|---|
Grid Ref | TR0153860948 |
Lat / Lon | 51.31195° / 0.89042° |
Easting / Northing | 601,538E / 160,948N |
What3Words | safely.tortoises.chins |
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review
Daisy C
06 May 2023 (edited 07 May 2023)A long route but lots of highlights and one of the best routes I've walked for orchard blossom, although sadly I was about a month too early for that. I got to see the Kingsferry Bridge opening and had an excellent view of the two bridges together from the sea wall to the west, where I was checking out the very waterlogged path from other QueSit/QueFav routes. Other parts of the route were a bit soggy, but do-able with high boots and a quick jump here and there. The huge anthills in the unploughed pasture north of Iwade were striking in the late afternoon light, as was the orchard between School Lane and Sheppey Way too. It was rather maze-like, the path and the espallier rows are all quite narrow and a mid path stagger bumps up the optical illusion. There are signs to follow, which also tell you how "wildlife friendly" their farming is, as well as warning about crop spraying. It will be an immersive blossom experience when the trees are in flower.
Conyer Creek is gorgeous, as was the welcome at the Ship Inn. Just a little way north of the village (off route) there were large flocks of high-tide roosting birds in saltmarsh close to the path, very good views especially if you stay behind the sea wall to not disturb them much.
The walk from Conyer to Faversham was very peaceful after the first 150m and goes past some lovely old houses, and through many more orchards, some with traditionally pruned old trees. Some nice views out to the marshes too. This part of the route is on the forgotten Swale Heritage Trail, there is some history of the area and the particularly old churches if you hunt online, I think the 3 churches in Tonge and Murston are worth a look if that's your thing. Leaving the SHT the footpath beside Bysing Wood into Davington dipped down into a rather nice valley, the only proper slope of the whole route. I enjoyed the lit-up trains rushing by in the dusk too.
I haven't actually walked the road section on Sheppey or between Milton Creek Country Park and Conyer Creek (except using Google Street View) although I've crossed it and walked adjacent section of the Sheerness-Queenborough-Sittingbourne-Faversham group of routes which often overlap. I do feel my feet have done enough walking to give a positive review and hope this will encourage someone else to try the route. I'm holding back the fifth star until I complete it.
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