Description
RECOMMENDED CHANGE TO THE ROUTE (section near Ospringe)
If starting from Faversham: When you first get to the A2, cross straight over (at nearby lights) and follow Water Lane. Immediately after the primary school, take the footpath on the right, between allotments, around a small field and across gently sloping parkland. It rejoins the original SitFav2 route at the access road of a hotel. A reviewer made this suggestion and, especially now I've tested it, I agree it's worth adding the extra 500m distance for. However it's too late to change the Slow Ways maps or the GPX file. Instead I've attached a small map showing this recommended change and the original route.
This is a good route to enjoy orchards in blossom during late spring (April/May). It loops south through farm land where the land rises away from the coast and keeps entirely away from busy roads (use the change above). Outside the two end towns it's on field paths, farm tracks (for over half the total route) and a few very quiet, single-track country lanes. It is about 3 km (1/4) longer than SitFav 1 which although very direct is beside the constant noisy traffic of the A2.
Lynsted and Lewson Street villages both have pubs serving lunch, but do check for opening days and be wary of closed kitchens. There's also a pub and a cafe in Rodmersham Green, just about a mile total diversion (on footpaths) just west of Church St. There are many beautiful old buildings to see along the way plus Maison Dieu (Ospringe) and Provender House (Lewson St) have advertised visiting times, and there are several lovely old churches too.
The area is very rich in footpaths so you can break the journey earlier by an off-road diversion north to either Teynham Station (2.5-3km from either village) or to bus stops on the A2. Surfaces are a mix of made and unmade, with some rutting, kissing gates, a few heavier field gates and a handful of short steepish sections (not on roads). Might be muddy in winter, but there is some shade for summer.
The SlowWays site has several routes you could use, simple adaptions of the QueFav SlowWays, which all go through northern Sittingbourne (the B2005 bridge over Milton Creek). They use the coastal path and/or non-pavemented country roads
RECOMMENDED CHANGE TO THE ROUTE (section near Ospringe)
If starting from Faversham: When you first get to the A2, cross straight over (at nearby lights) and follow Water Lane. Immediately after the primary school, take the footpath on the right, between allotments, around a small field and across gently sloping parkland. It rejoins the original SitFav2 route at the access road of a hotel. A reviewer made this suggestion and, especially now I've tested it, I agree it's worth adding the extra 500m distance for. However it's too late to change the Slow Ways maps or the GPX file. Instead I've attached a small map showing this recommended change and the original route.
This is a good route to enjoy orchards in blossom during late spring (April/May). It loops south through farm land where the land rises away from the coast and keeps entirely away from busy roads (use the change above). Outside the two end towns it's on field paths, farm tracks (for over half the total route) and a few very quiet, single-track country lanes. It is about 3 km (1/4) longer than SitFav 1 which although very direct is beside the constant noisy traffic of the A2.
Lynsted and Lewson Street villages both have pubs serving lunch, but do check for opening days and be wary of closed kitchens. There's also a pub and a cafe in Rodmersham Green, just about a mile total diversion (on footpaths) just west of Church St. There are many beautiful old buildings to see along the way plus Maison Dieu (Ospringe) and Provender House (Lewson St) have advertised visiting times, and there are several lovely old churches too.
The area is very rich in footpaths so you can break the journey earlier by an off-road diversion north to either Teynham Station (2.5-3km from either village) or to bus stops on the A2. Surfaces are a mix of made and unmade, with some rutting, kissing gates, a few heavier field gates and a handful of short steepish sections (not on roads). Might be muddy in winter, but there is some shade for summer.
The SlowWays site has several routes you could use, simple adaptions of the QueFav SlowWays, which all go through northern Sittingbourne (the B2005 bridge over Milton Creek). They use the coastal path and/or non-pavemented country roads
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Sitfav two
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 4
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Sittingbourne
Grid Ref
TQ9056163870
Lat / Lon
51.34197° / 0.73467°
Easting / Northing
590,561E / 163,870N
What3Words
transit.chain.saints
Faversham
Grid Ref
TR0153860948
Lat / Lon
51.31195° / 0.89042°
Easting / Northing
601,538E / 160,948N
What3Words
safely.tortoises.chins
| Sittingbourne | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ9056163870 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.34197° / 0.73467° |
| Easting / Northing | 590,561E / 163,870N |
| What3Words | transit.chain.saints |
| Faversham | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TR0153860948 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.31195° / 0.89042° |
| Easting / Northing | 601,538E / 160,948N |
| What3Words | safely.tortoises.chins |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
Daisy C
03 May 2023Pleasant rural route on footpaths and small country lanes outside the end towns. I'd designed it partly hoping for a spring show from the orchards hinted at by OS and satellite maps. I wasn't disappointed, the blossoms were a real treat, with a mixture some coming into bloom and others just past their best but with a few flowers still going. Mostly apples and pears I think. I also enjoyed the gently rolling hills, charming old timbered and thatched buildings, chubby lambs and a beautiful display of bluebells in a freshly coppiced hazel glade. April / May was good timing, although my timing wasn't so great for a pub lunch. The Black Lion's kitchen was closed for the afternoon (website and reviews suggested it'd be probably be open) and the bartender frostily told me there'd be a £10 min card spend so not even a pint and a pack of crisps instead. The Plough is closed Mon-Wed but that is clear on both website. Had snacks in my pack but it's a good reminder to take some cash out on my next trip!
I tried out the section near Faversham along the A2 which an earlier reviewer had said was unpleasant, and they were quite right, SitFav 1 would be a horrible route to walk. The noise subsided very quickly after leaving the road. There were some roadworks which probably didn't help, but traffic was constant with a lot of HGVs, I think there is an M&S distribution centre nearby. I've added a note and diversion map to the main route description.
The ground underfoot is mostly earth, grass or gravel farm tracks, but is sometimes rutted or uneven, and shows signs of muddy sections overwinter. I saw the earlier reviews but it'd been relatively dry so wearing trail shoes was perfect, although I could see dry signs of winter muddy sections. A number of (fairly generous?) kissing gates, a few field gates, but no stiles or steps. There are a handful of steep but short sections.
Would definitely walk again. I'm giving it 5 stars for the blossom and bluebells, the A2 section is fairly short compared to the length of the route and there is (now) a better alternative given.
Sittingbourne doesn't have much choice for an early evening meal or drink so I got the train back to Faversham, which is a bit more visitor friendly.
ERIC MCGRATH
09 Jan 2023Easy walking. Mainly open fields with good long views. Mostly flat. Many gate styles. Various pathway types. Very muddy in wet weather, open to winds. Nice villages and churches to enjoy. Options to change route or cut short if required.
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Share your thoughts
Romney
08 Nov 2022This a definite improvement on Sitfav one. Lots of nice off-road or quiet roads to start with. The only place I'd change it is as you approach Ospringe where this route puts you on the unpleasant A2 (London Road). Instead you could keep on the footpath to Ospringe, crossing the A2 at Water Lane.
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Daisy C
09 Nov 2022Thank you for the review. Your tweak at the end would definitely be more peaceful. I just thought a short A2 section might be worth it to get to Faversham faster at the very end of a long day!
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Romney
09 Nov 2022It's a balance. Truth is, the A2 is the fastest way from Sittingbourne to Faversham by a large margin and it's just a question of how much an individual wants to do to avoid it.
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ERIC MCGRATH
09 Jan 2023Thanks to previous to writers. Enjoyed walk sitfav2. Very muddy today due to wet weather but ok.
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Daisy C
03 May 2023Just walked SitFav 2 I agree with Romney that the A2 section is unpleasant - too many HGVs. To late to change the GPX file but I've added a note and map to the main description.
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