Sitque two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Sitque here.

UPDATE:
There is a new and much nicer way to walk from Queenborough to the bridge! The England Coast Path section between Kingsferry Bridge and Rushenden is now open. Well the end point fingerposts are there and people are using it but some of the wooden posts don't have arrows on them yet. Coming from the bridge to the edge of Rushenden is fairly obvious, although it is best to stick to the track inside the sea wall up to the sewage works as the track along the top is rutted, plus this is the path line on the original proposal will probably indicated when the post's arrows appear. Beware the splintered wooden covers on the concrete steps halfway along. (Skimpy thin wood right next to the sea spray and winds, really Natural England?). When you reach the edge of Rushenden don't try the rest of the path, just walk along First Ave then Rushenden Rd. The official entrance further north has a very large pool of over-your-laces deep water blocking it, in March and still in Aug, complete with frogs and algae.

*****
Highlights: *the coastal path on Sheppey*, views over the Swale from the Kingsferry Bridge, a maze-like path through an orchard south of Iwade.

I tested it from Queenborough to Sittingbourne so the route description is also in that direction. It's about 40% off road, using field footpaths and is very flat with just a few gentle slopes between Iwade and Sittingbourne Station. Some of the fields may be a bit soggy or sticky in wet weather but passable. There are kissing gates and some short steps. It's about 1km longer than SitQue 1. You get a train from Swale Station, and there are few bus routes through Iwade.

The route from Queenborough to the Swale crossing (Kingsferry Bridge) is on Queenborough Rd then (the Sheppey part of) Sheppey Way, is all on roads, but both roads were bypassed by a new 4-lane A249. Although short bits of Queenborough Rd have no pavement some has already been extended and the developments underway on the west side will probably have more pavement built along them, which will fill the gap. The traffic is quieter than the newer, dual carriageway A249. Between the big roundabout and the Swale there will be more traffic noise from the other road but it has a good pavement (shared with bikes) and there are some nice views across the lovely grazing marsh, pools and reedbeds to the east (part of Elmley National Nature Reserve) . On maps it looks as if using Ferry Rd would be better and quieter, but path across the railway on OS maps is permanently blocked, so you can't get across near the bridge.

There are good views from the Kingsferry Bridge, and up above it is the soaring newer Swale Crossing bridge. If you are lucky the Kingsferry Bridge may be raised for a passing ship.

There is an slightly soggy grazing marsh north of Iwade with anthills so large they resemble burial mounds, and some ancient saltworks, harder to spot. Beyond that the route crosses over Sheppey Way again, but take note that the OS line goes through an impassable thicket. This route line is well used by locals and instead crosses a small ditch and then along a pair of fields to join the road at a field gate just south of the width restriction (and the OS line).

Iwade is very well-kept and has a lovely old church as well as a pub, a chippy plus a cafe, small store and chemist (blister treatments) hidden in a small square behind the chippy. A bit after Iwade the footpath goes diagonally across an orchard which was fun because of an optical illusion where the path is slightly staggered and you can't see an exit to the close rows of espaliered trees. It'll be fun in blossom season. Beyond the A249 you get quite close to the centre of Sittingbourne on footpaths across fields and the final section is through a young-ish suburb.

This route is a rework of SitQue 1 avoiding the very wet part across Neatscourt Marshes where the ford crossing Joan Fleet is so submerged to be impassable on foot except perhaps if you wade in bare feet when the water table is low. This route is weatherproof in that regard.

After Kingsferry Bridge it also avoid a scramble down a steep brambly bank (Right of Way but collapsing steps).The other change is between Iwade and the A249 footbridge. This way avoids the twisting cul-de-sacs in Iwade and uses School Lane, with lower and slower traffic than the alternative on Sheppey Way

UPDATE:
There is a new and much nicer way to walk from Queenborough to the bridge! The England Coast Path section between Kingsferry Bridge and Rushenden is now open. Well the end point fingerposts are there and people are using it but some of the wooden posts don't have arrows on them yet. Coming from the bridge to the edge of Rushenden is fairly obvious, although it is best to stick to the track inside the sea wall up to the sewage works as the track along the top is rutted, plus this is the path line on the original proposal will probably indicated when the post's arrows appear. Beware the splintered wooden covers on the concrete steps halfway along. (Skimpy thin wood right next to the sea spray and winds, really Natural England?). When you reach the edge of Rushenden don't try the rest of the path, just walk along First Ave then Rushenden Rd. The official entrance further north has a very large pool of over-your-laces deep water blocking it, in March and still in Aug, complete with frogs and algae.

*****
Highlights: *the coastal path on Sheppey*, views over the Swale from the Kingsferry Bridge, a maze-like path through an orchard south of Iwade.

I tested it from Queenborough to Sittingbourne so the route description is also in that direction. It's about 40% off road, using field footpaths and is very flat with just a few gentle slopes between Iwade and Sittingbourne Station. Some of the fields may be a bit soggy or sticky in wet weather but passable. There are kissing gates and some short steps. It's about 1km longer than SitQue 1. You get a train from Swale Station, and there are few bus routes through Iwade.

The route from Queenborough to the Swale crossing (Kingsferry Bridge) is on Queenborough Rd then (the Sheppey part of) Sheppey Way, is all on roads, but both roads were bypassed by a new 4-lane A249. Although short bits of Queenborough Rd have no pavement some has already been extended and the developments underway on the west side will probably have more pavement built along them, which will fill the gap. The traffic is quieter than the newer, dual carriageway A249. Between the big roundabout and the Swale there will be more traffic noise from the other road but it has a good pavement (shared with bikes) and there are some nice views across the lovely grazing marsh, pools and reedbeds to the east (part of Elmley National Nature Reserve) . On maps it looks as if using Ferry Rd would be better and quieter, but path across the railway on OS maps is permanently blocked, so you can't get across near the bridge.

There are good views from the Kingsferry Bridge, and up above it is the soaring newer Swale Crossing bridge. If you are lucky the Kingsferry Bridge may be raised for a passing ship.

There is an slightly soggy grazing marsh north of Iwade with anthills so large they resemble burial mounds, and some ancient saltworks, harder to spot. Beyond that the route crosses over Sheppey Way again, but take note that the OS line goes through an impassable thicket. This route line is well used by locals and instead crosses a small ditch and then along a pair of fields to join the road at a field gate just south of the width restriction (and the OS line).

Iwade is very well-kept and has a lovely old church as well as a pub, a chippy plus a cafe, small store and chemist (blister treatments) hidden in a small square behind the chippy. A bit after Iwade the footpath goes diagonally across an orchard which was fun because of an optical illusion where the path is slightly staggered and you can't see an exit to the close rows of espaliered trees. It'll be fun in blossom season. Beyond the A249 you get quite close to the centre of Sittingbourne on footpaths across fields and the final section is through a young-ish suburb.

This route is a rework of SitQue 1 avoiding the very wet part across Neatscourt Marshes where the ford crossing Joan Fleet is so submerged to be impassable on foot except perhaps if you wade in bare feet when the water table is low. This route is weatherproof in that regard.

After Kingsferry Bridge it also avoid a scramble down a steep brambly bank (Right of Way but collapsing steps).The other change is between Iwade and the A249 footbridge. This way avoids the twisting cul-de-sacs in Iwade and uses School Lane, with lower and slower traffic than the alternative on Sheppey Way