Sitque one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Sitque here.

This route wasn't walkable in late March 2023 because it was too wet to cross Neatscourt Marshes - the fields between Rushenden and the Kingsferry Bridge. But I realised the (wide) land drain crossing which the other reviewer had to wade across is actually marked as a ford, not a bridge, on OS maps, and I wouldn't have waded it in March anyway, even if the fields had been drier. An improved version is definitely possible though and the rest of the route was pretty good, would have probably given it 4 stars with a few caveats, despite the inevitable urban ending.

Within a few years the English Coastal Path will be extended so you can walk (no wading!) from Rushenden to the bridge, but although the northern half is already signposted, it doesn't link up the whole way, and the bridge half isn't technically "open". The government paperwork seems to be signed off but the ECP uses some paths which weren't previously rights of way and I've no idea if that section along the sea wall is legal to use yet or perhaps not until the official opening.

The alternative is a mostly pavemented (and probably quite boring and noisy) road walking route via Queenborough Rd then Sheppey Way. Unfortunately you can't use Ferry Rd, although it still looks good on the maps, because the footpath across the railway line is blocked now and it isn't going to be reopened for the Coastal Path.

Scrolling back a bit there is a footpath in Rushenden between Thomsett Way and Manor Rd which is now blocked by industrial fencing but it's very low effort to make a detour.

I checked that wet and unpassable bit of the route from the Swale end, and found the public footpath had been fenced across where the GPS said the path was, maybe the other reviewer climbed over the blocked up but climbable gate to the west, or followed the access track to the east. The farmer is probably trying to stop the dirtbikers who have made a terrible mess round there.

Just after Kingsferry Bridge I didn't bother scrambling down the steep bank to follow the line of the route but just followed the road to the roundabout. It's very little extra distance and meant I didn't have to walk through the (temporary?) traveller site, or past their large barking dogs.

There's another little detour required just before Iwade (after crossing Sheppey Way again then rejoining it once it becomes The Street). The route follows the official public footpath but that is very blocked by a deep band of scrub and in front of that is an ankle-unfriendly area crowded with big anthills and rabbit holes and a healthy coverage of thick vegetation. People are using an unoffical path instead which branches off to the east, first over a small bridged ditch, then down the side of a field, and through a gate to rejoin the road. It comes out just a few metres away from this route just before width restriction.

Iwade has a generously sized pub, and a small square with a chippy, small shop and small cafe, but only the chippy was open.

After the chippy there's a winding footpath going through alleyways and cul-de-sacs and I found myself lost. I decided to test going along School Lane and then through the fields and orchards by Culnells Farm then back on Grovehurst Ave to rejoin at Bramblefield Rd. The non pavemented road-walking section of that was on part of School Lane, and the original route has non pavemented road-walking on Sheppey Way. As Sheppey Way becomes Grovehurst Ave I could compare the traffic and it was quieter and slower on School Lane so I'd use that instead.

Unfortunately the (western-themed!) pub which on Grovehurst Ave has been closed for a while so there isn't another midroute rest point there. There was a bus stop though, presumably the bus also goes through Iwade.

After rejoining the route and crossing the A249 footbridge I took another detour, by mistake this time, and carried along Bramblefield Rd. I did go past Kemsley Station but I don't think it was worth the extra distance including some fairly busy road walking. I rejoined the route at the park on Vicarage Avenue but after that the final urban section to the station was unremarkable and fairly direct.

We actually started from Sheerness and then followed the route back to Sittingbourne from Queenborough.
The main problem we encountered was lack of clear signage once leaving the park area behind Manor Road. The path crosses a field but there were no arrows and the grass was long without any evidence of others walking there. We headed for a gate into the field in which the small bridge crosses the water. The bridge was flooded and required us to take off shoes and socks to wade across.
The rest of the walk passed without incident!.

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