WhitstableCanterbury

Whican two
Verified route

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 75.00% of reviewers

By a Slow Ways Volunteer on 07 Apr 2021


Distance

13km/8mi

Ascent

125m

Descent

113m

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Description

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Whitstable and Canterbury.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

This is a Slow Ways route connecting Whitstable and Canterbury.

Know of a better route? Share it here.

Status

This route has been reviewed by 4 people.

This route has been flagged (1 time) for reasons relating to accuracy.

Photos for Whican two

Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.


Information

Verified route

Route status - Live

Reviews - 4

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (3) No (1)

Problems reported -  Accuracy (1)

Downloads - 7

Surveys

What is this route like?

Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.

Grade 2X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 2: Mostly smooth and compacted surfaces, but there may be some loose gravel, muddy patches or cobbles.
Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users.
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys.
Full grading description

Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.

Survey Photos

Facilities

Facilities in the middle third of this route.

Not present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Maybe present Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Maybe present Vegan restaurant (1)
Maybe present Accommodation (1)
Maybe present Accommodation < £50 (1)
Maybe present Campsite (1)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (1)
Maybe present Free wifi (1)
Not present at time of survey Public phone (1)
Present at time of survey Mobile phone coverage (1)
Present at time of survey Train station (1)
Present at time of survey Bench (1)
Maybe present Picnic table (1)
Present at time of survey Bus stop (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry (1)

Challenges

Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.

Not present at time of survey Scrambling (1)
Not present at time of survey Wading (1)
Not present at time of survey Swimming (1)
Not present at time of survey Climbing (1)
Not present at time of survey Stepping stones (1)
Maybe present Very slippery (1)
Present at time of survey Very muddy (1)
Maybe present Very icy (1)
Not present at time of survey Likely to flood (1)
Present at time of survey Long grass sections (1)
Present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path (1)
Present at time of survey Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Not present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Maybe present Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Present at time of survey Flights of steps (1)
Present at time of survey Gates (1)
Present at time of survey Kissing gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Locked gates (1)
Maybe present Disables access gates (1)
Present at time of survey Cycle barriers (1)
Not present at time of survey Ladders (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle grids (1)
Not present at time of survey Fords (1)
Present at time of survey Narrow bridges (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry required (1)
Present at time of survey Acceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking (1)
Not present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads (1)
Present at time of survey Railway crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey River crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Horses possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Tidal area (1)
Not present at time of survey Potential falls (1)
Present at time of survey Exposed to elements (1)
Not present at time of survey Remote area (1)
Not present at time of survey Mountainous area (1)
Not present at time of survey Military training area (1)
Not present at time of survey No visible path (1)
Maybe present Seasonal nesting birds (1)
Maybe present Other hazards (1)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Present at time of survey Free of stiles (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles (1)

Measurements

Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.

The narrowest part of the path is 60.0cm (1)

The steepest uphill gradient East: no data

The steepest uphill gradient West: no data

The steepest camber: no data

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places (1)

Successfully completed

We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Recommended by an expert

We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Terrain

We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.

5.0% of the route is on roads (1)

20.0% of the route is lit at night (1)

Thereis no data on amount of route paved

10.0% of the route is muddy (1)

5.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)

There is no data on long grass

Report a problem with this data

1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

2X June 2024 by Ken
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Whitstable
Grid Ref TR1076566924
Lat / Lon 51.36227° / 1.02615°
Easting / Northing 610,765E / 166,924N
What3Words pure.purple.headers
Canterbury
Grid Ref TR1498857840
Lat / Lon 51.27912° / 1.08124°
Easting / Northing 614,988E / 157,840N
What3Words showed.outer.remote

Whican Two's land is

Arable 34.2%
Green urban 7.1%
Pasture 1.2%
Urban 44.5%
Woods 13.0%

Data: Corine Land Cover (CLC) 2018

reviews


Ken

05 Jun 2024 Spring

Basically a sound route with a plot that is reasonably accurate. In my opinion it tried too hard to use footpaths when other better routes are available. No stiles but steps at Whitstable station and mud in season. No cattle seen and no roads that offered me any concern. Other Whican routes are available and more could be offered.

Starting from Whitstable it was good to take in the harbour where business and leisure sit side by side. The detour off Cromwell Road takes in Westmeads Recreation Ground but in future I would stay on the road. The stepped bridge at the station makes this route unsuitable for some users. Beyond that it would be better to take the old rail line route from the start after leaving Old Bridge Road. The plot failed to take me to the footpath behind houses with so many conflicting options on offer.

Once on the cycle route, Crab and Winkle Way it’s simple navigation and good under foot. A tall bridge under a road would make a great enclosed venue for something. There is a good sloped bridge over the A299. A footpath offers a short cut from the cycle track but it was muddy and even this is used by intrepid cyclists so at times no break from bikes.

Amery Court Farm has acres of poly tunnels producing soft fruit including cherries. The walked path to ‘The Hare at Blean’ first heads for the church where there is a seat but the rest of the paths are poor and the planned service destination limited. Lots of opposition to more new housing at Blean.

We leave the cycle route at the university following the edge of the campus then cross the sports field of St Edmund’s School, so avoid walking on sports day. The available path south of Giles Lane is a little to the left, not straight across as shown on OS.

Back on the Uni campus it’s obvious management do not encourage their students to walk into Canterbury along this route. It’s muddy, unsigned and overgrown with annual summer growth.

Close to town we hit the streets and follow the pavements from Forty Acres Road which might be a shame because routes one and three use the narrow but well used path opposite. Things do improve as we pass through Westgate where the streets are transformed into the continental street cafe scene.

Happy to make this journey again but with a few improvement tweaks.


ShortLegsLongWalk

30 May 2023 Spring

This route will get you to Whitstable but for some reason takes an unnecessary deviation. If you are attempting to get to Blean see Whican 1 and if you want a faster route to Whitstable see Whican 3.

  • Daisy C

    Daisy C

    31 Jan 2024

    I think the biggest diversion is probably to stop at The Hare pub, whereas route 1 goes past the other pub and shop in Blean village. 3 and 4 do neither! I'm trying to decide which version to walk soon, there's plenty of variation given how essentially similar the four routes are.

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Mtormey

03 Nov 2021 Autumn

I walked the route from Whitstable to Canterbury. Overall, I really enjoyed the route; it was varied, gorgeous, interesting, and generally navigable and easy to follow. The route generally, but not exclusively, follows the cycleway, so much of the route has really good ground conditions (paved or compacted gravel and wide paths).

A few points:
- Around Thurston Park the route has you go in behind a stretch of homes, but the footpath was totally littered with debris or overgrown vegetation. It makes more sense to just get on the cycleway right after Old Bridge Road rather than join it south of All Saints Close.
- You might be able to avoid some mud by staying on the Crab and Winkle Way instead of taking the deviation from it at Amery Court Farm.
- I didn't take the diversion into Blean and intead just stayed straight on the Crab and Winkle Way.
- The route around the University of Kent is a bit weird, ducking around uni buildings, but the path is always there and always public. I actually liked it as a way to keep the approach into Canterbury as green as possible for as long as possible!

No major complaints here: the route was pleasant, beautiful, and a great connection between Whitstable and Canterbury!.


Tim Ryan

03 Aug 2021 Summer

A pleasant and easy to follow route. Sharing much of its length with the National Cycling Route 1.


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Overall ratings

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Other Routes for Whitstable—Canterbury See all Slow Ways

Whitstable—Canterbury

Whican one

Distance

14km/9mi

Ascent

124 m

Descent

110 m

Whitstable—Canterbury

Whican three

Distance

13km/8mi

Ascent

110 m

Descent

102 m

Whitstable—Canterbury

Whican four

Distance

12km/8mi

Ascent

143 m

Descent

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Whitstable—Canterbury

Whican five

Distance

12km/8mi

Ascent

-

Descent

-

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