I will admit though that I was longingly looking off the hard packed path for something a little softer especially in the woods!...

Truffle

A really good walk, nice surfaces and not too many uneven bits, plenty of walkers, runners and cyclists out and about. Beautiful views and very quiet....

JoanneR87

Crossing under the rail line we turn left, this path has a few steps, so continue along the cycle route if you wish to avoid them. Once on the cycle route, Crab and Winkle Way it’s simple navigation and good under foot. Meeting the main road we leave the cycle route but again for a surfaced path stay with it. We cross the cycle way and continue along a hedge and fenced path here with a bonded surface. Crossing a road the path continues winding through an open plan housing estate....

Ken

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. A tall bridge under a road would make a great enclosed venue for something. 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....

Ken

As you leave the city the path is very clearly marked, you pretty much just follow the river straight to Chartham. Not too muddy and as others mentioned the path is shared with cyclists....

Naomi

There's one point in the middle third where, on the OS map it seems that this route veers off the C&W while all the other routes stay, but in reality this route is the C&W, signed and surfaced. Likewise you could have a mid route detour to visit one of the pubs or shop (is there a tearoom?) in Blean using WhiCan 1 or 2 as a guide....

Daisy C

It's not quite so nice walking on the pavement down from the uni, but you can always stop at Wetherspoons for a quick drink at the bottom!...

HelenM9112

This was a quick and adventurous route. As other reviewers point out, some of the off-road tracks are pretty unused and not the easiest to follow- it was a lot of fun tramping across meadow and freshly tilled field, but also a little disconcerting. Nonetheless, beautiful! Exiting Canterbury the route could be made a little more efficient or at least a little easier to follow, e.g. by following Headcorn Drive instead of wiggling through all the footpaths. Similarly, in the fields behind Hales Place it's easier to continuing cutting diagonally across the fields rather than head up to the road. This would also be preferable in the autumn/winter months as the top lane can get very muddy. The building works just after the large A-road were sort of annoying, but fairly easy to figure out after a meandering....

ShortLegsLongWalk

This route is quite straightforward, almost entirely flat and following well trodden/well maintained paths.There was a potential routing issue around Pluck's Gutter, but this may well have been a fault with our navigation skills!...

ShortLegsLongWalk

However, in the late autumn/winter I have always found this route to be very wet and difficult to traverse in some places (without getting wet feet). Nonetheless, traversable with boots and in all shoe types in spring, summer and early autumn....

ShortLegsLongWalk

The route is efficient and avoids the road, which will be much more enjoyable than following Whitstable Road which is quite busy....

ShortLegsLongWalk

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....

ShortLegsLongWalk

I have walked this route many times, it is fairly quick and very well signposted as it follows National Cycle Route 1. The surfaces are mostly flat and easy to walk on (i.e. compacted gravel or concrete, etc). There are a few dirt paths and in the summer these can be a little narrow due to weeds....

ShortLegsLongWalk

I have walked this route twice, it works really smoothly, by the second time of walking we didn't need to refer to the map....

ShortLegsLongWalk

Great walk, taking you through some beautiful areas. Some parts overgrown with nettles so I'd recommend trousers!...

Oli Sturdy

I did encounter a couple of issues: I walked the route on a November day with lovely weather but found the A299 underpass completely flooded as a result of heavy rain a few days before, and the only option seemed to be walking back out to the A291; I picked up the route again but then it got a bit tricky due to some fairly extensive building at The Fairways blocking off the route but it just took a little extra time to navigate around that....

Mary B

the route is easy to follow and the section from Canterbury toGrove Ferry is very pretty. The path from plucks gutter along the river side towards Minster is overgrown and you have to push thru a bit. the section thru the nature reserve at Stodmarsh has quite a few gates that are not suitable for bikes...

mary newing

If the route was to be made prettier then there could be adaptations in the early stages route so that you are taken along the river, but this would be impractical in the autumn/winter months as it can become very boggy at that time....

ShortLegsLongWalk

Pleasant walk, lots to see along the way such as Bourne Park House and Charlton Park. Quite hilly in places, and many kissing gates, some kept in better condition than others. One near Bourne Park has tangled exposed roots, which may be challenging to those in wheelchairs....

Laure

Some sheep grids which might impede a wheelchair but this is a surfaced (sand/ gravel and some tarmac stretches near Canterbury and Chartham ) route. It’s popular with runners, cyclists and walkers. Especially recommended early morning when mist often shrouds the water meadows/ marshes and adjacent lakes and river....

[email protected]

You will also find benches along the route including one with a table with animals carved into it. Following the route to Westgate Gardens in Canterbury brings you out at the bottom of the main pedestrian street with access to numerous cafes and tea rooms in addition to Canterbury Cathedral itself....

Dave Hogben

- Canterbury Road around Herne Common is a large and busy road! Again, this is a really great route, and a really beautiful way to get to the ocean from Canterbury, needing only a few minor tweaks....

mtormey

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)....

mtormey

This route follows the Stour Valley Walk and National Cycle Route 18 for almost its entire length (up to Westgate Gardens on the edge of Canterbury City centre), and is well signposted and waymarked. It is almost completely traffic-free, generally on good surfaces, and should be suitable for most users. Flooding may be a problem after heavy rain or when river levels are high....

Andrew

Good routes, mainly following the River Stour and much of it along the Stour Valley walk. Practically all of the route is off road and the countryside is pleasant. Rail service back to Canterbury from Minster....

[email protected]

An alternative, less busy, but longer route would be: Canterbury/Patrixbourne/Adisham/footpaths between Wingham and Goodnestone/Summerfield Farm (below Barnsole)/then Black Pond Farm and follow the Cansan1 way....

Bluesview

Much of it shared with The North Downs Way, National Trail....

Tim Ryan

Sharing much of its length with the National Cycling Route 1....

Tim Ryan

Would not recommend taking the footpath between Horselees Road and Dunkirk Road in Boughton under Blean as this was very overgrown with stinging nettles. Will stick to the road next time....

wp

I think this route is very accessible, it follows part of Route 18 of the National Cycle Network....

chrisboucher

A good walk through residential and developing areas; ancient woodland and open undulating farmland. Unfortunately the orchard have been grubbed up. Though the route starts and finishes at rail stations they are not on the same line....

chrisboucher

First walk of this route, We started in Canterbury at in Buttermarket, here there are plenty of places to eat/drink, use toilet facilities and you are within easy walking distance of 2 train stations with connections to London, and the bus station. We found the downloaded walk was made up of very straight lines which did not always match the map so had to stop a few times to work out the route....

JoanneR87