Saxon Shore Way
The Saxon Shore Way is a long-distance footpath stretching 163 miles along the coast of Kent and Sussex.
The eastern end of the path is at Gravesend in Kent, on the south shore of the Thames Estuary. From here it follows the shore eastwards out to the North Sea, and south and west around the Kentish coast along the coastline as it was in Roman times: the main difference here is around Romney Marsh, which has emerged from the sea in succeeding centuries. The western end of the path is at as Hastings, in Sussex.[1]
Theme and history
The Way takes its name from a line of fortifications built by the Romans along the coastline (as it was in the 3rd century AD, towards the end of the Roman period) and known to them as the litus Saxonicum or 'Saxon Shore'.[2]
The theme of the walk then is this line of the Roman Saxon Shore forts. The route traces such ancient forts, but also modern towns, nature reserves and coastline. The remains of four Roman forts of the Saxon Shore lie along the route, at Reculver, Richborough, Dover and Lympne.
At Seasalter there is an internationally important area for geese, ducks, and waders. The diversity of scenery along the route includes the wide expanses of marshland bordering the Thames and Medway estuaries, the White Cliffs of Dover, and panoramic views over Romney Marsh from the escarpment that marks the ancient coastline between Folkestone and Rye.
The Saxon Shore Way was originally opened in 1980, but has since been re-established, and in parts re-routed and extended.[2] It follows the coastline of the South East as it was about 1,500 years ago, long before the North Kent Marshes or the Romney Marsh came into existence, when the cliff lines to the north and south extended further into the sea and when the Wantsum Channel provided a thoroughfare for boats between the Isle of Thanet and mainland Kent.[2]
The route
Gravesend to Faversham
- Gravesend, Town Pier where it shares a start with the Wealdway; Higham and Cliffe Fort;
- Cliffe; Hoo Peninsula; Strood; Upnor; Rochester, where it meets the Medway Valley Walk; Gillingham;[3]
- Lower Rainham and the Riverside Country Park; Upchurch; along the side of The Swale (past Sittingbourne) and the Oare Marshes bird reserve; Faversham.
Faversham
- The Faversham area section is from Conyer Creek in the west alongside the Swale, passing through Harty Ferry; Oare; Faversham and on to north of Graveney in the east.[4]
Faversham to Deal
- Faversham; Graveney Marshes; Seasalter; Whitstable; Herne Bay; Reculver and the Regulbium Roman Fort, where it turns inland, separating from the Thanet Coastal Path;
- Marshside where it meets the Wantsum Walk; Upstreet;
- Plucks Gutter meeting the River Stour and joins the Stour Valley Walk to Rutupiae, the Roman fort at Richborough and Sandwich, meeting the White Cliffs Country Trail; Deal.
Deal to Dover
- The most picturesque part of the walk is arguably, the clifftop stretch between Deal and Dover passing South Foreland, with a midway break in St Margaret's at Cliffe.[5]
Dover to Rye
- As the walk follows the old coast line it heads inland to Lympne, Aldington (part of a modern parish named the Saxon Shore Parish)[6] and Kenardington by way of Hamstreet woods nature reserve before heading for Rye, across the county border in Sussex.
Rye
- The Saxon Shore Way links with the 1066 Country Walk at Rye in Sussex.
Rye to Hastings
- The walk leaves Rye, following the Royal Military Canal as far as Winchelsea and then on to Hastings.[7]
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References
- ↑ Saxon Shore Way - Long Distance Walkers Association
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Saxon Shore Way: Walking Pages - Trails and Paths page 1
- ↑ Martin Hall, Mark Loos and Medway Swale Estuary Partnership (2004). Walking the Saxon Shore Way through Medway. Medway Council Development and Environment Department in association with Medway Swale Estuary Partnership. http://www.medway.gov.uk/1601env-saxon_shore_new_cov.pdf. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ↑ "Saxon Shore way and Swale Heritage Trail". The Faversham Website. 2010. http://www.faversham.org/pages/standard.aspx?i_PageID=122449. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ↑ Your County - Kent
- ↑ "Saxon Shore, Kent". Saxon Shore, Kent. 15 March 2010. http://www.saxonshore-kent.gov.uk/. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ↑ "Saxon Shore Way 1 (Hastings to Rye)". EveryTrail. 2010. http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=565147. Retrieved 2 May 2010.