Stour Valley Walk

Not to be confused with the Stour Valley Way in Dorset nor the Stour Valley Path in Essex and Suffolk

The Stour Valley Walk south of Wye

The River Routes of Kent

The Stour Valley Walk is a recreational walking route that follows the River Stour, through the Low Weald and Kent Downs from its source at Lenham to its estuary at Pegwell Bay.

The walk passes through some of Kent's finest landscapes, most important nature sites and most historic, un-spoilt villages. The walk is signed with the logo of a heron, occasionally seen in the area.

The route is 51 miles long and is of interest for its landscape and history, and for its archaeological, historical and architectural features. Part of the Pilgrims' Way (a modern invention) follows the river valley from Wye to Canterbury after the North Downs.

The walk passes through a varied landscape of downland, woodland, orchards, hop gardens and farmland; lakes, dykes and marshland; unspoilt villages and hamlets; and historic towns.

It is possible to reach the walk from Maidstone by way of the seven and a half mile Len Valley Walk.

At Upstreet the path joins the Saxon Shore Way heading towards Sandwich.

The route

1. Lenham to Little Chart (6¼ miles)
2. Little Chart to Ashford (8¼ miles)
3. Ashford to Wye (5½ miles)
4. Wye to Godmersham (5 miles)
5. Godmersham to Chilham (3¼ miles)
6. Chilham to Chartham (3½ miles)
7. Chartham to Canterbury (4 miles)
8. Canterbury to Sturry (2½ miles)
9. Sturry to Upstreet (6 miles)
10. Upstreet to East Stourmouth (3 miles)
11. East Stourmouth to Sandwich (7½| miles)
12. Sandwich to Pegwell Bay (3½ miles)

From Lenham across the Countryside

Little Chart Church

The Wye Crown

The River in Canterbury city centre

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Stour Valley Walk)