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The Saxon Shore Way

The Saxon Shore Way is a 163 mile walk which starts at Gravesend and finishes at Hastings in East Sussex. The path which opened in 1980 allows a walker to roughly follow the coastline as it was one thousand five hundred years ago. The path is named after the line of fortifications built along the coastline by the Romans in the third and fourth century AD to counter Saxon raids. Four Roman forts lie along the route, at Reculver, Richborough, Dover and Lympne. This was the abandoned defensive line through which Hengest and the rest of the Germanic tribes came in the fifth century. The picture above shows the path near the fort of Reculver.

 

 

Saxon Shore Way at Cooling, Kent

The route reveals how much the coast has changed since the fifth century. In the section pictured here at the village of Cooling in Kent the old shoreline is clearly visible as higher ground in front of you. On the right was once the sea.

It is not only natural processes which have changed the coastline. In the section of the path that runs from Cliffe to Cooling in north Kent it is possible to see the influence of important industrial activity. After leaving Cliffe village the path passes a gravel works and continues on to the shores of the Thames Estuary. Here clay quarries were dug to support the cement industry. This resulted in flooded lagoons into which dredged mud from the River Thames is disposed. These artificial lagoons provide valuable habitats for birds, plants and insects.

 

View of the Medway from the Saxon Shore Way at Upnor

The path passes many sites of historic interest, which include: Cooling Castle, Cooling Church (made famous by Charles Dickens in Great Expectations), Chatham Historic Dockyard, the town of Rochester, Upnor Castle, and the Roman forts mentioned above. For the serious walker there is plentiful accommodation along the route - see our accommodation in the south east pages. The Way can also be walked in short sections. The sections I know best are in the Medway area. I suggest parking in the car park at Upnor, having a drink in that charming village, and then taking a walk along the path. You could go east, following the river towards Hoo. The paths follows a wide open stretch of the Medway sweeping around a long curve. Leaving the village you will pass Upnor Castle, involved in a daring Dutch raid up the Medway in 1667. All kinds of interesting debris will probably be lying about on the beach: clay pipes, earthenware jars. Many ancient artifacts have been found along these beaches. A collection of such objects can be seen at Upnor Castle. Approaching Hoo, look back at Upnor Castle in the distance. This is the view that JMW Turner used in his painting of Upnor Castle in 1831, now on display at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester. Alternatively from Upnor you could walk west towards Strood. This route goes past Manor Farm, with its late Georgian farm house, and a huge medieval tithe barn. This barn was used to store the required contributions of produce demanded of tenant farmers by the local lord of the manor. The path then passes close to All Saints Church at Frindsbury, which in part dates to 1127. Continuing on down Donkey Hill, and along Canal Road, you will see the remains of a canal that once linked the Thames and the Medway. The pier here offers good views across the water towards Rochester and Chatham.

Contact: www.explorekent.co.uk

 

Reculver Castle near Herne Bay