Walks

Background.

Linda Harrison originally organised the ‘Guided Health Walks’ starting from Faversham Library every Wednesday together with ‘U3A walks’ plus arranging and leading walks for Faversham Footpaths Group as well. We are pleased that although Linda was unwell a year or so ago, and stood back for a time, she has been back leading walks with us again.

All walks are open to members, their friends, relatives and others who may be interested in becoming a member of the Group.

Faversham Town Council Active Travel Walks

Faversham Town Council Walks

The Town Council did originally organise the last of these walks which are being led by Cllr Saunders for a couple of evenings after the Council’s Active Travel month, starting at Standard Quay and going round the creek finally onto the walkways in front of Faversham Reach and Waterside Close. The walks are linked to the ambitions in the current Creek Plan and the Draft Neighbourhood Plan to have a continuous creekside path and will look at progress in opening up Creekside access and what still needs to be done.

Unfortunately following the recent death of Councillor Mike Henderson there will be a Swale BC by-election in the next few weeks, which will mean that the Town Council and Councillors will have to observe election regulations again and not use council resources to do anything which could be seen as partisan in any way.

As a result Cllr Julian Saunders has agreed with the Town Clerk to postpone again the Creekside walks originally planned for June 2024 (and revised) to 12^th July and 13^th August 2024 and now to arrange some Autumn dates. You may recall these revised dates were brought about because of the General Election Campaign.

This is all rather unfortunate as it was an opportunity for both the Town Council and FFG to advertise and demonstrate these creekside walks during the FTC Active Travel Month that included (although not completed) those at Faversham Reach and Waterside Close that are legally through KCC available for full Public Access.

Julian apologises this is turning into a bit of a saga and he will let us know as soon as fresh dates are scheduled.

For these last two walks you will still need to sign up for the Town Council walks by visiting this page :- https://favershamtowncouncil.gov.uk/active-travel-month-june-2024/ which also has details of other activities including those that our walks leader on behalf of FFG will leading as part of the Active Travel Month as detailed above.

FFG Organised Walk to Oare and Uplees on Sunday 8th September 2024

Heavy rain had been forecast this morning, so we wondered how many members would take the chance and join us on our walk, but thirteen walkers and two dogs set off from the Oare Gunpowder Works and took the path along Oare Creek to the nature reserve, where we stopped for a break at the Sea Wall Hide. We continued to Dan’s Dock, an abandoned jetty once used for the loading of bricks and later gunpowder onto ships for the Uplees Gunpowder Works, and we stood here for a while and watched the Marsh Frogs in the water.

We then turned inland across the marshes to Uplees and followed footpaths both sides of Uplees Road back to Oare, across Oare Meadow and back to our starting point. Apart from a couple of very light showers, the weather was fine all morning, with some sunshine along the way and warmer than expected. We had kept a close eye on the clouds all the way so were thankful to have avoided the heavy rain that eventually arrived when we were safely back home.

The next Planned ‘regular’ FFG Sunday Walk will now probably be in October 2024

Details of our next walk will be announced shortly

Future FFG Walks

More 2024 walks will be announced when known.

The Walk between Oare and Uplees on Sunday 8th September 2024

General Walking Routes in the Faversham area

A good place to start online is: www.explorekent.org/walking. Eight circular walks, showcasing the best of local Kent produce – the Faversham Food Trails – can be downloaded from www.visitfaversham.org

If you’re interested in Faversham’s fascinating history, why not join one of the Faversham Society’s Town History Walks? Details are available on www.favershamtownwalks.org.uk

The Kent Ramblers website also has lots of information about walks and guides: www.kentramblers.org.uk

If walks from and to local pubs appeals, there are some excellent guides at www.shepherdneame.co.uk/walks