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.

FFG Walk on 28th June 2026 along the King Charles III England Coast Path to Oare Marshes

We were thankful for the slightly lower temperatures and cool breeze as we walked around Oare Creek this morning. This is always a scenic walk, initially alongside the boatyard then out along the Creek, which is particularly colourful at the moment and covered in Sea Lavender and Golden Samphire.

After a short rest , we continued along the Creekside to the Oare Marshes Nature Reserve, where the footpath eventually becomes a gravelled path after the bird hide, and with the Swale on our right we had fantastic views across to the Isle of Sheppey.

We then turned inland, passing the East Flood on our way, and took the lane back into Oare. As we approached the village we stopped for a while at St Peter’s Church, a small Norman church with Victorian additions, which has panoramic views over Oare Creek. Inside the church we admired a stain glass window installed in 2011 that was designed and created by Petri Anderson to commemorate Allan Beckett, an eminent civil engineer, who designed floating roadways and supervised their installation on the Normandy beaches. These roadways enabled heavy traffic to be brought ashore from deep water shipping. He was a generous benefactor of the church and a keen sailor who loved the Swale, and for over thirty years he kept a yacht at Harty Ferry.

The last part of our walk took us across Oare Meadow and back into the Gunpowder Works to our starting point. Thank you to everyone who joined us today, and we look forward to seeing you in July 2026.

The next Planned ‘regular’ FFG Walk will be in connection with the ‘Open Faversham’ Event and will be on Saturday 19th September 2026

The ‘Open Faversham’ Event About Open Faversham – Open Faversham will be taking place from Wednesday 16th to Saturday 19th September 2026, and the theme for this year is “From the Source of the Westbrook to the Sea”. There will be an exhibition in St Mary’s Church celebrating the industrial and natural heritage of our waterway, the Creek and the chalk streams that run through the town, and in line with this, the FFG will be holding a three mile walk on Saturday 19th September 2026.

Please meet us in the Brogdale car park at 10.00am. Our walk will take us along footpaths and quiet country lanes to Lorenden Park, which is the original source of the Westbrook Stream. We will cross the little bridge which remains over what used to be lake but now takes us over a dry lake bed where spring water historically collected. Lorenden is a always a pleasure to visit with its peaceful open spaces, crisscrossing paths and woodlands, which support a variety of wildlife.

We will return via Vicarage Lane and across fields to Brogdale, where there will be the opportunity to take refreshments in their Courtyard Cafe.

The recent hot weather and holidays have prevented us from organising walks through July and August, so we will look forward to meeting up with you again in cooler weather.

Future FFG Sunday Walks in 2026

All of these will be announced nearer the time

FFG Walk on 28th June 2026 along the King Charles III England Coast Path to Oare Marshes

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