Miners Way Trail (walk guide & what to see)
The Miner’s Way Trail is a fascinating long-distance walking path, that takes you through what used to be a Kent coalfield area. The trail is about 27 miles (43 km) and connects villages and places linked to the local mining history. It’s a relatively a new trail and together with the Kent Mining Museum and the Betteshanger Park it’s a great way to learn about this very special part of Kent’s history.
You can start the trail at any point, but it makes sense to start at Betteshanger Park, visit the museum and then start your walk. This is what I’ve done on one of the days and the rest of the trail I walked in sections, when I returned a few weeks later.
My favourite part of the walk
The nicest part of the Miner’s Way Trail is the section between Betteshanger Park and Aylesham, passing through villages such as Northbourne, Tilmanstone, Elvington, Snowdon and Aylesham. This stretch has a combination of pretty countryside, woodland, and historic mining villages where the legacy of Kent’s coal industry is most visible. I also like the Bettershanger Park and the new Kent Mining Museum as a starting point.
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Practical Information
DISTANCE: 27 miles (43 km)
STARTING POINT: Bettershanger Park (Sholden)
FINISHING POINT: Bettershanger Park
WALK DIFFICULTY & TERRAIN: Moderate, with most sections relatively easy and some slightly more challenging. The route is well-marked and mostly follows established footpaths and tracks, but there are some sections that may be muddy or overgrown, particularly after wet weather. There are moderate hills and occasional road walking, especially when passing through villages and towns.
FACILITIES: There are pubs & cafes along the way (mostly around the larger towns and villages)
ACCESSING THE PATH: Bettershanger Park (large car park) or Shepherdswell train station (see bellow for more info)
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What is the best way to walk the Miners Way Walk
Since this is a circular walk and there are no major ups and downs on the trail, you can start it anywhere you like.
Here is my suggested 3-day itinerary, which divides the trail into roughly equal sections. The tricky bit is that you can’t always get bus or train back to your car, so it might be easier to plan some of the sections by public transport.
Day 1: Bettershanger Park – officially Sholden to Shepherdswell
Start at Bettershanger Park by visiting the museum and the park and then start the official beginning of the walk in nearby Sholden. Walk west through Northbourne, Betteshanger, and Tilmanstone, passing through or near several mining villages. End the day at Shepherdswell, a convenient stopping point with shops, local amenities and transport links. This section is approximately 8 miles (13 km).
Day 2: Shepherdswell to Wingham
From Shepherdswell, continue the trail passing near Snowdown, Nonington, Aylesham, Goodnestone and Wingham. This section is about 9 miles (14 km).
Day 3: Wingham to Sholden
From Wingham you will skirt around Ash and walk through Eastry, before returning to the starting point at Sholden. This final section is a bit longer about 11 miles (18 km).
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What to see along the Miners Way Walk
Betteshanger Park
Although Betteshanger Park is not directly on the trail, I think, it’s the best place to start from and to learn about mining in Kent. The Betteshanger is a 250-acre country park established on the site of the former Betteshanger Colliery, which was one of the four main coal mines in the Kent coalfield.
The colliery operated from 1927 until its closure in 1989 and was a significant employer in the region, shaping the local communities and economy. After the mine closed, the site was reclaimed and redeveloped into a park which has a mix of woodland, grassland, and lakes, as well as extensive cycling and walking trails, outdoor play areas, and nature habitats.
The Kent Mining Museum, which is at the main building in Betteshanger Park, opened to the public in spring 2022. The museum tells the story of the Kent coalfield and the communities that grew around it, with a particular focus on the experiences of miners and their families. Inside, you can explore interactive exhibits, historic mining equipment, and personal stories from those who worked in the mines.
Northbourne Village
Northbourne village history goes to at least the 7th century, when King Eadbald of Kent granted the manor of Norborne to the abbot and convent of St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury. The village is also mentioned in the Domesday Book in1086. Northbourne was mainly farming village and even today has a very rural character.
Northbourne Park School
Northbourne Park School was originally founded as St. Augustine’s College in the 1930s and is an independent preparatory school occupying Northbourne Court, a country house built in the late 18th century and remodeled in the 19th century. The impressive Northbourne Court was originally owned by the Plumptre family and later by the Earl of Northbourne.
The Northbourne Park School is closer to the original Betteshanger village, than the actual Betteshanger Colliery, which was closer to the Northbourne Village.
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St. Augustine Church
The parish church of St Augustine dates from the Norman period and parts of the church are also from the 12th century onwards. It is a Grade I listed building, mainly because of its Norman period doorway, medieval tower, and stained glass in the windows. The church was historically under the patronage of St Augustine’s Abbey and later the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Tilmanstone
Tilmanstone village dates back to Saxon times and was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as part of the possessions of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Tilmanstone Colliery, also known as East Kent Colliery, opened near the neighbouring village of Eythorne in 1906. The colliery was a significant employer in the area until its closure in 1986.
Elvington
Elvington village was purposely built in the early 20th century to house miners from the nearby Tilmanstone Colliery. The village’s development began around 1913, with housing and community facilities constructed to accommodate miners and their families.
The village included amenities such as a miners’ welfare hall and social club, reflecting its origins as a mining community. When Tilmanstone Colliery closed in 1986, Elvington, like other Kent mining villages, faced significant economic and social changes, but it still retains its historical connection to the coal industry in the region.
Shepherdswell
Shepherdswell village, also known as Sibertswold, can trace it’s origins back to at least the 11th century, as it is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The village grew modestly over the centuries, but the biggest expansion happened with the arrival of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway in 1861.
In 1908 the Snowdown Colliery opened nearby and many Shepherdswell residents found employment in the coal industry, and the village also became a home for miners and their families.
The East Kent Railway
The original East Kent Railway (EKR), later known as the East Kent Light Railway, was built between 1911 and 1917 to serve the rapidly developing Kent coalfield. Its main purpose was to connect the newly established collieries in East Kent with the national rail network and to facilitate the transport of coal, workers, and supplies. The line was designed and managed by Colonel Holman Fred Stephens, a prominent engineer specializing in light railways.
The East Kent Railway directly connected the following collieries:
- Tilmanstone Colliery (near Eythorne)
- Snowdown Colliery (near Aylesham)
- Betteshanger Colliery (near Deal)
- Chislet Colliery (via a branch from the main line)
The railway also served several mining villages and communities that developed alongside the collieries. The EKR had numerous branches and sidings to reach the various mines and was crucial for moving coal out of Kent and bringing in materials needed for mining operations.
After the decline of the Kent coalfield, much of the original railway was dismantled in the 1950s and 1960s. Remnants of the original infrastructure, such as embankments, cuttings, and some disused trackbeds, are still visible in the landscape around the former mining sites and along footpaths in the area.
But the good news is that a section of the line between Shepherdswell and Eythorne has been preserved and operates today as the East Kent Railway heritage line.
The East Kent Railway Trust manages the line and you have the chance to ride restored heritage trains through attractive countryside and woodland. The site includes a visitor centre, museum displays about the railway and the local mining history, woodland walks, and a café.
Nonington
Nonington village dates back to Anglo-Saxon period and it’s mentioned in various charters from the 9th century and later in the Domesday Book of 1086. The parish church of St Mary dates from the 12th century. The village is has a historic St.Albans Court, which in 1938 was turned into physical education teacher training college called Nonington College.
Aylesham
Aylesham village was the biggest village purposely built for miners in Kent. It was established in 1926 as a planned community specifically to house miners and their families working in the nearby Kent coal mines, particularly Snowdown and, later, Betteshanger collieries.
The village was designed and built by the firm Dorman and Long, with the intention of creating a modern town to attract workers from other coalfields across the UK, especially from Wales and the North East.
The village had schools, church, shops, recreational facilities and community halls.
Goodnestone
Goodnestone is another historic village, first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The village is best known for Goodnestone Park, a stately home built in 1704 by Sir Brook Bridges, whose family played a significant role in the area’s history. The writer Jane Austen frequently visited Goodnestone Park and Gardens, because her brother married in to the Bridges family.
I really enjoyed visiting the gardens (house is closed to the general public) and the coffee and cakes at the tearooms were delicious. The village itself is very quiet and peaceful and you can really imagine Jane Austen walking through the park and the gardens.
Wingham
Wingham’s history goes back to Saxon period and the village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Wingham became an important local center in the Middle Ages, with the foundation of Wingham College, a collegiate church, by Archbishop Peckham in 1286. The village’s medieval manor house even welcomed King Edward I in 1295 when he was on his travels.
Eastry
Eastry dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period and it was an important administrative centre in Kent. Eastry has strong links to the Saxon kings of Kent and according to the local tradition a royal palace once stood in the village. The parish church of St Mary the Virgin dates from the 12th century. Eastry famous resident’s include Cyril Randolph, a 19th-century cricketer and clergyman.
How to get to the Miners Way Walk by public transport (and by car)
The trail is reasonably well linked to the public transport, including several train stations and local buses that can take you to the large villages.
The best station for access is Shepherdswell (also spelled Sibertswold), which is almost at the midpoint of the trail and directly on the route. Shepherdswell station is on the Dover–Canterbury line, with regular Southeastern train services connecting to both Dover Priory and Canterbury East, which makes it super convenient for starting or ending your walk.
Other stations close to the trail include:
- Aylesham (on the Dover–Canterbury line)
- Snowdown (on the Dover–Canterbury line)
- Adisham (on the Dover–Canterbury line)
- Sandwich and Deal (for access to the eastern side of the route, with connecting buses to villages like Sholden and Eastry)
If you are travelling by car, then good places to park along the Miner’s Way Trail are generally found in the larger villages, such as:
- Shepherdswell: There is a small public car park near the village centre and Shepherdswell railway station
- Aylesham: Free or low-cost parking is available in the village centre, close to the railway station and local amenities.
- Betteshanger Park: There is a large pay-and-display car park with close access to the trail and additional facilities such as toilets and a café, but the car par closes every day at 5 pm.
- Wingham: Public car park near the village centre
- Deal (Sholden): There is parking available in Deal, from where you can access the Sholden section of the trail, though on-street parking in Sholden itself is limited.
Smaller villages like Nonington, Tilmanstone, and Goodnestone have limited street or roadside parking near churches or village halls, but it is best to use designated car parks in larger villages to avoid congestion.
This blog post was originally published on 19 April 2025 and last updated on 19 April 2025
