Saxon Shore Way – Long Distance Walk Guide
The Saxon Shore Way is a 160-mile (257 km) long-distance walking route that takes you along the stunning coastline of Kent and East Sussex. The trail will take you through marshlands, coastal cliffs, beaches, charming seaside towns and peaceful inland villages.
Starting from the busy port town of Gravesend, the Saxon Shore Way winds its way along the Kent coastline, passing through marshlands along the Thames and Medway estuaries to the historic city of Rochester, with an impressive Norman castle and beautiful cathedral; the lovely seaside towns of Whitstable and Herne Bay with great beaches. The path then reaches Reculver Roman Fort (with slight up hill sections) and turns inland to Sandwich and then again follows the coastline through Deal and Walmer.
The trail will start to climb up to reach the top of the White Cliffs of Dover and then drop down again to run through the serene beauty of the Romney Marsh, with flat grasslands, ancient churches, and wide, open skies.
The last section of the walk is in East Sussex and you will walk through Rye, Winchlesea and eventually reach the end of the walk at the Old Town of Hastings.
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My favourite parts of the Saxon Shore Way
I like that every section of this path has a slightly different feel. Because it’s such a long path, I’ve done the walk in several sections over many years and some sections, such as the cliff top walk from St. Margaret’s to Dover I’ve done many times.
I like the oldfashioned seaside walk from Whitstable to Reculver, because it’s quite flat (until you start to walk up to Reculver) and it’s great to visit Whitstable and Herne Bay along the way with stops for local oysters, ice-cream and teas in local cafes.
Saying that, recently I’ve walked the beginning of the path from Gravesand Pier and it was pretty cool too, but in very different way. I was researching the legend of native Indian Princes Pocahontas and then carried on walking towards the Higham and Shorne Marches.
The views from the path there are fairly industrial, but super interesting too. You get to see all the boats still coming and going on the river Thames, there is an old fort and wild ponies. There is virtually nothing there, no villages or houses for miles, so it has quite an eyrie feel to it. It could be also because I walked it in the middle of winter, so it felt appropriately bleak (but in a good way!).
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Practical Information
DISTANCE: 160 miles (257 km)
STARTING POINT: Gravesand Pier in Kent
FINISHING POINT: Hastings – Old Town – beach front – in East Sussex
WALK DIFFICULTY: Mostly flat level walk. Easy in most places (level walk next to the river Thames or seaside), slightly more challenging with some climbs towards the Reculver and then around the Dover White Cliffs and Dover town.
TERRAIN: Easy walk next to the sea on concreate paths, unmade paths through marches (slightly more muddy in places), grass paths through the White Cliffs, bridleways, and coastal promenades. Includes some local (not too busy) roads), walking through towns and villages
FACILITIES: There are pubs & cafes along the way (mostly around the larger towns and villages)
ACCESSING THE PATH: There are plenty of car parks at various points of the and easy public transport along the way.
How to walk the Saxon Shore Way in manageable sections
Since this is such a long path, I’ve tried to divide it into sections with a manageable daily walking distance between 9.5 and 12.5 miles (15 to 20 km) for each stage of the Saxon Shore Way. I usually do one section at the time and take a bus or train back to the start of the morning’s walk. It’s also possible to book accommodation along the way as the trail goes through large villages and towns, if you wanted to do this walk in few consecutive days.
Day 1: Gravesend to Cliffe – 10 miles (16 km)
Day 2: Cliffe to Rochester – 10 miles (16 km)
Day 3: Rochester to Lower Halstow – 11 miles (18 km)
Day 4: Lower Halstow to Sittingbourne – 12 miles (19 km)
Day 5: Sittingbourne to Faversham – 11 miles (18 km)
Day 6: Faversham to Herne Bay – 14 miles (22 km)
Day 7: Herne Bay to Reculver – 5 miles (8 km), Reculver to Upstreet – 8 miles (13 km), total 13 miles (21 km)
Day 8: Upstreet to Sandwich – 9 miles (14 km)
Day 9: Sandwich to Deal – 6 miles (10 km)
Day 10: Deal to Dover – 10 miles (16 km)
Day 11: Dover to Capel-le-Ferne – 6 miles (10 km), Capel-le-Ferne to Etchinghill – 5 miles (8 km), total 11 miles (18 km)
Day 12: Etchinghill to Lympne – 6 miles (10 km), Lympne to Aldington – 6 miles (10 km), total 12 miles (20 km)
Day 13: Aldington to Hamstreet – 5 miles (8 km), Hamstreet to Appledore – 7 miles (11 km), total 12 miles (19 km)
Day 14: Appledore to Rye – 12 miles (19 km)
Day 15: Rye to Hastings – 12.5 miles (20 km)
In the next part of my guide, I have split the walk into the sections based on the style of the walk, because each section is a bit different and has a slightly different feel. Some sections need 2-3 days to complete.
Section from Gravesand Pier to Faversham – Industrial Heritage, Dockyards & Marches (Day 1-5)
The section of the Saxon Shore Way from Gravesend to Faversham is approximately 37 miles (60 km) long and takes you through an industrial river areas to peaceful marches countryside and coastal paths.
Starting in Gravesend, you start your journey at the end of the Gravesend Pier with views of the Thames Estuary. The path leads through the outskirts of the town with old historical New Tawern Army fort, boat marina and the basin of the Thames and Medway Canal. You can make a slightly detour to the centre of Gravesend to visit the 18th-century St. George’s Church and the Pocahontas Memorial, which commemorates the Native American princess who died in Gravesend in 1617.
Leaving Gravesend, the route follows the Saxon Shore Way along the Thames Estuary for approximately 6 miles (9.7 km), passing through Shornemead Fort, a 19th-century artillery fort, and the Shorne Marshes Nature Reserve and Higham Marches a haven for birdwatchers. The path then turns inland, leading through the villages of Cliffe and High Halstow, before reaching the Upnor Castle Fort on the outskirts of Rochester, approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) from the start.
Rochester is a historic city with an interesting medieval heritage and connections to Charles Dickens. There is the 11th-century Rochester Castle, the interesting local museum in Rochester Gildhall and the magnificent Rochester Cathedral.
The path continues through the town center and through the Chatham and Gillingham towns. After that the path starts to follow the coastline again and this time you will have a view of river Medway.
From Upchurch, the Saxon Shore Way will lead you through orchards and farmland, passing the 12th-century St. Mary’s Church in Lower Halstow, approximately 22 miles (35 km) from the start. The path then heads towards the town of Sittingbourne and the Milton Creek Country Park.
After Sittingbourne, the route continues along the coast, mainly through marches with very few trees, passing through the peaceful village of Conyer before reaching the town of Faversham, approximately 37 miles (60 km) from the start.
Faversham is a lovely market town with a fascinating history, completed with medieval buildings, industrial heritage such as the Faversham Gunpowder Mills, independent shops, and the Shepherd Neame Brewery, which is one of Britain’s oldest brewer.
Section from Faversham to Reculver – The oldfashioned seaside promenades of Whitstable & Herne Bay and pretty beaches (Day 6 & 7)
The section of the Saxon Shore Way from Faversham to Reculver is approximately 19 miles (31 km) long and the path will start to change from going through marches to beaches, old fashioned seaside towns to slight cliffs elevation just before the Reculver.
Starting in Faversham, the path leads through the town centre, passing the 16th-century Guildhall and the Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre, which showcases the town’s rich history.
Leaving Faversham, the route follows the edge of the Oare Marshes Nature Reserve and along the Faversham Creak to the sea and then follows the seaside paths to towards the coastal village of Seasalter, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) from the start, with a peaceful beach and the 12th-century St. Alphege Church.
After that the path continues along the coast and soon you can be eating oysters in Whitstable, approximately 8 miles (13 km) from Faversham.
Visiting Whitstable can easily take a whole day, because it is a popular seaside destination with independent shops, delicious fish & chips shops and still working Whitstable Harbour.
Afterwards the route goes through the Tankerton Beach, passes through the village of Swalecliffe and the Hampton Pier, a popular spot for fishing and birdwatching, before reaching the town of Herne Bay, approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) from the start.
Herne Bay is a another pretty seaside town with pier, good beach, Victorian architecture, seafront gardens, and the 12th-century Herne Church.
The path continues along the coastline, until you reach Bishopstone, where you will need to walk up to the top of the cliffs. This is pretty much the first time you will need to walk uphill, but it’s only a short part.
Through the Reculver Country Park you will soon reach the iconic Reculver Towers, park visitors centre, small cafe and a local pub, approximately 19 miles (31 km) from Faversham.
Section from Reculver to Sandwich via marches and roman settlement at Richborough (Day 7 & 8 overlapping)
This section of the Saxon Shore Way from Reculver to Sandwich will take you inland paths through marshes to Richborough Roman Fort, is approximately 17 miles (27 km) long and I usually split it into two days of walking.
The route partly follows the Wantsum Walk which is a 12-mile (19 km) trail that traces the course of the ancient Wantsum Channel, which once separated the Isle of Thanet from the mainland. The path leads through farmland before reaching the village of Upstreet, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from the start.
Upstreet is a pretty village with traditional oast houses and the 14th-century St. Mary’s Church. From Upstreet, the Saxon Shore Way continues through more marshland, scenic area of wetland and grassland, before reaching the Richborough Roman Fort, approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) from the start of this section.
Richborough is one of the most important Roman sites in Britain, because that’s where Romans originally arrived to Britain.
Afterwards the trail heads to Sandwich, following the River Stour, approximately 17 miles (27 km) from Reculver.
Sandwich is another pretty medieval town with well-preserved architecture, including the 14th-century Guildhall and the 12th-century St. Peter’s Church. The town is also famous for being the birthplace of the sandwich, which was allegedly invented by John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, in the 18th century.
Section from Sandwich to Walmer with oldfashioned seaside, castles and forts (Day 9 & 10 overlaping)
The section of the Saxon Shore Way from Sandwich to Walmer is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) long and offers walkers a delightful journey through picturesque coastal towns, historic castles, and beautiful seaside promenades.
Starting in Sandwich the path will take you straight to the sea through the Royal St. George’s Golf Club, one of the most prestigious golf courses in the world and a regular host of The Open Championship.
The path then goes through the town of Deal, approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) from Sandwich.
Deal is a historic coastal town with peaceful seafront, lined with colourful beach huts and Victorian houses. The path follows the seafront promenade, passing the Deal Pier, a popular spot for fishing and enjoying the sea views, and the Deal Castle, a 16th-century artillery fort built by Henry VIII to defend the coast against French invasion.
You can also visit the Timeball Tower Museum, which explores the history of maritime navigation, and the Deal Maritime & Local History Museum, where you can learn about the town’s seafaring heritage.
From Deal path continues along the seafront towards Walmer, passing the Walmer Castle and Gardens, approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Sandwich. Walmer Castle is a historic Tudor fortress that was once the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and is now open to the public. You can take visit the castle and walk around the beautiful gardens and have an afternoon tea in the greenhouse tearooms.
The White Clifts & seaside walk from Walmer to Dover (Day 10)
The walk from Walmer to Dover along the Saxon Shore Way is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long, and you will walk on the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, with breathtaking views of the English Channel. This part of the trail has probably the most elevation and you will need to walk up the hill (and down again) quite a bit, so it’s much more challenging part of the walk then the rest.
Leaving Walmer, the trail continues along the coast towards Kingsdown with a lovely beach and colourful beach huts. Afterwards the path will start to climb and the cliffs will start to get higher and higher.
As you continue along the cliffs, you will pass the Walmer and Kingsdown Golf Club, one of the most scenic golf courses in the country, before reaching the St. Margaret’s Bay, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) from Walmer.
St. Margaret’s Bay is a hidden gem with a secluded beach and it’s one of my favourite places to start the walk to Dover Visitor’s Centre (because it’s already quite high up and the cliffs are really pretty round here).
You will also pass the South Foreland Lighthouse, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from Walmer. The lighthouse was built in 1843 and you can stop here for tea in a retro tea rooms or take a tour of the lighthouse itself.
Just a little further you can visit the Fan Bay Deep Shelter from Second World War and then you will get to the National Trust Visitor Centre, has another tearoom, shop and also information about the history and geology of the White Cliffs.
The path then descends into the town of Dover, approximately 10 miles (16 km) from Walmer.
Dover is a historic port town with impressive medieval Dover castle, which stands guard over the town and the English Channel. The Saxon Shore Way will take you under the castle, so if you want to visit the castle you will either need to walk down to Dover and then back up again or take a upper road from the Dover Visitor’s Centre and walk slightly up hill before reaching Dover Castle.
The seaside & cliffs walk from Dover to Capel -le-Ferne (Day 11)
The section of the Saxon Shore Way from Dover to Capel-le-Ferne is approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) long and it’s the last time that the path runs by the sea in Kent. You get some amazing views across the English Channel and the French coastline on a clear day.
Starting in Dover, the path will take you to Dover seafront, including the Dover Marina and the Dover Harbour, with views over the busy port and the ferries crossing the Channel.
After that you will need to climbs up to the top of the cliffs again, following the England Coast Path. You get a great views of the town of Dover below, with the Dover Castle standing above the town on the other side.
The path will take you around Drop Redoubt Fort, Harbour Battery and Knights Templar Church and then on to the Shakespeare Cliff, which was the first place in where coal was discovered and where the history of coal mining in Kent started.
Next, you will walk along the Samphire Hoe Nature Reserve, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) from Dover. If you have the time, it’s definitely worth walking down to the reserve and then up again to re-join the walk.
Samphire Hoe is pretty cool, because it is a 30-hectare nature reserve created from the chalk excavated during the construction of the Channel Tunnel. It’s also linked to the coalmining as it’s directly next to the Shakespeare Cliff. There is a visitor’s centre with a small tearooms.
From Samphire Hoe, the path continues along the cliffs, passing the Battle of Britain Memorial, a poignant tribute to the men who fought in the skies above Dover during World War II. You will also be able to see many World War II bunkers and a Sound Mirror at Abbot’s Cliff (which is an simple, but very effective method of air craft listening device)
The Saxon Shore Way then descends into the village of Capel-le-Ferne, approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) from Dover. The path keeps on the outskirts of Folkestone and doesn’t actually go through it, but if you wish to visit Folkestone it’s the perfect place to eat, relax, stay overnight or take a train connection to back to your car or wherever you need to go.
Folkestone has a newly re-done pier with shops and restaurants, beautiful harbour, sandy beaches, and the original High Street is now a Creative Quarter with art galleries, independent shops.
Going inland from Capel – la- Ferne to Rye (Day 12 – 14 & Day 15 to Hastings)
The section of the Saxon Shore Way from Capel-le-Ferne near Folkestone to Rye via Appledore is approximately 32 miles (51.5 km) long and it’s the last section that’s in Kent. The countryside changes a lot here, you will be again walking through marches, but this time round all the marches are inland, which makes this part of the walk pretty mystical.
Starting in Capel-le-Ferne, you will be walking on top of the North Downs and on the way see the Folkestone White Horse. This is a large sketch of a horse made with chalk on to of Cheriton Hill. If you want to get a better view of the horse, you need to walk slightly down the hill.
On the way, you will also walk through Lympne village (with Port Lympne Reserve & Castle) and then drop down to follow the Royal Military Canal Walk for about a kilometre. If you want to you can carry on walking on the canal, but the Saxon Shore Way will go slightly up and then through more woodland area and villages of Bonnington, Ham Street and Appledore. The canal walk will take you to Appledore too and it’s definitely a nice short cut and a walk on a level path.
The path also passes through the village of Stone-in-Oxney with traditional oast houses and historic church. At this point you will be following the River Rother towards Rye, crossing over to East Sussex.
After Rye the path follows the Royal Military Canal Walk to Pett Level and then climb again on top of cliffs eventually reaching Hastings, where it ends in the Hasting Old Town.
This blog post was originally published on 16 February 2025 and last updated on 16 February 2025
