2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Sam Honey)
With the weather warming up, it couldn’t be a better time to get out and explore all of . While the promise of a good trek surrounded by pleasant scenery is motivation enough to strap your walking boots on, the prospect of a cosy pub at the end will get just about anyone out of the house. How about then a trail that both starts and ends at some brilliant boozers? This is exactly what you’ll find if you decide to take on the hike from historic to the neighbouring village of Chartham.
The route follows the Great Stour Way, a three mile surfaced, shared-use path between Canterbury and Chartham perfect for a stroll or cycling. In all, one leg of the trip takes just over an hour to walk, or 30 minutes to cycle, and passes by impressive heritage sites such as Milton Church. The route can be picked up from , another of the area’s most popular and gorgeous outdoor areas which was once again named among Kent’s Green Flag Award winners for 2024.
Before entering these vibrant gardens, you have plenty of choices of nearby pubs for some refreshments ahead of your travels. There is the West Gate Inn Wetherspoons just over the road if you’re looking to keep costs down, while the top of the High Street nearby holds some real gems including The Black Griffin, Lady Luck and the . Once your thirst has been quenched, head into the gardens from the entrance next to the iconic Westgate Towers, enjoying the beautiful flower arrangements on the river bank as you enter.
Be sure to keep an eye out for the newly installed statue of a woman laying on the river bed here as well. Find the full details on her fascinating story . If you’re looking for a stroll that’s a little more relaxed, then exploring Westgate Gardens is well worth your time and makes for a brilliant picnic spot.
To carry on the route to Chartham, head over one of the bridges across the Stour, then through the Rheims Way underpass and toward the Toddler’s Cove Playground. For families, this is a great place to bring the little ones to burn off some energy with lots of different apparatus for them to climb, round around and jump all over. Continue on the walk and you will come to Hambrook Marshes where the scenery is just gorgeous, especially in the sunshine, with the river glistening away to the left and the expansive marshes opening up to the right.
One of the best things about this trail is that it really couldn’t be easier to follow as you’re essentially just following one long, meandering path with no major twists and turns to worry about along the way. So long as you keep the river on your left on the way there, and then on your right when you return, you should have no worries about getting lost - and fret not if you do, as there are signposts all along the way to help. Interestingly, the Hambrook Marshes that now border the river were once a 40-foot-deep quarry that was filled in to create the 50-acre wetland that stands today.
Keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready for any wildlife you may see here, it’s a great place for some animal spotting. If you’re lucky you may spot Kingfishers along the trail, as well as various livestock in the expansive meadows. The next landmark to keep an eye out for is a staircase that leads away from the trail, and a sign explaining the fascinating history of a lost railway in the area.
To continue onto Chartham you can go up the stairs, over a hill and then back down or simply bear left, following around the wall with the unique wildlife-themed mural until you reach the small bridge on the other side. Head over the bridge and along the flat path until eventually you will reach a fork in the road which you can use to head toward Wincheap or carry on straight ahead for Chartham. From here, the route largely continues as a straightforward walk in one direction, passing through some gates along the way before eventually arriving at Tonford Lake.
The fenced-off lake now serves as a popular fishing spot, and while you can’t access it unless you’re a member of the club, it does provide some wonderful scenery along the way. After this, the next notable landmark you will pass through is the A28 underpass, on the other side of which, keep to the left and follow the trail until once again walking beside the Stour. This next stage of the journey will take you past a number of other lakes, some impressive riverside houses and even a few small waterfalls.
Before long, you’ll find yourself on the final stretch of the trail which is now flanked by a thick wall of trees on either side with occasional gaps overlooking the river. Then the route opens up ahead as the village of Chartham comes into view with the grand St Mary's Church front and centre. Here you have two pubs to pick from in the village - The Artichoke and The Local, both of which have been highly rated by punters.
Sightseers will also enjoy seeing some of Chartham’s notable features, such as the aforementioned St Mary’s Church or the village’s popular vineyard. If you don’t fancy doing both lengths of the walk however, you can easily get back to Canterbury via the train station at Chartham which will take you to Canterbury West station in about five minutes, costing £4.40 for an adult single ticket.
Alternatively, there are regular buses to save your feet from another hour of walking if you need to..
