Saxon Shore Way

The Saxon Shore Way is a long-distance footpath in England. It starts at Gravesend, Kent, and traces the coast of South-East England as it was in Roman times as far as Hastings, East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total.[1] This means that around Romney Marsh the route runs significantly inland from the modern coastline.

Saxon Shore Way
Length163 mi (262 km)
LocationSouth East England
TrailheadsGravesend TQ 647 745[1]
51.446°N 0.369°E / 51.446; 0.369
Hastings TQ 825 094[1]
50.855°N 0.592°E / 50.855; 0.592
UseHiking
Hiking details
SeasonAll year
Kent 802AD
The Saxon Shore Way, and the other long-distance footpaths in Kent.

History

The line of the Roman fortification that the route traces includes ancient forts, modern towns, nature reserves and coastline: four Roman forts built in the fourth century lie along the route, at Reculver, Richborough, Dover and Lympne.

At Seasalter there is an internationally important area for geese, ducks, and waders. The diversity of scenery along the route includes the wide expanses of marshland bordering the Thames and Medway estuaries, the White cliffs of Dover, and panoramic views over Romney Marsh from the escarpment that marks the ancient coastline between Folkestone and Rye.

The Saxon Shore Way was originally opened in 1980, but has since been re-established, and in parts re-routed and extended.[2] It follows the coastline of the South East as it was about 1500 years ago, long before the North Kent Marshes or the Romney Marsh came into existence, when the cliff lines to the north and south extended further into the sea and when the Wantsum Channel provided a thoroughfare for boats between the Isle of Thanet and mainland England.[2] The Way takes its name, the Saxon Shore, from a line of fortifications built along the coastline as it was in the 3rd century AD, towards the end of the Roman period. In this time of crisis Saxon invaders came from the southern regions of modern Denmark and in response the Romans built a line of defensive forts along the coast to repel the newcomers.[2]

The route

Gravesend to Faversham

A saline fleet at Cliffe Creek
Sunset over The Swale

Faversham

  • The Faversham area section is from Conyer Creek in the west alongside The Swale, passing through Harty Ferry; Oare; Faversham and on to north of Graveney in the east.[4] The Saxon Shore Way traces the coast as it was in Roman times and follows the line of the Roman fortifications.

Faversham to Deal

Deal to Dover

A view of the cliffs from the path.

Dover to Rye

Rye

Rye to Hastings

The Royal Military Canal near Rye

See also

References

  1. James Kirby. "Saxon Shore Way". Long Distance Walkers Association. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  2. "The Saxon Shore Way". Walking Pages - Trails and Paths. p. 1. Archived from the original on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  3. Martin Hall, Mark Loos and Medway Swale Estuary Partnership (2004). Walking the Saxon Shore Way through Medway (PDF). Medway Council Development and Environment Department in association with Medway Swale Estuary Partnership. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  4. "Saxon Shore way and Swale Heritage Trail". The Faversham Website. 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  5. Your County - Kent Archived 20 November 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Saxon Shore, Kent". Saxon Shore, Kent. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  7. "Saxon Shore Way 1 (Hastings to Rye)". EveryTrail. 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
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