The Walk: This walk makes a circuit from the appealing market town of Faversham, outward along the Faversham Creek, and back along the Oare Creek. The route is also part of the England Coast Path and the Saxon Shore Way.
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| Shipwrights Arms, Hollowshore |
Route
NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely. You can download the Google map info, as a KML/KMZ file, then convert to GPX using a site like GPS Visualiser.
Why do it?
Faversham is a historic town and a gem for lovers of traditional buildings, many dating from Tudor times. It was also the site of an Abbey wherein King Stephen and Queen Matilda were entombed. The town was a centre for gunpowder manufacture, brickfields and breweries (Fremlin's - now converted to a Tesco Superstore - and also Shepheard Neam's). Heritage walk leaflets can be picked up at the visitor centre next to the Guildhall.
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| Faversham Guildhall |
Wharves lining the Faversham Creek are testament to the town's history as a significant inland port until the late nineteenth century.
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| Old wharves along Faversham Creek |
The walk skirts the Ham Marshes, with views all round, including over to the hills between Canterbury and Whitstable, and back to the unusual eighteenth century open tracery spire of St Mary's Church. The boat building hamlet of Hollowshore is located at the junction of the two creeks with the channel linking to the Swale. Here, the clapperboard Shipwrights Arms pub has an interior with wooden beams that were seemingly installed by the eponymous shipwrights, and a delightful pub garden. This is an unfussy free house, where conversation is favoured over doom-scrolling (there is no wifi).
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| Shipwrights Arms |
The Oare Creek is lined with jettied moorings for yachts.
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| Oare Creek |
The circuit is completed via the Oare Road back to the Market Place passing the Oare windmill - now sail-less and converted to a home -and Stonebridge Pond, with its adjacent row of clapperboard gunpowder workers cottages..
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| Gunpowder workers cottages at Stonebridge Pond |
An excursion to the informative exhibition at Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park is worthwhile if you have time.
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| Faversham Gunpowder Works (Oare G W Country Park) |
Logistics:
By train to Faversham Station.
By car, there is parking at the station, Queen's Hall long stay car park, and Partridge Lane long stay car park. There is also cheaper parking slightly off-route at the out-of-town Sainsbury superstore (use the spaces next to the petrol station and pay by the Ringgo App), or you could try free roadside parking at Oare.
The old Guildhall makes a good starting point.
Distance: 6 miles
Challenges:
Creekside paths will likely be muddy after prolonged rain.
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| Cracked dried mud indicates paths may be muddy after rain |
Cattle are grazed on the Ham Marshes, occasionally including bulls, according to the 'Beware of the Bull' signs.
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| Beware of the Bull (none were present) |
There is significant house building taking place between Faversham and Oare, plus, according to protest signs, a threat to build on the Ham Marshes, so sadly the landscape may change radically over the next few years.
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| Housing development |
Refreshments: Numerous offerings in Faversham town centre. Albion 'Taverna' on the Faversham Creek. Shipwrights Arms at Hollowcreek, Cafe by the Creek at the head of Oare Creek. Two pubs in Oare.
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| Albion Taverna |
Nearby Walks:
To the East: Whitstable to Faversham (TBC)
To the West: Faversham to Conyer (TBC)
Walk along the Sheppey bank of the Swale
For an overview map of all my coast walks see this page.
More Photos
Sunny Spring Day (April)
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| Under the Guildhall |
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| Old pharmacy |
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| Street Market |
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| Vintage enamel signs for sale |
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| Old Fremlin's Brewery (now Tesco) |
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| Old Grammar School |
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| Abbey Street has many Tudor buildings with Georgian fronts |
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| Imposing house: 17th century core with later fascia |
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| Two Towers: distinctive steeple of St Mary's Church, Brewery chimney |
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| The route is signed as Saxon Shore Way and England Coast Path |
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| Start of Faversham Creek |
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| Heritage barge |
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| Oyster Bay House (former fertiliser store) |
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| Faversham Creek |
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| Looking back to St Mary's steeple |
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| Cows on Ham Marshes |
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| Ham Marshes |
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| Nearing Hollowshore |
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| Junction at Hollowshore where the two creeks merge into a channel to the Swale |
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| Shipwrights Arms, Hollowshore |
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| Pub interior |
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| Oare Creek jetty |
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| The Cafe by the (Oare) Creek |
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| Windmill |
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| Davington Church, all that survives from Davington Priory |
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| Stonebridge Pond |
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| West Street |
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| Back at the Guildhall |
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