Oare to Conyer, Kent Coast (6.5 miles ++)

The Walk: This section of the England Coast Path (ECP) goes from the village of Oare near Faversham, to the hamlet of Conyer. Highlights include the Oare Marshes Local Nature Reserve, the Swale shore with views across to the Isle of Sheppey, Conyer Creek (nightingales can be heard in the waterside scrub in Spring), and the boaty hamlet of Conyer. You can get a train back to Faversham from Teynham Station. (Previous section of the ECP from Whitstable to Faversham, here.)

Conyer

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.

Starting from the head of Oare Creek in the village of Oare, head out along the Western side of the Creek on the path signed as both the ECP and Saxon Shore Way, SSW. Pass the hamlet of Hollowshore on the opposite bank (where the Oare Creek joins the Faversham Creek), and soon enter the Oare Marshes Local Nature Reserve. At the junction with the Swale shore (there is a bird hide) turn Westwards to follow the path, exiting the reserve, and continue along the embankment, overlooking the expansive Luddenham Marshes and Tyneham Levels to landward, and the Isle of Sheppey across the Swale. Turn inland at Conyer Creek to reach the quayside village of Conyer.

Walk through the village and take a footpath across fields and orchards down to Teynham Station.

I also show a walking route back to Oare, and a route from Faversham Station to Oare - see 'Logistics'.

Why do it?

This is another bracing section of the Kent Coast.

Oare Creek is lined with moorings and boatyards.

Oare Creek

Oare Marshes LNR is a haven for waders and wetland birds, and good for migrants in springtime. I heard various warblers (sedge, reed, cettis, whitethroat) and a cuckoo, and also saw oyster catchers and curlew.

View from hide

At the reserve car park, there is a jetty where the Harty Ferry connecting Sheppey to Faversham came ashore (ceased operation around 1941).

Old Harty Ferry landing

Along much of the Swale shore were located a Cotton Powder Works (1873-1920) and an Explosives Loading Plant (1912-1920). There are also artesian wells somewhere to provide pure water for the works. These were all part of the Oare complex of Gunpowder Works, though I couldn't find any explanatory info boards on site. (The Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park has informative displays, see my Two Creeks Walk.) Dan's Dock is an inlet which served a brickworks located here: Faversham was a major centre for brickmaking, with bricks being transported by barges upriver to London.

1898 OS Map showing Oare/Uplees Powder Works on the shore, and brickworks inland, connected to Dan's Dock by a tramway

There are good views over the Swale to the Isle of Sheppey. The high ground to the Eastern and Western ends of the Isle are respectively known as the Isle of Harty and the Isle of Elmley (towards the bridge), which were originally separated by water, now reclaimed as the Swale wetland nature reserve, and watched over by several tall wind turbines. The Sheppey complex of three prisons can also be seen. Looking Westwards along the Swale, the tall Sheppey road crossing bridge is increasingly apparent.

Long shot to Sheppey Crossing, with the factories at Kemsley to the left and the cranes of the Hoo container port to the right.

Conyer Creek was the site of another brickworks (on your left as you walk down the creek). I heard several nightingales in the scrub hereabouts.

Conyer Creek

Conyer is an attractive village strung along the creek, with a quay now providing mooring and services for various craft.

Ship Inn, Conyer

On the way down to Teynham Station, you pass through acres of orchards, which supply fruit (apples and pears) to major supermarkets. The area used to be big on cherries, I think.

Logistics: Options include:

By train to Faversham station, then walk or taxi out to Oare (walking route shown on the map, and described as part of my Two Creeks walk). Finish at Teynham Station.

Teynham Station

By car, park at Queen's Hall long term car park next to Faversham Station. End at Tyneham station and get the train back.

By car, park streetside on the road near the head of Oare Creek. If there isn't a space here, try back along the Oare Road adjacent to the industrial park. Complete the circuit either by train as above, or walk back to Oare from Conyer along the inland lanes and footpaths (the route designated a National Cycle Route 1 is probably easiest to follow, but on the map I show a route including shortcuts on footpaths).

Distance:

Faversham Station to Oare: 1.5 miles

Oare to Conyer:6.5 miles

Conyer to Teynham Station: 1 mile

Walk back to Oare along NCN1: 4 miles

Challenges: Trains between Faversham and Teynham are hourly, so check train timetables to avoid a long wait.

Expect mud after prolonged rain.