Swale Views, Wildlife & History: Walking from Faversham to Conyer

The Walk: Starting from the historic town of Faversham, this section of the England Coast Path (ECP) goes through the village of Oare then along the coast to the village 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 boaty 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 Faversham Station, follow the RED route to the old Guildhall, then walk out of town on quaint West Street and out through the suburb of Davington to reach the village of Oare (points of interest along the way are described in my Faversham Two Creeks Walk). From Oare, follow the BLUE line to Conyer then Teynham Station. From the head of Oare Creek, 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, visited on this walk), 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 village and marina 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 (PURPLE), if you want to do the route as a circular from there.

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 the Swale shore between the ferry landing and Conyer Creek were located a Cotton Powder Works (1873-1920) and an Explosives Loading Plant (1912-1920). There is also an artesian well to provide pure water for the works (next to the car park). These were all part of the Uplees 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. The works were scene of the largest ammunition explosion in the UK in April 1916, which killed 108 people. The shock wave shattered windows in Southend and was felt and heard as far away as Norwich.) Dan's Dock is an inlet which was connected by a tramway to the Uplees brickworks: 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 soaring Sheppey crossing road 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 in RED 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 as 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: 2 miles

Oare to Conyer:6.5 miles

Conyer to Teynham Station: 1 mile

Walk back to Oare along NCN1: 4 miles

Thus, the walk Faversham Station - Oare - Conyer - Teynham Station is 9.5 miles.

A circular from Oare is 10 miles.

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

Expect mud after prolonged rain.