Saturday Walk: Faversham Circular

 Difficulty 2 out of 10. The 9 mile short walk omitting Oare Marshes: is proposed, but feel free to do the 12 mile version if you want. 

Start with a loop around Ham Marshes, an isolated area between two creeks. After a lunch stop in either Hollowshore or Oare, continue to Oare Gunpowder Works, where remains of that industry can be seen in what is now a country park. Its Visitor Centre (open 10–4) tells its story and details the local wildlife.

Then, a quiet country lane leads to the hamlet of Luddenham, and its medieval church., where our shorter ending goes back through Oare and Faversham.

Faversham is an attractive market town with many historic buildings. Print out this history trail to find a few.

Lunch: First up, the recommended, tumbledown Shipwright's Arms (01795-590088) in Hollowshore. Oldie worldie, like something out of Dickens, it has a limited menu (burgers, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, etc.), but it does have an interesting range of drinks. It doesn’t take bookings. Not unless your name's Peggoty or Sykes.

Twenty minutes later, in Oare, there’s The Castle (01795-533674) and the more upmarket Three Mariners (01795-533633). Lighter fare is available at The Cafe by the Creek (01795-537985)   Advisable to book for all of these.

Tea: There are many possible refreshment places in Faversham, such as The Refinery at 122 West Street open to 9pm .and on Court Street:, Café Guild at #48 open daily to 5pm, and Havishams Caffè at #47 open to 5.30pm . Nearby is Faversham's oldest surviving pub, the quaint old Bear  On the way to the station, there’s a Wetherspoon's, the Leading Light (01795-535075) and, nearer it, the Railway Hotel (01795-501550).  

Trains:

Get the cheaper, slower Ramsgate train from Victoria, the 09:40 arriving Faversham at 10:49. (You could get the 09:20 from St Pancras arriving at 10:26, but it’s not much faster. And it costs more. And you’d have to wait for the others - you would wait for them, wouldn’t you?)

Trains return at xx:37 and 03 to Victoria and xx:00 to St Pancras. You’d need a Highspeed ticket or supplement for St Pancras.

Directions: here  T=swc.420