Best walks to or from Queenborough

Queenborough Station to Sheerness-on-Sea Station

very pretty in places. A quiet, mostly traffic-free and largely off-road route, taking in Queenborough's historic high street and riverside, a shore-line stretch along the Swale and a linear park (The Fleet) beside a reedbed. Short stretches along wide alleys between sea wall and industrial areas. Mostly flat and easy to navigate. Follows a cycle route for much of the way; the coastal section runs right next to the tideline, good for watching feeding birds; public toilets in Sheerness.

Easy: 5km, flat terrain.

Lunch: Queenborough has several places to eat and drink along the High Street.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

[Gillingham Station](/train-stations/south-west-england/dorset/gillingham) to Queenborough Station

the close up views of salt marshes and mud flats of the Medway and Swale, made all the more atmospheric by the distant industrial structures. A long, three-part coastal and estuary route: first a wide, popular path right by the Medway estuary coastline with great views; then field paths and quiet lanes on higher ground with views inland and across the estuary; finally a freshly opened section of the England Coast Path on the Isle of Sheppey. Some informal/permissive paths, deep ruts hidden under long grass and possible high-tide flooding. Uses the England Coast Path. Salt marshes and mudflats are important nesting sites for coastal birds and rare plants. Can be broken at Rainham, Lower Halstow, Iwade or Swale station; the Sheppey line has five stations.

Tough: 24km. Gentle ascents.

The England Coast Path section on Sheppey had unfinished waymarkers and crosses ground with deep ruts hidden under long grass. Some high-tide saltmarsh paths may flood.

Lunch: Toilets and cafes at the Strand in Gillingham and in Riverside Country Park; pubs on Lower Rainham Road; pubs and shops at Lower Halstow and Iwade.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Queenborough Station to Faversham Station

An unavoidably long route through grazing marsh, freshwater pools, saltwater creeks, orchards and urban green spaces and quiet country lanes. Mostly flat; some sections can be soggy and waterlogged but doable with high boots. Passes through the Swale RAMSAR site with important bird populations; a high density of fruit orchards makes it good for spring blossom; lots of pitstop and public-transport options; you may see the Kingsferry Bridge spans lift.

Tough: 28km. Moderate ascents.

Some parts of the route can be very waterlogged.

Lunch stop: the Ship Inn.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Sittingbourne Station to Queenborough Station

About 40% off-road on field footpaths, very flat with a few gentle slopes and plus the coastal path on Sheppey and a maze-like path through an orchard. Fields can be soggy or sticky in wet weather but passable; there are kissing gates. Uses the newly opened England Coast Path between Kingsferry Bridge and Rushenden; good views over the Swale from Kingsferry Bridge, where you may see the bridge lift for shipping.

13km. Gentle ascents.

A fair bit of unavoidable road walking on the Isle of Sheppey, some without pavement; a large pool of deep water can block the official England Coast Path entrance north of Rushenden; beware splintered wooden step covers on the coastal section.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route