Walks from Sittingbourne

Recommended: A flat estuary walk along the sea defences, following the England Coast Path nearly all the way.

Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.

Time: 8h30 (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

Lunch: Only one village stop en route.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Recommended: Lovely views out over the marshes. A lovely, varied route through woods, fields, gentle hills, orchards and a river estuary, with small sections of mostly safe road walking. The first half is farmland over very gentle hills; the second follows the Medway estuary on the England Coast Trail, with lovely views over the marshes and mudflats. Quite a lot of tarmac and with some muddy parts and slanted cycle gates. The estuary section is on the England Coast Trail. Optional detour along a causeway to 'Horrid Hill'. Break points at Borden, Newington, Rainham, Riverside Country Park and the Strand leisure area.

Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: Break points with pubs/shops at Borden, Newington and Rainham; cafes and toilets at Riverside Country Park and the Strand.

Warnings: Steps, stiles and gates throughout, plus slanted cycle gates along the estuary. A field path beyond Newington was not reinstated across crops. Care crossing main roads.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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.

Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a quarter of the walk. 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.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A marginally shorter, more off-road route via Bexon and Bottom Pond. Includes a short and apparently permissive path down the side of an orchard. No shops or scheduled buses on the route. There are no shops or scheduled buses on the route. A tearoom at the Bredgar model railway site was recommended (check opening hours).

Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: A tearoom at the Bredgar model railway site is on the route (check opening hours); otherwise no shops or scheduled buses.

Warnings: The permissive orchard-side path between Bloody Mary Lane and Stratton Street may not work out; carry an OS map for nearby alternatives. Lenham station is not near the village-centre start point.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A flat walk along the banks of the Swale, past several industrial sites, with some wildlife interest.

Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.

Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Railwalks.