Best walks to or from Swanscombe

Swanscombe Station to Northfleet Station

A very short urban route using a cycle/footpath through a nature strip and a quiet roundabout, with safe crossings and pavements throughout and designed to avoid an unsafe business park.

1km.

Two zebra crossings near Swanscombe station keep the road crossings safe; the original route's path through the Ebbsfleet Business Park with heavy plant is unsafe and avoided here.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Longfield Station to Swanscombe Station

A mostly quiet route through scenic countryside, with a couple of short, steep footpaths, rutted tracks, at least one kissing gate and a couple of wet, muddy flushes and plus two sections beside busy but well-pavemented roads including the eight-lane A2. Uses the Thames Way in part. Can be cut short at Northfleet station. Skylarks, chalk downland flowers, warblers in the Ebbsfleet Valley reedbeds, and possibly adders in summer.

Easy: 10km, moderate ascents.

There are sections beside busy roads including the eight-lane A2, a wide Eurostar-traffic road that is a little dangerous to cross, and a tricky duck-under beneath HS1. The Ebbsfleet footbridge has metal width restrictions.

Lunch: A pub and bus stops in Southfleet; a pizza/burger van in the layby north of the A2 bridge and a large supermarket a little further north.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Greenhithe Station to Swanscombe Station

Very scenic and interesting. A short, varied walk that quickly gets off-road through Swanscombe Marshes and onto the riverside Thames Path. Choice of grassy riverbank, sea wall (sometimes rocky) or old roadway. A few short flights of steps, a kissing gate; the marshes are where there is most potential for mud and though it was easy going when reviewed. Crosses Swanscombe Marshes, a mosaic of grasslands, coastal habitats and wetlands where nightingales may be heard. Follows the Thames Path (now rebranded the King Charles III England Coast Path). Swanscombe Station has long steep flights of steps to both platforms.

Easy: 3km, moderate ascents.

The Thames-side paths may be exposed to wind and tides, though a parallel path set back from the waves is generally available.

Lunch: Two pubs (John Franklin, Pier Hotel) and an Asda in Greenhithe; ring ahead for pub kitchen times.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route