Walk from Swanscombe

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.

Time: 3h–5h30

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.

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

Walk details: Slow Ways.