The Heron Trail is long cycling trail that links with

National Cycle Route 1 The cycle-path is located in the United Kingdom. Route Dover to Canterbury Dover , Deal , Sandwich , Canterbury Links with National Cycle Route 2, Regional route 16, and Regional route 17 in Dover. Leaves Dover passing Dover Castle. S ...

between Higham and Strood, then it heads around the

Hoo Peninsula The Hoo Peninsula is a peninsula in Kent, England, separating the estuaries of the rivers Thames and Medway. It is dominated by a line of chalk, clay and sand hills, surrounded by an extensive area of marshland composed of alluvial silt. The n ...

via Regional route 18 (now renamed National Cycle Route 179 ) passing through 'Hoo St Werburgh', 'High Halstow' and 'Cliffe' before returning to Higham. It has a mixture of rural and maritime interest, with views of the River Medway and

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...

. In 2005, the RSPB worked with

Medway Council Medway Council is the local authority of Medway in Kent, England. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined. The council was created on 1 April 1998 and replaced Rochester-upon-Medw ...

to establish the route on the Hoo Peninsula.

Route

Starting points can be anywhere along the route, but Higham Railway Station is normally used. Then a clockwise route is taken. The trail takes its name from the RSPB 'Northward Hill Reserve' in High Halstow, which the route passes by. The trail heads down 'Lower Rochester Road', then down 'Two Gates Hill' to the crossroads hamlet of 'Mockbeggar'. It takes 'Bunter's Hill Road' to Noke Street, then 'Higham Road' before turning away from Wainscott and heading along 'Islingham Farm Road' and 'Woodfield Way' to

Chattenden Chattenden is a village within the civil parish of Hoo, which is within the unitary authority of Medway, Kent, England. It was, until 1998, part of Kent and is still ceremonially associated via the Lieutenancies Act. The A228 goes through th ...

. Here it passes the

Royal School of Military Engineering The Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) Group provides a wide range of training for the British Army and Defence. This includes; Combat Engineers, Carpenters, Chartered Engineers, Musicians, Band Masters, Sniffer Dogs, Veterinary Techni ...

(RSME). It takes 'Upchat Road' to Beacon Hill. It crosses over the A228 'Four Elms Hill' before leaving 'National Cycle Route 1' and becoming ''Regional route 18'' which heads up the A228 through another section of Chattenden. It then takes 'Main Road Chattenden' to the village of Hoo St Werburgh. It then takes 'Stoke Road' towards

Kingsnorth Kingsnorth is a mixed rural and urban village and relatively large civil parish adjoining Ashford in Kent, England. The civil parish includes the district of Park Farm. Features The Greensand Way, a long distance footpath stretching from Hasl ...

. But it then breaks left onto 'Roper's Lane' heading back towards the A228 (Ratcliffe Highway). It then takes 'Sharnal Street' towards the street lined hamlet, before crossing over the A228 to take 'Christmas Lane' to High Halstow. After passing St Margaret church in High Halstow, the Heron trail takes 'Cooling Road' to Bromhey Farm (used by the RSPB). 'Then Lipwell Hill' to 'Main Road' leading to Cooling. It then passes 'Cooling Castle' and 'Cooling Castle Barn' and heads along 'Cooling Road' again. It then turns right onto 'Common Lane' to head to Cliffe. It heads along 'Reed Street' in the village towards St Helen's church in Cliffe. Then it heads west via 'Buttway Lane', before turning left onto 'West Street' (confusingly heading North-south!) to 'Buckland Road'. Here it passes the large quarry works and then passes over the Gravesend to Grain railway (carrying freight only). Buckland Road carries on around the edge of Cliffe Woods village. Then it turns right onto 'Gore Green Road' to head to back to Higham.

Notes

Easy (6 mph) - 2 hours 30 minutes*
Well (7-8 mph) - 2 hours*
Strong Plus+ (13-15 mph) - 1 hour* *all times approximations.

References

{{reflist

External links

Heron Trail Map

Photo trail
Cycleways in England Footpaths in Kent Transport in Medway