Hike through Kent’s finest scenery to the sea — Stour Valley Walk

The Stour Valley Walk is a long-distance trail that winds through Kent's finest scenery and most spellbinding natural and historic sites to the coastline.

Following the course of the River Stour, the trail takes you from Lenham village, through the Low Weald and North Downs to the wildlife-rich Sandwich Bay. The official route is 58 miles (93 km). However, with a few detours to some worthy sites, this Collection is 61 miles (98 km).

The landscapes you encounter on this hike are delightfully diverse. Expect rolling grasslands, heathlands, woodlands, marshes, peat bogs, orchards, vineyards, picturesque villages, historic towns, and charming coastline. You explore plenty of nature reserves too, each affording wonderful wildlife displays.

Highlights along the way include: Hothfield Heathlands Nature Reserve, one of the last heathlands in Kent; Wye Crown Millennium Stone, which affords breathtaking views; Canterbury, a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage Site; Canterbury Cathedral, the most famous Christian structure in England; Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve; Richborough Castle, one of the most symbolic Roman sites in Britain; Sandwich, a pretty town where the sandwich was invented; and Sandwich and Pegwell Bay, Kent’s largest nature reserve.

In this Collection, I split the trail into four stages; 17.7 miles (28.5 km), 14.2 miles (22.6 km), 15.8 miles (25.4 km), and 13 miles (21 km). As Stage 1 is considerably longer than the others, I have made suggestions on how you can shorten/split the hike. Of course, you can divide the Collection into as many days as you are comfortable with or walk any single stage.

With minimal hills and following a downhill trajectory throughout, the trail is fairly leisurely throughout. Following waymarked paths and never straying too far from civilisation, the Stour Valley Walk is suitable for walkers of all abilities.

You are relatively well-served by accommodation along the route. However, places to stay are limited at times so it is worth planning in advance and scheduling your rest days accordingly.

Getting to the start and finish of this trail is very easy as both Lenham and Sandwich have railway stations with direct links to London and connecting services around Britain.