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The Heron Trail
| Route Overview | The Heron Trail is a lovely 18 mile (29km) circular route on the Hoo Peninsula, bounded by two great rivers, the Thames to the North and the Medway to the South. | ||||||
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| Distance - Full | 18 miles / 28.8 km | ||||||
| Typical Time - Full | 2 hours | ||||||
| Start Point | Higham | ||||||
| End Point | Lower Upnor | ||||||
| Start point grid reference | TQ714714 | End point grid reference | TQ764714 | ||||
| Type of Route: | Linear | ||||||
| Route Features |
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| Accessibility / Facilities |
Begins near bus route Begins near pub Begins near train station Ends near parking Ends near pub |
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| Terrain | Roads | ||||||
| Route Description | The trail provides a combination of rural and Maritime interests, medieval houses hiding behind later facades and spectacular views along the route. Dickens wrote four of his novels including Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities close by and the area was a popular smugglers haunt. Cliffe Fort built in 1800, as part of the defence system guarding the Thames is now home to roosting birds and a variety of plants. Cooling Castle, now privately owned, was built in 1381 and once stood close to the sea until the draining of the marshes stranded it some distance inland. Upnor Castle, built in 1559 is set on the banks of the River Medway and was constructed as a gun fort on the orders of Queen Elisabeth I to defend her war ships at anchor. Recommended detours include the RSPB Northward Hill Reserve, home to around 150 pairs of grey herons, which give their name to the trail. The Riverside Country Park close by on National Route 1 offers fantastic traffic free cycling for the whole family plus stunning panorama over coastal marsh, fresh water habitats and grasslands alongside the Medway estuary. The parks trails and paths have excellent surfaces which are particularly suitable for wheel chair users and the less able. The Saxon Shore Way stretches from Gravesend to Hastings, some 160 miles from start to finish and is easily accessible from the Heron Trail for diversion on foot. | ||||||
| Additional Info / Warnings | Further information on the route is available from www.kent.gov.uk/explorekent. A map and guide are also available from the website, this can be accessed via the link below. | ||||||
| Access Info / Public Transport | Train: Nearest station - Higham. National Rail Enquiries: 08457 484950. Road Map: Multimap website www.multimap.com. Search for Higham. By Car: Higham is off the A226 between Rochester and Gravesend. | ||||||
| Nearby Cycle Hire/Repair Shops | Geoff Wiles, in Strood. Telephone: 01634 722586. Bikes Bikes Bikes, in Gillingham. Telephone 01634 571093. Victory Cycles, in Rainham. Telephone 01634 365892. | ||||||
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| More info | The Heron Trail | ||||||
