Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective

Saxon Shore Way

Long-distance footpath in England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Saxon Shore Way
Remove ads

The Saxon Shore Way is a long-distance footpath in England. It starts at Gravesend, Kent, and traces the coast of South-East England as it was in Roman times as far as Hastings, East Sussex, 163 miles (262 km) in total.[1] This means that around Romney Marsh the route runs significantly inland from the modern coastline.

Quick Facts Length, Location ...
Thumb
Kent 802AD
Thumb
The Saxon Shore Way, and the other long-distance footpaths in Kent.
Remove ads

History

Summarize
Perspective

The line of the Roman fortification that the route traces includes ancient forts, modern towns, nature reserves and coastline: four Roman forts built in the fourth century lie along the route, at Reculver, Richborough, Dover and Lympne.

At Seasalter there is an internationally important area for geese, ducks, and waders. The diversity of scenery along the route includes the wide expanses of marshland bordering the Thames and Medway estuaries, the White cliffs of Dover, and panoramic views over Romney Marsh from the escarpment that marks the ancient coastline between Folkestone and Rye.

The Saxon Shore Way was originally opened in 1980, but has since been re-established, and in parts re-routed and extended.[2] It follows the coastline of the South East as it was about 1500 years ago, long before the North Kent Marshes or the Romney Marsh came into existence, when the cliff lines to the north and south extended further into the sea and when the Wantsum Channel provided a thoroughfare for boats between the Isle of Thanet and mainland England.[2] The Way takes its name, the Saxon Shore, from a line of fortifications built along the coastline as it was in the 3rd century AD, towards the end of the Roman period. In this time of crisis Saxon invaders came from the southern regions of modern Denmark and in response the Romans built a line of defensive forts along the coast to repel the newcomers.[2]

Remove ads

The route

Gravesend to Faversham

Thumb
A saline fleet at Cliffe Creek
Thumb
Sunset over The Swale

Faversham

  • The Faversham area section is from Conyer Creek in the west alongside The Swale, passing through Harty Ferry; Oare; Faversham and on to north of Graveney in the east.[4] The Saxon Shore Way traces the coast as it was in Roman times and follows the line of the Roman fortifications.

Faversham to Deal

Deal to Dover

Thumb
A view of the cliffs from the path.

Dover to Rye

Rye

Rye to Hastings

Thumb
The Royal Military Canal near Rye
Remove ads

See also

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Remove ads