Rochester to Canterbury
- Start point: Castle Hill car park
- Start time: 09:30, Saturday 11th June 2011
- Distance: 37 miles
- Ride leader: Carl Parsons (rochester-ride@bigwheelofkent.org.uk)
Getting to the start point
The ride will leave from Rochester Castle car park in Epaul Lane. From the railway station turn right into the High Street and right again at the traffic lights into Star Hill and Corporation Street. Take 3rd left into Northgate, keep to right of the archway into Boley Hill and the car park will be ahead.
The ride
This ride takes you past the historic dockyards in Chatham, along the banks of the River Medway, through gentle Kent country-side to the northern edge of the North Downs before descending into Canterbury. The route is fairly flat until Faversham, and mainly along paved roads.
The cycle route initially follows the provisional alignment of NCR1 through Teynham to Faversham. The first 4 miles are an urban landscape following the Medway skirting Chatham and Gillingham. It then follows the water’s edge to Rainham before going inland through country lanes to Newington and Sittingbourne.
From Sittingbourne the route goes along country lanes and is fairly flat until Faversham. There is one long climb between Faversham and Canterbury. The off-road option through Church Woods has a grit surface and two short steep sections.
From Faversham the route is flat until you cross over the beginning of the A299 (Thanet Way). It then goes through undulating country-side through the village of Staplestreet and past Mount Ephraim Gardens. The route then climbs steadily providing wonderful views of the Swale and the Isle of Sheppey. At Courtney Farm you have a choice, either to continue along the country lane to Blean and the busy Whitstable to Canterbury road, or to follow quiiet cycle path / bridleway through the lovely Church Woods to Rough Common.
The descent into Canterbury provides great views of the city and the cathedral.
Getting back to the start point
For the return journey there are direct trains running from Canterbury East Station to Rochester.
