Sittingbourne to Canterbury via Faversham
- Start point: Old Court Hall car park, Milton High Street, Sittingbourne
- Start time: 10:30, Saturday 11th June 2011
- Distance: 22 miles
- Ride leader: Simon Allum (sittingbourne-ride@bigwheelofkent.org.uk)
Getting to the start point
The ride will leave from the car park of the Old Court Hall on the High Street in Milton Regis. To get there turn right out of Sittingbourne railway station, across the roundabout into Milton Way. This takes you under the railway line to a large roundabout. Follow NCR1 west then north along the northern shared footpath/cycle path along Mill Way. At the next roundabout turn left (leaving NCR1) into St Paul’s Street and after 100m right into High Street. The Old Court Hall is a 15th century timber framed building and a museum about 300m on the right.
The ride
After leaving 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.
The cycle route follows the new alignment of NCR1 with off road sections through Conyer and then on to Faversham. There is an alternative route directly to Teynham avoiding the off road section and recommended for those with narrow tyres, or who want get to Canterbury more quickly.
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 Denstroude Farm you have a choice, either to continue along the country lane to Blean and the busy Whitstable to Canterbury road, or to follow quiet 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 Sittingbourne.
