Tour de Stour (Canterbury to Chartham and back)
- Start point: Dane John Gardens, Canterbury
- Start time: 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00, Saturday 11th June 2011
- Distance: 6 miles
- Ride leader: Sam Webb (01227 738296, tour-de-stour-ride@bigwheelofkent.org.uk)
Getting to the start point
The Dane John Gardens are just over the footbridge from Canterbury East railway station. If arriving via Canterbury West, turn right out of the station, left at the mini-roundabout, under the Westgate Towers and on to the high street. Follow the road road round to the right where it bends and pass Whitefriars Shopping Centre. At the edge of Whitefriars you will pass a rising bollard. Shortly afterwards turn left at the mini-roundabout, then right into the Dane John Gardens at the next zebra crossing.
The ride
A cycle ride to the village of Chartham and back using the new entirely traffic-free riverside cycling and walking route, the Great Stour Way.
The ride will stop off at Hambrook Marshes, which is situated just outside Canterbury and about half a mile from Dane John Gardens. Hambrook Marshes is an area of marshland on the bank of the River Stour. The marsh covers approximately 20 Ha and is classified as wet marshland for most of the year, though during the dry summer months the area becomes a wild hay meadow. The marsh is managed by Kent Enterprise Trust to increase biodiversity and as an educational and recreational resource.
The Kent Enterprise Trust will be organising activities for children and a number of stalls.
Younger riders may want to stop at Hambrook Marshes rather than go all the way to Chartham.
