Estuaries, marshland, and historic shores along England’s south-east coast
The Saxon Shore Way is a long-distance self-guided walking route following the changing coastline of Kent and East Sussex, linking routes, landscapes, and places between Gravesend on the Thames Estuary and Hastings on the Sussex coast. Tracing the line of former Roman and Saxon coastal defences, the trail connects saltmarsh, estuaries, shingle beaches, chalk cliffs, and historic settlements through one continuous journey along England’s south-east shore.
Walking here is defined by space and continuity rather than ascent. Much of the route follows seawalls, marsh paths, and shoreline tracks across low-lying ground, allowing steady progress beside open water and big skies. Distances often feel long and unbroken, shaped more by wind, tide, and horizon than by elevation or technical terrain.
The character of the landscape shifts gradually along the way. Around the Thames Estuary, mudflats and wetlands dominate, with birdlife and wide tidal views. Further south, the coast alternates between seaside towns, working harbours, and quiet stretches of marsh and farmland. Near Dover and Folkestone, chalk cliffs rise above the Channel, before the route softens again across Romney Marsh and the historic streets of Rye, ending among the cliffs and old fishing quarter of Hastings.
History is woven through the route. Roman forts, medieval churches, castles, and old ports appear at regular intervals, reflecting centuries of settlement along this once-strategic coastline. The trail often feels less like a designed path and more like a thread connecting layers of coastal life.
Unlike inland or upland routes, the appeal of the Saxon Shore Way lies in its rhythm — a steady coastal passage where landscape and history unfold gradually, one estuary and headland at a time.
Trail Overview
Distance
163 miles / 262 km
Typical time on foot
12–16 days (often walked in sections)
Start
Gravesend, Kent
Finish
Hastings, East Sussex
Terrain
Seawalls, estuary paths, saltmarsh tracks, shingle beaches, clifftop sections, farmland, and seaside promenades
