OARE WALK, NEAR FAVERSHAM

Distance: 4.5 miles, circular walk

In a nutshell: “A birdy, boaty walk through Uplees Nature Reserve.”

Start point: The Three Mariners, ME13 0QB

Directions: From the Three Mariners take the Davington/Faversham road out of Oare. Immediately after the Castle Inn on the left, take the right-hand footpath via a kissing-gate. Pass through shrub to pick up the Saxon Shore Way (SSW). Follow the path to reach a kissing-gate beside a seven-bar metal gate. On the way you will pass the sea wall hide and the visitor centre at the Harty Ferry slip.

Pass through the gate and leave the Saxon Shore Way. Drop down from the sea defence bank and follow the track with mauve way markers to the Gatehouse Bungalows, one of which is clearly pink. Pass houses to meet a road T-junction. Pick up the footpath opposite, continue passing through a kissing-gate and follow the path to meet a stony track.

Turn left on the track and when it shapes left, continue ahead across the field. On reaching the road turn right and shortly pick up the path again on the left. Follow the path that runs parallel to a row of wooden electricity posts.

After the last post, turn right and follow the path to the road. Turn left on the road and follow it back into Oare.

Warning: Parts of the route can be muddy – trainers may not be the best footwear. Binoculars will be well used.

POINTS OF INTEREST

It you meet a fisherman or a nature reserve warden on the walk, do stop for a chat.

Plenty of bird life. If you catch a glimpse of ‘iridescent-blue’, flying low along a creek, it may well be a kingfisher.

The isolated buildings on Uplees Marshes are what remains of the guncotton mill that was there. An explosion at the mill on April 2, 1916 killed 115 men and boys, women did not work on Sundays. The site of the explosion was to the right of the track to Uplees, but no evidence remains as the ground has been levelled.

The ruined jetty just before the five-bar gate was used by the guncotton mill.

American mink used to live on the marshes – they were released by fur farms when real fur fell out of fashion. They have no natural predators and can devastate the water vole population on the nature reserve.

RAMBLE BY NAME...

Geoff Rambler’s real name is Geoff Ettridge, but as an accomplished walking leader of more than 10 years, the nickname stuck.

Geoff is willing and able to lead organised walks for organised groups such as schools or clubs in return for an agreed donation to a good cause.

For details visit www.geoff rambler.co.uk