Whitstable Loop via Graveney, Pen Hill and Chestfield

The Adventure

Starting from Victory Wood Woodland Trust car park, this is a steady and varied walk that combines quiet countryside, farmland, woodland and the Kent coastline, with a couple of excellent opportunities to stop for refreshments along the way.

The first reward comes relatively early at Monkshill Farm, where the delightful staff provide a warm welcome and a perfect excuse to pause for a coffee and a slice of cake before continuing the journey. It's always good to fuel up before the miles ahead!

From here, the route heads through the surrounding countryside, passing seemingly endless polytunnels filled with strawberries. Eventually, you'll reach the enormous expanse of the Cleve Hill Solar Park, an impressive change of scenery and a reminder of how the landscape is evolving.

The surrounding fields are also home to plenty of wildlife, particularly birdlife, but the real stars of this section are the English Longhorn cattle. Their impressive horns make them difficult to miss and certainly add a bit of character to the walk.

Continuing towards the coast, the route eventually joins the shoreline before heading into the historic seaside town of Whitstable. Famous around the world for its oysters, Whitstable has a long association with the oyster trade, which dates back to Roman times. It's a great place to wander through and soak up the atmosphere before continuing along the coast.

The coastal path then leads into Tankerton, where there's another opportunity to refuel at Ossie's Fish & Chips. Friendly staff and a very good serving of traditional fish and chips make this a particularly welcome stop—especially if you've worked up an appetite by this stage!

With the food taken care of, the route turns inland through Chestfield & Swalecliffe, gradually leaving the coastline behind and returning to the quieter countryside.

The final section takes you through Clowes Wood and then Ellenden Wood, providing a peaceful woodland finish before eventually bringing you back to Victory Wood car park.

Overall, this is a wonderfully varied walk with a bit of everything—countryside, farmland, wildlife, woodland, coastline, a historic seaside town and, most importantly, coffee, cake and fish and chips!

A great day out for anyone who likes their walking with a healthy dose of exploration and a few well-earned treats along the way.