The Heron Trail

Route summary:

15.5 miles (25km). On-road 100% - Off-road 0%. Circular route.

With its literary connections - Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities here - rich maritime heritage and wide variety of bird life, there is something for everyone on a visit to the Heron Trail on the Hoo Peninsula.

*all times approximations.

Maps & guides:

	Download guide for this route (PDF, 266kb)
	View this route on the Explore Kent interactive map
	View start point for route on Google maps
	Ordnance Survey Explorer map 163 cover this route.  These are available from the Ordnance Survey shop.
	Download our free Explore Kent smartphone app.                          Powered by Everytrail

Route:

About the route:

The circular route is 15.5 miles (25 km) in total but can be broken up into shorter sections.

Starting points can be anywhere along the route, but Higham Station is a convenient location from which to start your ride.

The Heron Trail takes its name from the RSPB Northward Hill Reserve. As well as nightingales and turtledoves, the wood has the largest heronry in the UK, with more than 150 pairs of grey heron nesting in the treetops and almost 50 pairs of little egrets, a recent colonist.

Further highlights of the trail are the many forts and castles that line the route. Take a look at Cliffe Fort, which was built in 1800 as part of the defence system guarding the Thames. Now it is a home for roosting birds and a variety of plants.

Another option is Cooling Castle, which is privately owned. It was built in 1381 and once stood close to the sea. Draining of the marshes has left it some distance inland.

Upnor Castle, built in 1559, is set on the banks of the River Medway and was constructed as a gun fort on the orders of Queen Elizabeth I to defend her warships at anchor.

If you feel like straying from the trail, the Riverside Country Park offers fantastic traffic-free cycling for the whole family, plus a stunning panorama over coastal marsh, fresh water habitats and grasslands alongside the Medway estuary.

Useful information:

Weather near start point

This Weather Widget is provided by the Met Office

If you need to report a problem on this route please call 0845 345 0210 or use the online reporting tool. You can then choose to receive regular updates about the progress of your report.