Appledore walk
Walk information
5 miles (8km) approx. 10,000 steps. Allow 3 hours.
Appledore, with its historic houses and fine inns, is an ideal
place to start and finish this exploration of the Saxon Shore Way. Discover
the broad skies and panoramic views over Romney Marsh before
joining the Royal Military Canal.
The Saxon Shore Way marks the line of the former cliffs before
the marshes were drained. It is hard to imagine that much of the
open landscape attracting walkers today was once underwater.
Built as a defence against Napoleon, but never used, the Royal
Military Canal is now a popular destination for walkers and local
anglers.
Kingfishers are seen here in summer and mute swan, moorhen
and grey heron are regular visitors.
A scheduled monument, the canal is now an essential part of the
drainage system sustaining the marshes, the wildlife that thrives
in these unusual habitats and the flocks of sheep that graze on the
marsh grasses.
However, not all the species to be discovered on the marsh are
native.
For example, the marsh frog, frequently called the laughing
frog, which can be found right across Romney Marsh. It is said to
have come from just 12 Hungarian frogs introduced to a garden pond
in Stone-in-Oxney in 1932. The frogs escaped on to the marsh and
have flourished ever since.
For more information about Romney Marsh, its wildlife and its
history, visit the Romney Marsh Countryside Project
website.
How to get there
Postcode starting point: TN26 2DB.
Car: From A28 take B2080 (Tenterden Rd) from
just outside Tenterden.
Parking: There is limited on-road parking in the
main street of Appledore. Off-road parking is also available at the
village hall halfway up the main street.
Bus: 293 (Tunbridge Wells-Rye) 1 journey,
Thurs.
11B (New Romney-Willesborough) 1 journey, Mon-Fri.
11B (Lydd-Ashford) 1 journey, Sat.
Traveline: 0871 200 22 33.
Height information
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