Walk 3 begins in Gravesend where it is the law, apparently, that you begin with Pocahontas. Now you may be wondering what Disney princesses have to do with a slightly down-at-heel town on the Thames. Well, it turns out that the real life Pocahontas died in Gravesend in 1617 and is buried in St Georges churchyard in the town. So my first port-of-call was to see her statue...
From the graveyard I cross a small carpark to the road along the Thames. You can't actually see the river due to the blocks of riverside flats, though. Gravesend Pier is here as well. Built in 1834, it is the oldest remaining cast iron pier in the world and you can catch a ferry to Essex, should you wish to do such a thing...
The Pier is also the beginning of the Saxon Shore Way, a long distance footpath that follows the route of the coast as it was in Anglo-Saxon times. I can follow large sections of this path, but not all of it as the coastline has moved quite a bit over the intervening 1200-odd years!
Past the Pier, Gravesend has a really nice little waterfront area that packs a lot into a short walk. First up is an old lightship (bit like a lighthouse - but on a ship!) that is now an 'art space' (not sure - go and have a look if it sounds like your kind of thing!)...
Beside the ship is a statue commemorating "those from around the world who served alongside Britain in all conflicts 1914 - 2014" that features this imposing-looking dude...
A bit further along is the site of a Blockhouse built by Henry VIII to defend the river. When I was there a couple of guys were doing a bit of preservation work on the remains.
Past the Port Of London Authority building there is a nice esplanade with benches, cafe, etc, although I can't guarantee these guys will be there...
So it turns out that Gravesend is well worth a little visit!
Next though is another industrial area. Half an hour later I am leaving the town and back out onto the marshes. To the landward side is a large area of firing range with plenty of 'danger area' signs and big red flags...
The next couple of miles are a lovely walk, nice even, grassy path, views over the Thames, peaceful and quiet.
Another half hour later, and I come to Shornmead Fort. This was built in the 1860s to defend the Thames and is now derelict and covered in graffiti. Still fun to have a bit of an explore and scramble over the ruins though!
Past the fort and it's onward across the marshes. Much of the rest of the walk is RSPB bird reserve. This bit is called Higham Marsh.
I'm now approaching Cliffe Pools. These have been developed on the site of old clay and gravel quarries to provide a variety of wildlife habitats. There is still some sort of gravel works operating here and behind the fence can be seen the remains of Cliffe Fort. Similar to Shornmead, this is yet another 1860s defensive structure but seems to be more intact. Maybe this is because it is closed to the public!
On the path round the fort is the remains of the launch-way of the Brennan Torpedo. This was an early experimental guided missile invented by the Australian Louis Brennan in the 1870s! I feel this should be more widely known about - the Victorians had a guided missile! Who'd have thought...
On the other side of the fort the path goes through the gravel works, including an exciting bit underneath a big conveyor thing...
...out the other end and I am at Cliffe Creek.
A short walk down the bank is a crossing point and the end of today's walk. All I've got to do now is find my way back to the car!
Mileage on this walk was about six and a half. Gravesend has a cool little riverside area and once you are out on the marshes it is so quiet. I think I only saw three other people out there and one of them was working at the quarry!
Next time - more Hoo Peninsula, more marshes...
