10/05/22 - Saxon Shore Way - Stage 4 - Teynham to Faversham

Distance - 8 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Pubs - 2

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3

Day 4 on the Saxon Shore Way and we are looking for get outs. Yesterday's walk along Shit Creek brought us into Sittingbourne. Blistered feet, knackered, uninspired by the terrain. Today's planned walk would see us on the opposite bank, looking at the recycling centre from a distance.

There is another way.

Let the Train take the Strain.

I am catching it to Teynham - 1 stop, 5 minutes and £4.40 - to complete an 8 miler into Faversham. My walking partner is meeting me at the end.

This proves an inspired choice, as there really is little to see (still the Swale) and no change in terrain from yesterday. Tomorrow does promise the end of creeks and proper coastal walking.

Ship Inn, Conyer - Would have been a lunchtime stop if we had set off properly

The Swale - Looking at Isle of Sheppey - for a good 5 miles of the walk

Dropping down Oare Creek, I text my walking partner to suggest he can meet at Oare. There are two pubs and just a 2 mile walk onwards to our digs for the night - a Best Western called Judd's Folly. He thinks this is a capital idea. We are both waiting in different parts of the car park for the 12pm scrape of the Castle pub door.

The Castle

No decent cask on - and the Staropramen was not at the quality to justify the price. They did have a very friendly black lab to make up for the beery disappointment.

Not far to the next watering hole.  I know there is one Michelin starred gastropub on the route. I mistakenly thought it was the 3 Mariners. Easy to see why - it is a smart gastropub, offering bar snacks that include two different types of charcuterie.

Pub Kitchen

With the masterbrew warning from last night still ringing in our ears, we try the cask Shepherd's Neame Whitstable Bay Pale Ale.

Our landlord insists on changing the barrel before serving to what he correctly assumes are two rambling real ale connoisseurs.

It was lovely looking but I am hard pressed to remember a blander pint consumed.  Maybe the last time I was Wiltshire on the Arkells.  It tasted of nothingness.  

The charcuterie, however, was a delight.