11/05/22 - Saxon Shore Way - Stage 5 - Faversham to Seasalter

Distance - 7.5 Miles

Geocaches - 2

Pubs - 1

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4

This is the day that the our journey on the Saxon Shore Way comes to an end. It was always our intention to get about half way. It will be interesting to see if we can get motivated enough to come back and finish it off.

A (half time) summary of our findings at the end of the blog.

Today gets off to a fine start, with breakfast of the week at the Judds Folly Hotel. A weird motel style place, where we have individual lodges and no residents bar. A perfect collection of breakfast items, available for our own selection, buffet style.

Beans, Sub-Sausage.

A couple of miles downhill and through town, where we find Britain's Oldest Brewery - should you not take Bishop's Castle's Three Tuns into consideration. You should, the beer is better in Shropshire.

Home of Masterbrew

It wouldn't be the SSW without a final creek to navigate. Through the boat-yards of Faversham Creek and we hit open sea for proper coastal walking.

Faversham Creek Boatyards

At last, the Coast!

Refreshment stops?  We were getting desperate for a break by the time we reached the outskirts of Seasalter. The Sportsman opens in 10 minutes and those minutes were spent reading their signs that suggested that you could not enter unless you have a dinner reservation. Surprisingly, from the name and an unassuming exterior, this is the Michelin starred Gastro-pub that we had been promised.  

With neither reservations, or the desire to wait for a drinker unfriendly pub - we kept on going.

Where the Oyster Pearl became the last pub reached on foot.

Not worth the wait

London Pride, to summarise our thoughts on the SSW

So thoughts on the Saxon Shore Way.... It's been a challenge of monotonous walking up and down creeks.  Walking many miles but making scant progress.  From this point on though, it appears as though decent coastal walking will allow for some proper progress.  There have been plenty of towns, all new to us and excellent public transport to bail, as blisters and sore legs demand.  

Unfortunately, the pub-scene has not been the greatest when Good Beer Guide Ticking.  We never received the wow-factor that we often get when walking long distance trails in other, undiscovered parts of the counrty.  Far too many micros - not making the most of what micros can offer.  Far too much Shepherd Neame, now up there with my least favourite brewery (Arkells, if you're asking).

On the final blog of Good Beer Guide Pubs in Whitstable/Herne Bay - you will see something that's never happened before. 

I've moved onto cider.  

A roll call;

Best Traditional Pub:   The Elephant, Faversham.

Best Micro Pub:  The Paper Mill, Sittingbourne.

Best Pint: Hopdeamon Skrimshander at the Golden Hope, Sittingbourne

Best Brewery:  Goachers.  Never heard of this Maidstone Micro Brewery before, but enjoyed their Gold and Silver Star ales in multiple locations.