Is anyone going down today? Don't want to turn up on my tod?

At least two are going down, including me.

Thanks no doubt to the multiple weather warnings issued for Kent, only 2 intrepid walkers travelled to Faversham on the posted train - well not that intrepid in my case as I was in two minds, so thanks for your encouragement Gavin.

Anyway we set off and it turned out to be a fine walk, blustery with the odd shower but making for a very pleasant walk along the coast; the rain only really set in after we got to Whitstable. Before that, we sampled the small and unpretentious Forget-me-not cafe at Seasalter - good food options, experience only marred by one of our orders being forgotten although there were hardly any customers. Apart from that, this made a good midweek lunch stop but it would probably struggle to cater for a large group at the weekend.

We stopped for a pint at the Old Neptune and sat outside pretending the sun was about to come out. As there was a gap before the train, I joined my companion briefly for another drink at the Centurion(?) before getting to the station in time for two trains to be cancelled - eventually home via the delayed 1650.

PS Gavin met another Saturday Walker on his train but I'm not sure if they did the walk - perhaps you could amend the number if so?

10 off the consolidated and delayed train (those from Victoria having been evicted at Sittingbourne), which made for a rather late start. We wished we had time to dally in Faversham which looked very pretty with a market in full swing. 1 was already waiting for us and 1 caught up later making 12 walkers (1 newcomer) on a beautiful sunny day with a nice breeze . 6 of us swam in lovely warm calm water near Seasalter. The Old Neptune was packed so four of us had a nice tea in the Tea and Times on the high street; at least five others stopped at Hutstock. The majority got the 6 o'clock train home. Another top day out, thank you for posting.

I am doing the Walk Today. Now it maybe pouring down with rain. And it will be Muddy in places. But we got to make the most of it.

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This solar farm is being built on part of the marshes close to Faversham and Whitstable. As a local friend said to me "Enjoy the marshes while you can!"

https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaigns/planning-and-development/cleve-hill-solar-park

6 did a shortened version by getting off at Whitstable and walking to Faversham.

Hard to put a number on. From the Victoria train, 8 started at Herne Bay and others, say 4, got off at Whitstable. I presume the 6 Bridie mentions are off the delayed St Pancras train. How's your maths? I reckon 18 but what do I know? It was mostly cloudy with some sun Coastline fairly busy. My lunch was a hasty cider gulped down at the Old Neptune in Whitstable, don't know about the others but there was talk of fish and chips. (Don't know much, do I?) Some went for a swim. I heard some stayed for pizza in Faversham. One brave chap walked all the way from HB without looking at directions till near Faversham but then got lost looking for the station and missed the train. :( Reading them in reverse, see.

I will get the Train from Whitstable arriving 11:35 and catch-up with the group. Rich

7 off the train from Victoria, 2 from St Pancras and 2 from Whitstable, so we mustered 11 for today's seaside walk.

Fortunately, the temperature in Faversham and along the shore was ten degrees lower than in London, and although the air was heavy and a little humid, the sea breeze made walking conditions pleasant and comfortable. It was overcast in the morning then lovely sunshine later . Infact, it had warmed up quite considerably by the time we left Seasalter and headed for Whitstable.

We met a few walkers in the morning but mostly we had the vast open spaces, marshes and creeks to ourselves. The tide was out early on, leaving the estuaries and creeks as mud flats.

Four stopped for their picnic a mile before Seasalter and six others had theirs on the beach in Seasalter. I purchased a take away from "Forget-Me-Not" cafe and enjoyed it sitting on the sea wall. Below me, on the beach, it was getting busier with bucket-and-spade families, most sensibly observing social distancing.

On then along the shoreline towards Whitstable, now in full-on sunshine, to find the town buzzing. We managed to secure an outside table at the otherwise full Old Neptune pub, on the sea front, and enjoyed post-walk drinks in the sun. At least 2 went for a swim - the tide now being in - and I hope they enjoyed their dip. On then through the busy town to the railway station, where 4 of us caught the 16-46 hrs train back to hot, sultry London - having enjoyed a lovely day out at the seaside.

6 perfect

3 from St.Pancras and 2 from Victoria, plus another who contacted by text but was not encountered. A very beautiful day in wonderful early autumnal light. The Sportsman was fully booked but we rested outside before dining at the cafe a little further on. Four went straight to the train while one lingered another hour to enjoy the sinking sun from the shingle beach outside the buzzing Old Neptune pub.

Started the day admiring Faversham with its rich history and architecture. The town's market square was a delight, we then saw the house where King James (the second) was held after his capture. Then we walked down a beautifully preserved medieval street which was saved from developers in 1958 and then one last treasure was seeing one of the oldest surviving warehouses in Britain. The 7 on this walk were then treated to some lovely nature in the way of butterflies and wild flowers as we walked around Faversham Creek. Prices at The Sportsman pub put people off from eating there so after the sandwich munchers had finished we set off on a very attractive coastal path to Whistable. After a drink at the Old Neptune pub five of us flopped onto the beach for a lovely hour of doing absolutely nothing. A good day out.

High tide is roughly 2.30pm. Whitstable has sufficient depth for swimming for at least three hours after high tide: after that the sea retreats over the mud.

Intend going ton this walk today as away for the weekend at Chagstock the boutique music festival on Dartmoor

Many thanks to Marcus for a magical walk.

Four of us alighted from the train from Victoria. We waited for the St Pancras train to arrive, but when it did, no-one else joined us, so that made 4 for the day's adventure.

With overcast skies, as forecasted, and rain threatening at any moment, we set out through historic Faversham (worth a day visit in its own right) to arrive at the Saxon Shore Way for our coastal walk. Big rain bearing skies, big inland fields in full crop, flat marshes, rough seas whipped up by the high wind, the walk was atmospheric and invigorating, if a bit chilly. No motor car noise all morning, and few others out on the marshes, at times it felt as though we were in the middle of nowhere.

As per last Wednesday in the Cotswolds, Lady Luck was with us again as the rain held off as we arrived in Seasalter, for a drink at the Sportsman pub. Full marks to the pub's management for allowing us to eat our sandwiches in their covered conservatory, out of the wind, which by now was stronger. Given my own previous experiences of the Sportsman were not good, this was much appreciated - so thank you.

Onwards after lunch in the wind, and still dry, with some nice stretches along the shingle beach with the tide now fully in, and so into Whitstable Harbour, which was quite busy, despite the inclement weather. An oyster-shell castle building contest was underway, part of the Festival, but we resisted the urge to join in (as late starters). Similarly, as none of us was partial to eating oysters, we passed on the offer from the various stalls. The lobster and chips offer for £ 30 was more tempting, but a bit expensive for this pensioner. So instead we made for the railway station along the "Winkle and something Way", a cycle path between Canterbury and Whitstable, to catch the 17-23 hrs train back to Victoria. Trains today were all on time and not overcrowded.

Comment on the South-Eastern ticket promotion: no-one knows about it, how it works, when it works (no-one being the ticket offices at both Victoria and Whitstable). I managed to persuade the ticket office in Victoria to give me a £ 10 return using the promotion: my three companions had no such luck. The South-Eastern website is not helpful, either. So best ignore this so-called phantom offer.

But for a day out, we had a lovely time, and a thank you from me to my three lady companions for putting up with me and my warped sense of humour.

you have to buy the promo by 6pm the day before, at at southeastern station, or from their website

Thanks Andrew. I purchased my ticket from Victoria, which serves both Southern and South-Eastern, before 6 pm on Sunday before the walk. The ticket office was not aware of the promotion, and at first insisted I specify a particular return train - which I could not do. The website also asked me to specify a return service, and Whitstable ticket office thought the promotion was a Trainline initiative.

This is the link for the Southeastern offer. It does work.

You'll see the relevant destinations which you see when you scroll down the page. Buy up to 6pm the day before you travel and the price will come up as £10 return.

https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/destinations-and-offers/hidden-gems/summer-hidden-gems

Sorry I couldn't join you in the end after a wet and windy 4 days in a tent in Devon I was in no mood for the days weather forecast.

No problem, Marion. The seas were too rough and (probably) cold for swimming. As the four of us on the walk were taken with Faversham, I will be posting a Faversham Circular walk on Tuesday 22 August, making use of the £ 10 rail fare - as explained below.

Intend going.

Now I might do the walk on Saturday. But I can't Guarantee I will.

12 of us on an overcast and warm day. Compared to the first and last walk check in 2006, there is now far more accessible coast walking past Seasalter, with only a 150 metre stretch off shore before arriving at the Old Neptune pub. So no more diversions inland over the railway to the inland road and back again. Once alongside the Creek it is now a very straightforward walk and I suspect that the updated directions will hold up well until the next scheduled walk check in 2026.

PS - Belated thanks to Walker for researching and adding in ~2008 the updated section from the station through historic Faversham Town to Faversham Creek vs. the original dull section out to the Creek.

Just to add that 5 of us had great fresh fish lunch in Oyster Pearl pub just beyond Seasalter, we stayed on for the oyster festival at Whitstable enjoying music by the sea. Thanks for posting Ian.

A couple of points on Faversham to Whitstable, which I followed an hour early than recommended as an 1130 start to the actual walking is later than I enjoy.

Last time a walk (possibly the same route) took me to Whitstable it was timed to coincide with the Whitstable Oyster Festival. As it happens, this walk coincided with the Oyster Festival too, but the walk posting overlooked this detail, or if it didn't I did. It's worth knowing as there are many stalls selling interesting food, not confined to Oysters.

Not knowing about the festival stalls, I stopped at Poppet's Cafe and Tearoom and was given a warm and cheerful welcome. Main courses are generously proportioned and at £4-5 barely more than a pint of beer at other places. The upmarket (in terms of food ambition, if not outside appearance) Sportsman pub had a handwritten sign in the window saying it was fully booked for food.