logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

Egypt Bay & St Mary's Bay from High Halstow

Kent Walk

County/Area - Kent

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.5 miles / 12.2 km    Ascent - 150 feet / 45 metres

Time - 3 hours 50 minutes    Grade - easy

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer 163Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 163Digital Map1:25kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Egypt Bay & St Mary's Bay from High Halstow
Click image to see photo description.

The Thames estuary is often seen as a desolate area despite being close to many large centres of population. This may be true but it is also home to a variety of sea birds who thrive on the mud banks. It is also an area that offers some peace and quiet and this walk does offer solitude and wide open skies.

The start is the parking are at Woodside on the north-western edge of the village of High Halstow (grid ref. TQ781757). High Halstow is just to the north of the A228 which leads to the Isle of Grain. From the car park return along Woodside and turn left into Northwood Avenue. After just under 200 metres take the footpath on your left between houses to reach a field. Continue half right to the edge of the woodland (grid ref. TQ782760). Turn right onto the Saxon Shore Way and after 400 metres and a yellow waymark turn left. The path initially runs along the side of a field before entering woodland and continues to Decoy Hill Road (grid ref. TQ786765).

Turn left along the road and go right in front of Decoy Farm and continue on the lane until you reach Swigshole (grid ref. TQ788775) where the surfaced lane ends. Continue ahead on a clear track (manor Way) in a northerly direction for approximately 1.5 km to reach Egypt Bay (grid ref. TQ777790) and the southern shore of the Thames Estuary. Turn right (with the estuary on your left) and follow the shoreline path along the sea wall to St Mary's Bay and a clear path junction (grid ref. TQ795787).

Turn right here and continue south to St Mary Hoo, a pretty hamlet with its own church. Bear left around Ross Farm and follow the road as it bends to the right. The road soon bends left. Here take the track on your right and continue in a westerly direction to Newlands farm (grid ref. TQ796763). From here take the track continuing in a westerly direction (ignoring the tarmac lane heading south). This track continues along the field edges towards Decoy Hill Road (grid ref. TQ789762). (The final section of this path is Saxon Shore Way). Bear right along the road and take the first signed path on your left just after the lane bends right. This is a continuation of the Saxon Shore Way and this is followed to the edge of the woods first encountered at the beginning of the walk. Bear left across the field to the enclosed path leading onto Northwood Avenue. Turn right and retrace your steps back to the parking area.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2104 Blue Bell Hill to Kit's Coty Houseeasy/mod8.8 miles
Walk 2210 Holly Hill & Coldrum Long Barroweasy/mod5.0 miles
Walk 3326 Ringlestone & High Wood from Harrietsham easy/mod8.0 miles
Walk 1637 Rivers Swale & Oare easy5.0 miles
Walk 3645 Burnham-on-Crouch to Fambridgeeasy/mod9.5 miles
Walk 2156 Lullingstone Castle Circulareasy4.0 miles
Walk 2333 Lullingstone & Preston Hill near Shoreham (Kent)easy/mod6.6 miles
Walk 1510 Otford, Romney Street & Woodlandsmoderate14.5 miles
Walk 1610 Otford, Romney Street & Kemsingmod/hard16.8 miles
Walk 3598 Knockholt via Pratt's Bottom, Mace Farm and The Washneyseasy/mod7.3 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking in Kent

Walking in KentA guidebook describing 40 walks in the county of Kent. Covering west Kent and The Weald and north and east Kent, including the Kent Downs and the Greensand Hills. Walks of 5 to 9 miles explore rivers and coastline, beautiful countryside and historic villages. With outlines of 11 longer walks ranging from 15 to 163 miles.
More information

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.