The Saxon Shore Way

The Saxon Shore Way stretches roughly 160 miles from Gravesend (in North Kent) to Hastings (in East Sussex). The Kent County Council website states that "The Saxon Shore Way long distance walking route is named after the line of historic fortifications that defended the Kent coast at the end of the Roman era". It passes through a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and also several Nature Reserves. 

We are lucky enough to live within walking distance from one of the footpaths which joins up with this historic walking route and a couple of Sundays ago my mum and I decided to pack a picnic and walk the section from Graveney to The Sportsman in Seasalter. Bracken came along in the hope that it would tire him out and we would get a nice peaceful evening! The section we walked was about 4 miles and part of it featured in the recent channel 4 drama Southcliffe! We chose a great day to do the walk because it was a little bit cloudy with sunny spells, so pup didn't get too hot and bothered. We took plenty of water for him and a few tasty snacks that he could scoff while we ate our lunch. It was another occasion where we hadn't set out to see anything in particular and therefore whatever we saw was a delight to see! The Kent Wildlife Trust own part of this route and there are a number of sea birds, including common and black headed gulls and also little terns, which unfortunately were too far away to get a good photo of. Below are a selection of photos from the walk.  

 

Young swallow

Having a little rest after undertaking insect catching lessons

The creek which runs from Faversham into the Swale Estuary

One of the old barges alongside a bed of sea lavender

Bracken enjoying his super long walk!

An oystercatcher

3 individual photos stitched together to show the flight path of this oystercatcher from one post to another

The Shipwright's Arms - a pub my parents enjoyed taking me to when I was a wee nipper

The sea wall

Another photo of a happy Bracken

This dog must have springs in his feet! He leapt onto the wall effortlessly, which, as you can probably tell is about twice his height! He obviously thought that by trotting (often bounding!!) along the wall it made him king of the castle!

Any idea on this daisy plant? I thought it might be oxeye... but does that grow on the beach?!
Edit: Corn chamomile - Thank you to Suzie :)

Painted Lady

Such symmetrical beauty!

Thanks to the regular readers and those who comment and also to anyone who pops by for a gander at the photos :) all very much appreciated!

Next post will showcase the fluttery, leggy things I've seen recently whilst out volunteering :)