Cycle routes through kent.

[markharry66]

Not sure this is best place to post, in the past have cycled most of my weeked fun rides through London, getting very bored with multiple traiffic lights and every heavy traffic. I live on outskirts of kent (eltham) just wondered if anyone had any good routes through kent anything up to 50 miles round tirp would be helpful. Currently I have recently ridden from Eltham to Rochester and back, any suggestions would be helpful as getting bored going same routes.

 

[Sharky]

You are in quite a built-up and busy area. Need to get outside of the M25 and there are loads of quieter roads. Isle of Grain is like being back in time. Villages like eynsford, Shoreham, Wrotham, farningham are good destinations.

The Pilgrims Way, is a good set of lanes. I ride a section from otford to Wrotham frequently .

But be warned, the north Downs is hilly!

 

[ianrauk]

Agree, with Sharky, Isle Of Grain is worth exploring. There's a great cafe near Cliffe called Blue Planet.

If you don't want to climb over the north downs then get a train to Tonbridge. The whole of the Kent weald will then be your oyster which is pretty flat. You can do 50 or 100 miles easy on the flat through towns and villages such as Marden, Headcorn, Smarden, Pluckley etc down to Ashford where you could either ride back or get a train.
Alternatively you can stay north, from Rochester, through Gillingham, Twydall to Upchurch, through Sittingbourne to Faversham then along the Graveney marshes to Whitstable, you can then push on along the Viking Trail along the coast to Herne Bay and Reculver or from Whitstable take the Crab & Winkle Way to Canterbury. Another nice destination from Tonbridge is a rolling ride to Camber, Rye or Dymchurch. Fabulous riding and roads.

Happy to work out some routes for you or even meet up for a ride, long or short. Though as I'm in training for L-E-L at the moment won't be able to meet up until end of August.

 

[Oldhippy]

NCN 1, 15 and 16 are splendid.