How to get There

By Train
The best way to plan your journey by train is to use the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner. The Elham Valley is reached by train on the Southeastern Railway - both on the High Speed rail service to/from St Pancras International and mainline services to/from London Charing Cross and London Victoria.

The nearest stations to the southern end of the Elham Valley are:
• Sandling - on the mainline service from London Charing Cross to Sandwich/Ramsgate via Ashford International, Folkestone and Dover Priory.
• Folkestone Central - on the High Speed rail service from London St Pancras International via Ashford International en route to Dover Priory. Alternatively take the mainline services from London Charing Cross. From here you can take a bus or taxi to the Elham Valley.

The nearest stations to the northern end of the Elham Valley (i.e. Bishopsbourne, Bridge, Kingston, Barham) are:
• Canterbury East - on the mainline service from London Victoria to Dover Priory. Alternatively take the High Speed train from St Pancras International and change at Sittingbourne. Canterbury East is a five-minute walk from the bus station where you can take Bus 17 The Link to the Elham Valley, or pick up a taxi.

By Bus
For up-to-date information on bus routes and timetables go to Stagecoach. The best way to find your route is to use the second option under ‘Find a Timetable'. Enter your starting point and your destination, so if, for example, you enter Canterbury and Elham, Bus 17, The Link, will come up, along with a route description and timetable.

• Bus 17 The Link (Scenic) - run by Stagecoach, operating between Canterbury and Folkestone through the Elham Valley and Bridge, every hour in both directions Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and Bank Holidays the bus runs every two hours between 8am and 6.20pm.

• Bus 558 - run by Poynters Coaches, operating between Canterbury City Centre and Hythe, via Lyminge, Rhodes Minnis, Wheelbarrow Town, Stelling Minnis, Bossingham, Lower Hardres, Nackington, St Lawrence, Mondays-Saturdays but not on Sundays. The 558 timetable is available at Traveline South East.

• Bus 16 and 16A The Link (Direct) - run by Stagecoach, operating between Canterbury City Centre and Folkestone, along the A2 and then through Bridge, Denton, Selsted, Swingfield Minnis, Densole and Hawkinge every 20 minutes from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and Bank Holidays the bus runs hourly.

The Stagecoach Group provides a carbon calculator so that you can work out the carbon cost of your journey and make comparisons between travelling by bus, train and car. You need to know your mileage though!