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 Lower Stour Valley can be easily 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.

Local stations in the Lower Stour Valley include:
• Sturry and Minster - on the mainline service from London Charing Cross to Margate, via Ashford International and Canterbury West.

• Sandwich - on the mainline service from London Charing Cross to Ramsgate service via Ashford International and Dover Priory.

• Bekesbourne - on the mainline service from London Victoria to Dover Priory via Canterbury East.
The nearest city and town based stations include:
• Canterbury West - on the High Speed rail service from London St Pancras International via Ashford International en route to Margate.

• 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.

• Ramsgate - on the High Speed rail service from London St Pancras International via Ashford International en route to Margate. Alternatively take the mainline services from London Charing Cross and London Victoria.

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 Wickhambreaux, the 622 (Plucks Gutter - Canterbury) will come up, along with a route description and timetable.

• Route 622 travels from Canterbury to Plucks Gutter, through Littlebourne, Wickhambreaux, Ickham, Wingham, Preston, Stourmouth and Plucks Gutter. It runs from Monday to Friday twice a day, with an additional service on Monday, Friday and Saturday. There are no Sunday or Bank Holiday services on this route.

• Route 7 Herne Bay - Canterbury operates from Herne Bay stopping at Sturry Railway Station and Upstreet Post Office en route.

• Route 8 The Breeze travels from Canterbury to Margate, through Sturry, Hersden and Upstreet, before continuing on through Sarre and Birchington. This is a frequent service running 2-3 times an hour from Monday to Saturday, with an hourly service on Sunday and Bank Holidays. The nearest stop for Stodmarsh Nature Reserve and walks from Grove Ferry is Upstreet Post Office.

• Route 9 travels from Canterbury to Ramsgate Harbour, with some onward stops at Broadstairs, Dumpton Gap at Westwood at certain times of day. It stops at Sturry and Upstreet Post Office along the way, operating Mondays to Saturdays but not on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

• The Diamond route 13 and 13A travels from Canterbury to Sandwich, through Littlebourne, Wingham, Staple and Ash, and from Sandwich continue to Eastry, Worth, Deal and Walmer. The buses run every hour Monday to Saturday. The 13A operates on Sunday and Bank Holidays.

• Route 14 travels from Canterbury to Sandwich, through Littlebourne, Wingham and Ash, and from Sandwich continues to Eastry, Deal and Walmer. The bus runs every hour Monday to Saturday but not Sundays or Bank Holidays.

The Stagecoach Group even 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!