Way of St Augustine

The Way of St Augustine is about 30.9 km, or roughly 19 miles, so strong walkers can finish it in a long single day. It is more commonly split into two easier days, with the route passing through the Stour Valley and places such as Fordwich, Stodmarsh, Plucks Gutter, Minster, Pegwell Bay, and Ramsgate.

The Way of St Augustine links Canterbury and Ramsgate and can be walked in either direction. The Canterbury end begins in the historic city center near Eastbridge Hospital and Canterbury Cathedral, while the Ramsgate end is at the Shrine of St Augustine, with the route also tied to St Augustine’s landing place near Pegwell Bay.

The Way of St Augustine is generally considered an easy long-distance walk, with only about 225 m of total elevation gain over 30.9 km. The challenge is more about covering the distance than steep climbing, and the route broadly follows the gentler landscape of the Stour Valley across East Kent.

Yes. At just over 30 km, the Way of St Augustine is well suited to a two-day itinerary, and local route guidance specifically notes that splitting it into two roughly equal halves is a good way to enjoy the churches, villages, and riverside scenery. West Stourmouth is one of the named overnight stopping points on the route.

The Way of St Augustine connects major early-Christian sites in Kent, including Canterbury Cathedral and the Shrine of St Augustine in Ramsgate. Along the way it passes through the Stour Valley and visits or approaches places such as Fordwich, Stodmarsh, Plucks Gutter, Minster, and Pegwell Bay, the area associated with Augustine’s arrival in AD 597.

Dogs can be taken on many sections of the Way of St Augustine, but restrictions apply on some nature reserve sections and nearby protected habitats. For example, dogs are allowed at Pegwell Bay Country Park, while some signed trails at Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve do not allow dogs, so rules can change depending on the exact stretch being walked.

The nearest listed rail access for the Way of St Augustine at the Canterbury end is Canterbury East. That makes the route practical for a linear walk, since the other end is in Ramsgate, allowing walkers to use rail connections rather than needing to return to the same trailhead.