Grove Ferry Road, near Upstreet, Canterbury, Kent CT3 4BP
Grove Ferry Picnic Site
Parkland
Source image
5.2
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
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Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
5.2A simple riverside picnic stop on the Great Stour, where the official visitor offer centres on watching boats, easy-access trails and wildlife along the river.
Grove Ferry is a useful, accessible base for a riverside pause or a longer walk through the surrounding orchards and villages. Its appeal is the combination of the Great Stour setting and practical trails, rather than a major landmark or a deep historical story.
Peaceful
Find your way
Open mapGrove Ferry Road, near Upstreet, Canterbury, Kent CT3 4BP
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The experience
Come for a riverside picnic and a short wander, or use Grove Ferry as the start of a nearly 10 km circular through orchards and the villages of West and East Stourmouth. The longer route is flat but can be muddy or overgrown after rain.
Things to do
Take an easy-access trail
Kent County Council lists easy-access and waymarked trails at the site. Check the park map for the current paths and route details.
Walk the orchards and Stourmouth villages circuit
A 9.8 km loop from Grove Ferry follows part of the Great Stour, crosses fields and orchards, and passes through West and East Stourmouth. The route is almost flat; expect mud or overgrowth after wet weather, and take care on road sections.
1.5–2 hours
Watch boats and river wildlife
The county council describes the Great Stour banks as a place to watch boats drift by and enjoy wildlife on the river.
Hire a canoe
Kent County Council advertises canoe hire through Canoe Wild. Confirm availability, booking arrangements and river conditions with the operator before setting out.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1–2 hours
A riverside picnic and short wander
- 01
Use the picnic area for a riverside break.
- 02
Take a short walk on the site’s easy-access trails.
- 03
Pause by the Great Stour to watch boats and look for river wildlife.
Half day · 1.5–2 hours walking; 9.8 km
Orchards and Stourmouth villages circuit
- 01
Start at Grove Ferry Picnic Site.
- 02
Follow the circular route beside a short section of the River Great Stour, then continue across fields and orchards.
- 03
Pass through West Stourmouth and East Stourmouth before returning to the picnic site.
- 04
Wear suitable footwear: the route may be muddy or overgrown after wet weather; watch for farm machinery, road sections and possible path diversions.
Hidden details
The orchard circuit’s village passages — The longer circular links the riverside with the orchards and the villages of West Stourmouth and East Stourmouth, rather than remaining solely beside the river.
When to go
· No specific time of day is established by the supplied sources; choose a dry spell for the longer walk.
The sourced circuit crosses fields and orchards and may be muddy or overgrown after wet weather. No specific seasonal highlights are verified.
The longer route can be muddy or overgrown after rain. Check for route diversions and be alert to farm machinery and traffic on road sections.
The route
- ascent
- 26 m
- stiles
- One low stile crossed twice, with adjacent dog gate, plus several kissing gates.
- surface
- Field and orchard paths; can be muddy after wet weather and locally overgrown. Some road sections.
- distance
- 9.8 km
- duration
- 1.5–2 hours
- difficulty
- Moderate (as rated by AllTrails); nearly flat, but muddy or overgrown conditions and road sections may affect the walk.
- waymarking
- The route source notes that some sections may be unclear and recommends following signs carefully; paths may be diverted.
- route shape
- Loop
- start point
- Grove Ferry Picnic Site, Grove Ferry Road.
- parking start
- AllTrails reports a pay-and-display car park and public toilets at the start. Kent County Council also lists pay-and-display parking and accessible toilets; check current details.
- shorter alternative
- Use the site’s easy-access trails for a shorter visit; the supplied sources do not give a specific short-route distance.
- A short section beside the River Great Stour
- Orchards with apples, pears, plums and raspberries noted by the route source
- West Stourmouth and East Stourmouth
Worth pairing with
Grove Ferry and Kent’s Orchards circular walk
A longer walk directly from the picnic site through orchards and West and East Stourmouth; this is the best-supported way to extend a visit.
Stodmarsh Nature Reserve
A Tripadvisor review describes Grove Ferry as a location for walking around Stodmarsh Nature Reserve. Confirm the route, access and current conditions before treating it as a planned pairing.
What to look for
Watch boats on the Great Stour and look for river wildlife. On the longer walk, notice the changing orchard landscape and the villages of West and East Stourmouth.
Best time to go
Spring to autumn for riverside picnics and orchard walking; check conditions after wet weather.
Choose a dry day for the longer field-and-orchard circuit; the route source warns that paths can become muddy after wet weather.
How long to spend
1–2 hours; allow 2–3 hours for the sourced circular walk
Perfect for
Families · Walkers · Couples · Dogs
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: 9am-9pm
- Tuesday: 9am-9pm
- Wednesday: 9am-9pm
- Thursday: 9am-9pm
- Friday: 9am-9pm
- Saturday: 9am-9pm
- Sunday: 9am-9pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Kent County Council describes the site as a natural space open to all. Check current conditions and access details before travelling.
Check before visiting
Parking
Pay-and-display parking is listed by Kent County Council. Check current charges and availability before visiting.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Accessible toilets are listed by Kent County Council; check availability before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
Kent County Council lists a café and refreshments. Tripadvisor reviewers also recommend bringing food; check current service and opening details.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Dogs are reported as allowed in the source listing; check current site rules and signage.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
Kent County Council lists disabled parking, accessible toilets and easy-access trails. This does not establish that every trail or surface is accessible; check the park map and current conditions.
Check before visiting
Cost
Paid parking listed; other costs Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Water
River: Great Stour. Canoe hire is advertised by Kent County Council through Canoe Wild. No swimming permission is evidenced.
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Grove Ferry Picnic Site
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
