Kent, Gravesend: Kings Farm Recreation Ground and Windsor Road

This walk starts near the Light House Family Centre, which is next to the Oakfield Health Centre.  Start by turning left from  Oakfield Health Centre car park,  beside the Echo Pharmacy and walk along the lane a short distance with the doctors surgery on your left and playing field on your right. 

[1] At the end of the car park turn left between the railings where there is a concealed footpath. Follow the path as it turns right.  You will cross two mosaics on the path before coming out onto the road, at cedar Avenue. 

A The mosaics were made by the pupils at the Kings Farm Primary School

[2] Staying on the same side of the road, turn left and walk along the pavement and almost immediately take the entrance on the left into the park.  Turn right  and keeping the  park buildings on your left and the hedge on your right, walk along the side of the park.  Shortly it opens out to a large playing field, with football pitches (B).

The gate into the park is narrow and the gate leaving the park is even narrower. to avoid these continue on the pavement rejoining the route at [3] as the gate from the park appears on your left.

[3] About 200 yards along the field you will find a gate in the hedge on your right (just past a green litter bin). Go through the gate, back into Cedar Avenue and continue in the same direction on the pavement. Cross Hawthorne Close, and follow the road around to the left, ignoring the turn into Ash Road.

[4] Pass the bus shelter on the left and take the next turning on the left which is Elm Road, and staying on the same pavement follow it round into Oak Road immediately on the left.  Continue along Oak Road as it bends round to the right and continue to the T-junction at the end. (caution pavement is narrow and has some tree routes in pavement)

(C) There is an interesting garden to number 56 with a small Monkey Puzzle Tree.

[5] Turn left, and staying on the same side of the road continue to the next junction.  At this point you can see the United Reformed Church (D)  ahead to your right.

[6] Follow the garden wall of a Mock Tudor style bungalow round to the left into Windsor Road (E). Carry on to the far end of the road.

[7] At the end Windsor Road turns right, but do not turn right .  Turn Left into the driveway towards a yellow bar gate and posts. Continue along the drive, past the nursery until you reach the start point at the Echo Pharmacy on your left.

B  There are regular matches on the field.  There is also a basketball court and behind that a children's play area.

C The houses in this road are post war council houses. These were build in small terraces, note the archways between the houses that allowed access to the coal sheds and gardens at the rear. The pavements are very narrow, and uneven with large trees growing on the pavements.

E Windsor Road is a nice suburban road. Note the houses with personalised railings with patterns and the garden with perfect Astroturf grass.