Kent, Gravesend: Playing fields and a landscaped path

Starting at the Oakfield Health Centre, beside the Echo Pharmacy walk through the gates and turn left .

[1] Take the footpath between the railings at the end of the car park. Follow the path round to the right,  noting the mosaics on the path.

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

The path comes out to the road at the side of the recreation ground.

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

[2] At the road  turn right past the school entrance, this can be busy at school finish time.

[3] At the end of the road, you will see Ilfield school ahead.  Just before you get to the school, turn left towards the footpath sign (may be hidden initially by parked vehicles) and take the signed path to the right.  This is a long straight path with trees meeting across the top (caution may be muddy). Follow the path as it bends round to the right. Continue through the gateway ignoring the path to the left. There is a play area through the gate on the left (C). Continue to walk past the play area until you see a turning on the right, near where the park ends.

[4] Turning right into the lane on the right. You can see the road ahead, at the road,by number 28, turn left.  You will be in a tree lined street. Follow this to the junction. You will see a large white wooden weatherboarded house ahead.

[5]  Cross the road  opposite the weather-borded house (caution traffic) and turn right and take the turning immediately on the left. Keep left and then go through the gate ahead and onto the footpath. Turn right along the path, as it goes slightly uphill with grassy, landscaped areas to both sides. Keep walking along the path,  until you reach a metal barrier/gate to your right which gives to access to the road.

(D) To the left there is a footpath which leads to a bridge over the A2 for additional views.

[6]   Go through the barrier on the right and  cross the road (caution traffic) and turn left. You are now in Old Watling Street. Follow the pavement as it turns to the right into Golf Links Avenue.

(E)Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans.

[7]  At the end of the road turn right.  There is a high hedge on the left hand slide of the road - this is the boundary of the Mid Kent Golf Course(F). Follow the pavement parallel to the hedge  to the end of the road and cross the road at the central island (caution traffic).

[8] Turn left and walk along towards the first junction on the right.  Turn into Windsor Road and continue towards the yellow gate. Continue through the gate and return to the start point on your left.

C. Through the gate on the left is a small childrens play area.

D. Here is the start of a foot path across the A2 and High Speed Railway, the path goes over an area newly planted with a variety of trees which provide some beautiful Autumn colour and a sanctuary for wild life.

E. Watling Street an ancient trackway that was first used by the Britons The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad portum Dubris" - from London to the port of Dover. Its route is now covered by the A2 road from Dover to London, and the A5 road from London to Wroxeter. The name derives from the Old English Wæcelinga Stræt. Originally the word "street" simply meant a paved road (Latin: "via strata"), and did not have the modern association with populated areas.