A lovely cuppa at Grain Coastal Park

I popped over to the Isle of Grain earlier today to explore the ever improving Grain Coastal Park - located at the most easterly point of the Hoo Peninsula. It was a great surprise to find ‘The Beach Hut’, conveniently located opposite the main entrance to the beach car park.

The Beach Hut, with its comfortable outdoor seating area (sheltered from the wind), offers a variety of hot and cold drinks, cakes, ice cream, hot food, homemade filled baguettes, baps and sandwiches and much more.

Such a treat to have somewhere so close to Grain foreshore to enjoy a nice cuppa and something tasty to eat after enjoying a walk in the fresh air.

The Beach Hut is open every weekend and throughout the Easter holiday (see below).

Well done to proprietor Kerry Theobald and her mum Barbara, pictured above, who I met today. You’re doing a great job.

Keep up to date with The Beach Hut by viewing their Facebook page here.

Don’t forget - you can now go on a guided tour of Grain Coastal Park. Click here to find out more.

  

The Great Escape - a walk from High Halstow to Allhallows

With improved weather and a need to lose a few pounds (or more), I escaped the hustle and bustle of village life last weekend, to explore some of the great wilderness right here on the Hoo Peninsula.

With my Gravesend, Rochester and Hoo Peninsula map (Ordnance Survey 163) and some tasty spam sandwiches in hand, I set out on Saturday morning along footpath RS42, at the end of Longfield Avenue in High Halstow.

After zig-zagging through fields and a bluebell filled woodland I eventually joined up with Decoy Hill Road, where I headed north for Egypt Bay – on the signposted ‘Curlews, Convicts and Contraband’ walk.

Egypt Bay is at the end of Manor Way, along Halstow Marshes, and this quiet spot marked the completion of my first couple of miles – making it the perfect place to grab a bite to eat (a spam sandwich no less). Aside from imagining Abel Magwitch wading ashore from a dirty old prison hulk, made famous in the opening sequence of Great Expectations, Egypt Bay is a great place to observe shipping activity on the Thames and to glimpse over to the container port at London Gateway and neighbouring Canvey Island. The only interruption was a herd of curious cows (there must have been more than 50).

After the excitement of the cows, it was time to head east along the northern coastline, in the direction St. Mary’s Bay, St. Mary’s Marshes and Dagnam Saltings.

Although only a handful of miles from some of our local villages, the route along the Hoo Peninsula’s northern edge can feel extremely remote and distant. I met only four other walkers, a cyclist and a couple fishing the entire time I was out.

Four hours after setting off from High Halstow and having covered a distance of eight miles – I finally arrived in Allhallows, to the rear of The British Pilot pub. I didn’t have time though for a swift ale on this occasion.

It was great getting out to enjoy the fresh air and nice weather, and to spend some time appreciating our unique local landscape.

I hope to go for more long walks this summer, but maybe with fewer spam sandwiches next time!

  

At the heart of the Hoo Peninsula - Village Voices for Hoo and Chattenden (Issue 52)

The latest edition of Village Voices for Hoo and Chattenden is now available online. Click the image below, which will take you to the relevant editions page on the Village Voices website - then all you have to do is click ‘Issue 52’.

This edition includes information about the 90th birthday of the Medway Queen, good news from the Hundred of Hoo Academy as pupils receive recognition for their business skills, a special report about the refreshed outline planning application at Lodge Hill (for a new town), news from Hoo St. Werburgh Parish Church about a war memorials project, details of a petition handed to local MP Mark Reckless from residents of Hoo Marina Park and huge amounts of other parish and community information.

Take a look at the Village Voices website by clicking here.

  

At the heart of the Hoo Peninsula - Village Voices for Stoke and St. Mary Hoo (Issue 11)

The latest edition of Village Voices for the parishes of Stoke and St. Mary Hoo is now available online. Click the image below, which will take you to the relevant editions page on the Village Voices website - then all you have to do is click ‘Issue 11’.

This edition includes updates and reports from both Stoke Parish Council and St. Mary Hoo Parish Council, the latest news from Stoke Village Hall, more great photos of the ‘muddies’ working on the Stoke Saltings and lots more other useful community information. 

Take a look at the Village Voices website by clicking here.

Visit the website for Stoke Parish Council here, and visit the website for St. Mary Hoo Parish Council here.

  

At the heart of the Hoo Peninsula - Village Voices for the Isle of Grain (Issue 4)

The latest edition of Grain Village Voices is now available online. Click the image below, which will take you to the relevant editions page on the Village Voices website - then all you have to do is click ‘Issue 4’.

The bi-monthly publication is produced in partnership with St. James, Isle of Grain, Parish Council.

This edition includes reports and news from St. James, Isle of Grain, Parish Council, news from St. James’ Church, updates from the UJ Community Partnership and huge amounts of other parish and community information.

Take a look at the Village Voices website by clicking here.

  

Allhallows Life - April 2014

The latest edition of Allhallows Life is now available online. Click the image below to see the full copy.

This edition includes a summary of what happened at last month’s Project Day - when 17 volunteers turned out to help plant tree saplings, the latest news from Allhallows Parish Council, an appeal for help from Allhallows Youth Club, details of the Allhallows Summer Fete (to be held on Saturday 28th June) and lots more other useful community information.

Allhallows Life is the magazine for Allhallows Parish Council, take a look at their website by clicking here.