Walks 3, 4 and 5: Further afield - to Saltwood Castle and beyond. These walks entail some significant gradients. Several sections are around 1 in 10, starting with the climb from the town centre, and a 750 ft. (230m) ascent up Gossie Bank. Walk 5 has a 1 in 5 slope.
Details : A common section for these three walks (distance: 1? mile, 2.1 km) is from Oaklands to Saltwood Castle via Eaton Lands. Cross Ladies Walk Bridge and climb from the town centre to Church Road following one of the several roads and pathways up the hill. Join North Road and follow it east to Tanners Hill and climb a tarmac path (left) to enter the Eaton Lands. The footpath divides - take either: one, left up some steps follows the southern edge of the Eaton Lands; the alternative, straight on, goes to the worked-out quarry area. Exit the quarry by climbing steps (left). Both tracks exit from the Eaton Lands at Castle Road. Turn right along Castle Road, crossing Tanners Hill (caution), and continue until the T-junction. Turn right towards Saltwood Castle. At the Castle entrance take the path outside the railings. After 150 yards the route for Walk 5 separates left - details later. Walks 3 and 4 continue on a further common section for 1 mile (1.6 km). Take the right-hand path that continues alongside the railings. It reaches a brick bridge on the left. The route proceeds under the bridge, crosses a stream, climbs a steep bank and continues to the right to Blackhouse Hill Road emerging opposite Bassett Close. Descend on pavement until turning left into Cliff Road. Follow Cliff Road to the Elham Valley Way (EVW) signposts at the junction with Cannongate Road. Walks 3 and 4 now divide. Walk 3 returns to the town (right). Follow EVW signs down the hill, watching for the turn (right) down a very short tarmac path to Station Road. Continue down until sign (left) down steps to tarmac footpath to Mill Road, passing the Mill house on right. Cross the main road at The Bell to Twiss Road and proceed to the Royal Military Canal, returning right, along the Canal to Oaklands. Walk 3 total distance, including common sections: 3½ miles (5.6 km) Walk 4. Total distance: 7¼ miles (11½ km). At the end of the common section with Walk 3 turn left up Sene Park with steep climb to private road (right fork). Follow ELW signs up to and across Sene Valley Golf Course, past Sene Farm on left and through Scene Wood to Dibgate Farm. At the gate the route crosses a field towards Dibgate Camp (MoD) where the path divides into three. Each of the three paths offers an interesting walk*. Walk 4 continues ahead descending to Seabrook stream. Path climbs up hillside to cross a tarmac track to a facing footpath that shortly reaches a gate to a grassed area in front of a row of houses. The footpath continues between houses and emerges at St. Martin's Church (opened by appointment). There is a HTC Boundary Stone at the western entrance to the Churchyard. Descend steps on right of church to Horn Street, cross to Valebrook Close where footpath between houses on left gives access to a field. Path climbs to Pond Hill Road at the junction with North and West Roads. Take pavement along West Road to the Military Cemetery. A footpath runs outside the left hand fence of the cemetery and descends through woods to the bottom of Hospital Hill. Cross the main coast road to connect with the Royal Military Canal to return (right) to Hythe. An extension to Walk 4 from the Cemetery entails walking down Hospital Hill to the fingerpost sign left into The Corniche (cul-de-sac). At the end there is a footpath through to Brewer's Hill with the opportunity to visit the Clarendon Inn. Descend to the seafront to return to Hythe. *Where the path divides at Dibgate Camp the right-hand path drops to and crosses Horn Street and continues up to the Military Cemetery. The bridleway (left) is the continuation of the Elham Valley Way. .