This guide covers the Thames riverside and heritage walks at Greenhithe and Swanscombe, which are both in the borough of Dartford and share Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council, plus Beacon Wood at Bean for a woodland outing. Greenhithe has one place listed, the Ingress Abbey grounds and riverside, so the two towns share this guide. The cards below link to each place’s InKent page.
Ingress Abbey grounds and the Greenhithe riverside
Part of the former grounds of Ingress Abbey, a Tudor Gothic house built in 1833 in Greenhithe, is now a park that is open to the public. Footpaths lead past old stone relics, including a Grade II listed folly known as the Cave of the Seven Heads, through grassy areas and woodland, then along the boulevard to the Thames. Surfaced riverside paths through Ingress Park give views towards London, with a mosaic of HMS Worcester at the river end. The abbey building itself is private. The riverside here is part of the King Charles III England Coast Path, which continues east to Swanscombe.
- Where: the address given is Prioress Crescent, Greenhithe.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: no opening hours are published for the grounds.
Greenhithe also has a place in polar history. The Government of Canada records that HMS Erebus and HMS Terror left Greenhithe in 1845 on Sir John Franklin’s Arctic search for the Northwest Passage.
Swanscombe Heritage Park
Swanscombe Heritage Park occupies the former Barnfield Pit quarry on Craylands Lane, where three pieces of the same human skull, about 400,000 years old, were found in 1935, 1936 and 1955. Stones mark the find spots and information boards explain the layers of deposits. An accessible trail starts at a giant hand-axe sculpture and winds through the landscaped and wooded former quarries. There is also a playground, a football pitch and open grassland with views to the Thames. The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve. Explore Kent says the park has at least one accessible route but is otherwise less suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: listed as open all hours.
- Suits: families and anyone interested in early human history.
A cast of the Swanscombe Skull is also among the displays at Dartford Borough Museum, which is free. Check the council’s museum page for opening times.
Swanscombe Peninsula Trail
The Swanscombe Peninsula Trail is a 4 mile (6.5km) circular walk from Swanscombe High Street out onto the marshes of the Swanscombe Peninsula, following the England Coast Path. The peninsula is on the south bank of the Thames opposite Gravesend and Tilbury. Natural England confirmed it as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in November 2021, and it has wetland and grassland habitats and wide river views. Swanscombe station is the nearest railway station. Buglife notes that some unmarked tracks across the peninsula are gated, so keep to the public footpaths.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: no opening hours are published, and the trail follows public footpaths and the England Coast Path.
- Suits: walkers who want an open route beside the river.
Beacon Wood Country Park
Beacon Wood Country Park at Bean opened in 1991 on land that Explore Kent says was once used for a Spanish Armada warning beacon, gunpowder making and clay digging for cement. Trails wind around old clay pits that have returned to nature, and there is a pond and wetland area with a viewing platform, a shady picnic area and countryside views. Explore Kent says the trails are uneven or unsurfaced in places, with stiles and narrow gaps. The park is leased to Bean Parish Council and run day to day by volunteers, the Friends of Beacon Wood. It is on Southfleet Road.
- Cost: no entry charge is listed. Parking is paid through RingGo, at £1 for up to 2 hours and £2 for longer, plus a 20p RingGo fee.
- Opening: the car park opens daily by 8.30am. It closes at 5pm in November and January, 4.30pm in December and 6pm in February.
Putting a day together
The England Coast Path continues east from the Ingress Park riverside to Swanscombe, so the two towns can be linked on foot, with the Peninsula Trail loop starting from the High Street. Check the route and any diversions before you set out. Beacon Wood is a separate trip, and its car park charges apply.
Getting there
Greenhithe for Bluewater station is on Station Road and is run by Southeastern. Swanscombe station is on the High Street and is managed by Southeastern, and its station page lists ticket office hours, which are limited. Journey times to London depend on the service, so check Southeastern’s journey planner for current times and fares.
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk from Greenhithe to Swanscombe along the river?
The riverside at Ingress Park is part of the King Charles III England Coast Path, which continues east to Swanscombe. Check the route and any diversions before you set out.
Is the Swanscombe Peninsula open to the public?
Public footpaths cross the peninsula, and the Peninsula Trail follows them and the England Coast Path. No opening hours are published, and Buglife notes that some unmarked tracks are gated, so keep to the public footpaths.
Where was the Swanscombe Skull found?
Kent County Council’s Historic Environment Record says three parts of the same skull were found separately in 1935, 1936 and 1955 at Barnfield Pit, a quarry in Swanscombe. The site is now Swanscombe Heritage Park.