A pictorial Guide to the Medway. Pt1 Sheerness to Maidstone.

[oldgit]

A rather selective guide to the Medway taken over several years and seasons.
Sheerness to Tonbridge and what you might see on the way.Warning loads of images.
In the tidal bit
The wreck .

Barge race. Long reach.

One of the many craft kept in the dockyard.

A busy day at Upnor

Upnor Castle

The Historic Dockyard

Paddle Tug awaiting restoration.

Rochester Bridge.

Rochester Castle with public pier in foreground.

Heading up river

One of several old churches by the river

The Industrial bit.

And just round the corner is the dodgy bit with the rubbish in the water and this on the river bank.

Aylesford bridge.

And into Allington lock the first of eight locks.This is the only manned lock on the river.

The Malta pub just above the lock.

Millenium park,half way from Allington to Maidstone town centre

Maidstone

Halfway up and the pretty bit to follow.....more in Pt2 like this

 

[ebbtide]

Great stuff, already filed for my first visit.
more please!

 

[Phill]

Great stuff, keep it coming.
I've only seen the Medway from Rochester castle so interested to see the rest.

Phill

 

[Chris_d]

Thanks for that, looks more appealing does the sun always shine in the Med /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Captain Coochie]

OOOOoooo lots of piccies /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[No Regrets]

A nice post Sir /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[oldgit]

Re: A pictorial Guide to the Medway. Pt2 Maidstone to Tonbridge.

Each July around over 200 boats attend the Maidstone River Festival.

Anyway we are not here to enjoy ourselves are we /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and as we leave town the Bishops palace is on the left er right..

Heading west we bypass Tovil and after 40 mins get to our first "Armstrong" lock.
East Farleigh with the squeezy bridge right after.

We really do need the second arch on the left

Barming footbridge at er.....Barming

About an hour from East Farleigh is Teston Bridge

And then through Teston Lock and on towards Wateringbury.

The river above Wateringbury

The lock cut is to the right and the old river is to the left it is navigable by shallow draft boats for about a mile.

The dreaded Hampstead lock at Yalding
Before

After

Just round the corner and under the lifty bridge

are the public moorings where we normally stop for the night £5.00.

.
Refreshed/hungover after last nights 2 mile walk to the nearest decent pub the following morning we need to go through a disused lock.

After a couple of locks like this one in the middle of Middle earth

Or this one

You will arrive at Golden Green,a couple of very large fields where you have permission to moor for free by kind arrangement of the owner,visiters keep a self imposed ban on rubbish and litter etc.
Ps nearest pub 2 long miles away ....gain.

Only a few locks to go via the desolate wasteland of the Weald of Kent like this

Before the nearly last lock.... honest

and Tonbridge town Centre lock.

And journeys end right in the middle of Tonbridge,only narrowboats beyond here.

Oh....nearly forgot to mention this....still if my P33 can get under......

Most folks park before this bridge,but a few brave souls!
As you can see the sun always shines and it never rains,sorry no "Fat duck" or Hampton Court,but if you want a bit of adventure/solitude and can actually manage without a shop on your doorstep everyday(or getting a chinese delivered to boat,no names B1)than it could be worth a try.About a week would be enough and do not even think about doing the sort of nutty speeds demanded by most Thamesites.
Good luck and if you need any info.
PPs you (or your servants))will need one of these.

 

[ianc1200]

Re: A pictorial Guide to the Medway. Pt2 Maidstone to Tonbridge.

My opinion about it being grim were based on a TNC April trip (during the foot & mouth) and mid October trip in my own boat, both time weather a bit crap. At Tonbridge we got into the inflatable, went up through the High St bridge and park beyond, and then several (3?, 5?) miles up of good deep river until some sort of huge resevoir/concrete dam across the river stopped any further progress.

IanC

 

[Brayman]

Re: A pictorial Guide to the Medway. Pt2 Maidstone to Tonbridge.

For £5 per night I'd want a pub a bit nearer than 2 miles!

 

[ebbtide]

Re: A pictorial Guide to the Medway. Pt2 Maidstone to Tonbridge.

More useful pics and info. Thanks.

 

[oldgit]

Re: A pictorial Guide to the Medway. Pt2 Maidstone to Tonbridge.

Did greatly enjoy reading about the TNC and various adventures and we Medwayers could just possibly be accused of being a tad defensive about our little river. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Any way we like to see NBs down here