medway/swale recommendations

[lilianroyle]

This weekend we are thinking of cutting through Havengore creek from our Roach mooring and pottering around the opposite side of the Thames instead of heading NE as usual. We would probably want to spend a night on hook or mooring with nice pub nearby (also we have 2 young kids so somewhere to runaround or play in the water).We draw 4 feet and don't happily take the ground. Any suggestions?

 

[xyachtdave]

You won't be spoiled for choice if you want to get ashore and have a pub nearby unfortunately!

Harty Ferry is a good anchorage with some moorings available and the pub at the top of the hard does good food and is family friendly. It's basically in the middle of nowhere from a road point of view so not many idiots venture out there.

Queenborough have visitor moorings, choice of pubs or yacht club to eat and a CO-OP a short walk away. The polite description would be a little lively - I like it, others don't. Trot boat available too.

Chatham MDL. A little pricey, loads to do a walk away, Historic Dockyard, cinema etc, loads of average eateries eg Nando's etc but good facilities and easier to get in or out of compared to Gillingham.

Gravesend. Dinghy ashore from various moorings and a refurbished pontoon with a very decent restaurant at the end. Friendly yacht club maybe able to help with mooring. Loads to do ashore for kids in the excellent park.

Medway Yacht Club welcome visitors for free overnight on a spare mooring, daytime trot boat and choice of the club or pubs for food. Upnor is a nice village and has a castle to look round for the children.

Sheerness Beach is fun, decent tender and sense of adventure required though.

Enjoy your weekend!

 

[Spuddy]

Yes, I'd say Harty or Queenboro would suit. Queenboro has The Old House at Home - good trad pub - with Flying Dutchman close by, a bit of a barn but reasonable food. There's Stangate Creek but no pub. Don't bother with Gillingham, it's a dump. A bit more adventurous is downstream from Medway YC: pick up an orange buoy just west of Hoo Island, 2 hours either side of HW you can get up the creek (the Orinoco) following the withies, by dinghy, to Hoo Ness Yacht Club. Good pastys.