You are here:

Medway Valley Walk

Route facts

Waterways:
River Medway »

Distance: 28.09 miles / 45.2 km

Difficulty: Easy

Starts at: Tonbridge

Ends at: Aylesford Friary

The route is way-marked with the Medway Valley walk logo, the design of which features the kingfisher, a native bird of the River Medway. Just follow the kingfishers.

There are many points of interest along the route, including: medieval bridges, churches, museums, farms, castles and kingfishers.

A book of the walk is available from Kent County Council Recreation and Access department on 08458 247600. The book was first published in 1996, ISBN 1 873010 52 4.

The entire Medway Valley Walk, a recognised long distance route and stretches from Tonbridge to Rochester. The section that runs along the route of the Environment Agency inland waterway, the Medway navigation is 19 miles (31km) and stretches from Tonbridge to Allington lock, just down stream of Maidstone, the County Town of Kent.

The Medway Valley Walk passes through a varied landscape of downland, woodland, orchards and hop gardens; meadows and farmland; lakes and marshland; unspoilt villages and historic towns. Linking all these features is the meandering River Medway.

Anyone wishing to walk the route taking in Hartlake Bridge are advised that Kent County Council are planning to start work to replace the currently weakened bridge at Hartlake. Work is scheduled to start in September 2004. To enjoy that area as it currently is and before the necessary upheaval of construction work, you will need to get your boots on pretty quickly.

Sections of the Medway Valley Walk were upgraded for the milleneum project, which also gave rise to the establishment of Whatman Park, a completely new public open space in Maidstone, the County Town of Kent.

 

Waypoints

1. Start

Start point, walking route: Medway Valley Walk

Easting: 559511, Northing: 146426

2. Tonbridge to Hartlake Bridge - 3 miles / 4.8km

Tonbridge to Hartlake Bridge

Easting: 560280, Northing: 146760

3. Hartlake Bridge to Branbridges - 4 miles / 6.4km

Hartlake Bridge to Branbridge

Easting: 562935, Northing: 147280

4. Branbridges to Nettlestead Castle - 2.5 miles / 4 miles

Branbridges to Nettlestead Castle

Easting: 567345, Northing: 148400

5. Nettlestead Castle to Barming Church - 2.5 miles / 4km

Nettlestead Castle to Barming Church

Easting: 568725, Northing: 152320

6. Barming Church to Maidstone - 3.75 miles / 6km

Barming Church to Maidstone

Easting: 571960, Northing: 154090

7. Maidstone to Aylesford Friary - 3.75 miles / 6km

Maidstone to Aylesford Friar

Easting: 572510, Northing: 158875

8. End

End point, walking route: Medway Valley Walk

Easting: 572517, Northing: 158837