Rochester Medway Valley Circular

This walk can be joined together with my 2 other Medway Valley walks to create a much longer walk on the east bank of the Medway, right down to Aylesford.

Starting from Rochester station, walk up the high street to the Cathedral, passing through College Yard.

A place of Christian worship since AD604 this is a stunning building and well worth a visit. Opposite is Rochester Castle, a 12th century keep strategically guarding an important crossing of the River Medway.

Passing the Castle, take the path to the side of it down towards the river to Esplanade Gardens. This was the site where the Short Brothers, the first aircraft production company, used for their plane production before they moved to Belfast. Three jetties were built, an early wooden one, a subsequent metal one and a later concrete jetty (now houses the Rochester Rowing Club). These were used for launching and mooring their seaplanes and flying boats.

Follow the newly launched (November 2023) Rochester trail signs along the riverside and then along the road which follows the river.

This brings you to Borstal Recreation Ground. The Short Brothers were in this area in 1913 and expanded during WWI making biplanes and their innovative seaplanes. These pioneering aviators launched and tested on this stretch before moving to Belfast in 1948. Oswald Short gifted part of the land which is now Borstal recreation ground to the people of Rochester when the factory closed.

Borstal was well into the 19th century, a quiet and rural place. Dickens described it in the Pickwick Papers as quite idyllic.

The opening of several cement works in the area began the industrialisation of the area.

Borstal was also home to the first purpose built young offenders institute, opened in 1908. This was the brainchild of Sir Evelyn Ruggles-Brise who thought young criminals should not be imprisoned with ‘old lags’. It was built on the downs outside the village and was so successful similar institutes were built all over the country.

Having passed through the recreation ground, you come to Beacon boatyard and then to the three bridges spanning the Medway: the closest two are road bridges carrying the M2, the nearest opened in 1963, the second part of the M2 widening opened in 2003. The third was completed in 2002 and carries the high speed railway with unusual V-shaped reinforced concrete piers to support the bridge deck.

Passing under the bridges, keep to the right, following the path closest to the Medway onto the Wouldham Marshes.

Follow this footpath for a while until you see a life buoy and bridge to your left. Cross over this bridge and follow the footpath, passing Starkey Castle and then a road to cross wide open fields. Both times we’ve crossed this field we’ve seen and heard skylarks.

Reaching the summit, with a welcome sheltered bench, turn left onto the North Downs Way with far reaching views across the Medway valley.

Follow the path through Kent Wildlife Trust’s Nashenden Down nature reserve and past Nashenden Farm, turning left at the junction with Nashenden Farm Lane, walking parallel to the M2.

At the junction with Wouldham Road, turn right to pass under the motorway, and follow the road into Borstal.

Follow the Rochester Trail signs to the right turning off the road and through some derelict Victorian school buildings. Up Sidney Road until another footpath turning off to the right, passing through Priestfields park.

Then take a small detour, turning left down Priestfields to visit the Foord Almshouses, built in 1927 a legacy of Thomas Hellyar Foord, a locally born businessman. The building was designed by Sir Guy Dawber with fine art by celebrated artists of the day.

Retrace your steps to rejoin the Rochester Trail signposted on your left. This passes through Watts Meadow, a lovely area of wild space in Rochester. The woods grew when part of the site stopped being used as allotments.

Passing some still existing allotments, the trail continues turning left along Maidstone Road and passing the Almshouses built by Richard Watts Charity in 1857.

Then down Crow Lane to Restoration House, built in 1587 and used by Charles Dickens as Satis House, home of Miss Havisham of Great Expectations.

Cross over the road carefully to The Vines which was formerly the vineyard of the monastery.

Crossing this to the right, go down Minor Canon Row to lead back down to the Cathedral and College Yard.

Turn right through Deanery Gate onto the War Memorial garden and back into the High Street.

Where there are many tearooms, pubs and restaurants for a selection of refreshments.