River Medway

The River Medway winds 113 kilometres from the High Weald in West Sussex through Kent to the Thames Estuary. It passes Tonbridge, Maidstone and the Medway conurbation before reaching Sheerness. The river drains 2,409 square kilometres, the second largest catchment in southern England after the Thames. Its tributaries rise from the North Downs, the Weald and Ashdown Forest, feeding into the main stream. The Medway initially flows west to east south of the Downs, then turns north at the confluence with the River Beult. It cuts through the North Downs at the Medway Gap near Rochester before reaching the sea. The river’s history is marked by engineering and trade. Until 1746 it was not navigable above Maidstone, but improvements allowed 40-ton barges to reach East Farleigh and later Tonbridge. Eleven locks now regulate craft up to 24 metres long and 5.5 metres wide. The stretch from Leigh to Allington forms the Medway Navigation, managed by the Environment Agency. Small boats can sometimes travel as far as Penshurst, while the tidal reaches downstream include Wickham Reach and Gillingham Reach. Visitors can walk the Medway Valley Walk from Rochester to Tonbridge, following the riverbank for most of the route. The path links with the Saxon Shore Way, North Downs Way and Greensand Way, offering varied scenery. At Yalding the Wealdway joins, connecting to the Eden Valley Walk. Maidstone Millennium River Park provides a 10-kilometre riverside stroll through restored wasteland. Ancient sites line the valley, from Neolithic chamber tombs like Kit’s Coty House to Roman villas and Jutish burial grounds. The river’s past also includes medieval castles at Rochester, Allington and Leeds, and two battles named after it.