Tonbridge Castle

River Medway - Tonbridge to Upnor
"CASTLE to CASTLE" and three more in between

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th October

"The Garden of England" plus Maritime Heritage
Very green and mainly tranquil, with historic flourishes

Upnor Castle

Click any picture to enlarge

Day 1. Non-tidal 18 miles +9 Locks
Day 2. 1 lock +Sheltered tidal 15 miles
A useful "Taster" for a Medway Raid

Few spaces remaining - Sign up (or out).

Previous Long Rows here.

Click maps to enlarge

Tonbridge

Interactive map here

River Medway

Teapot Island
Saturday lunch stop

Allington Castle

Malta Inn
Saturday Night stop

We have permission to use a mooring at Allington (click for pic) from 16:00 Saturday till 10:00 on Sunday courtesy of "Kentish Lady".

Car shuffling locations -
"Hotel" is Premier Inn, Sandling, Forstal Road, Lock Lane, ME14 3AS. Access off M20(J6). Follow sign for Museum of Kent Life. Next to the Malta Inn Beefeater. Lat/Long 51.296730, 0.507942. - (Their website).
"Tonbridge" slipway is - Lower Castle Field car park. Lat/Long 51.196727, 0.270182. Access from Town Bridge on B2260 via Castle St, and The Slade. (Map above). ("Canal Plan" info).
Alternative slipway is near Hampstead Lock, ME18 6HH, Lat/Long 51.227063, 0.413820, 100 yd from Yalding station - more info in "Tech notes".
Medway Yacht Club (MYC) (Sunday pm) - Lower Upnor, ME2 4XB. Lat./Long 51.413745, 0.536849. Access off M2(J1) then A289, Berwick Way, Upnor Rd, Albion Place. (Their website).

For car shuffling timings, cars, passengers see SM's email of Sun 08/10/2017 15:09, (et seq). and "The Schedule" below.

* Reduced headroom rail bridge - East Peckham - to be passed on Saturday - We've been in discussion with authorities.
We have EA permission to proceed if we can fit under.
Kent CC is not showing any towpath closure.
We are now only awaiting confirmation from Network Rail for a 1-minute time-slot to pass through. (or we will not have needed Friday night's accommodation, and will miss 7 beautiful miles of Kent countryside).
An alternative slipway exists if required. See "Tech notes".

Friday 13th October - Skeleton Crew - see Car Shuffling above.
Reconnoitre reduced headroom rail bridge.
Launch - See Car Shuffling above. Moor for night.
Trailer to MYC (see Car Shuffling).
Collect EA license, Key, WIndlass, etc at Allington Lock.
Sandling (Allington Lock), overnight accommodation & dining. Same as Saturday, see Car Shuffling.

Saturday 14th October - See Car Shuffling above.
(Saturday crew could opt-in for Friday night accommodation.)
08:30 meet at Hotel, see Car Shuffling, then
09:30 at Tonbridge or Alternative slipway (see Car Shuffling) for
09:50 cast off.
Row from "Tonbridge " via lunch stop (13:30-14:30) - Teapot Island - "Bistro-style large menu, fully licensed". (< Reservation TBC)
17:45. "Allington Lock" (see left). 18 miles + 9 Locks. Moor overnight.
Re-Shuffle cars.
Accommodation - Booked - Contact Ania to add to our booking. Location etc in Car Shuffling.
Dining = Malta Inn, table reserved.

Allington. Lock & Sluice in background

Technical stuff and Misc info sources:- (inc updates to 8/10/17)
Jim Shead Waterways .Medway - Distances. Details, Misc links
Canal Plan.org.uk - Medway - Non-tidal section - Useful map and chart
Canal Plan.org.uk - Medway - Tidal section - Useful map and chart.

Weather forecasts (based on Maidstone) - Metcheck, TWO, YR, Met Office, TWC.
To get an idea how far ahead you can trust them, see these "Ensembles" - WeatherCast, Wetterzentrale.

NAVIGATION, etc
Kent County Council RIghts of Way map (for East Peckham towpath) < CHECK.
Notices to Mariners - Medway - Non-tidal - Allington Lock, River/Bridge closures, etc. < CHECK.
Notices to Mariners - Medway - Tidal.
EA River level at Teston. < CHECK.
EA River level at Hartlake Bridge. < CHECK.
EA license required. <GET IT (rates here), and rent key at Allington Lock Friday.
Environment Agency - Medway - Bridges, locks, facilities for boaters.
Environment Agency - Medway booklet. pdf. Maps, guides, practical info
EA. Map pdf - Pretty map with loads of useful details, Tonbridge to Allington (tidal lock) Useful !
I W A . Includes contact details for tidal section

Slipway - Top end -
Tonbridge Castle - Free? - Parking £4.50/day - TN11 9AS - Picture -
Boatlaunch . (Use the map to find slipway then details)

Slipway - EA Non-tidal-midway - near Hampstead Lock at 51.227063, 0.413820, 100 yd from Yalding station - Picture. Details on Boatlaunch . (Noted only as a back-up)

Slipway - Bottom end:-
Medway Yacht Club -. Upnor. Slipway. Clubhouse. Bar. See Video.

The rest of this page features
A possible future "Long Sail" - London to The Medway (2018?)
A possible future English Raid - Medway (2019?)
Possible Future Long Row - Lee & Stort
Possible Future Long Row - Kennet and Avon.

Possible future "Long Sail" - Thames to the sea - eg Gallions Point to Southend, Sheerness or Rochester (Medway). - (Could also be a "TASTER" for a Medway Raid?).
35 miles Gallions to Sheerness, or reverse (either way is tide-dependant).
(PW has experience of this area. - eg several runs Greenwich to Medway in one day)

DESCRIPTIONS
Jim Shead Waterways .Medway - Include tidal section and to Sheerness - Distances. Details, Links to Pictures (loads). Many other links.
Canal Plan - Thames, Tidal section, Woolwich Barrier to the sea.
Canal Plan.org.uk - Medway - Tidal section - Useful map and chart.

NAVIGATION, etc - (Data being collected - PLEASE SEND ANY USEFUL LINKS.)
Port of London Thames Recreational Users Guide - Teddington to Broadness - Broadness to Sea Reach.
Slipways -
Need to identify suitable slipways at each end - London end - Gallions? Estuary end; North side & South Side. Medway & Swale - See Medway Rowing above
Might need overnight mooring, accommodation en-route, eg Gravesend, North Kent, Essex..

(Canal Guide = Nope) - ("Waterways Routes" = nope)

"Map" Gallions to Sheppey, Measured

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Possible Future English Raid (2019?) - The Medway, its Estuary, and The Swale. Back to Top
Famous for wildlife, Rochester Castle & Cathedral, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Isle of Sheppey, The Swale, Harty Ferry, Faversham Creek, Real Ales!
An estuarine and bay area of creeks and islands, a similar size to Golfe Du Morbihan - See comparison..
(PW has experience of this area.)

2018 would be the 351st anniversary of the Battle of the Medway (The Dutch inflicted one of the worst ever defeats on the British Navy)

DESCRIPTIONS
Jim Shead Waterways .Medway - Include tidal section and to Sheerness - Distances. Details, Links to Pictures (loads). Many other links.
Canal Plan.org.uk . Medway tidal section

NAVIGATION, etc
(Data being collected - PLEASE SEND ANY USEFUL LINKS.)
Need to identify suitable slipways Thames Estuary; North side & South Side. Medway & Swale.
Need to identify moorings for overnights and day visits. Thames Estuary; North side & South Side. Medway & Swale.
See Medway Rowing above.
Need to identify overnight accommodations - Thames Estuary; North side & South Side. Medway & Swale.
Consider combination of Arethusa and Medway Yacht Club.

The Swale -
Faversham -

(Canal Guide = Nope)? - ("Waterways Routes" = nope)

Slipways - Bottom end:-
Medway Yacht Club - Expecting us
Otherwise "fall-back" at
Gillingham pier, Slipway 51.397289, 0.554601 Picture.
Queenborough. TBC

Medway Estuary "map"

Thames and Medway "map".

Aerial view from North

Medway Estuary and
Morbihan compared

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Possible Future Long Row - Lee and Stort Navigation. eg Hoddesdon to Bow Creek
Mixed rural and urban/industrial. 24 miles (TBC) + Locks.

DESCRIPTIONS
Canal Guide.co.uk .Lee & Stort - History. Route description with pictures.
Jim Shead Waterways . Lee & Stort .Distances. Details, Links to Pictures (loads). Many other links.
Canal Plan.org.uk ..Lee & Stort. Useful map and chart.
Waterway Routes.co.uk .- Lee & Stort, Limehouse Basin, River Lee, River Stort, Hertford Union - Tables of distances, etc. Cruising maps to buy.

NAVIGATION, etc
Canal & River Trust .River Lee Navigation - Useful for Map, stoppages, etc.- C&RT license required.
Boaters'Guide to London's Waterways - Info and maps.

Slipways - Top end
Lee Valley Marina. (& crane). Stanstead Abbas, Herts SG12 8AL, 01920 870 499, .email .
Rye House, Rye Rd, Hoddesdon, EN11 0EH. 01992 465151 ? . Lee Valley Park (Free? but need permission).
Hallingbury Marina ?. 01279 723568.. email.
Boatlaunch . (Use the map to find slipway then details)
I W A. - L&S - List of boatyards.

Bottom end - At Thames, need to consider - Tide height & direction. Possible slipways.

Bob has kindly offered to do the on-site research for this region, and currently suggests:-
"Possible itineraries might include:

1. Friday PM: Launch at Lee Valley Marina (Stanstead Abbots) public slipway see Boatlaunch
   Up to Hertford to moor overnight.
   Hertford -> Thames (at Bow, or Limehouse via the Cut). Through the Olympic Park towards the end.
   Total trip (excl. Fri) under 30 miles 19? locks.
OR
2. Fri PM: Launch at Kecksy’s Farm (Sawbridgeworth) 51.820573, 0.158198 (but slipway will need checking)
   Up to Little Hallingbury marina or Stortford to moor overnight.
   Stortford -> Thames as above
   Total trip (excl. Fri) 32 miles 30? locks
   Alternative might be to crane in at Little Hallingbury if they can do it.

Both the above are shorter than our normal two day rows, but we’d need to add time to reach whatever slipway we finish at and possibly account for the tide. If Poplar Rowing Club, we could potentially choose to emerge at whichever of Limehouse or Bow gives us the best passage to the slipway for the state of the tide."

Map - Lee & Stort

Lee Valley Slipway

Lee & Stort Navigation

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Possible Future Long Row - River Kennet (K&A Canal) and Thames - Newbury to Henley
Mainly rural. Very local!
Newbury to Reading (K&A Canal) 20 miles + 20 Locks
Reading to Henley (Thames) 9 miles + 4 Locks

Provisional itinerary:-
Friday - Skeleton Crew - Launch at Newbury. Moor for the night. Come home
Saturday - Car shuffling
Row from Newbury, via lunch stop at Row Barge (Woolhampton), to Theale Swing Bridge. 12 miles + 14 locks. Moor for the night. Nearest pub "Fox & Hounds" 700 metres. Come home
Sunday - Car shuffling
Row from Theale Swing Bridge, via lunch "in Reading", to Henley UTRC. 17 miles + 10 locks.

Misc info sources and technical stuff:-
Canal Guide.co.uk - Kennet & Avon . History. Route description with pictures
Jim Shead Waterways . Kennet & Avon .Distances. Details, Links to Pictures (loads). Many other links
Canal Plan.org.uk .River Kennet. Useful map and chart
Waterway Routes - Might be useful?
Canal & River Trust - Kennet & Avon . Useful for Map, stoppages, etc.- C&RT license required.

Slipway -
Newbury Marina. Mill Lane, RG14 5SG. 01 635 282 208, 07584 566 197. email.
Boatlaunch . (Use the map to find slipway then details)

Map - Newbury to Henley

Slipway - Newbury

"Row Barge" + Swingbridge

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