Borstal To Wouldham (circular)
This walk is just under six miles mainly on footpaths.
Take the 155 bus from Chatham or Maidstone to the start of the walk at Borstal, motorway bridge.
This route is covered on the Ordnance Survey Explorer map 148 Maidstone and the Medway Towns
Download file for GPS
From the bus stop walk in a southerly direction under the motorway bridges, before the railway bridge take a left turning into Nashenden Farm Lane.
Although the road is made up there is very little traffic. Continue down the road for about a half a mile (800 meters) and take a right turning leading through the farmyard and over the high speed railway bridge.
After the bridge walk through a gate and up the hill take a right fork leaving the bridleway and onto a footpath marked North Downs Way.
Continue up the hill along the side of a field.
At the top of the hill take a few moments to take in the views of the Medway Valley.
To the left of the path is the entrance to Shoulder of Mutton woods. The path through the woods runs parallel to the North Downs way so you can take a detour and explore the woods and an ancient burial mound.
After a while the path is joins a byeway.
Continuing along the byeway you will see the entrance to a picnic area on the right.
Take the waymarked footpath on the right.
The path descends down a series of flights of stairs.
Looking back up the stairs:
Take extra care as the handrail is damaged in places.
The path eventually comes out to an open field, go passed a house and cross the road into a footpath that leads across another open field.
Go straight through a new housing estate.
Turn right when you get to Wouldham High Street. You will soon reach the village store, for more information about Wouldham see the Wouldham Village website .
and The Watermans Arms Pub
There are two other pubs in the village. The Foresters arms and the Medway Arms further back at the other end of the High Street.
Continue along the High Street, past the Church
The footpath is on the left, down an alley
Bear right on the footpath
Cuxton village can be seen in the distance.
As you continue in the distance you will see Rochester Castle under the arches of the Medway bridges.
Before you reach the bridge take a footpath to the right.
Follow the path then the track onto the road and turn left.
Continue on the road until you come back to the Medway bridge
Download route files