Medway Valley Walk – Rochester To Aylesford

This bus walk starts at the Esplanade Rochester near Rochester Bridge It goes via Borstal, Wouldham and Burham to Aylesford.

The Arriva 140 and 141 buses go from Chatham Bus station to Rochester .

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If it is your first visit to Rochester you must take a few moments to take in the sites of Rochester including the Castle

The view down the steps to the Esplanade.

St Margaret’s Church seen from the Esplanade.

Short’s Brothers the manufacturer of the Sunderland Flying Boat had a factory in Rochester

The M2 and High Speed train bridges across the Medway

Looking back to Rochester. On the right you can see the remains on the Short’s slipway where the flying boats are launched.

The path continues through the Baty’s Marsh nature reserve.

The path follows the river for a while and turns left just before you reach the Medway Bridges.

Follow the signposts through Borstal. The Path turns left after the M2 bridge but before the High Speed rail bridge.

Turn right and walk through Nashenden Farm. Looking back to see the Oast houses.

Continue on the way marked path again look back to see the Medway Bridges

You get spectacular views of the Medway Valley.

At this point the route follows the same route as the North Downs way

Continue past the Shoulder of Mutton Wood with it’s ancient earthworks

When the path join the bridleway take a right turn to Wouldham. However you may wish to take a short detour to a picnic area near Wouldham common where you can get good views of Wouldham Village

When you reach Wouldham The Church is to the right

Go through the village and continue along Hall Road and into Old Church Road past the former cement works.
You will see Burham Old Church

There are views of the North Downs to your left

Burham Old Church is usually open to have a look round

Continue along the road and follow a path across a field.

Turn left and follow a track

Turn left just after an electricity sub station

And continue to Ayleford