Moorings on the River Medway

The River Medway flows 113 kilometres from its sources on the Kent and Sussex border through Tonbridge, Maidstone, Aylesford and Rochester before broadening into the Medway Estuary and joining the Thames Estuary near Sheerness. The navigable river divides naturally into two character sections: the freshwater upper Medway from Tonbridge down to Allington Lock at Maidstone (managed by the Environment Agency and offering peaceful inland cruising with 11 locks through orchards and oast houses), and the tidal lower Medway from Allington downstream to Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and the open estuary (managed by the Medway Ports Authority and offering serious sea-going cruising water). For boat owners, the Medway therefore offers an unusual two-in-one proposition. Long-stay moorings are available at Allington Marina, Tovil (Maidstone), Cuxton, Hoo Marina, Port Werburgh, Chatham Maritime Marina and Gillingham Marina. The lower Medway is one of the great south-east sailing destinations, hosting the Medway Yacht Club, the Royal Engineers Yacht Club and a string of historic dockyards (Chatham Historic Dockyard is one of the finest waterfront heritage sites in Britain). Liveaboards based here enjoy direct trains to London from Maidstone, Rochester and Gillingham (40 minutes to St Pancras via HS1) and a wealth of heritage on the doorstep. A unique waterway combining inland and tidal cruising.