Moorings on the River Stour (Kent)

The Great Stour flows 65 kilometres through Kent from its source near Lenham eastward through Ashford, Canterbury, Fordwich and Sandwich before reaching the sea at Pegwell Bay. The navigable section is the tidal lower river below Fordwich (which proudly claims to be the smallest town in England), running through ancient marshlands and historic Sandwich — once one of the medieval Cinque Ports and now a beautifully preserved historic town several miles inland from its silted-up former harbour. For boat owners, the Kentish Stour offers an unusual proposition: a relatively quiet East Kent cruising waterway with genuine historic character, accessing the open sea at Pegwell Bay and the wider Kent coast. Long-stay moorings are available at Sandwich Marina (Sandwich Quay) and at swinging moorings further down the estuary toward Richborough and Pegwell Bay. The river is tidal and shallow in places — careful passage planning is essential, and the river is most popular with smaller craft, traditional yachts and adventurous cruisers rather than larger sea-going boats. Sandwich itself is a draw — half-timbered streets, the Royal St George's golf course nearby and direct rail to London St Pancras via Ashford. Wildlife in the Pegwell Bay nature reserve (a major feeding ground for waders and waterfowl) is exceptional. A historic, atmospheric and slightly off-the-beaten-track waterway.