The River Medway - Part 2 (Yalding to Sluice Weir)

Well, I told you I would bore you all with The Medway. So here is part 2. Another short trip. Just a couple of miles there and the same back. Yalding is one of the most popular spots on the Medway, for canoeists, kayakers and day trippers in general. It offers a nice wide grassy parking area, a shallow and fairly safe weir pool to paddle in (with feet that is) on most days, a nice cafe for tea and cakes, and the Anchor Inn for something stonger or a meal.

One of my favourite trips is from Yalding upstream to Sluice Weir and beyond to Oak Weir. It's a very peaceful part of the river. However only the arrival of my new Yellowstone Solo has lured me back, because the put in is a pain. The car park is cheap (£2) and has public toilets (always handy), and plenty of space to load/unload. If you want to head downstream, there is a convenient slipway. However if you want to go upstream, you have to cross a wheelchair access bridge over the narrow River Tiese which re-joins the Medway at Yalding. The bridge has five turns of 180 degrees and 90 degrees, and with trees and signs planted close its a real pain with a big boat. But with a small, light boat now...

Yes! Over the Tiese and through the tea room gardens (they're used to it, trust me!), and you're at the banks of The Medway above the weir. The river is unnavigable at Yalding, primarily due to the shallow water passing under Twyford Bridge, just below the weir. So The Hampstead canal was cut in 1740 through to Yalding Lock, isolating the weir and weir pool and the short stretch of river beyond. You put in just opposite the start of the canal, which leaves the Medway adjacent to The Anchor Inn.

Heading upstream you pass the pretty lawns of a converted oast house, complete with machine gun post in the garden. Yes they really did expect Germans though here in 1940.





Paddle on only a few hundred yards and you are a world away from the kayakers playing in the weir pool and all the noisy folk at the cafe and Inn. The river slows to its indolent best, you paddle more gently so as not to disturb the surface.

Occaisionally in sheltered spots Iris and Water Lily are taking hold, spurred on by the sudden warm of spring that has come upon the SE lately.



After a mile or so you pass the disused stone peirs of the long abandoned Stoneham Lock where another group of kayakers are fooling around. Leave them behind, it's too peacful for all that today.

Paddle on and you come into perhaps the nicest stretch of water. Sudden bends open up wide expanses of still water. Small creeks beckon you to investigate, nosing your boat in amongst the foliage.



Enjoy the quiet, for you will soon reach the noiser part of the river, passing Branbridges where both road and rail cross the river, and a sudden industry crowds the river bank held back only by a fence and the narrow towpath.

Make sure you have a hat on before you pass under the second road bridge. There are more pidgeons in there than in Trafalgar Square. And they don't like intruders!



Paddle on swiftly, away from the noise and back into the peace and quiet once more. You will quickly find yourself at Sluice Weir and Lock, where the lack of water gives testament to the dry conditions in the SE at the moment.



There is no water at all coming down the weir. Only down the canoe pass on the left and through the lock itself. Tie up next to the lock, or drag your boat out and find a spot for lunch. There are more kayakers here, but they too are busy with food and so quiet for a change.

Paddle back the way you came, it hasn't changed.



Stop to explore some of the creeks and inlets. One of them I'm sure leads into The Tiese. It is fast and tempting where it rejoins The Medway at Yalding, about 18" deep and 8 feet wide. Somewhere it loses about 10 feet, and I'm dying to find out where. I might regret it though!

Dodge the Kayakers back at Yalding, and back to the car. Stop for a look at The Weir Pool. It's quiet today.



Twyford Bridge on the right, is just about passable through the far arch on a day like today. If there was more water, the kayakers would be playing here.

And if you really want to see for yourself then here is where it is:-