Introduction
This page is initially just "my sea kayaking notes tidied up a bit". The idea is not
to list all the trips you might do in a sea kayak, but rather the places where you might
start and finish (and maybe stop for lunch). That way, you can make
up your own trips.
By putting up this first version, I'm hoping to stimulate contributions from others, and maybe
steer this in the direction of a shared-ownership document, with "sectional editors".
Comments/Improvements most welcome ! Probably via the forum initially...
TonyR
v1.04 23/08/2008
Contents
Tidal Thames: Teddington to Shadwell
Our start point for the Thames is the begining of the tidal section at Teddington Lock. Yes, I
am aware there are some 250 Kilometres of water upstream of here, but it flat water. These pages
are about the sea !
The TIDE at this top-end of the river is quite asymmetric, having roughly 9 hours of ebb
vs 3 hours of flood (vs about 7/5 at London bridge). HW at Richmond/Teddington
is around 1 hour after London Bridge. For those organising trips for the first time (and wanting tide support)
this is reasonably confusing ! How long have I got to complete the trip ?. Well, as long as you are
paddling with the tide, it turns out that you have around 6 hours in either direction, as this
hypothetical tide timetable shows:
HW LW HW
Richmond 08:00 17:00 20:00 so 08:00->14:00 (~6 hours) paddling Eastbound
London Bridge 07:00 14:00 19:00 or 14:00->20:00 (~6 hours) paddling Westbound
The
Teddington/Richmond section has the added complication that only the "top 2 hours" of the tide
shows through, because a set of weir gates swing into place at
Richmond to maintain levels above 1.7m over CD.
Allegedly, this is to assist navigation, but it also keeps the river looking plump and fullsome for the benefit
of local landowners, and provides a pleasing surface for the swans to glide around on. To keep things simple,
aim to pass
Richmond within 2 hours of HW.
From Richmond to Putney, the river is quiet and almost rural. At most states of the tide there are
plenty of places to stop, the riverbank being mostly shingle. This is a popular area for rowing, so expect to
find teams out practising - often seemingly on the "wrong" side of the river (but "right" according to
The Rowing Code, if you can get your head around it!). Obviously, kayakers need to give
rowers a wide berth, as the latter cannot see where they're going (because they face the "wrong" way...)
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| Teddington Lock
Tidal limit of the river
|
| 2k
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| HAM HOUSE
River South. A perfect launch point in an otherwise difficult area ! Access via Ham Street to
car park adjoining playing fields. Nice beach area for launching, especially at HW.
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| 5k
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| Richmond Bridge
River East. No easy parking anywhere nearby, but a nice touchdown spot at the foot of water lane,
which is a kind of natural slipway. At HW springs, the river floods this whole riverbank area and
laps at the ankles of drinkers in the front yard of the White Cross Hotel.
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| 11k
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| Chiswick Bridge
River South. Natural landing/lunch point with a flight of steps leading up to the riverbank, and
even a bench to sit on.
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| 12k
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| BARNES BRIDGE
River North, 24hr. Good access here from the slipway in front of the Emmanuel School and
Cygnet Rowing Club boat houses. Ample free parking
on Riverside Drive (Chris).
|
East of Putney, everything changes ! You are entering a major capital city, so of course the river buzzes
with activity - and you need to keep your eyes open !
Access to the banks is also rather limited, as there are few slipways, and the huge tidal range (7 meters)
makes it impracticable to climb over the side walls. At low tide, there are sandbanks and beaches to take a
break on, but when the water is up, the next stopping point might be miles away. Currents can also run
quite fast (up to 3 knots) particularly in the Westminster to London Bridge section where the river is narrow.
These factors, plus the sheer density of traffic East of Westminster bridge, make this a river to take
seriously ! But it is also seriously nice, so don't be put off !
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| PUTNEY
River South, 24hr. Several easy places to stop round here. This one is by the Pier/Embankment,
Southwest of the bridge, and just West of the rowing club steps area - nice and quiet, with toilets nearby.
Other options include :
(i) the slipway down from the road at the SW corner of the bridge
(ii) another slipway next to the pub just SE of the bridge.
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| 22k
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| ST MARY'S CHURCH BATTERSEA
River South, 24hr. Pleasant bit of waterfront with shingle beach and the odd barge, just where
Battersea Church Road touches the river. Car access and parking nearby. The spire of St Mary's Church (1775)
is a distinctive landmark.
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| 26k
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| VAUXHALL MI5 BEACH
River South, 24hr. This slipway used by the "Frog Tours" boats, and a short approach road
off the embankment leads to it (although of course, little chance of parking anywhere).
Portuguese-style "Cafe Madeira" nearby makes a nice fuel stop (Albert Embankment,
East side, in a railway arch - 300m)
|
| 33k
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| SHADWELL BEACH
River North, 24hr (in a sense!). Steps lead down off the embankment to a sand/shingle beach
6m above CD, so it's a wet launch only on the highest of tides (and muddy only on the lowest of lows).
Access via Glamis Rd. Parking restrictions 08:30-17:30 Mon-Fri, but OK at all other times. This location
is of course most famous as the home of the renowned
Tower Hamlets Canoe Club,
undoubtedly the best kayaking club in all Shadwell. Also just alongside is the renowned
"Prospect of Whitby" pub, dating from 1543. So we take break here...
|
Tidal Thames: Shadwell to Gravesend
The river widens considerably East of Tower Bridge, so currents in this section run more slowly, and there
are also fewer obstacles. Access to/from the shore remains patchy because of the large tidal range.
The landscape also changes radically. West of Greenwich, you know you're in the capital, with familiar landmarks
everywhere and promenading tourists staring down at you in bewilderment. East of Greenwich, you might recognise
the Dome, the Woolwich Ferry (still running !) and the M25 road bridge - but the rest is increasingly
anonymous and spread out. It's still an engaging paddle, though ! The 40K run between Shadwell and Gravesend
is a THCC club favourite.
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| Greenland Dock
River South, HW+-3. Entry point to the river via exposed steps down to sandbank 3m above CD, hence often
submerged, and access not very easy. Plenty of (unrestricted) parking in neighbouring Rope St, by the ferry terminal.
|
| 2k
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| Millwall Dock slipway
River North, 24hr. Former shipping entrance to the Millwall Dock, now converted to a slipway, and with
easy access off Westferry Road. Parking restrictions 08:30-17:30 Mon-Fri, but OK at all other times.
The dock entrance has a curious floating barrier across it, but with a flattened section at the
downstream end that you can just paddle over. Sailing dingys from the neighbouring
Docklands Sailing Centre launch from here into the river.
|
| 4k
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| POPLAR ROWING CLUB
River North, 24hr. Easy access slipway alongside the friendly
Poplar Rowing Club, whose members are regularly seen training
up and down this stretch of river - albeit "facing the wrong way".
Parking restrictions 08:30-17:30 Mon-Fri, but OK at all other times.
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| 5k
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| NEWCASTLE DRAWDOCK
River North, 24hr. Public slipway with easy access via Manchester Rd. Parking restrictions 08:30-17:30
Mon-Fri, but OK at all other times.
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| 5k
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| GREENWICH
River South, 24hr? Access to shingle beach via Lovells Wharf.
Parking nearby in Pelton/Enderby streets.
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| 6k
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| AMSTERDAM YARD
River North, 24hr. Slipway down to a broad sand and shingle beach with a remarkable 150m of river frontage.
London's answer to "Paris Plage" perhaps, and a tempting spot to sunbathe among the broken glass and
lorry tyres. Although a nice launch and landing spot, access from Manchester Road
is a bit more fiddly (drive in to unload, then drive back to park). Parking restrictions 08:30-17:30 Mon-Fri,
but OK at all other times. Probably the best access point for
Bow Creek,
being just 2K from the entrance.
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| 7k
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| The Dome - Point Drawdock
River South, 24hr. Gentle sloping foreshore on this bend in the river, just West of the Dome.
Acccess to the water is good (and especially handy for Bow Creek) but car access and parking
very poor! Approach by road on the A102 Blackwall Tunnel approach (Northbound) peeling off at
the very last moment into the turnoff for prohibited vehicles. Follow this to a barrier which
is normally unmanned and can be raised by hand to get access to the foreshore (Drawdock Road) for
unloading - but not for parking.
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| 8k
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| (Bow Creek Entrance)
River North. Not an access point, but the junction of the tidal River Lea leading to
Bow Locks, and the gateway to a complex network of waterways known as the "Bow Back Rivers"
(see Bow Creek). This is an interesting area to paddle, but do be aware that
there is virtually no access over the banks for the first 4K off the Thames - and no chance at
all at LW. So think before you enter !
|
|
|
| ...
Downstream from here, river access to/from the shore gets progressively harder ! There are a number
of temporary landing spots where it's possible to get out and stretch legs, eg:
- On sandbanks exposed around LW, eg just West of the Flood Barrier (North bank)
- On some sloping banksides around HW, especially where these have been stone-lined as at
Gallions Reach and Barking Reach (East of Woolwich, South bank)
- On occasional slipways, such as Erith Yacht Club,
(just East of Erith, South bank - road access only via locked compound AFAIK !)
There are also a few emergency climb-out possibilities on to gantries of one sort or another
(eg Woolwich Ferry terminal North). However, in general, there is so much mud piled up along
the banks that access is only really possible close to HW, and only in isolated places. So be prepared
to paddle all the way through !
...
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| 40k
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| GRAVESEND WATERFRONT
24hr access via yacht club slipway on classic waterfront. Parking nearby, also cafe, toilets.
Launching also possible off the beach at all but the lowest tides. This spot is a nice way to visualise
the transition from river to sea, being now 700m across and with large vessels passing through.
A group of working tugs is often stationed just offshore.
|
Tidal Thames: Gravesend to Hole Haven
At Gravesend, crossing the river is perhaps a 5 minute paddle.
By Hole Haven (15K further downstream) the crossing has become perhaps 30 minutes, and
and by Southend (10K further still) more like 1 hour.
This is still "the river" rather than "the Estuary", but faced with these distances, and large commercial
vessels steaming past at 20 knots, it's no longer a simple hop from one bank to the other !
As elsewhere on the Thames, MUD is everywhere - so there are few places to stop other than near HW.
Riverbank access by road also gets harder and harder, as much of the water's edge is either given over to
the Oil Industry (an entire 10K stretch on the North bank approaching Canvey Island)
or is so marshy and flood-prone that there's basically nothing there ! Not even a road !
So if you're bent on paddling beyond here, you'd better be happy to go the distance.
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| Cliffe Fort
River South, HW only, touch down possibility. If you're going East of here, you need to be deciding
which bank to follow !
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| 55k
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| Hole Haven Slipway
River North, 24hr Slipway, with approach road and parking just over the sea wall ! Even a pub !
A rarity in an otherwise impregnable area. Whether you'd want to linger here is another matter...
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| 61k
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| Allhallows YC Slipway
River South, Slipway belonging to Allhallows Yacht Club,
access unknown.
|
| -
| -
| to be continued...
|
Tidal Thames: Bow Creek and the River Lea
The river LEA is an extensive network of waterways, TIDAL and NON-TIDAL, with complex interconnections
and a long history of commercial exploitation. Until Summer 2007, it was possible to head North
on a rising tide off the Thames into Bow Creek (near the Dome) and keep going ... and going.
10K later, you would still be in salt water, heading across Hackney Marshes, having
encountered no locks or obstacles of any sort! Although not regarded as a "navigation", this whole
section was de facto navigable to kayaks, and was quietly appreciated by lovers of
urban wilderness.
As we write (late 2007) a massive re-engineering exercise is underway in preparation for the
2012 Olympics. This has put the whole Waterworks River section North of Prescott Lock
out of bounds and also closed the side branches of the neighbouring NON-TIDAL network
(Old River Lea, City Mill River and the Bow Back River). When the protective
plastic is peeled off in late 2008, what emerges will be NON-TIDAL, with levels managed by a water
control structure alongside the new Prescott Lock. Only the 4K stub from here to the
Thames remains unchanged.
Those interested can track progress of the project via
these British Waterways pages.
British Waterways are of course keen advocates of the project, stressing the benefits of regeneration
of this long-neglected area, and of water hygiene. (There are currently regular sewage discharges,
evidence for which is seen in the fig trees lining the river banks. Humans eat figs, but the seeds
pass through undigested ! "Too much information" ?)
Elsewhere, there are doubts about the chosen engineering solution, and disappointment at the loss of so
much tidal river, as eloquently expressed in
this paper from the Regents Network.
Medway Tidal River
The tidal part of the Medway starts as an unpromising, muddy channel close to the M20, at Allington Lock.
It winds North through flattish and semi-rural landscape, before passing through the industrial towns
of Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham and their surrounding chalk downland.
This is a pleasant area to paddle, particularly in Winter when it is quiet, or on windy days when
other more exposed outings are ruled out. Lying mostly North-South, it is well protected against
prevailing Westerlies.
Access is a bit difficult everywhere except at Gillingham Strand and Allington Lock,
the 2 endpoints of this section. Hence this tends to be a 25K "straight through" paddle. It can be done
in either direction, but is most practical in the Downstream (Northbound) direction, as this gets the
tide-critical access at Allington Lock out of the way at the start, and you have both the tide and
the river flow on your side. HW at Allington lock is around 2 hours after HW Dover.
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| Allington lock
HW +- 0.5h, landing on West side near the lock, Parking/food in nearby "Malta Inn"
(tel 01622 717251) and large and popular waterfront pub.
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| 10k
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| Wouldham
HW only, East bank, road access difficult. Also a club pontoon on West bank as stopping point.
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| Rochester Bridge
Access via steps, no parking, best avoided.
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| 18k
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| Chatham "Blue" pontoon
Just off A231 Medway St. Stopping point to rest/adjust kit, but no easy boat access or parking.
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| 24k
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| GILLINGHAM STRAND
24hr slipway, parking, toilets, Cafe sometimes open. Excellent !
|
Medway Marsh
East of Gillingham, the river opens into a vast area of saltmarsh. The main river track passes through
the middle, with flood plains to either side. To the North - the Hoo Peninsular and Isle of Grain, both heavily
industrialised and with long jetties reaching out from the land to the deep water. To the South - a largely unspoiled
coastline of apple orchards, small villages, a country park, and some of the best place names in the business:
Horrid Hill, Slaughterhouse point, Bedlam's bottom...
The tide here floods in from the East, as expected, with Sheerness the guide port for tide times.
As with the nearby Swale, principal hazard is the MUD, which is everywhere ! On a falling tide,
it is all too easy to get caught out and be stranded several kilometers from land - so it's important to keep your
navigation brain engaged - and to always know where the deep water is !
Useable access points are all on the South side, but are really just HW touchdown spots, eg for lunch stops.
The best way to access this area is really to paddle in from either end - ie from Gillingham Strand in the
West or Queenborough in the East (both 24hr slipways)
| -
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| Otterham Quay
HW +- 1h only, road access/parking difficult.
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| -
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| Lower Halstow
HW +- 1h only, lovely old jetty beside Saxon church, road access via Lapwing Drive. Parking OK.
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| -
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| Raspberry Hill
HW only. Saltmarsh touches the road at this point; great views; some parking on verges.
|
The Swale
The Swale is a stretch of tidal water that separates the
Isle of Sheppey from the
Kent mainland. It is open it both ends, so not really a river as popularly supposed. It has numerous creeks
off the South side.
The varying character of the Swale is summed up by the 2 neighbouring towns, which could hardly be more different:
Sittingbourne in the West is a depressing industrial slum, whose channel to the Swale (Milton Creek)
is the destination of choice for supermarket trolleys and truck tyres. Meanwhile, Faversham, just 10K to
the East, is a picture postcard of Olde Kent, with hopfields, oasthouses and sailing barges.
The Faversham end of the Swale, best accessed through Harty Ferry, is a gem ! Calm and peaceful,
especially in Winter.
Tide floods into the Swale from both ends, meeting up in the middle. Currents are thus strongest at the 2 ends,
with a notional "dead spot" where the 2 tides meet, somewhere east of Milton Creek. This can be turned to
advantage if circumnavigating Sheppey, by arranging to pass through this point just as the tide changes!
The Red and Green buoys also change sides near here, at Kingsferry Bridge.
As with the nearby Medway Marsh, it's important to be careful on a falling tide ! Parts of the Swale are
a kilometer or more across, but dry very quickly leaving a navigable channel barely a 100 meters across,
and oceans of horrible, sticky mud.
Access Points listed here are just the SOUTH side ones. For the NORTH side, see the
Isle of Sheppey.
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| Kingsferry Bridge
24hr slipway, parking nearby (although perhaps a bit exposed), watch out for jet-skiiers!
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| 9k
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| Conyer Creek
HW +- 1.5h, access a bit difficult, parking nearby, pub
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| 13k
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| HARTY FERRY (SOUTH)
24hr slipway, parking, lovely countryside. Best access point in the area!
Directly opposite Harty Ferry (North) and the excellent "Ferry Inn" (see
Isle of Sheppey).
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| 15k
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| Oare Creek
HW +- 1.5h, access over grass bank from roadway, parking OK, 2 food pubs nearby.
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| 19k
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| Faversham Town
HW +- 1h, access over grassy bank from "Front Brents", opposite Shepherd Neame brewery.
Parking nearby. At the junction between the 2 creeks is another stangely isolated pub, the "Shipwrights Arms".
Food available. "Wet-friendly".
|
Isle of Sheppey
"What country pray is this" ? Proud home to Europe's largest manufacturer of garden gnomes,
Sheppey retains a sense of independence from neighbouring England. Things here have often seemed a cultural
decade or two behind the mainland - but are changing now, in part because the "new" bridge (July 2006) has made access
from England much quicker and more reliable. A bit rough, poor and rather shabby in parts, Sheppey is still
full of surprises.
Tides generally flood from the East and Ebb to the West, except on the South side, ie The Swale,
which is fed from both ends. Tide times can all be taken as Sheerness. Circumnavigation of the island
(45-50K) makes a nice day trip.
| -
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| QUEENBOROUGH
24hr slipway into the Swale, near its junction with the Medway, and just round the corner from
the charming but rather muddy Town Quay (HW +-2h ?). Toilets, free parking.
|
| -
| map
| Barton's Point
24hr sand/shingle beach, parking. 1 km West of here is the home of the
Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club
which has a truly excellent
weathercam.
Just 3km offshore from here lies the intruiging wreck of the
SS Richard Montgomery, a munitions ship which
ran aground here in 1944, spilling hundreds of tons of ordnance on to the sea bed (much of it still there
today!). This makes an interesting diversion if paddling along this coast, or crossing to Southend.
You literally "can't miss it". Parts of the vessel's rusting superstructure stick up above low tide
and the whole area is plastered with buoys and warning signs.
|
| -
| map
| Leysdown on Sea
24hr sand/shingle beach, parking.
|
| -
| map
| Shell Ness - Sheppey
Shell Ness is a natural beach made entirely of sea shells (pictured!) and offering a sheltered
launch into the Swale, or a classic lunch spot. Car access possible from nearby Leysdown,
then a portage or trolley for the last few hundred meters. Avoid the roped-off bird sanctuary,
just West of the concrete bunker.
|
| -
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| HARTY FERRY (NORTH)
24hr slipway belonging to the "Ferry Inn" (01795 510214), a remarkable "wet friendly" pub which
does food every day, and lets you camp in its grounds for a modest fee. Just 66k as the crow fields from
Shadwell Basin this pub feels more isolated than you would believe possible. Until relatively
recently, they had only "well" water and generated their own electricity. Car access is a little complicated,
which is probably why it's so nice ! One of the few places that's easier to reach by Kayak than by road.
|
North Kent Estuary
From East Sheppey across to Whistable is a large area of mudflats, with limited access from the shore, and
a mini tide-race around The Swale entrance. The 4K open crossing from Shell Ness to
Whitstable makes a nice outing when conditions are right. Arrival by sea at Whitstable offers the ultimate in
lunch stops: haul your boat up the shingle, step into Whitstable Oyster Fishery an order up your Moule/Frites.
Return to the sea afterwards with a sense of smug superiority.
East of Whitstable, the mud progressively gives way to sandy beaches and seaside towns (Herne Bay, Margate)
with the prominent landmark of Reculver generally in sight. East from here, the water gets livelier as we
head East to North Foreland, and leave the shelter of the Estuary.
The Tides in this area flood from the East and ebb to the West as expected. Flows are not particularly strong
and can be paddled against easily enough if you stay inshore. Apart from a short run of cliffs East of Herne Bay
(cut off at HW) there is landing more or less anywhere and plenty of parking. Also plenty of candy-floss and
deep-fried doughnuts.
1K offshore from Herne Bay are the stranded remains of the pier wrecked by a storm in 1978, worth a detour
to hear (or imagine) the echoes of the dance band still playing. Further offshore (8.5K due North) lies the
Wind Farm, built in early 2007 (NickJ, Sea4me and TonyR paddled out there for a look in Octovber 2007, leaving
just one thing behind: a camera!)
| 0k
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| WHITSTABLE OYSTER FISHERY(East end of harbour wall)
24hr access, with some restaurant tables on the shingle beach (or you can eat inside).
Some parking behind the restaurant in the entrance driveway.
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| 1k
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| WHITSTABLE CONTINENTAL
(500m east of Harbour, signs for Continental Hotel).
24hr shingle beach, shelter from groynes, parking, toilets, good hotel/restaurant.
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| 5k
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| Hampton turn
24 hr slipway used by jetskis, parking nearby.
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| 7k
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| HERNE BAY BREAKWATER
24 hr shingle beach either side of pier, on-road parking. Toilets 200m west of pier.
Also breakwater and 24hr slipway for boats with adjacent large car park by clock tower.
Shelter "under the boardwalk" in rough weather. Cafes and candyfloss everywhere.
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| 12k
| map
| Reculver
24hr shingle beach just East of the towers (some distance from the car park). Toilets nearby,
also seasonal cafe and 2 pubs.
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| 18k
| map
| MINNIS BAY
24 hr slipway on to sandy beach next to "Minnis" pub/cafe, parking, other slipways further along.
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| 21k
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| WESGATE BAY
24 hr slipway on to sandy beach, parking, toilets, cafes.
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| 25k
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| MARGATE
24 hr slipway on to sandy beach, inside or outside breakwater, parking/toilets on top.
Lots of submerged rocks just off the beach, so often best to enter at right-angles to the shore
in rough weather.
|
| 28k
| map
| PALM BAY
24 hr slipway on to sandy beach, used by jetskis, parking
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| 30k
| map
| BOTANY BAY
24 hr slipway on to sandy beach, parking, fairly exposed (swell, even small surf!)
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| 32k
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| JOSS BAY
24 hr sandy beach, parking, toilets, great little spot by the North Foreland lighthouse.
Beach car park £5 per day (Aug 206) or can drop off boats and park in neighbouring Elmwood Avenue.
Joss Bay is the area's only recognised
Surfing location,
and even has a
surf school!
Waves are generally modest, larger at high tide and in a North-easterley wind.
|
East Kent Coast: North Foreland to Dover
This stretch of coast faces Eastwards out into the North Sea. We are out of the Estuary here, so this is
"real sea" (though calmed at LW by the infamous Goodwin Sands, some 10K offshore,
drying to several meters).
The Northern coastline (Foreland, Broadstairs, Ramsgate) has chalk cliffs and a rocky-ish
foreshore, with some sandy beaches. South of Ramsgate (Pegwell Bay, Deal, South Foreland) this gives
way to flat landscape and sand/shingle beaches, before the cliffs rise again near Dover.
A high spot for mariners is Ramsgate, a "proper" port which has a ferry (4 crossings to Ostend
daily) a marina, and a few working vessels. Outside the summer season, it is fairly quiet, so crossing the
harbour entrance is not a big deal (unlike Dover). Currents of up to 3 knots can be encountered
passing the Ramsgate Southern breakwater, which makes life interesting.
Just South of Ramsgate lies Pegwell Bay, the "mini-estuary" of the River Stour,
a pleasant paddle in its own right. This is a broad and flat stretch of sand, where the sea recedes nearly 3K at
lower water, drying almost all the way to Ramsgate harbour entrance!
The big feature of this whole section is the "tidal offset" caused by the constriction of the Dover Straits.
Along this coast, HW is not SLACK WATER ! The tide instead runs NORTH from Dover HW-1.5 to Dover HW+4.5,
then reverses for a similar period. (The direction change is "4.5 hours late", in other words).
If paddling "round the corner" (ie to/from the Estuary) it's worth thinking about "tidal windows", ie whether
you can get tide support both ways. For those who like an easy life, the best plan is to go clockwise
(ie from Estuary to Channel) and to pass North Foreland between Dover HW+4.5 and HW+6. This nicely
links the 2 tides. It also rounds the corner close to local LW, so the uncovered foreshore (sand with some
rockpools) produces a quieter sea to pick through.
| 35k
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| Broadstairs
24 hr sandy bathing beach, launch inside breakwater, toilets; parking can be tricky.
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| 36k
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| Dumpton Gap
24 hr slipway on to sandy beach, parking.
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| 38k
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| RAMSGATE EAST
24 hr sandy bathing beach, a few rocks, good parking. Access via steep turning off
cliff-top Victoria Parade, avoiding town centre.
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| 39k
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| RAMSGATE WEST
24 hr sandy bathing beach, parking, nice sheltered launch beside harbour breakwater.
Best car access via the special PORT road off a roundabout the outside town, via a tunnel
through the cliffs. Nice transport cafe just across the road, popular with truck drivers
waiting for the Ostende ferry. See notes under River Stour if
planning to enter the river.
|
| 42k
| map
| Pegwell Bay
HW only, because of extensive mudflats. Access near the Viking ship, parking nearby,
|
| 41k
| map
| Shell Ness - Stour
Entrance to the River Stour. South of here is the long sandy beach
of Sandwich Bay, where you can land just about anywhere, but with road access
difficult until Deal.
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| 54k
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| DEAL PIER
24 hr pebble beach, parking, toilets, pubs/cafes/shops. Access easy everywhere along here.
|
| 64k
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| St Margarets
24hr attractive and popular pebble beach, only about 500m long and tucked under the White Cliffs,
which rise up from here towards Dover. Access via steep & windy cliff road from St Margaret's village
(not advisable with a trailer!). Pub, Cafe, Toilets and good parking (prices Sept 2006 were 40p per
hour 0900-1700 June-Sept only, free at all other times - including overnight).
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St Margarets beach is just 2K North of DOVER HARBOUR Eastern entrance, which is busy with Ferry movements.
Paddling beyond here really requires care - and ideally a VHF call. This is the narrowest point of the Dover Straits
so water is always likely to be running fast, and the additional projection of the harbour breakwater a kilometer
or so into the flow, further squeezes things. The result is a mini-tide race and a sizeable eddy just of the
Eastern entrance, which could be fun to play in - were it not for the dangers of the constant ferry traffic.
East Kent Coast: River Stour
This little tidal river flows out from Canterbury, via Sandwich to the sandflats of Pegwell Bay.
Quiet, peaceful and sheltered, this is more of a "Wind in the Willows" experience than a
white water one. There are no rocks anywhere, and currents barely reach 2 knots even at
peak.
Unlike the neighbouring sea coast at Pegwell Bay, there is no "tidal offset" to confuse things
here. The river floods and ebbs predictably. HW at Sandwich is around Dover HW+1 and
Grove Ferry is at Dover HW+2.
The "top" end around Fordwich is particularly nice as it passes along the Stodmarsh
nature reserve, and has large wetland areas either side of the waterway. It's rare to see
any vessel larger than a kayak upstream of the Grove Ferry bridge because of its limited
headroom. Downstream of the bridge there are a few river cruisers, but typically only in Summer.
You can paddle this river in either direction, but it's best done with tide support, and with an
eye on the tides at Sandwich, where access at LW is a very muddy experience. Typical
"A to B" trips are between Grove Ferry, Sandwich and/or Ramsgate West via the Pegwell
Bay crossing.
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| Fordwich
Lovely old village through which the river passes, but with restricted access and difficult parking.
24hr access possible just West of the road/river crossing in the village centre (temporary parking
and climb down the slopey bank). There is also a local sailing outfit on the North side of the river
just East of this bridge, with some access. Paddling upstream of here is made difficult by a
combination of private land ownership, and sluices across the river paths - a shame, as we are
barely 5K from Canterbury Town Centre. Generally better to enter the river at Grove Ferry...
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| GROVE FERRY
24hr (+-) access over the banks of the public car park / picnic site, adjoining Stodmarsh
bird reserve and the popular
Grove Ferry Inn.
Best access point in the area ! There is no slipway, but tidal movement is quite limited this far upstream
so it's always possible to get in and out.
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| 11k
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| Sarre Level Crossing
Curious arrangement where the river passes close by a private house and driveway just 300m off the
A253, but with a railway level crossing sandwiched in between. Access possible over the banks here, but
not easy to park anywhere. And of course you have to portage over the railway line !
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| Plucks Gutter
Good name, isn't it ? Basically just a pub and a few houses where a road crosses the river.
24hr access apparently possible via rowing club slipway on North side, East of the bridge, but
parking difficult, except in the pub. Busy in Summer.
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| Minster Marshes
HW+- access to North Bank, with a small, gravel parking lot belonging to Fishing club.
Civilisation is 1300m along track and over the railway line to Minster Village (shops, pubs, better parking)
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| 21k
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| (Stonar Cut West)
No access! Worthy of mention only because 10K downstream from here you will pass within 200m
of this place, thanks to the huge loop section through Sandwich Town. A large sluice separates
the two. This is rather like those holes in the wall at Ikea where you can see into the future
(but in this case you can't pass through!)
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| 25k
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| SANDWICH TOWN QUAY
HW +- 2h, or get very muddy! Parking on quayside, restaurants, lovely town.
(HW here is 1h after Dover, so access is really Dover HW-1 to Dover HW+3, perhaps more..)
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| (Stonar Cut East)
No access! See Stonar Cut West !
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| 33k
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| Shell Ness Beach
24hr. Nice sandy spit by the river entrance to stop on. This is a beautifully private spot with
a nice beach stroll from here South along Sandwich flats. It's seclusion is because the river
cuts off all land access to the North, while the nearest road access (a twisty golf course track,
with potentially a road toll to be paid) is several kilometers to the South.
If you're heading across the bay to Ramsgate, then it's normally OK to head for the cliffs
at around 045 degrees (the other way, it's the cooling towers at 225 degrees!). However,
bear it mind it can be very choppy here in Easterly conditions, and that with some 2k
of drying mud to cross, you could get caught. On a falling tide, you may prefer to follow the
yacht track and run 090 for 1K, then 045. There is a way out by the Viking Ship
in the top corner of the bay, but HW only.
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