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Upnor Walks

1.6 miles (2.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This walk visits Lower and Upper Upnor on the River Medway near Rochester in Kent.
The area includes English Heritage's Upnor Castle, a 16th century fortification with an interesting history.
The walk starts from the public car park at Lower Upnor and follows a section of the Saxon Shore Way south to the castle and Upper Upnor. The Elizabethan artillery fort was begun in 1559 and redeveloped in 1599-1601, to protect warships moored at Chatham dockyards. There's lovely views across the river from the grounds here. You can also take a stroll along the quaint old high street into the village after exploring the castle.

Upnor OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Upnor Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Upnor

  • Rochester - This lovely riverside walk takes you from Rochester to Aylesford along the River Medway
  • Saxon Shore Way - Explore Kent's ancient coastline as you visit Iron Age hill forts, cathedrals, Martello towers, historic ports and castles on this incredible 160 mile walk
  • Medway Valley Walk - This is a lovely, easy riverside walk along the River Medway from Tonbridge to Rochester
  • Medway Megaliths - This interesting walk visits the site of a number of Early Neolithic chambered long barrows and megalithic monuments located in the lower valley of the River Medway, near Chatham.
    The circular walk starts from the car park at the Blue Bell Hill picnic site, just to the south of the village
  • Leybourne Lakes Country Park - Enjoy peaceful, waterside walking and cycling at Leybourne Lakes Country Park, near Maidstone in Kent
  • Mote Park - This 450 acre park in Maidstone has a lovely lakeside cycling and walking track running through it, using National Cycle Network number 177
  • Cliffe Pools Nature Reserve - Enjoy a circular walk around this delightful RSPB nature reserve in the North Kent Marshes
  • Riverside Country Park - Explore the Medway Estuary in 250 acres of country park in Gillingham, Kent.
  • North Downs Way - This beautiful trail starts in Farnham, Surrey and heads east through the stunning North Downs to the historic city of Canterbury in Kent
  • Blue Bell Hill - Visit the Blue Bell Hill viewpoint on this circular walk on the North Downs Way
  • Meopham - This Kent based village has a number of local woods and parks to visit
  • Camer Park - This is a short walk through Camer Country Park and into the surrounding countryside and woodland

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

To continue your walking in the area pick up the Medway Valley Walk and enjoy more riverside trails. You could also visit the ancient Medway Megaliths for some more local history.

Photos

Boats on the River Medway, Lower Upnor - geograph.org.uk - 2139733

Boats on the River Medway, Lower Upnor

Upnor Castle - geograph.org.uk - 427224

Upnor Castle. This Tudor castle, built in the 16th century, was designed by Sir Richard Lee in order to protect warships that anchored in the River Medway.

Slipway, Lower Upnor - geograph.org.uk - 2139779

Slipway, Lower Upnor

The Ship, Lower Upnor - geograph.org.uk - 2139085

The Ship, Lower Upnor

Terraced housing, Upper Upnor - geograph.org.uk - 3025403

Terraced housing, Upper Upnor

Medway riverside, Upper Upnor - geograph.org.uk - 2154065

Medway riverside, Upper Upnor

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Upnor.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)