Historic Chatham - Exploring Naval Heritage

This tour is the second of a series exploring the Medway and Kent Coast

Chatham was first associated with the Royal Navy during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I until the dockyard closed in 1984. At the heart of Chatham's heritage is the must see Historic Dockyard, but you can also see naval heritage throughout the town. On this walk Rob will take you on a tour of the former dockyard complex, talking about the many heritage buildings, from defensive lines to protect the dockyard from land attack, to historic hydraulic pumping station buildings. The walk visits St Mary's Island - part of the dockyard built by convicts and now with fine views of where the Medway reaches the Thames, and where once HMS Victory moored, as well as Upnor Castle which fought a futile defensive battle against the Dutch navy in 1667

After a break for lunch the walk offers a chance to explore the museums and historic ships in the Dockyard exhibition or walk with Rob the last mile back to the station via the Riverside Gun Wharf.

The walk is five miles in total, or four if you stop at the Historic Dockyard and return to the station by bus