Independent Walk 3 All Saints Church to Rochester Esplanade and Castle

Independent Walk 3 All Saints Church to Rochester Esplanade and Castle (3.25 miles approx.) This route is published for independent walking in and around the parish of Frindbury with Upnor and Chattenden. The walk may be done in either direction (bearing in mind things often look different when done backwards). This delightful walk starts and ends outside All Saints parish hall on Church Green ME2 4HJ, but can be started at any safe point on the route. The walk is within the urban area, but offers superb views of the Medway River and the changing landscape of Strood Riverside. Rochester Bridge is quieter during the Coronavirus crisis but do still take care here. Health and Safety Advice Walking is very good for physical and mental well-being, but during the Coronavirus outbreak please ensure you follow this guidance: • We are allowed to walk locally once a day • Wash your hands thoroughly before and after the walk • You can walk with the other people in your household • Otherwise, walk on your own • Maintain a minimum distance of two metres (6 feet) between you and others at all times • Always cross the road where you can see, and be seen by, oncoming traffic, and only when it is safe to cross. This written route description is accompanied by a map of the route. The arrows on the map follow the directions below. The Route • The walk starts at the All Saints Church Frindsbury parish hall on Church Green, ME2 4HE. • Continue along Church Green to enter the churchyard of All Saints at the end of the road. • Take the footpath to the right of the church and walk along to the T-junction at the end of the path • Turn right to make the steep descent of Donkey Hill • At the bottom cross over Commissioners Road and join the road/footpath along Strood Riverside, which becomes Canal Road • Walk the full length of the road to end at Rochester Bridge. • Use the light controlled (Pelicon) crossing to cross to the other side of the road and then walk over the bridge towards Rochester • Once over the bridge turn immediately right to walk along the Esplanade and through the Esplanade Gardens. • Walk as far as possible along the riverside to find a narrow entrance to a footpath at the end of the gardens, which turns sharp left to walk alongside housing. • At the end of this row of housing the footpath re-joins Esplanade Road. • Turn left and walk a few yards to a small roundabout, cross the road and enter Churchfields open space. • There is a choice of a steep flight of steps, or a pair of long but gentler ramps to ascend the slope. The climb is rewarded by stunning views. Rest here to take it all in. • At the top turn left to walk the length of the green space; at the end of the top path there is a footpath entrance to Love Lane • Follow Love Lane along its length turning sharp right towards the end to join St. Margaret’s Street • Turn left, and then left again along Boley Hill for a short way • Enter the Castle Gardens through the Gate and walk through the open space to exit down the steps on the far left, re-joining the Esplanade • (If the Gardens are closed, walk with care down the steep and narrow Baker’s Walk to re- join the Esplanade) • Retrace your steps back to and over Rochester Bridge, crossing the road at the far side to re- enter Canal Road • To avoid climbing back up Donkey Hill, a gentler option is: turn left at Strood station approach, pass the station building and take the subway just beyond, to pass under the railway and emerge on to Station Road. Cross the road at the lights, turn left and then quickly right into Grove Road. • Take the third right (Bowes Road) and walk to the end to re-join Station Road. Turn left. • Cross the road with care (if necessary at the traffic lights) and turn right into Banks Road. • When Banks Road meets Church Green recreation ground cross the green space diagonally to return to the parish hall. J a,t N ..D .4 -/ \,, v a- (--i rDZ ** v 1l *i frn.G .{. t:r P "1a) H + -: {. (A *-+rt &;, ';rl"L- t.J t ' ;'.j I 0) o j E od I ., i: ) a: .J E ,} o o t t- ,,) j .E c . C )i. -ei 6 + a \rt cd; .o 0 o n.= a o- ; (g *ra-::..' '". # C') r. j;. \, C .l I m t- sl l* tf"] e r r r3 lr'p\-2- 4 : . ,+.,i-r".}[.J * :'\ '.v irr L a ,",E c- (E !qr E ,.' o)E E f,':-'S'iE.*. c E qo C,) # c= () t N (\ = a c\t =o- s E.

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