Yalding Down & Up Return Trip – Distance 10km
The Route
Get in at the canoe launch and head off right along the canal. You will come to the road bridge and just under the bridge is the entrance to Hampstead Lock. There is a canoe platform on the right but you can get out either side and the portage to get back in is on the left.
You can get back in using either the slipway or the canoe platform but do keep an eye out for boats entering or exiting the lock. Hampstead Slipway is an alternative start point for the trip but there is limited parking on the road here.
Once you are back on the water paddle to the left along the navigation and you will shortly rejoin the River Medway. Turn left into the River Medway and you are now heading down river towards Wateringbury and Teston. The only things to look out for on this stretch are fisherman and motorboats.
Wateringbury is 2.5km from Hampstead Lock and you’ll know when you reach Wateringbury as it’s the first road bridge you come to.
Continue down river for another 2km and you’ll come to Teston Lock with Teston Country Park on the left. As you approach the Lock area the canoe platforms are situated on the left hand side. There are toilets at the Country Park and depending on the time of year there are also refreshments and ice creams!
Teston is the site of the latest canoe pass to be built on the River Medway, it is also the only one on this trip. Access to the canoe pass is on the river left under the footbridge. This is a nice wide and gentle pass with 2 separate slopes and a short shallow section between them. Use the pass if you want to continue down river or just for the fun of it! We recommend you wear helmets on all canoe passes.
Most people will stop at Teston and return to Yalding. If you have gone down the canoe pass you can turn right at the exit of the pass where you will see the canoe platform and steps to carry boats back up to the river above.
If you continue downriver from Teston the next Lock you will come to is East Farleigh but this is a further 3.25km so be prepared for a long journey back to Yalding! As an alternative to paddling beyond Teston, why not paddle back to Yalding and explore the River Beult?
Exploring the River Beult
When you paddle down river from Yalding you also have the option of exploring a short 1.75km section the River Beult which is a tributary of the River Medway.
The entrance to the River Beult is upriver from where the navigation joined the River Medway so if you are on your way back from Teston paddle past the navigation where you came in from and continue up river.
As you paddle up river you will pass boat moorings and static caravans on the right. Just past these on the left is the entrance to the River Beult.
You’ll paddle under the Medieval bridge in Yalding Village and after this the river can get shallow and tighter in places (particularly in summer) but you should be able to make it up to the next road bridge which is as far as you’ll want to venture before turning round. There is a small weir beyond the road bridge and we recommend you keep away from this.
When you get back down to the River Medway you turn right and paddle down until you come to the Navigation on your left. Paddle back along the navigation until you get back to the canoe platform at Hampstead Lock. Exit at the platform or the slipway and carry your boats up to the canal and paddle back along to the Yalding Canoe Launch.