The Medway Towpath is a flat smooth-surfaced 6.5 mile pathway beside the River Medway between AYLESFORD and BARMING BRIDGE.
Midway along the Medway Towpath route the pathway runs through the centre of Maidstone, crossing the River Medway near the historic Archbishops Palace built in 14th-century by Archbishop of Canterbury.
In this video I am riding along a section of The Medway Towpath from EAST FARLEIGH to MAIDSTONE. Beginning by the 700 year old East Farleigh Bridge, passing East Farleigh Lock, then along the peaceful riverside pathway to the centre of Maidstone.
Within Maidstone I find a trail of decorated statues ‘Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent’ raising money and awareness for The Heart of Kent Hospice #ShaunHeartKent
In the later section of the video I deviate from The Medway Towpath to take a look at some of these statues.
00:00 River Medway Footpath, East Farleigh, Kent UK
00:24 East Farleigh Bridge
01:26 East Farleigh lock
02:42 view down River Medway towards Maidstone
03:50 The Kentish Lady, a tourist boat cruise
05:00 about The Medway Towpath
12:13 small gardens and houseboats on River Medway
12:45 pirates!
15:05 Unicumes Lane, Maidstone ME16
21:20 information post about Smooth Newts
21:48 view across river to Tovil, part of urban Maidstone
22:46 information post about Slow Worms
24:06 remains of railway bridge to Tovil Goods Siding
25:58 riverside flats
27:34 lifebuoy rescue equipment
28:20 a happy fisherman
34:13 Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre
34:53 Shaun the Sheep statue
35:25 ‘Pop Shaun’ by artist Traci Moss
36:54 ‘The Lockmeadow Gremlin’ by Gary and Thomas Thrussell
37:30 ‘Raising The Baa’ by Rachael & Phillippa Corcutt
40:06 ‘Threads’ by artist Zita Holbourne
40:42 Barker Road, Maidstone ME16
42:40 Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone
42:55 information post about Common Seal
43:56 All Saints Church, and College of All Saints, Maidstone
SUBSCRIBE â–º https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0XrtBlGi0VeLH6kE-5A5g
Questions, comments, suggestions? Drop them in the comment box below!
If you liked the video hit LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more!
Thanks for watching!
Filmed on: GoPro HERO10 Black, GoPro Swivel Mount on wheelchair.
Editing software: DaVinci Resolve 19.1
Wheelchair: Invacare Storm 4 X-plore TT Plus
Most of my videos are electric wheelchair rides, with a GoPro camera attached to wheelchair filming what is around me. Some are electric wheelchair on road, others are electric wheelchair off road. On the road I mostly use an 8mph wheelchair, off the road I use an older 4mph wheelchair. I do not currently own a 6mph wheelchair.
Life as a wheelchair user is not easy, but a lot has been done to create accessible public transport, plus wheelchair access to shops and other buildings. While my health still allows – I try to get out and do things. Staying indoors doing nothing is not my idea of fun!
River Medway Footpath
East Farleigh, Kent UK many boats moored here about to pass under 700 year old
East Farleigh Bridge this metal obstacle is
a motorbike barrier very hot today – jumping
in river to cool down looking back at
East Farleigh Bridge nobody screaming –
water must be warm on right is East Farleigh lock the lock is a way for
boats to climb a dam river water to left is much
lower than water at bridge pairs of gates can be opened
and closed to control water water level in area between
gates can be high or low lifting a boat up,
or lowering it down view down River Medway
towards Maidstone someone is now winding
handle on the lock gates there is a boat
coming up the river The Kentish Lady
a tourist boat cruise 1 hour trips, 3 hour cruises,
or Wedding Receptions looking back towards
East Farleigh lock houses beside river have
boats at end of garden this pathway is named
The Medway Towpath a 10.5km route that runs
from Aylesford to Barming The Medway Towpath
was opened in 2017 providing a well surfaced quiet
pathway beside the River Medway in this video my route is a
section of the full pathway from East Farleigh to
the centre of Maidstone loose boards on bridge! houses have huge gardens
leading down to river buildings quite far
above river level here some winters river floods
much higher than this path clearer view of gardens smart looking boat pausing to give runners
space to pass me can hear running water but
not see a stream pouring in sign warning of shallow water
with submerged objects maybe a sunken boat? beside path along this
section are small gardens the gardens belong to people
who live on the river pirates! on a hot summers day
living on a boat seems idyllic but I expect it to be more fun
as an idea than in practice speedbump another speedbump – surely
cars do not come here? puddles – something I normally avoid
but here no option to go around Unicumes Lane, Maidstone ME16 very low bridge, no big vehicles
will fit under there cycle route signpost
Maidstone 1 – East Farleigh 1 another speedbump the gardens here even have
a freshly mown lawn another speedbump anybody driving a car here
will ruin the paintwork camera doesn't show very well –
here is vegetable garden a lot of work has been done
to personalise these areas sign: cats crossing
caution! an information post about Smooth Newts top of post carries an
embossed image of newt houses across river are in Tovil,
part of urban Maidstone clearer view across river another information post about Slow Worms also with an embossed
image on top of the post this side of river is
also now houses I think the railway is still
closer than the houses approaching what appears to be
remains of railway bridge over river old map shows short railway
to Tovil Goods Siding this served several paper mills passing under utility bridge,
and footbridge across river slope leads to footbridge bridge hidden behind vegetation was not expecting
motorbikes on this path flats across river
with boat moorings lots of flats on this side,
all with a balcony looks like a pleasant
place to live large courtyard between blocks anywhere with deep water
you often find rescue equipment I have never seen a lifebuoy
used to rescue someone maybe that is good! a fisherman me: any fish? him: only little ones mate,
it's nothing special him: bit bloody warm
me: it's nice though him: yeah it's lovely
me: don't complain it will rain nice to see someone fishing who
isn't completely miserable often feels like they
need a new hobby tree roots have
damaged surface of path house has nice big garden
and a boat dock better view, looks
like a lovely location houses here much closer
to water level than earlier these flats have a
nice private garden potholes! river water so slow
there are lily pads pretty pink bush I don't know the name
but is very eyecatching Lockmeadow Entertainment Centre venue with gym, 8-screen cinema,
bowling, a pool, plus fast-food just seen one of the
Shaun the Sheep statues for 2 months 50 decorated statues
placed around in Maidstone an art trail named
Shaun the Sheep in the Heart of Kent art trail raises money for
Heart of Kent Hospice ‘Pop Shaun’
by artist Traci Moss design is of popcorn, with
popcorn bucket coloured legs popcorn detail – must
have taken hours to paint returning to
The Medway Towpath on left is a small
childrens playground approaching Lockmeadow Footbridge on left is a strange
looking sculpture ‘The Lockmeadow Gremlin’
by Gary and Thomas Thrussell another Shaun the Sheep statue ‘Raising The Baa’
by Rachael & Phillippa Corcutt design about getting active
and enjoying being outdoors been told I will find another
outside Maidstone Law Courts Maidstone Law Courts is
behind the wall ahead can see a sheep
in the distance ‘Threads’
by artist Zita Holbourne heading back to
river pathway now Barker Road, Maidstone ME16 across river Medway is
Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone built in 14th-century
by Archbishop of Canterbury another information post about Common Seal far from sea here but apparently
seals swim up the river to visit clearer view of
Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone to right of palace is
All Saints Church, Maidstone further to right is
College of All Saints, Maidstone founded in 1395
as an ecclesiastical college