From Source to Sea: Pilgrimage Guide
Welcome to the From Source to Sea Pilgrimage Guide. This document is divided into two key sections:
- General Information - Everything you need to know to prepare for the journey,
- Daily Itinerary - A day-by-day breakdown of the route, schedule, logistics, and accommodation.
Each day of the pilgrimage has its own dedicated page, featuring:
- 🕗 Meeting times and locations
- 🥾 Walking routes (subject to change)
- ⏱️ Estimated walking durations
- 📅 Daily schedules (subject to change)
- 🍽️ Food and accommodation options – some require booking in advance, so please make sure you read through this document thoroughly
- 📱 Daily WhatsApp groups for real-time updates, logistics, and end-of-day sharings
Whether you're walking for one day or the entire journey, we're so glad you're joining us. Please read through this guide carefully to help ensure a safe, enjoyable, and enriching experience.
If you would prefer to see our Google Doc version, click here.
From Source to Sea: Pilgrim Info
Welcome
Thank you for considering joining the Friends of the River Medway on this pilgrimage from the river’s source to the sea. Whether you’re walking for a single day or the whole journey, you are warmly welcome. Please take a few minutes to read the following information carefully – it contains essential details for your safety, comfort, and enjoyment.
Cost and Participation
- Free to join – The pilgrimage is open to all and free to register.
- Registration required – Please complete the Pilgrim Registration Form to provide your emergency contact and any relevant medical information.
- Self-funded – Pilgrims are responsible for their own food and accommodation costs unless stated otherwise in the itinerary.
- Accommodation – Some accommodation options require you to book directly; details are provided in the relevant daily entries.
Daily WhatsApp Groups
To help with coordination and communication, each day of the pilgrimage has its own WhatsApp group. Links can be found in the Daily Itinerary. These groups will be used for:
- Real-time updates and announcements
- Sharing meet-up points and changes
- End-of-day reflections and photo sharing
What to Bring
A full Packing List is available separately, but key essentials include:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Waterproofs and warm layers
- 1–2 litres of water
- Packed lunch and high-energy snacks
- Personal medication and a small first aid kit
- Journal (optional)
If staying overnight, also bring:
- Sleeping bag, mat, and tent (if camping)
- Toiletries, headlamp, and spare clothes
Clothing Guidelines
Prepare for all weather conditions and long walking days. We recommend:
- Lightweight, moisture-wicking layers
- A wide-brimmed hat or cap for sun protection
- Avoid jeans (they are heavy and slow-drying when wet)
- Bring spare socks and undergarments (especially for multi-day walkers)
Transport Arrangements
If you're joining for just part of the pilgrimage, please plan your return journey in advance. Some locations are remote, with limited or no public transport – especially after dark.
Let someone in the group know your travel plans so we can support safe onward journeys.
Food & Water
Pilgrims are generally responsible for their own meals, unless otherwise stated in the itinerary. On some days, food shops and refill points may be limited or unavailable.
Please ensure you bring:
- 1–2 litres of water each day
- A packed lunch and high-energy snacks (e.g., nuts, dried fruit, oat bars)
Shared meals may be offered occasionally – details will be listed in the itinerary.
Accommodation
Accommodation options vary from camping to indoor stays. All details, including contact information, prices, and booking requirements, are included in the Daily Itinerary. Some options require advance booking – please check carefully and make arrangements early. If you run into any issues, reach out to Zofia (details below).
Emergency Information
📱 Please save these numbers on your phone and keep a written copy in your bag.
UK Emergency Services:
📞 999 – Police / Ambulance / Fire
📞 101 – Non-emergency Police
📞 111 – Non-urgent NHS advice
Nearby Hospitals:
- Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead – RH19 3DZ
- Tunbridge Wells Hospital, Pembury – TN2 4QJ
- Maidstone Hospital – ME16 9QQ
- Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham – ME7 5NY
- St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Rochester – ME1 1DS
Contact Information
If you need support at any point during the pilgrimage, please don’t hesitate to get in touch:
Zofia Page – 07713 574 941 – zofiapage@gmail.com
Tristram Stuart – 07960 456 015 – t@tristramstuart.co.uk
Ben Christie – 07957 681 574 – bahchristie@gmail.com
Alec Slater – 07928 945050 – greenswanconsultants@gmail.com
J Julia – 07952 044 846 – jjulia@live.co.uk
🌐 Updates & resources: www.formedway.org
From Source to Sea: Pilgrim Itinerary
🗓️ Saturday 19th July: Official Beginning of the Pilgrimage
➡️ Join our Day 1 WhatsApp Group for Updates
🗺️ Day 1 Route
📍 Meeting Point: Weir Wood Reservoir Sports Club, RH18 5HT | What3Words: ///incomes.servicing.exhales
🛤️ Route: Weir Wood Reservoir, Forest Row → Tablehurst Farm, Forest Row
⏰ Meet Time: 12pm | Departure Time: 16:30
👣 Estimated Walking Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
🏕️ Accommodation (Free): Local homes or hotels. Please contact zofiapage@gmail.com if you need accommodation for that evening.
📖 Day Overview
- 12:00 - Official Opening of the Pilgrimage
- 12:00–15:00 - Activities at Weir Wood Reservoir
- Natural Crafts
- Free Paddling and Sailing Taster Sessions
- 13:00 - Talk: How Can We Care for the River? A Workshop Exploring Practical Ways to do Positive Things for Rivers with Sarah Butler, co-founder of Ripple Effect
- 14:00 - Water Wisdom Art with Niki Rudd
- 15:00 - The Power of Pilgrimage with Guy Hayward
- 15:30 - Becoming a Friend of the River Medway with Zofia Page
- 16:00 - Gentle Walk to Tablehurst Farm
- 18:00 - Food at Tablehurst Farm
- 20:00 - Folkadelix at the Village Club (Optional)
✅ Reminders & Notes:
- Wear suitable walking shoes and clothes
- Bring water and snacks
- Lunch available for purchase at Weir Wood Reservoir Cafe
🗓️ Sunday 20th July: Forest Row to Fordcombe
➡️ Join our Day 2 WhatsApp Group for Updates
🗺️ Day 2 Route
📍 Meeting Point: Football Fields (past the skate park in Forest Row) | What3Words: ///fruits.clocks.casually
🛤️ Route: Tablehurst Farm, Forest Row → Vernons Camping Field, Fordcombe
⏰ Meet Time: 8:45 | Departure Time: 9:00
🍴 Lunch: No Places on Route - Bring Sufficient Water & Food
👣 Estimated Walking Time: 7 hours
🏕️ Accommodation (£10): Vernons Camping Field, Coopers Lane, TN3 0R9
📖 Day Overview
- 9:00 - Start Walk from Forest Row to Fordcombe
- 12:00 - Short Ceremony Of Recognition at the Confluence of the River Grom | What3Words: ///enormous.newsreel.twinkled
- 16:00 - Arrive at Vernons Camping Field
- 18:00 - Communal Meal
✅ Reminders & Notes:
- Clothing: Wear suitable walking shoes and clothes
- Sleeping: Bring a sleeping bag, mat, and tent if staying the night
- Water: There will be no places to fill up water – please bring enough water for the day (3-4 minimum litres advised)
- Food: There will be no places to buy food along the way, so please make sure you have sufficient snacks and lunch before setting off.
- Donation-Based Dinner: There will be a donation-based dinner provided at Vernons Camping Field – to book, please email hello@formedway.org with the subject title ‘Dinner Day 2’.
🗓️ Monday 21st July: Fordcombe to Tonbridge
➡️ Join our Day 3 WhatsApp Group for Updates
🗺️ Day 3 Route
📍 Meeting Point: Vernons Camping Field | What3Words: ///bulletins.sanded.sketch
🛤️ Route: Vernons Camping Field, Fordcombe → Green Swan Retreat, Tonbridge
⏰ Meet Time: 8:45 | Departure Time: 9:00
🍴 Lunch: Leicester Arms Pub, Penshurst Place, or Bring Picnic
👣 Estimated Walking Time: 6 hours
🏕️ Accommodation (Free): Green Swan Retreat, 5 The Haydens, TN9 1NS
📖 Day Overview
- 9:00 - Start Walk from Fordcombe to Tonbridge
- 10:00 - Short Ceremony Of Recognition at the Confluence of the River Eden What3Words: ///taps.extend.repay
- 15:00 - Arrive at Green Swan Retreat
- 18:00 - Communal Meal
✅ Reminders & Notes:
- Clothing: Wear suitable walking shoes and clothes
- Sleeping: If you wish to book the accommodation, please email hello@formedway.org with the subject title ‘Day 3 Accommodation’
- Water: Please bring sufficient water
- Food: There will be places to buy food along the way or, if you’d prefer, you can bring a picnic
- Donation-Based Dinner: There will be a donation-based dinner provided at Green Swan Retreat – to book, please email hello@formedway.org with the subject title ‘Dinner Day 3’.
🗓️ Tuesday 22nd July: Tonbridge to Yalding
➡️ Join our Day 4 WhatsApp Group for Updates
🗺️ Day 4 Route
📍 Meeting Point: Green Swan Retreat | What3Words: ///images.year.stored
🛤️ Route: Green Swan Retreat, Tonbridge → Riverview Campsite, Yalding
⏰ Meet Time: 8:45 | Departure Time: 9:00
🍴 Lunch: Brambridges, or Bring Picnic
👣 Estimated Walking Time: 5 hours
🏕️ Accommodation (£10): Riverview Campsite, Hampstead Ln, Maidstone, ME18 6HH
📖 Day Overview
- 9:00 - Start Walk from Tonbridge to Yalding
- 10:30/11:00 - Short Ceremony Of Recognition at the Confluence of the River Bourne What3Words: ///resembles.admiringly.gloom
- 16:00 - Short Ceremony Of Recognition at the Confluence of the River Beult and River Teise What3Words: ///shipped.multiples.teach
- 16:30 - Arrive at Riverview Campsite
- 18:00 - Dinner at The Boat House, Yalding, or Bring Food to Cook
✅ Reminders & Notes:
- Clothing: Wear suitable walking shoes and clothes
- Sleeping: Please bring a tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag. To reserve your spot at the River View Campsite, email info@riverviewcamping.co.uk and mention you're part of the River Medway Pilgrimage to receive a discount.
- Food: There will be places to buy food along the way or, if you’d prefer, you can bring a picnic
- Dinner: There’s a nearby pub that serves food (The Boat House), or you’re welcome to bring your own food and cooking equipment to prepare dinner at the campsite if you prefer.
🗓️ Wednesday 23rd July: Yalding to Aylesford
➡️ Join our Day 5 WhatsApp Group for Updates
🗺️ Day 5 Route
📍 Meeting Point: Outside the Boathouse Pub in Yalding (ME18 6HG) | What3Words: ///movement.florists.salads
🛤️ Route: Riverview Campsite, Yalding → The Friars, Aylesford
⏰ Meet Time: 8:45 | Departure Time: 9:00
🍴 Lunch: Bring Picnic
👣 Estimated Walking Time: 7 hours
🏕️ Accommodation (£20-50): The Friars, Aylesford, ME20 7BX
📖 Day Overview
- 9:00 - Start Walk from Yalding to Aylesford
- 9:30/10:00 - Short Ceremony Of Recognition at the Confluence of the Wateringbury Stream at Bow Bridge What3Words: ///most.summit.punchy
- 11:30/12:00 - Short Ceremony Of Recognition at the Confluence of the River Loose at Tovil What3Words: ///pace.rings.dance
- 13:00 - Short Ceremony Of Recognition at the Confluence of the River Len at Maidstone What3Words: ///awards.shell.minus
- 18:00 - Dinner at The Friars or Picnic
✅ Reminders & Notes:
- Clothing: Wear suitable walking shoes and clothes
- Sleeping: The Friars has a designated space called ‘The Sanctuary’ for pilgrims at a discounted rate of £20/person. There are limited spaces and booking is required. To reserve your spot at The Friars, please email reception@thefriars.org.uk and mention you're part of the River Medway Pilgrimage to receive a discount. They also have normal rooms at £40-50/person.
- Food: There will be places to buy food along the way or, if you’d prefer, you can bring a picnic
- Dinner: Food is available at The Friars, but it must be booked in advance. To make a booking, please email reception@thefriars.org.uk.
🗓️ Thursday 24th July: Rights of Rivers Conference
➡️ Join our Day 6 WhatsApp Group for Updates
📍 Meeting Point: The Friars, ME20 7BX
⏰ Time: 10:30
🍴 Lunch: The Friars or Bring Picnic
🏕️ Accommodation (£20-50): The Friars, Aylesford, ME20 7BX
📖 Day Overview
- 11:00 - 12:30 - Introductory Talk and Discussion about the Rights of Rivers Approach to River Protection
- 12:30 - 13:30 - Lunch (not included - please bring your own lunch or purchase something at The Friars Cafe)
- 13:30 - 15:00 - Plenary: Initiatives in the Medway Catchment
- 15:15 - 16:30 - Curated Conversation: Reflections and Views Around a Declaration of the Rights of the River Medway. All voices welcome.
- 17:00 - 18:00 - Opportunity for Personal and/or Institutional Declaration of the Rights of the River Medway
- 18:00 - 20:00 - Informal Dinner and Drinks (not included) and Curated Conversation with Farmers and Landowners of the Medway Catchment
✅ Reminders & Notes:
- Sleeping: The Friars has a designated space called ‘The Sanctuary’ for pilgrims at a discounted rate of £20/person. There are limited spaces and booking is required. To reserve your spot at The Friars, please email reception@thefriars.org.uk and mention you're part of the River Medway Pilgrimage to receive a discount. They also have normal rooms at £40-50/person.
- Food: The Friars has a café available for lunch and snacks; or, please bring your own food for a picnic.
- Dinner: Food is available at The Friars, but it must be booked in advance. To make a booking, please email reception@thefriars.org.uk.
- Filming & Photography: This event is going to be recorded.
🗓️ Friday 25th July: Aylesford to Strood
➡️ Join our Day 7 WhatsApp Group for Updates
🗺️ Day 7 Route
📍 Meeting Point: Outside the Friars Main Entrance | What3Words: ///honestly.corkscrew.drew
🛤️ Route: The Friars, Aylesford → St Francis Church, Strood
⏰ Meet Time: 8:45 | Departure Time: 9:00
🍴 Lunch: The Medway Inn, Wouldham, or Bring Picnic
👣 Estimated Walking Time: 7 hours
🏕️ Accommodation (Free): St Francis Church, Galahad Avenue, Strood, ME2 2YS
📖 Day Overview
- 9:00 - Start Walk from Aylesford to Strood
- 17:00 Arrive at Rochester Cathedral
- 17:30 - Evening Song at Rochester Cathedral
- Pilgrim Blessing at Rochester Cathedral (TBC)
- Arrive at St Francis Church, Strood (TBC)
✅ Reminders & Notes:
- Clothing: Wear suitable walking shoes and clothes
- Sleeping: Please bring a sleeping bag and sleeping mat – we will be staying on the church floor
- Food: There will be places to buy food along the way or, if you’d prefer, you can bring a picnic
- Dinner: Rochester and Strood offer a wide variety of restaurants. St Francis Church provides basic tea-making facilities but does not have any food preparation areas.
🗓️ Saturday 26th July: River Celebration Day
➡️ Join our Day 8 WhatsApp Group for Updates.
📍 Meeting Point: Outside St Francis Church, Strood (ME2 2YS)
🛤️ Route: St Francis Church, Strood → Rochester Pier → Rochester Castle Gardens → Sun Pier House, Chatham
⏰ Meet Time: 8:45 | Departure Time: 9:00
🍴 Lunch: Bring Picnic
👣 Estimated Walking Time: 2.5 hours
🏕️ Accommodation (Free): St Francis Church, Galahad Avenue, Strood, ME2 2YS
📖 Day Overview
- 09:00 - Start Walk from St Francis Church to Rochester Pier
- 09:30 - 09:45 - Litter Pick Safety Briefing with Friends of the Rochester Churchfields and Esplanade 📍 Rochester Pier
- 09:45 - 10:45 - Litter Picking on the Foreshore📍Rochester Pier | NB: Please email hello@formedway.org to register
- 11:00 - 12:00 - How Can We Care for the River? A Workshop Exploring Practical Ways to do Positive Things for Rivers with Sarah Butler, co-founder of Ripple Effect 📍 Esplanade Gardens, near Rochester Pier
- 12:00 - 13:00 - Picnic Lunch📍 Rochester Castle Gardens
- 13:00 - 15:00 - A Gift for the River: Water Ceremony Rooted in the Ancient Wealdand Way and Andean Despacho Traditions with J Julia and Ellen Kittredge 📍 Rochester Castle Gardens
- 15:00 - 15:30 - Walk from Rochester Castle Gardens to Sun Pier House, Chatham
- 16:00 - The Medway as Our Muse Art Exhibition Opens 📍 Sun Pier House, Chatham
- 16:00 - 17:00 - Medway Tales: Listening as the River with University of Greenwich Researchers 📍 Sun Pier House, Chatham
- 17:00 - 18:00 - Medway Tales: Listening as the River with University of Greenwich Researchers 📍 Sun Pier House, Chatham 🎟️ Free Ticket
- 18:00 - 18:30 - Reflections on the Pilgrimage with FORM 📍 Sun Pier House, Chatham 🎟️ Free Ticket
- 18:30 - 20:30 - Fed by the Medway & Pilgrimage Celebration: A Donation-Based Dinner Using Food from the Medway Basin with Campesina Catering 📍 Sun Pier House, Chatham 🎟️ Free Ticket
- 20:30 to 21:30 - Walk From Sun Pier House to St Francis Church, Strood
✅ Reminders & Notes:
- Clothing: If you wish to do the litter pick, you will need to bring wellies, waterproof clothing, and (probably) a change of clothes
- Sleeping: Please bring a sleeping bag and sleeping mat – we will be staying on the church floor
- Food: Please bring food for a picnic at Rochester Castle Gardens
- Workshops: All the workshops are for free, but the Medway Tales workshop has limited spaces. Please book your space here.
- Donation-Based Dinner: There will be a donation-based dinner provided at Sun Pier House, Chatham. We can only provide 100 meals, so please register here.
🗓️ Sunday 27th July
End of Pilgrimage
Though this may be the end of the From Source to Sea journey, for us – this represents a new beginning; it is the start of a conversation – one that we hope continues to meander and flow, just like the River.
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