Rochester Riverside Walk

The walkway and ­cycle-path along the waterfront at Rochester was opened in 2008, heralding the start of the planned regeneration for the area. Eventually Rochester Riverside should offer up to 2000 new homes, a primary school, hotels, offices, parks and cafés as well as the new walkway, which has opened up public access to the waterfront for the first time in 100 years.

But while the building of this latest phase of the Thames Gateway is yet to get under way the walkway and cycle-path is up and running, following 1.5km of reclaimed land. The walk is graded as flat and consists of a 10m width tarmac path with a sturdy safety handrail along the river wall. There are three access points, Cory's Road/GasHouse Road, Blue Boar Lane and Doust Way.

From the walkway there are views across the river and towards Gun Wharf in Chatham. Situated by the walkway is a large blue crane, a reminder of the industrial past this area of land had.

One million tonnes of sand was dredged from the River Thames to raise and level the area to protect it from flooding and bioremediation (natural bacteria to rapidly break down chemicals) has been used to help clear the land of any contaminates. Two creeks were widened and replanted with rare species. At the moment, before any building work gets starts, the walk gives great views of both the river Medway and of Rochester Castle and Cathedral. Along the walk are information boards about the work that has taken place so far and future plans. For more information on the Rochester Riverside visit the Medway Council's website and the Medway Renaissance website.

http://news.medwayrenaissance.com/

http://www.medway.gov.uk/