Holiday apartment in Isle of Grain – coastal paths, nature and history
Accommodation in Isle of Grain
On the Isle of Grain, paths run along the estuaries of the Medway and Thames, while church architecture and coastal fortifications reveal different historical periods. The character of the area includes public waterfront zones and wetlands; there is also a new section of the England Coast Path.
File:Footpath, Isle of Grain - geograph.org.uk - 8190543.jpg
Photo: Roger Jones via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Culture
The Church of St James features fabric dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. Inside, two Norman rear arches have been preserved, and the church also has a 12th-century font. The south-west tower, by contrast, dates from 1903–05 and complements the considerably older fabric with a later addition.
A prominent example of coastal defence is Grain Tower, a Grade II listed artillery tower. The tower dates from the late 1840s or early 1850s and was converted into an anti-aircraft tower during the Second World War, 1939–45. It stands around 500 yards offshore at the edge of the deep Medway navigation channel.
The Isle of Grain Coastal Defence Monument comprises five 19th-century coastal artillery fortifications and commands the entrance to the River Medway. As a learning resource, it has potential educational and recreational value.
Nature
The Medway Estuary and Marshes SPA comprises salt marshes, mudflats, shell beaches and seagrass meadows. In summer, it provides a habitat for breeding waders and terns. In winter, the protected area supports significant numbers of geese, ducks, divers and waders.
Grain Coastal Park provides a three-quarter-mile public waterfront zone along the estuaries of the Medway and Thames. It is maintained as public open space for local residents and visitors; this open space also includes a skateboard ramp.
Paths
The Isle of Grain–Woolwich section forms part of the England Coast Path. The England Coast Path is easily accessible by public transport. The Isle of Grain Walk is part of a new section of the England Coast Path. It includes shingle beaches, salt marshes, mudflats and coastal paths. Along the Isle of Grain Trail, signs inform walkers what to look out for.
The Thames and Medway Estuary Walk is a flat circular route approximately 1.8 miles (3 km) long. It starts at the beach car park and follows the seawall; from there, it offers views of the estuaries of the River Medway and the Thames. The route runs over asphalt and firm coarse surfaces, with frequent resting places along the way. Among other species, oystercatchers and redshanks can be observed on the mudflats.
The Thames and Medway Estuary Walk is step-free and suitable for mobility scooters and families with younger children. The area around the Isle of Grain Trail is important for winter birdlife.
Other places in the same area: Strood, Chatham, High Halstow, Rochester, Chattenden, Gillingham, Allhallows.
To the higher-level travel overview: Medway.
