Medway river walk

The Medway River Walk takes you along one of Kent's most underrated stretches of water, threading through marshland and woodland between Aylesford and the wider valley. It's a proper riverside ramble rather than a formal nature reserve with visitors' centres or facilities - just you, the river, and whatever birds happen to be about.

What you're doing here is straightforward walking. The path follows the water's edge for several miles, with views opening up across wet meadows where you'll spot herons if you're quiet enough. The terrain is flat and mostly accessible, though it can get muddy after rain - not brilliant in winter unless you're keen on that sort of thing.

This suits walkers of moderate fitness more than serious hikers. Families with younger children might find a shorter section engaging, but it's the kind of place where enthusiasm can dip if you're under ten and there's no clear destination pushing you forward. Bird watchers and nature photographers, though, will find themselves lingering happily for hours.

The walk sits nicely as a morning outing from Gatehouse Wood Country Park, which sits about five miles away. You could easily combine it with a village walk around Aylesford itself - the medieval bridge and the Friars are just inland. Allow two to three hours if you're doing the full route at a comfortable pace, or duck out earlier if you've had enough. Go on a quieter weekday morning if you want to actually hear the wildlife rather than other people's conversations.