Visiting Upnor

The Best Hotels near Upnor | Where to stay locally

August 8, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Upnor is a beautiful (but small) village along the Medway River. Home to 4 pubs and a castle, Upnor is a wonderful place to visit. But what about hotels near Upnor? Here’s where you can stay in Upnor and the surrounding area.

The Stables – Only hotel in Upnor

Are you planning on staying in Upnor? Currently The Stables is the only short-term rental property available in Upnor. This small cottage is for rent, just outside Upnor Castle.

The Stables amenities:

Pool
Free WiFi
2 bedrooms, sleeps 4
1 bathroom (towels not provided)
Kitchen area
Outdoor patio
Smoke-free property
No housekeeping
Children are welcome

Check-in at the property is between 3:00 pm and 11:00 pm. Check-out is before 10:00 am. Once booked, guests will receive an email with check-in detail.

What’s incredible about this property is that Upnor Castle is a mere 4 minute walk from the cottage. You’ll staying among Upnor’s history. If you need to stay within Upnor, this is the place to pick.

Rating: 3.5/5 on Expedia

Hampton Leigh – A local apartment at Maritime Dockside

Looking for more than a hotel room? The Hampton Leigh at Chatham Dockside might be a great fit! This entire apartment can be rented out for a party of six.

Hampton Leigh amenities:

Internet access
On-site parking
Full kitchen
2 bedrooms (with bed sheets provided) but sleeps 6
2 bathrooms (towels provided)
Dining room
TV with cable/satellite service
Balcony
Extras: Washing machine, air conditioning and heating
No pets allowed
Smoke-free property
Important: this property is for adults only

Check-in time starts at 3:00 pm and check-out is required before 11:00 am. You will receive details and instructions from the property manager when you book this accommodation.

Directions to Upnor

While this property to rent is not within Upnor, it’s about a 6 minute drive to the village. We recommend parking either at the free car park in Upper Upnor (near the Upnor Castle) or the free car park at the very end of the village in Lower Upnor.

Rating: 4.5/5 on Expedia

Upnor pier — The view of St. Mary’s Island and Chatham Dockside from Upnor Beach

Chatham Maritime Travelodge – Hotel near Upnor

If you need a basic hotel need Upnor, Chatham Maritime Travelodge is a good pick. While it won’t be the most lavish or exciting hotel you’ll see, it certainly works in a pinch.

Chatham Maritime Travelodge amenities:

3-star hotel
90 rooms
Children are welcome
Near the historical Chatham Dockyard
Hotel offers different types of room depending on number of bed required or budget

The Chatham Maritime Travelodge is about a 5 minute drive to Upnor. It’s also near Chatham Dockside, which has numerous shops and restaurants.

Rating: 3.8/5 on Expedia

Ship & Trades – Restaurant and river-side inn near Upnor

Interested in a restaurant and inn? The Ship & Trades is a great option in a good location near Upnor.

The Ship & Trades amenities:

Free wifi in the rooms and in some public areas
Free self parking
1 restaurant and bar on-site
Daily housekeeping
Front desk (limited hours)
1 meeting room
Smoke-free property
Hairdryer, towels and linens provided
TV and phone in room
No pets
Children are welcome

Check-in is between 2:00 pm and 11:00 pm but late check-in is subject to availability. Check-out must be before 11:00 am.

The Ship & Trades is a great option for a hotel near Upnor as it’s a great location, plus you get the benefit of the restaurant and bar attached to the property. Depending on your needs, the Ship & Trades has various rooms available, such as a Double Room, Executive Double Room or even a Superior Double Room.

Like the other hotels near Upnor, it’s about a 5 minute drive to the village from the property.

Rating: 4.2/5 on Expedia

Premier Inn Rochester – Great local hotel

Slightly further away from Upnor or Chatham Dockside is Rochester. While there are a lot of hotels in the area, we would recommend the Premier Inn Rochester at the Medway Valley Leisure Park. It’s a good quality hotel for a decent price and it’s only about a 10 minute drive to Upnor.

Premier Inn Rochester amenties:

Free Wi-Fi
Air conditioning
Free parking
Children welcome
24 hour front desk
Restaurant and bar
No pets
Other resturaunts, bars, bowling alley, health club and cinema within walking distance

We believe that the Premier Inn Rochester is slightly better quality than the Travelodge at Chatham Dockside. However, the Premier Inn is further away from Upnor (although, not by too much). It’s also helpful that the Premier Inn is within walking distance of all the other restaurants, bars and activities within the Medway Valley Leisure Park.

Hotels near Upnor

Currently, the only “hotel” or short-term rental property in Upnor is The Stables. However, if you’re looking for an actual hotel experience, we recommend booking one of the hotels at Chatham Dockside or the Primer Inn Rochester. All of them are close to Upnor for decent prices and quality.

Where are Upnor post boxes?

August 7, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Need to post something but not sure where are the Upnor post boxes? You’re in the right place!

Where to find Upnor’s post box

Currently, there is one main post box that serves the village in Lower Upnor. You’ll find this post box outside The Pier pub right along the River Medway. If you are driving or walking into Lower Upnor, it will be on the righthand side across the street from the pub. You’ll also find a phone box beside it.

The collection time for this post box is 4:30 pm Monday-Friday.

The Pier in Upnor — The view of The Pier from the only Upnor post box

Upnor’s historical post box

If you’re looking for a bit of history, there is a traditional post box in Upper Upnor along the High Street. You’ll find it on the left, a few houses before you reach Upnor Castle.

This post box is no longer in service, but still a neat bit of history. It’s not a traditional pillar-style post box, but built into the brick wall. The box does have a notice on the front that it is no longer in service as to not confuse anyone.

Post boxes near Upnor

If you’ve missed the collection time for the Lower Upnor post box, there are a few others in the surrounding area, although some of them are easily missed.

Medway City Estate post box

If you need a different location, we recommend a post box on Medway City Estate. The collection time for this post box is 6:30pm Monday-Friday which can be extremely helpful if you’ve already missed the collection time for Upnor’s post box.

It’s no secret that Medway City Estate can be very busy during rush hour, so we recommend using this post box after 6:00pm to avoid the traffic.

A hidden Strood post box

Further afield, there is a post box on Roman Way (ME2 2NY). You’ll pass this post box on your way to Cineworld, Creams, Diggerland or Hollywood Bowl, all along the River Medway.

This post box is often missed but it’s extremely helpful if you need one. Once you turn onto Roman Way, you’ll see the post box on your right. There is a small alcove that you can pull your car into when posting your mail.

This post box is helpful when you’re already going to the cinema, McDonalds or any of the restaurants in the area.

Post office near Upnor

The closet post office to Upnor is in Stroud, which can handle all your typical post needs.

The Strood Post Office address is 13-17 North St, Rochester ME2 4SL.

Monday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Friday	8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday	8:30 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday	Closed

Strood Post Office Opening Times

If you’re able to pay for parking, the closest car park is the Commercial Road Car Park, just a short walk to the post office. If you need help finding it, you can add the postcode to your Sat Nav: ME2 4TG. The car park is right before the Strood McDonalds.

If you don’t want to pay for parking, the closest free car park is at the Strood Retail Park. This is just across the street from the paid lot, so not much further to walk. However, this car park can be extremely busy and oftentimes difficult to find a spot.

There is also a bus spot in front of the Strood Post Office if you need to take public transport.

Make sure to check with the post office before visiting as they could change their hours due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Should I be worried about Jellyfish in Upnor?

August 2, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

If you’ve visited Upnor’s beach along the River Medway, you might have spotted some jellyfish along the stony beach. Should these be avoided? Is Upnor Beach safe? Find out everything you need to know about the jellyfish in Upnor.

Why are there jellyfish in Upnor?

Whenever we have a hot summer, the increased water temperatures means more marine life, including jellyfish. This also means you’ll have a much greater chance of seeing a jellyfish in the area, especially when the tides come in.

These jellyfish will simply wash-up on Upnor’s beach during the summer months. It’s easy to miss them because they are translucent and often blend in with the rocks and stones on the beach.

If you find any jellyfish, it’s recommend not to touch them, even if they wash up on shore. Some dead jellyfish can still cause a nasty sting.

Where can we find jellyfish in Upnor?

Upnor’s stoney beach is a common spot for jellyfish to wash up on when it’s been a hot summer. As the River Medway gets hotter, more jellyfish can breed and grow. However, this shouldn’t discourage you from visiting Upnor’s quiet beach. It’s best to keep an eye on the stones before you set up your beach chair so you can avoid any washed-up jellies. You may also spot other sea-life, like crabs along the beach.

What kind of jellyfish are in Upnor?

We believe that the jellyfish washing up on Upnor shores are moon jellyfish. Thankfully, this type of jellyfish does not sting or cause any harm.

The moon jellyfish (or moon jelly) is the most common species in the UK and commonly wash up on the shore. This type of jelly is about the size of a dinner plate and is recognisable by four circular rings inside it’s translucent bell-shaped body.

You’ll typically see these jellies floating just below the surface of the water. Jellyfish are 95% water and have no brain, blood or heart.

What to do if you’re stung by a jellyfish

If you ever stung by a jellyfish, you can typically do some basic first-aid care to minimise the sting:

Using tweezers, carefully pluck visible tentacles out of the skin
Soak the skin in hot water (it should feel hot but not scalding). Keep the affected skin immersed or in a hot shower for 20- 45 minutes.

When dealing with a jellyfish sting, here are some unhelpful or unproven actions to avoid:

Scraping out stingers
Rinsing with seawater
Rinsing with human urine
Applying meat tenderizer
Applying alcohol, ethanol or ammonia
Rubbing with a towel

Typically jellyfish stings do not require medical care, but if you find that your sting is severe or you may be having an allergic reaction to it, speaking with your healthcare professional is a good option.

Thankfully, the type of jellyfish that wash up on Upnor’s beach are not dangerous, but it’s still important to avoid touching them if you can.

Visiting Upnor Boot Fair | Largest Boot Fair in Medway

July 18, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Looking for one of the biggest boot fairs in Medway? You’ll need to add Mark Greenfield’s Boot Fair in Upnor to your list! Here’s everything you need to know for visitors and sellers alike.

What’s available at Upnor Boot Fair?

Visitors to Upnor’s Boot Fair can expect:

Classic food vans (including burgers, bacon rolls and hotdogs) and drink vans (for both hot and cold drinks)
Fruit and veg stalls
Plants and flower stalls
Ice cream van
Fresh seafood
Donuts
Bouncy Castle
Free car parking for shoppers
Boot fair items, clothing, furniture, etc

We would also recommend checking out Upnor Castle after your trip to the boot fair. There is a free public car park just one minute drive away in Upper Upnor and the castle is well-worth a visit! You could also tie-in one of Upnor’s pubs for a great lunch out.

Getting to Upnor’s Boot Fair

You might have driven past Mark Greenfield’s Boot Fair from the main road, but it can be a bit tricky to find the entrance.

The official address for the boot fair is:

Anthonys Way
Wainscott, Strood
Medway
ME2 4UX

However you’ll need to enter the field via Upnor Road. Make sure to follow the signs into Upnor Village and you’ll soon come across the entrance to the boot fair on your left. The entrance to the boot fair is before you see the Upnor Village sign so if you’ve passed that, you’ve gone too far.

Need extra help?

This particular boot fair has multiple marshals to help answer questions or point you in the right direction.

If you have any issues and are unable to find a marshal, you can actually contact Mark directly at: 07811 022987

Want to sell? Here are details for stall holders

The dates and times can change at short notice due to weather conditions, so always make sure to check the Mark Greenfield Upnor Boot Fair Facebook page before visiting.

Gates officially open at 5 am BST, but stall holders may arrive between 5-8 am BST.

Boot Fair prices for sellers:

Cars – £10 per car
Small Vans – £10.00
Large Vans – £15.00
Trailers – £5.00
Extra Large Pitches – £20.00

4 Upnor Walks & Scenic Routes

June 18, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

Upnor is a beautiful, small village with ample walking routes within the village and beyond.

Here are some of our favourite Upnor walks, their distances and difficulty, along with walking route maps and extra details to make the most of your time out in Upnor.

1. Saxon Shore Way Walk – A small section of a big classic

At a glance

Distance: 8.3 km
Time: About 1 hour and 50 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Recommend parking at free car park in Upper Upnor (ME2 4XE)

Directions

Start your walk just outside the doors to Upnor Castle (well worth a visit) and walk the length of the High Street in Upper Upnor. Turning right at Upchat Road, follow this all the way to Upnor Road and continue through the village.

You’ll pass The Pier (the final pub in Upnor) and the once thriving Aretheusa Venture Centre (now closed). Eventually you’ll join onto Upnor Beach and walk pass the clubhouse and launch points for the Upnor Sailing Club.

Continue on the beach and eventually you’ll follow the footpath through Hoo Ness Boat Yard, then the signs for the Saxon Shore Way.

This area is full of history but could be easy to miss! Once you arrive at the last of the warehouses, you’ll find a graveyard for Thames barges. If you look to the right across the water, you’ll see the ruins of Hoo Fort.

When you find that the path begins to split, head inland and you’ll reach the southern edge of Hoo St. Werburgh. Joining up the Saxon Shore Way again, you’ll walk through open fields before a steep descent through woodland. Eventually, you’ll return to Upnor Road in Lower Upnor. You can then retrace your steps back to Upper Upnor and finally finishing at Upnor Castle.

Special thanks to Countryfile for their inspiration on this walk!

2. Upnor Loop – A short stroll

At a glance

Distance: 2.6 km
Time: About 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Recommend parking at the free car park at the end of Lower Upnor

The Upnor Loop is great when you want to get out of the house but don’t want an extensive walk. This loop is ideal for those who live in Upnor as well, as it can be started from your home and looped back in the end.

If your visiting Upnor, it’s best to park at the free car par at the bottom of Lower Upnor, near the Upnor Sailing Club.

Directions

When leaving the car park in Lower Upnor, turn right and join up on Upnor Road. You’ll pass Upnor’s post box on your left, just across the street from The Pier. Follow this all the way through Lower Upnor, past both pubs.

As the road begins to curve, there is a secret pathway on your left with stairs. Following this shaded path gets you into Upper Upnor without having to walk on the road.

When this pathway ends cross the road back onto Upnor Road. You’ll walk past the free car park in Upper Upnor on your left. Keep right while you follow Upnor Road back into the village.

You’ll pass Upnor Church on your left and then retrace your steps back through Lower Upnor to the car park at the end of the village.

upnor walks 1 — There’s beautiful scenery on Upnor walks!

3. The Kings Arms Circuit – Great views

At a glance

Distance: 4 km
Time: About 50 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate, steep ascent and descent but great views
Recommend parking at the free car park in Upper Upnor, right beside your starting point

Directions

Starting from the Kings Arms pub in Upper Upnor, walk away from the pub on Upchat Road. You’ll soon see a dirt footpath on your right that you’ll take through a wooded area.

Staying on this path will take you down some steps onto Upnor Road in Lower Upnor. Continue walking down Upnor Road until you reach a stone pillar. Turning left will take you past the Arethusa Venture Centre and when that turns to the left, take the tarmac footpath ahead which goes uphill.

You’ll then take the right hand path at the three-way fork and follow the path until you reach the road.

Next, go through the gateway on your lefthand side and into a parking area. Follow the top of the field and at the end you’ll want to turn right. You’ll find a gap in the hedge to get through and then walk past the play area.

When you get to the main road, walk for about 200 yards before turning left for 100 yards onto a smaller road.

At the end of the road, go through the wooden gate on the right and follow the path as it goes down the hill.

At the T-junction with another path, turn left and follow this path for 400 yards parallel to the road. When it reaches the road turn left for 100 yards. Walking right, up the step at the footpath sign just past Normandie House on the right, follow the path back up to Upper Upnor.

You’ll end up back at the Kings Arms and perhaps grab a pint to celebrate such a great walk!

4. Frindsbury Extra Walk – A local circular

At a glance

Distance: 6.8 km
Time: About 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Recommend parking depends on where you wish to start this loop

This walk is circular and can be started and finished at any point, depending on where you live or park. For something different, try starting this walk in Frindsbury on Cooling Road at the junction with Hilltop Road.

Walk down Cooling Road to the junction with Hollywood Lane where you’ll turn left and immediately right onto Lower Rochester Road. Continue over the by-pass flyover and take footpath No. 118 on the right. When the footpath widens follow the paved path to Higham Road.

Cross the road and continue straight ahead to another road and turn right. After you come across the pond, turn left onto the military road. After about 50 yards cross the wooden footbridge on the right and go over the stile.

Follow the left hand side of the field until you reach another stile. Go over the stile and turn right then follow the edge of the field to Four Elms Hill. Carefully cross Four Elms Hill, turn left and shortly take the footpath on the right.

Follow the footpath across the field exiting onto Upchat Road which you’ll cross and follow the footpath through woods, running parallel with the road. On reaching the road, turn left.

Go up the steps and follow path into Upper Upnor passing Upper Castle House gates. Continue straight on then turn left at The Kings Arms and the beginning of the High St. Go down the cobbled street and at the bottom admire the views of the River Medway.

Turn right and take the path along the river edge, it then bears right and follows a high fence. Eventually, cross Anthony’s Way at the crossing and follow the footpath. At the next road turn left and take the footpath next to the Tithe Barn entrance. At the end turn right and follow the fence around two sides of the quarry.

When the quarry fence bears left by a way marker go straight ahead onto Frindsbury Hill. Cross the road and take the footpath opposite, cross another road and continue straight ahead into Hilltop Road. Turn left and follow the road back to Cooling Road to complete the loop.

Special thanks to Robert Taylor for this wonderful walk suggestion!

Upnor walks near Upnor Castle

Upnor is a small village, so nearly all Upnor walks are technically also walks near Upnor Castle.

Still not sure which walk to try? The best thing is head out to Upnor and start walking!

Still looking for more in Upnor?

Have you done some Upnor walks but want more? If you’re looking for something else to do in Upnor (or near Upnor) make sure to check out our article: What to do in Upnor (as told by locals)! We’ve compiled our favourite things to do in our village, plus some activities nearby that we would recommend.

Upnor Beach | Medway’s Secret Gem

June 15, 2020 by admin Leave a Comment

The village of Upnor lies on the banks of the river Medway and at low tide you’re able to walk along the shore all the way to Hoo Marina. While we suppose Upnor Beach technically is a beach we wouldn’t like to sunbathe there or try to build a sandcastle!

The views are pretty spectacular, but the river banks at Upnor are very muddy and stony which don’t make for a very fun time if you’re looking to do much else but enjoy the scenery.

Upnor beach at sunrise — *Photograph by @rowesk*

Read on to find our top tips for visiting the beach and what to do when you’re here!

The beach is accessible from Lower Upnor and is part of the Saxon Shore Way walking path that runs much of Kent’s coastline. Due to the tide times, however, the full path towards Hoo isn’t accessible for much of the day and requires good timing should you plan on walking to Hoo and back without getting some wet socks!

Upnor beach is 1.6km long before crossing its narrowest point at Cockham Wood Fort – a point which takes roughly 40 minutes to stroll to and back from the start of the path in Lower Upnor.

The only public toilets for miles have been shuttered with the recent closure of the Arethusa Adventure Centre, which owned the land and the toilets which were primarily used by those at the club who were kayaking on the water along Upnor Beach.

If you continue along the road in Lower Upnor, you’ll eventually come across the Upnor Sailing Club. These boats launch from Upnor Beach and sail along the River Medway and beyond.

There are several interesting spots along Upnor Beach which you should keep an eye out for should you walk along our little portion of Saxon Shore Way, including a military pillbox built in 1940 which sadly has slipped from it’s standing on the shoreline to the beach (but makes for an interesting photo). It’s a FW3/22 class box, built to protect the UK from a potential enemy invasion during World War II.

Pillbox at Upnor Beach, Saxon Shore Way — *Photograph courtesy of Edenbridge Fragrances*

Is Upnor Beach dog friendly?

Absolutely! The local pubs may not be (check our updated guide to Upnor’s pubs for the latest information there) but our dogs always have a great time dashing into the water and digging in the silt. We must warn you though that the beach is always muddy, so remember to bring towels for your four legged companions!

Is it recommended for families?

It’s a short walk from the car park, so while we would recommend it for families, it really is a walking beach rather than a pleasure beach. If you’re expecting to make sand castles and get the beach chairs out, you may be sorely disappointed.

Jellyfish in Upnor

You may spot a few jellyfish washed up on Upnor’s beach, especially if we have had a hot summer. These jellyfish are usually the size of a small plate with four rings inside their translucent body and sometimes can blend into the rocks on the beach.

If you want to learn more about Upnor’s jellyfish, make sure to read our article: Should I be worried about Jellyfish in Upnor?

Nearby Attractions

Close to the beach are two pubs, The Pier and The Ship — both serve food, along with Upnor Castle a further 10 minute walk away. The Elizabethan military castle is a fascinating piece of history and highly recommended to visit if you’re in the area. You can find more out about the castle and its history here.

Parking

There is parking available at a public car park close to Medway Yacht Club, but it is only open for limited periods throughout the day and year for safety and to prevent anti-social behaviour. With the sale of the Arethusa Adventure Centre however, this may change in the future, we’ll keep this page updated with any changes.

When’s the best time to go?

That really depends on the tide, but with a little planning you can walk all the way to Hoo from Upnor with some great views of the Medway river and even the boat graveyard in Hoo.

Check the tide table below to learn more.

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