Beer vs Walking: Day 16: Wateringbury and Nettlestead

Another cold wintery Sunday afternoon with nothing to do, so I've decided to head down to the river Medway in Kent, and park up near the station in Wateringbury, about 5 miles south west of Maidstone.

I've been to the village before but this was the first time I walked along the river. Although it was a clear day when I left Essex an hour before, it became very misty and hazy.

I walked upstream towards Nettlestead, through a caravan park with several small yachts parked up. This led quickly into a wood which carried on tracing the river's route, and then a large field, which didn't look too slippery underfoot, but I started to slide a bit in the mud, so I decided to take another direction.

I unwittingly found a footpath which led over the railway tracks and to the back entrance of a church which appeared after walking up another steep wooded hill.

Amazingly I found my second St Mary the Virgin church in two days. This one looked a lot older - the square tower dates from the 13th century.

Walked through the churchyard and then walked down Maidstone Road towards Nettlestead Green, but decided the pavement was a bit too narrow and most cars were doing well over the 40mph speed limit, so I turned around again and walked back into Wateringbury, back up to the A26.

Love the village stocks, which date all the way back to 2013! Kent justice, perhaps?

Back down to the river one last time and then into the Railway Hotel where I had quite an excellent Sunday lunch, even though I was the only person in there. AND a cup of tea. This is Day 14 without beer.