Day 6: Stage 5: Wrotham - Rochester, 18.5 kms, Sunny 24°

Rochester!

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After our somewhat harrowing adventures on the highway walking towards our hotel late yesterday afternoon I figured that perhaps we should take a taxi past that area and back on the trail up above the highway. We had a taxi driver drop us off in a small community and then we used my app to figure our way back across to the North Downs Way. However, along the way we found out that we couldn’t make it to the NDW so we navigated through the forest by various trails which was kind of an adventure in itself!

Eventually we made it and came out in the oddest of placed, a ‘wilderness’ campground. By our standards it wasn’t much of a wilderness, but when you’re in southern England I guess this is what the wilderness looks like. Rob, here’s a Westy for you!



The walking today was again very nice. This is probably starting to sound like a broken record, but honestly the walking here has been good. As I said yesterday, you need GPX tracks to walk this path, and if you’re prepared to check your route location frequently the way is quite lovely.


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We encountered a nice flock of sheep and I took a video and sent it off to the grandkids to enjoy. We had the pleasure of watching it with Saoirse when we arrived at our accommodations. She thought that it was pretty cool. When you’re not quite 2 yet, farm animals seem pretty interesting. Frankly at my age I still enjoy them. The other day Saiorse tried to feed her pretzel to the cows that I videoed. This certainly will be a different kind of walk this time!

Again we found huge areas of recently planted grapevines as Britain moves towards developing a significant wine industry. Blame it on global warming I guess.

The first shadow photo of the walk together with some late season poppies.

As we were getting closer to Rochester we passed a family coming down the trail, two parents with six children. They asked where we were walking to and I said to Dover and beyond. Annemarie told them that I’m walking on to Rome and as usual we got these incredulous looks. The poor dad, I don’t think he ever fully comprehended what Annemarie was telling him. I personally think that he has enough on his plate as it is.😏 We get this a lot. Generally I’ve almost given up telling people the destination. I find if I stick with Dover there’s a better chance of comprehension and acceptance.

We passed over the M2 a major motorway running north south. We then had to walk beside the motorway across the long bridge (refer in the distance) and then diverted into Rochester.

As I said earlier, in 2020 I planned a route down to Dover and along that route was Rochester. 

Probably the main reason for coming to Rochester is to see the Rochester cathedral which is the second oldest cathedral in England. Canterbury being the oldest.

Rochester cathedral was built in 604 and three saints are buried there. The cathedral has attracted many pilgrims during the Middle Ages and through the years, and these stone steps show the wear and tear from their many feet. I guess at that time they could’ve been on pilgrimage to Canterbury, to Rome, to Santiago de Compostela and to many other locations.

Considering the church has no flying buttresses and has massively thick walls, it’s impressive that so many windows are evident permitting a considerable amount of light in. It’s an impressive structure!

Stained glass light casting its glow on the stone work. 

Charles Dickens wanted to be buried in this cathedral, but because he was a national icon he was buried in Westminster in London.

We were able to get a really nice stamp in our credentials which have been largely difficult to come by. 

The other main reason to come to Rochester is the Norman Castle situated on the edge of the tidal river. The castle was originally started in 1087 and is apparently the tallest Norman Keep in all of England. It was partially constructed from a lot of the stone work found in the Roman settlement. 

Another addition to my weather vane collection!

The bridge across the river is the third version with the first constructed by the Romans.

High Street. A bit touristy, but a nice place to wander. Must have looked pretty interesting in the past.

Overall a shorter day that gave us more time to explore the town of Rochester. This was a place I’d been looking forward to visiting. Annemarie seems to be regaining her usual walking legs and we have a short stage again tomorrow which will help to give us a boost for a longer stage the day after. All is well, and I think we’re finally about through the jet lag. That said, Annemarie has fallen asleep before dinner! Something she never does. Time to head downstairs for dinner in the nice pub we are staying above. Fortunately our rooms are 2 stories above the pub which will stay open until midnight.