This guide helps you choose a walk or a green space in Strood, from a short history loop through the town centre to a longer route that climbs to two hilltop green spaces. All four places are outdoors, and the cards below link to each place’s InKent page.
Broomhill Park
Broomhill Park sits on a hilltop above Strood and has five entrances: King Arthurs Drive, Saxons Close, Hillyfield Close, Gorse Road and Brompton Lane. It has a children’s play area, a picnic area, fitness equipment, walking routes, a wildflower area, woodland and sculptures, and Medway Council lists it as a Green Flag park. Some paths are steep, and the surfaces include grass, bark mulch, bitmac, wet pour and woodchip. The council lists disabled access.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: the council lists it as open 365 days a year.
- Parking: there is a car park on site.
- Suits: families, and walkers who want a hilltop route.
Rede Common, known as Sandy Banks
Rede Common Local Nature Reserve is 11 hectares of open grassland, scrub and small woodland with views across the Medway towns. It was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2018 and is cared for by the Friends of Rede Common. The entrances are on Thurston Drive, Columbine Close, Hyacinth Road and Carnation Road. The Friends say the disabled access pathway is usable from Thurston Drive onto the Watling Street pathway.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: no set hours are published, and you can walk in from any of the four entrances.
- Parking: none on site, so park on the street and walk in.
- Suits: walkers and anyone who likes open grassland.
Strood Town Centre Trail
The Strood Town Centre Trail is a 1.2 mile (2km) circular history walk around Strood Esplanade, the High Street and St Nicholas Church, past the site of the Aveling and Porter engineering works. Sticker markers guide the route and three information panels sit along the way. Trail booklets, with a map and children’s activities, can be collected from Strood Library and Community Hub at 133 High Street, and Medway Council publishes audio guides and transcripts online.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: the route is open all year. It is a loop, so you can start at any point.
- Suits: a short walk with a local history theme, and families who want the children’s activities in the booklet.
Knights and Kingfishers Walk
The Knights and Kingfishers Walk is a 4.7 mile (7.5km) circular route that starts and ends at Strood station. It follows the River Medway and Jane’s Creek, passes Temple Manor, then climbs through Rede Common and Broomhill Park. Much of it is on the Strood Community Trail, so look for the Knights Templar signposts. It is mainly on pavements, but paths through Rede Common can be muddy and there are four flights of steps. The route map can be downloaded from Medway Council and the Kent Community Rail Partnership.
English Heritage lists Temple Manor as open by appointment only and closed from November to March, so check its page if you want to go inside.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: a self-guided route that you can walk at any time.
- Suits: walkers who want a longer route and are happy with steps and some mud.
Putting a day together
The Knights and Kingfishers Walk already links Rede Common and Broomhill Park, so it covers two of the other places in this guide in one outing. If you want something shorter, the Town Centre Trail is a 1.2 mile loop that you can start from the library, where the booklets are kept. Broomhill Park has the most facilities for children, with its play area, picnic area and fitness equipment.
Getting there
Strood station is served by Southeastern and Thameslink, and it is the start and finish of the Knights and Kingfishers Walk. Check Southeastern’s journey planner for current routes, times and fares. If you drive, Medway Council lists Commercial Road and Grove Road among its Strood car parks, and its directory shows both are charged from 7am to 1am and take cash, contactless or RingGo. Check the council’s parking pages for tariffs and closures before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Knights and Kingfishers Walk start?
It starts and ends at Strood station. The route is 4.7 miles (7.5km), follows the Medway and Jane’s Creek, and climbs through Rede Common and Broomhill Park. Medway Council and the Kent Community Rail Partnership both offer the route map as a download.
Is there parking at Broomhill Park and Rede Common?
Broomhill Park has a car park on site. Rede Common has no parking on site, so park on the street and walk in from one of its four entrances.
Which Strood walk suits children?
The Town Centre Trail booklet includes children’s activities, and Broomhill Park has a play area and a picnic area. Some paths at Broomhill are steep, and Rede Common has muddy paths and steps on the Knights and Kingfishers route, so choose the surface to suit pushchairs.
Can I go inside Temple Manor?
English Heritage lists Temple Manor as open by appointment only and closed from November to March. Check its Temple Manor page before you plan a visit.