PEER PADDLE - Hampstead (Yalding) Lock to Maidstone

Sunday 29^th October 2023

The clocks go back on Sunday 29^th October so, if you go by your body clock rather than the one on your wall, you can gain an hour’s paddling on this Sunday! To make the most of this I’m planning a slightly longer trip, paddling from Yalding Lock back down to the Club.

This should be a leisurely, but long, trip. The distance between Yalding & the Club is approximately 8 miles. For comparison, a round trip from the Club to East Farleigh Lock and back is about 6 miles, and to Allington Lock and back is around 3 miles. However, paddling from Yalding to the Club is all ‘downhill’ and we might have the benefit of some flow as well, hopefully.

Meet at the Club at 8:00/8:15am GMT (which should still feel like 9am BST), leaving the Club promptly at 8:30am to drive to Yalding. Alternatively, meet at Yalding – by the lock (not weir pool) – by 8:45am. Boats can be unloaded at the roadside immediately adjacent to Yalding lock, but cars should then be moved along the road a bit, for parking.

We should reach the Club by about 12:30/1:00pm. There’ll need to be a car shuffle back to Yalding after the paddle.

As this is a longish paddle please dress appropriately and bring a snack & hot drink.

At Teston lock, there is usually a choice of using the canoe pass (helmet recommended) or portaging. The lock at East Farleigh will require a portage.

There is rain forecast for several days in the next week, so the river levels/flow may be increased; look out for updates on WhatsApp or Facebook groups nearer the time.

Caution: Teston weirs can be dangerous; do not attempt to shoot the sloping weir or the pour-over weir.

This is a Peer Paddle not a led-trip; participants need to make their own assessment on the risks/hazards and their ability to complete it.