Report - Fort Darnet, Medway Estuary - August 2014

[Maniac]

A long overdue report from me, it's been a while, been having some time off exploring to do other things.

However, an opportunity to go and explore this place presented itself, it was too good not to go really.

Fort Darnet is one of a pair of forts that were built in the 1800's on islands in the Medway estuary (the other being Hoo Fort). It was completed in 1871, but like a lot of these fortifications it never saw action and was disarmed before WW1.

In WW2 it continued in use as an observation platform, and after that war it was abandoned and deliberately flooded.

It was a bit of a mission to get here, we had several false starts over previous weeks trying the boat out, but eventually we made it. :-) We wanted to do both Hoo and Darnet fort, but the tide only really allowed us to complete one of them so Darnet was the one we picked as it was slightly closer.

You can only get to the lower parts of fort Darnet on a boat. Sailing a little dinghy round an abandoned fort is a very surreal experience, you feel like you're discovering a lost kingdom somewhere, it was great fun!

I visited here with LiamCH; the boat, engine and even the idea was Liams although I've wanted to go here for a long time so I jumped at the chance when he mentioned it. I also must add that if you're planning to visit here, FFS have a boat with an engine like we did and triple check the tide times. You will not out paddle the tidal flow in the estuary, it's very very fast and I'm not exaggerating.

It's not very big really, but below are a selection of photos.

Liam goes for a solo lap

Nice view of Kingsnorth powerstation from the island

Thanks for looking!

Maniac.

 

[Ojay]

Well I'm glad he listened to the people that know what they are talking about in the end, anyone navigating the sea on a less than adequate vessel is asking for trouble

That said, looks a decent paddle that, and some decent pics of the place

 

[Lolly92]

That place looks very interesting, nice job getting out there and capturing it

 

[tweek]

Always good to see even a snippet of Liam's threads on here!

 

[The Kwan]

This looks cool Maniac and a lot of fun too, but the tidal run sounds a bit tricky.

 

[professor frink]

Nice work Maniac, you didn't ride there on Liam's Russian motorcycle combo did you?

 

[Maniac]

Nice work Maniac, you didn't ride there on Liam's Russian motorcycle combo did you?

Now that would have been way cooler than the 2 man inflatable that we did use! I think he'd need a bit of a run up to clear the river thou :-/

 

[Electric_Orange]

Thanks for this.. I was pondering it a couple of years ago with a mate who has a small boat but never got round to it.

 

[zombizza]

Always wondered what they might look like. Good job

 

[the126]

Nice report and well done for getting there

Ive been looking at doing these forts by kayak but havent got round to it yet

 

[DarkDog]

Like the126, I'd considered doing this by kayak but given your assessment of the currents I'm glad I left it. Nice work Mike, will we be seeing anything from Hoo Fort?

 

[Maniac]

Like the126, I'd considered doing this by kayak but given your assessment of the currents I'm glad I left it. Nice work Mike, will we be seeing anything from Hoo Fort?

It's possible, might have to wait a few weeks thou.

The currents in the Medway estuary are very strong have no doubt about it, but if you were in a more streamlined vessel like a kayak you might stand more of a chance. Our little 2 man dinghy was struggling against the tide a bit even with a motor on the back, but it's about as hydrodynamic as a fart.

Thanks for the comments people. :-)

 

[Punk]

Good explore it looks and interesting explore

 

[georgie]

liking this