The River Medway

Imray LaurieNorie & Wilson Ltd, 1997; 40pp with b&w;photos and charts; £4.95;

Although there are many pilot books written on the tidal Medway, this pilot and general guide takes a voyageup this interesting river all the way to the limit of navigation. The text is full of local information about clubs, boating facilities, items of local history as well as the navigation.

The well- annotated chart pages are taken from the Admiralty charts for the tidal river below Allington Lock and O.S. maps for the remainder of the river to Tonbridge. Their detail is sufficient to male the passage without further publications, making this booklet excellent value.

In using the guide a small disadvantage is that all the chart pages are together at the centre of the publication, isolated from the text. However, many useful photographs are included which shows the attraction of the river. For people cruising on a budget there is little on the charts regarding shops close to the river. One or two changes have inevitably occurred since publication. These will be passed onto the author and may be incorporated into a later edition.

All in all this is a useful guide for anyone visiting the river for the first time, whether in a canal boat or motor cruiser, and is to be rcommended. DAH