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This section describes the passage from North Foreland to the Isle of Sheppey, and includes coverage of the Rivers Swale and Medway.

North Foreland (51°23'N., 1°27'E.), the SE entrance point of the Thames Estuary, is located at the NE end of the Isle of Thanet. It is formed of nearly perpendicular chalk cliffs, 18 to 37m high. A light is shown from a conspicuous white tower, 26m high, standing on the rising ground close within the edge of the cliff. A prominent radio mast is situated close NNE of the light.

The coast in this vicinity consists of cliffs fringed by rocky ledges, which extend up to about 0.2 mile offshore. A very conspicuous building stands 1.5 miles WNW of the light and, from N, is the highest landmark in this area. A conspicuous castle-type building, with a tower, stands on White Ness, 0.7 mile NNW of the light.

Elbow (51°22'N., 1°31'E.), a sandy ridge, forms the NE extremity of the shoal bank extending from North Foreland.
It is marked by a lighted buoy which is moored about 3 miles ENE of North Foreland Light.

Caution...Outfall pipelines extend up to 2 miles seaward from the coast in the vicinity of North Foreland and may best be seen on the chart. Numerous submarine cables, some disused, extend seaward from the shore in the vicinity of North Foreland and may best be seen on the chart.

Margate (51°23'N., 1°23'E.), a resort town, stands 2.5 miles NW of North Foreland. There is a small harbour, which dries, formed by a curved pier. It is mostly used by yachts and pleasure craft. Vessels with drafts up to 3.5m can lie alongside at HWS.  A light is shown from a prominent tower, 20m high, standing on the head of the pier. A large and conspicuous building, 62m high, stands near the shore, 0.3 mile SSW of the head of the pier. The ruins of a former pier lie about 0.3 mile N of the root of the harbour pier.

See online coverage:

Margate Harbour

Reculver (51°23'N., 1°12'E.), a village, is situated 7 miles W of Margate. The coast between is composed of cliffs in its E part, but is low and flat in the W part. The Minnies, a ledge of drying rocks, lie 0.2 mile offshore at the junction of the cliffs with the low coastline; this junction, located 3.7 miles W of Margate, is commonly called Cliff End.

Two very conspicuous towers, known as The Reculvers, stand at the site of a ruined church near the shore at Reculver. A church, with a very prominent spire, is situated at Birchington, 3 miles WSW of Margate.

Herne Bay, a resort town, extends for nearly 1 mile along the shore, 3 miles W of Reculver. The coast between is composed of cliffs, 30m high, fronted by drying sand banks and rocks.  The ruins of a promenade pier project 0.6 mile NNW from the W end of the town, and a light is shown from the former pier head. A prominent clock tower stands on the shore near the centre of the town, and a conspicuous water tower stands 0.5 mile SE of it. A prominent windmill stands on high land, 1.1 miles SSE of the clock tower. Sand banks, rocks, and shoals fringe this stretch of coast. In the E part, they form the S sides of South Channel and Gore Channel. In the W part, they extend up to 2 miles offshore.

This little "harbour" is only suitable for vert small craft, read details..

Herne Bay

Caution...Several outfall pipelines extend seaward from the shore along this stretch of the coast. Oyster beds occupy a considerable area off this part of the coast and vessels grounding are liable for damages.

Whitstable (51°22'N., 1°02'E.) , a small port, is the centre of a declining oyster fishery. It stands 3.5 miles W of Herne Bay, on the E side of the entrance to The Swale.

Tides...Currents...Tides in the approaches rise about 4.2m at springs and 3.3m at neaps.

Depth...Limitations....The harbour is tidal and dries at LW. There is 482m of total commercial quayage, with depths alongside of 4.7m at HWS and 3.7m at HWN. In addition, there is 158m of berthage for fishing vessels. Vessels up to
3,270 dwt and 99m in length can be accommodated, with drafts up to 4.5m at HWS and up to 3.6m at HWN.

Aspect...Whitstable Street Lighted Buoy is moored 2 miles N of the harbour. Whitstable Street is an ancient causeway, part of a submerged town, which is now a hard drying ridge. It extends 1 mile N from the shore, close E of the town. Vessels should approach the port on a SSE course, and then shape a course for the sector light, which leads into the harbour. A church, with a square tower surmounted by a flagstaff, stands 0.7 mile SE of the harbour entrance and is prominent. A mill and a silo, both conspicuous, stand 1 mile S and at the N side, respectively, of the harbour.

Not yacht friendly, could be handy in an emergency though..

Whitstable Harbour

Inshore Passage for Small Craft

Inshore Passage....South Channel (51°24'N., 1°21'E.), which includes Margate Road, is of little use except for vessels of light draft. It lies between Margate Sand, on the N side, and the shoals fringing the mainland coast, on the S side.
There are depths of over 6m as far W as Cliff End Banks, where there is a tendency for a bar to form. Shoaling has also been reported within this channel. Cliff End Banks, with a least depth 4.2m, consists of patches which extend across the channel, 3.5 miles W of Margate.

Vessels can anchor, in a depth of 12m, sand and mud, in the narrow part of South Channel; the best berth, partially protected from N, is 2.3 miles WNW of Margate. Gore Channel (51°24'N., 1°15'E.), a continuation of South Channel, lies between Margate Hook, on its N side, and the shoals fringing the coast, on its S side. Margate Hook, which dries, is marked by a beacon and a pocket, with depths of up to 14m, lies close off its S side. At the W end of Gore Channel, there are depths of 2.7 to 4.3m and isolated shoal patches, with depths of 1.5 and 1.8m.

Horse Channel (51°25'N., 1°10'E.), which is marked, leads WNW from Gore Channel and has a least depth of 2.2m.
Copperas Channel, on the S side of Horse Channel, has a least depth of 1.8m and is unmarked. Small vessels can anchor, in a depth of 7m, in Gore Channel, about 0.4 mile off the S side of Margate Hook.

Conspicious to the N will be the Kentish Flats Wind Farm, and also Red Sand Towers (see gallery).

Four Fathoms Channel (51°26'N., 0°58'E.) is the name given to the passage which leads across Kentish Flats to The Cant. It is now charted (1990) as lying between Spaniard and Middle Sand, and a position S of Spile (51°27'N., 0°57'E.).
There is a least charted depth of 2.1m in this channel and the name, Four Fathoms, is no longer applicable, as there is now only a depth of 7.3m at HWS.

Middle Sand, lying 5 miles NNW of Whitstable, dries 0.6m and is marked by a beacon. S pile, which dries, lies about 2 miles farther W. East Spaniard, lying 4.5 miles N of Whitstable, dries, and Spaniard, about 1.7 miles W of East Spaniard, has a depth of 1.8m.

Overland Passage (51°25'N., 1°03'E.) extends from the W end of Horse Channel in a WNW direction across Kentish Flats to Four Fathoms Channel and through The Cant. The passage, which has a least depth of 2.4m, leads between East Spaniard, Spaniard, and Spile, on its N side, and the shoals extending from the Isle of Sheppey, on its S side.

Caution...Numerous wrecks and obstructions lying in the vicinity of Overland Passage may best be seen on the chart.

Isle of Sheppey (51°24'N., 0°53'E.), located at the SW end of the Thames Estuary, is separated from the N coast of Kent by The Swale. The SE and NW parts of the island are low. Its S side is also low, with the exception of the elevations around the villages of Harty and Elmley. The N part of the island is the highest and rises to height of over 70m midway along its coast.

Shell Ness (51°22'N., 0°57'E.), the SE extremity of the island, is located 3 miles W of Whitstable and forms the NW entrance point of The Swale. Leysdown, a village and resort camp, stands 1.8 miles NW of this point and is prominent. A conspicuous church stands 0.5 mile W of the village.

Warden Point (51°25'N., 0°54'E.), formed by a steep clay cliff, is located 3 miles NW of Shell Ness and is 46m high. The coast between is low and fringed by an extensive mud and sand bank, which dries up to 2.4m. Minster, a small town, stands 3.5 miles W of Warden Point. The coast between consists of clay cliffs, 6 to 48m high. An abbey, surmounted by a spire, stands in the town and is the most conspicuous object on the island, being visible from all directions. Numerous wrecks and obstructions extend up to 1 mile from the shore in the vicinity of Minster and are marked seaward by a buoy.

The Cant, an extensive shoal area, lies off the Isle of Sheppey, between Warden Point and Garrison Point. The N edge of this shoal area, which is be seen on the chart, is steep-to.

The Swale (51°22'N., 0°57'E.), a narrow and tortuous channel, separates the Isle of Sheppey from the coast of Kent and is about 12 miles long. Its entrances are known as East Swale and West Swale. 

East Swale

East Swale (51°22'N., 0°57'E.) is approached between Columbine Spit and Pollard Spit. The former, lying on the N side of the entrance, dries and extends about 2 miles NE from Shell Ness. Pollard Spit, which also dries, extends about 2 miles N from the coast of Kent and forms the W side of the approach to Whitstable.

The entrance channel is marked by lighted buoys, beacons, and buoys which are moved as necessary. Vessels should stay in the fairway channel as it is bounded, on each side, by oyster beds. Local knowledge is advisable and vessels should not attempt this passage at night. There are several facilities for yachts and pleasure craft within the East Swale.

Entrance to the East Swale is described further in the coverage of Faversham below.

Faversham...inc E.Swale, Harty Ferry, Oare Creek and Hollowshore

It is possible for a shallow draft yacht or motorboat to transit The Swale from E to W. This is best done on a rising tide, as the channel is little more than a gutway, although when the banks are covered there appears to be a large expanse of water. The way is buoyed, large scale charts will be needed.

Conyer Creek is tricky to enter and totally dries out, but is home to many small craft:

Conyer Creek

The tide flows into (and out of) the Swale from both ends, and perhaps the counsel of perfection is to position yourself mid Swale at HW, thus catching the rising tide in, and ride the outgoing tide too. 

Ships of any kind are unlikely to be encountered in the E Swale, until approaching the bridges.

Caution...The direction of buoyage changes at the Isle of Elmley. Kingsferry lifting bridge will need to be opened for masted vessels....see W.Swale coverage.

Garrison Point (51°27'N., 0°45'E.), the NW extremity of the Isle of Sheppey, is located 3 miles WNW of Minster.

The Nore (51°29'N., 0°51'E.) is a name frequently used to refer to the area lying N of the Isle of Sheppey, where The Warp leads into the approach channels for the River Medway and Sea Reach.

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The River Medway

The River Medway (51°26'N., 0°44'E.), which rises in the county of Sussex, flows NE across the county of Kent and passes Maidstone, Rochester, and Chatham. It is about 60 miles long and joins the River Thames between the Isle of Sheppey, on the E side, and the Isle of Grain, on the W side. Below Chatham, the river widens into an estuary which is intersected on either side by numerous creeks, their banks being formed by low and marshy islands surrounded by mud flats. The distance, following the winds of the river, from Garrison Point (51°27'N., 0°45'E.) to Rochester Bridge (51°23'N., 0°30'E.), the limit of navigation except for small craft, is 11.8 miles and there are 12 bends or reaches between these positions.

Depths...Limitations...The approach channel to the River Medway, which lies between Sheerness Middle Sand and the edge of The Cant, has a least charted depth of 11m in the dredged fairway. The river has depths of 12.8 to 21m as far as Oakham Ness.

Aspect...Medway Lighted Buoy, moored 5.5 miles ENE of Garrisin Point, marks the seaward entrance of the buoyed approach channel.

Garrison Point (51°27'N., 0°45'E.), the E entrance point of the river, is rounded and formed of shingle. A conspicuous fort, a radio mast, and a signal station stand on the point. The W side of the entrance to the river is bordered by the E side of the Isle of Grain.

Grain Tower, a conspicuous martello tower, stands off the E side of the Isle of Grain, 0.5 mile NW of Garrison Point. Grain Power Station, with a conspicuous chimney 244m high, stands 1.2 miles W of Garrison Point, on the SE part of the isle. The fairway channel through the reaches is marked by lighted buoys and beacons and, in places, indicated by lighted ranges, which may best be seen on the chart.

Caution...A prohibited area has been established around the stranded wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery, which sunk in 1944 and is filled with a cargo of dangerous explosives. The wreck, which shows masts and superstructure at HW and is marked by lighted buoys, lies 2 miles NE of Garrison Point and close N of the main channel.

Several submarine cables cross the entrance channel and reaches of the river and may best be seen on the chart.

Full coverage of the Medway (including approach) from Sheerness to Allington Lock is provided here:

Medway 1, Entrance, Creeks and Anchorages up to Gillingham Reach

Medway 2, Gillingham Reach to Rochester Bridge, inc the Marinas

Medway 3, Rochester Bridge to Allington Lock

West Swale

West Swale (51°25'N., 0°44'E.) is the W entrance of The Swale, the narrow and tortuous channel which separates the Idle of Sheppey from the coast of Kent. The entrance channel, located 1.5 miles SSW of Garrison Point, leads across Lapwell Bank and between The Lappel, on its E side, and Queenborough Spit, on its W side. The channel continues in a S direction for about 0.5 mile and then curves NW for 0.5 mile before turning S again around Long Point. This NW stretch is known as Loden Hope. From Long Point, the channel continues in a SSE direction for 2 miles through Long Reach and Horse Reach to Kingsferry Bridge.

Sector lights and lighted buoys mark the channel; however, the best time for navigating is when the mud flats are visible.

Tides...Currents...The tidal currents in The Swale are subject to considerable variation. The incoming and outgoing currents at both entrances are strongest soon after they begin, but decrease as the banks cover. The greatest spring velocities, about 3.5 knots, are attained near Kingsferry Bridge.

Depths...Limitations....There is a least depth of 3.2m in the approach channel which leads across Lapwell Bank. A depth of 5.5m can be carried as far as West Point, located about 0.9 mile S of the entrance. There are depths of 3.3 to 5.5m near the centre of the fairway up to Long Point, 0.4 mile W of West Point. The least depth in the fairway from Long Point, through Long Reach and Horse Reach, to Kingsferry Bridge is reported to be 3.2m. Between Kingsferry Bridge and Grovehust Coal Jetty, about 0.3 mile NNW of Milton Creek, the least charted depth in the fairway is reported to be 2.2m.

Caution...The River Swale is an important ornithological area and many parts, where landing is prohibited, are designated as Special Scientific Sites of Interest. Small craft note, commercial shipping may be encountered in the W.Swale as far as Ridham Dock.

Queenborough (51°25'N., 0°45'E.) stands on the W side of the Isle of Sheppey at the E side of West Swale. The harbour, which dries, is entered through The Creek, a buoyed narrow channel. Small commercial vessels can be handled. In addition, there are numerous yacht moorings on both sides of the harbour.

The entrance to  W.Swale, and Queenborough Facilities are described here:

Queenborough (West Swale)

The Kingsferry Bridge (51°23'N., 0°45'E.) spans The Swale nearly 1.8 miles SSE of Long Point. The bridge has a rising centre span with a vertical clearance of 28m when fully open. The maximum beam allowed through is 16.8m.

The A249 High Level Bridge, a new road bridge, spans The Swale close NW of the Kingsferry Bridge and has a vertical clearance of 29m, with a width of 75.5m between the main piers. Vessels can communicate with the Kingsferry Bridge Control by VHF Ch 10, telephone 01795 423627.  Passage under the bridge should be arranged as early as possible. Sometimes it is impossible for the bridge to be raised.

A directional light, which may best be seen on the chart, indicates the fairway in the vicinity of the bridges.

Signals...Control lights are exhibited from the two buttresses of the Kingsferry Bridge for both upstream and downstream traffic, as follows:
1. No lights shown indicates that the bridge is down.
2. Red and green quick flashing lights (vertically disposed) indicate that the centre span is lifting.
3. A green fixed light indicates that the bridge is open.
4. A red quick flashing light indicates that the bridge is unable to lift and vessels should keep clear.
5. The inner faces of the four buttresses are marked by red fixed lights to indicate span width.

The centre of the navigable passage below the A249 Bridge is indicated by a pair of flashing white lights.

Caution...A submarine cable and a submarine pipeline cross the channel close SE of the bridge. Another submarine cable crosses the channel 0.8 mile NW of the bridge. 

Adjacent area coverage is available here:

Thames and Estuary

Channel East, (North Foreland to The Solent)

List of charts and publications covering the North Kent area:

SC5606 RAMSGATE TO TOWER BRIDGE From £39.99 SC5606

SC5907 THAMES ESTUARY From £42.99 SC5907

Warning, much of the text on this page has been adapted from material intended mainly for big ship mariners (NGA Sailing Directions). It's suitability for small craft must be left in the hands of the individual skipper. As with everything else on this site, the information is not to be used for navigation purposes, but may be useful in the passage planning stages.

The coverage of individual harbours, including approach and entry, is specifically written for yachts and motorboats.