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 the other day, 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 to visit here, but eventually we made it.
We wanted to do both Hoo and Darnet fort, but the tide only 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 the fort 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 must mention that the boat, engine and even the idea was Liams, although I've wanted to go here for a long time. Effectively I just tagged along and helped a bit with the navigation. I also must add that if you're planning to visit, FFS have a boat with an engine like we did. 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.
However, an opportunity to go and explore this place presented itself the other day, 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 to visit here, but eventually we made it.
We wanted to do both Hoo and Darnet fort, but the tide only 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 the fort 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 must mention that the boat, engine and even the idea was Liams, although I've wanted to go here for a long time. Effectively I just tagged along and helped a bit with the navigation. I also must add that if you're planning to visit, FFS have a boat with an engine like we did. 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.
