Experience the soundwalk at Bedlams Bottom online here

Created by writer Jeremy Scott and sound artist, Anna Braithwaite, the sound walk includes contributions from naturalist Carol Donaldson, song writer Jack Forbes and poets Maria C. McCarthy and Alice Backhurst.

What to expect at Bedlams Bottom?

Bedlams Bottom is a quiet section of the Saxon Shore Way located to the west of Sittingbourne, approximately x miles from the Hulked Soundwalk at Lower Halstow.

This sound walk follows a self-guided circular route from Iwade to Bedlam's Bottom; weaving together stories, poems, songs and music inspired by the history of the Thames barges and the environments their hulks inhabit.

It’s not an easy place to access, as there is limited parking on narrow roads and it’s not easily passable by those with limited mobility.

What it does have though is dark history of wrecks and doomed escapees from prison ships.

The upside of this quiet and some say, uninviting landscape, is that bird life is thriving. Visitors can hope to spot shelduck, lapwings, knots, wigeon and even golden plovers.

Listen to the soundwalk

The soundwalk can be experienced in situ along the coast using the Echoes App. We provide links here as it is advisable to download the App in advance of your walk.

A complete online soundwalk experience is available here for mobile phone and desktop/laptop listeners.

Listening at Bedlams Bottom

Travel to the start of the soundwalk at Sanderling Way, Iwade ME9 8TE. (What3words ///fabricate.booster.forum).

Put on your headphones. Press START. Put the phone in your pocket. Be aware of your surroundings. As you walk, sounds will come.

As you walk, you will move in and out of soundzones. If you happen to move out of a zone while still listening to music or spoken words, simply retrace your steps to pick up the audio from where you ‘left it’.

Listening online

Click the button below to see the soundwalk map that will guide you through selecting music and stories to listen to at your own pace.

Click the Play buttons to listen via your preferred device.

LISTEN NOW

  1. Scan or click on the QR code to open the Echoesapp, download the Hulked soundwalk and play it at Bedlams Bottom.

  2. As you walk, the app will play automatically as you move through the geolocated sound zones.

  3. We recommend using headphones and downloading the app & soundwalk before you visit.

Useful to know

  • The Hulked sound walk at Bedlam’s Bottom is 3.75 miles with a total ascent of 71ft and takes approx. 1 ½ hrs walking steadily and not stopping. It is likely to take you longer if you like to take breaks.

  • The good news: 

    • The route from Iwade to Bedlam’s Bottom is step-free. 

    • There is one section of the walk that uses a tarmaced track (see map below). If in a wheelchair or using a buggy, you would need to be dropped off at the junction of Chetney Lane and Raspberry Hill Lane. what3words ///presented.hospitals.paid

    • Most of this walk is on the flat and there are no steep climbs.

    • There is one bench half way around the route near the farm.

    The bad news: 

    • This route is not suitable for wheelchairs or most buggies as there are mud and grass paths which can be rough and uneven. Only an ‘off road’ buggy could potentially cope with the whole route but may need to be collapsed to get through some of the gates and will not be safe to use on the small sections which use the road (which is narrow with some cars driving too fast).

    • In wet weather some of the paths become very rutted and potentially difficult for those with impaired mobility to navigate.

    • There are two cattle grids which you will need to walk across.

  • You can bring your dog but they will need to be on a lead for the whole walk as there are sheep roaming nearby and the landowners may shoot any dogs found amongst the livestock.

  • No, there are no public toilets on the route. The nearest wheelchair accessible toilet can be found at The Woolpack Pub in Iwade, 17 The Street, ME9 8SH.

  • The best parking can be found in a residential area right by the start of the walk in Iwade. Please park considerately on Sanderling Way, Iwade ME9 8TE.

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    We do not recommend parking in the layby on Raspberry Hill.

  • If you are planning to experience the Hulked Soundwalk as part of a day out rambling, we recommend combining it with an exploration of the Saxon Shore Way (see OS Explorer 149 map).

    You can also combine the walk with our other sound walk at Lower Halstow, linking them with a section of the Saxon Shore Way.

  • There are many buses which pass through Iwade including the 334 which goes from Swale Train Station or Sittingbourne. There is then a seven minute walk to the start of the sound walk on Sanderling Way.