Experience the Hulked sound walk 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 10 miles from the Hulked Sound Walk at Lower Halstow.
This Hulked 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 sound walk
The sound walk 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 sound walk experience is available here for mobile phone and desktop/laptop listeners.
Listening at Bedlams Bottom
Travel to the start of the sound walk 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 sound zones. 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 sound walk 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.
Useful to know
We recommend downloading the Echoes app in advance of your visit as network coverage can be unreliable.
The soundwalk is designed around established pathways including parts of the Saxon Shore Way.
The soundwalk is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The ground is uneven and can be muddy or waterlogged in places.
The soundwalk site is suitable for dogs on a lead but is a nature reserve and there are sheep in the fields. It may be better to leave your dog at home to prevent startling the wildlife.
The abandoned hulks are most visible during low tides. These can be found by looking up tide times for Sheerness at www.tidetimes.org.uk.
Headphones are advised for listening to the Hulked soundwalk.
Hulked at Bedlams Bottom takes circa 1.5 hours to complete in full and may be undertaken in smaller sections.
Hulked at Bedlams Bottom is supported by