177 Walderslade – Wayfield – Luton – Chatham – Gillingham

The 177 is one of those genuinely useful Medway services that doubles as a quietly scenic ramble through the towns and suburban ridges south of the river. Starting from Plantation Road in Gillingham, the bus winds out through the residential streets of Hewitt Close and King Edward Road before swinging past Gillingham Green and on to The Strand, the long ribbon of riverside park and open-air pool that sits right on the Medway estuary.

From The Strand the route turns inland, threading through Milner Road and the streets around the Nasir Mosque and Burnt Oak Primary School. The architecture here is classic Medway: terraces of Victorian and Edwardian brick stepping down towards the river, punctuated by churches and corner shops. The bus pauses at James Street and St Mark's Church before passing The Westcourt Arms and the imposing Medway Maritime Hospital, one of the largest acute hospitals in the South East.

A short hop over the boundary brings you into Chatham, where the route calls at Chatham Railway Station and the Waterfront Bus Station. Look out for the masts of HMS Gannet and the Historic Dockyard cranes across the river, and the rebuilt town centre with its outdoor market and the Brook Theatre.

Climbing out of the Medway valley, the bus heads up through Luton, past Bank Street, Castle Road and Luton Junior School. The gradient is genuine here; the view back over Chatham's rooftops widens with every stop. Wayfield follows, a tightly packed post-war estate where the street names (Stalin Avenue, Tedder Avenue, Burma Way, Tobruk Way) read like a roll-call of mid-twentieth-century history.

The final climb takes you onto the Walderslade ridge, with stops at the Poachers Pocket, the Weeds Wood estate and the village centre. There is a brief loop out to the Alexandra Hospital before the bus turns back down through Walderslade, Weeds Wood and Wayfield, retracing its steps through Luton and Chatham Waterfront before returning along The Strand to Plantation Road. It is a proper round trip through the heart of Medway, equally handy for hospital visitors, shoppers and anyone wanting an unhurried look at the towns from the top deck.

The 177 is a quietly rewarding way to put together a Medway day out, threading between the riverside parks of Gillingham, the heritage quarter of Chatham and the open ridges above Walderslade. Begin at Plantation Road in Gillingham, where a short walk brings you down to the Medway and the long green sweep of The Strand.

At The Strand stop, take time to wander the riverside park, watch the sailing boats on the estuary and (in season) try the outdoor pool. There is a small cafe by the water for coffee and an ice cream before you reboard.

Staying on the bus, you'll soon be passing Gillingham's terraces and the Medway Maritime Hospital before crossing into Chatham. Hop off at Chatham Waterfront Bus Station for the town's biggest draw, The Historic Dockyard Chatham, a short walk or onward bus ride away, where you can clamber aboard HMS Cavalier, the submarine Ocelot and the Victorian sloop Gannet. Closer to the bus stand you'll find the Brook Theatre and Chatham's pedestrianised high street with its outdoor market.

Rejoining the 177, the climb up through Luton and Wayfield gives an unfussy look at workaday Medway. At the top, alight near the Walderslade village centre for a walk in Walderslade Woods, a surprisingly deep stretch of ancient woodland straddling the ridge, with footpaths down into Capstone Farm Country Park, where there is a fishing lake, adventure playground and miles of family-friendly trails.

For lunch, the Poachers Pocket on the Walderslade ridge is a long-standing local choice, while Capstone's visitor area has picnic spots overlooking the lake. If the weather turns, the Dockside Outlet Centre back down in Chatham is an easy onward connection by bus.

To round the day off, take the 177 back through Wayfield and Luton, alight at Chatham Railway Station for the train home, or stay aboard for the full loop back to The Strand and a final stroll along the Medway as the light fades over the dockyard cranes.