The following is a list of recreational walks in
Kent, England.
Short walks
Ashenbank Wood. Woodland Trust managed wood categorised as ancient woodland in
Cobham, Gravesend with two waymarked routes, either part of the Darnley Trail with some stumps and plaques relevant to
Cobham Hall and leading on to
Shorne Woods Country Park.
Beacon Wood Country Park, located on the B225 road close to
Bean, Dartford, just south of
Bluewater Shopping Centre. Reopened after lease expiry August 2011.[1] 76 hectares (190 acres). Has circular walks and an easy access route. No toilets. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Bedgebury National Pinetum (near
Goudhurst) has a range of walks and an easy access trail, as well as various cycle tracks. The Visitor Centre is accessed from the B2079 road, about 1 km from the A21 road.
Blean Woods National Nature Reserve has trails ranging from 1.5 to 13 km, one of which is an easy access trail. The reserve is accessed off the A290, with the entrance opposite
Blean,
Canterbury. Picnic area but no toilets.
Bough Beech Nature Reserve, at the north end of Bough Beech Reservoir, has a nature trail and is near the castle-rich Eden Valley Walk, see
below.
Brockhill Country Park near
Sandling,
Hythe (signposted from Junction 11 of the M20 road) has circular walks of 5 and 9.5 km with gates,
stiles and steps however several high-up views. These walks link to the
Saxon Shore Way. Also shorter walks. A leaflet is available from the Visitor Centre / cafe. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Brookers Farm circular walk, starts from Caldecott Farm off the B2075 road near
New Romney.
Chartwell,
Westerham has three
waymarked walks that are accessible even when the property is closed, leaflets available when they are open.
Dartford Heath has walks of 1.8 km and 1 km, and an easy access trail of 1.3 km. Start at the car park on Heath Road between Dartford and Wilmington. No toilets.
Dering Wood near
Pluckley, Ashford has a waymarked trail. It is located off the
Headcorn to
Pluckley road.
East Blean Wood has a circular walk of just under a km and a 2.5 km 'figure of 8' walk. Located off the A291 road on Hicks Forstal Road (signposted to
Hoath).
Evegate Craft Centre by Evegate hamlet and Evegate Manor, north of Evegate Mill[2][3] has circular walks. Evegate is signposted off the A20 road between
Brabourne Lees and
Aldington just SE of M20 J10
Ashford East.
Faesten Dic Walk at
Joyden's Wood (near
Bexley and
Dartford). 3.3 km circular
waymarked trail (following 'Faesten Dic Arrow' waymarks) through the woods and wetlands (the latter on boardwalks). Access is via Ferndell Avenue.
Golding Hop Farm and Bewley Land House. A circular walk high above
Plaxtol Village, Sevenoaks, a charming street based village which slopes down to the conjoined village of Plaxtol Spout by The Bourne. (Directions from motorway) SE from J2A, M26, north before Plaxtol go into start of track where there is parking just after an oast house. From village church (Head down Tree Lane/Sheet Hill), taking the first left and look for the signboards.
Grove Ferry Picnic Site just east of
Upstreet,
Canterbury has a circular walk (signposted from the A28 road, entrance is near the Grove Ferry Inn). Many gates but no stiles, paths mostly level. Toilets but no
visitor centre. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Lullingstone Park near
Eynsford (Castle Road off the A225 road south of Eynsford) has circular walks from its Visitor Centre within the M25/M26/M20 triangle. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Oldbury Hill Picnic Site, near
Ightham (/ˈaɪtəm/ Common has a circular trail. Rail within 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) at
Kemsing. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Parkwood,
Tenterden has woodland walks. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Scotney Old and New Castle,
Lamberhurst,
Tonbridge has walks that are accessible even when the property is closed, estate walks leaflet available when it is open.
Shorne Woods Country Park has
waymarked circular walks and an easy access trail. It is signposted off the A2 road between
Rochester and
Gravesend. The 1 km Easy Access Trail (waymarked orange) has recent extensions (waymarks chequered orange and white) allowing a greater range of easy access walking. 1.4 km Purple Walk, 3.1 km Red walk, 3.5 km Heritage Brown Trail best in dryer spells, hilly and muddy in places. 6 km Explorer Trail (waymarked green) with slightly more difficult terrain. Part of the
Cobham Hall connected Darnley Trail - 10 km, is now open. Open 9 am - dusk except Christmas Day, has toilets, cafe and visitor centre. Car parking £1.50 weekdays, £2 Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holidays, or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, east of Canterbury, west of Ramsgate, between
Stodmarsh and
Upstreet, has
waymarked trails. Access both at the Stodmarsh and the Upstreet end, with easy access trails from both. The Stodmarsh entrance is accessed via a track from Stodmarsh next to the Red Lion
Pub. (Click
here for a pdf map of the Reserve).
Stowting. Off the straight B2068 from
Hythe to
Canterbury, a circular walk from the lay-by through Round Wood, past adjoining Golf Club, down to
Stowting which boasts a mill, trout lake, ancient castle earthwork, pub and church.
Trottiscliffe /
Trosley Country Park is located between
Meopham(/ˈmɛpəm/ and
Wrotham(/ˈruːtəm/, signposted off the A227 near 20th century-made hilltop
Vigo Village. It has a variety of circular trails from the visitor centre / cafe - 2.5 km (yellow - easy access route and '
trim trail'), a flat route of 4 km (red), and a 3 km hilly route (blue) within the country park, plus walk B which goes for 5.5 km through the surrounding countryside. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket. The old village itself lies south in the plain has a
pub and Grade I Church of St Peter and St Paul 1 km east at Trosley Court.
White Horse Wood Country Park has circular trails including an easy access trail. It is located high-up and by the dual carriageway between the M2 and M20 (the
A259 road opposite the
Kent County Showground. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket. Down its hill past a ruined ancient castle is the historic village with a
pub,
Thurnham
Trosley Country Park is located between
Meopham and
Wrotham, signposted off the A227 near Vigo Village. It has two longer circular trails from the visitor centre - the Harvel Hike (signposted as walk A), 12 km long, and the Coldrum Trail (signposted as walk C), 10 km long
The following is a list of recreational walks in
Kent, England.
Short walks
Ashenbank Wood. Woodland Trust managed wood categorised as ancient woodland in
Cobham, Gravesend with two waymarked routes, either part of the Darnley Trail with some stumps and plaques relevant to
Cobham Hall and leading on to
Shorne Woods Country Park.
Beacon Wood Country Park, located on the B225 road close to
Bean, Dartford, just south of
Bluewater Shopping Centre. Reopened after lease expiry August 2011.[1] 76 hectares (190 acres). Has circular walks and an easy access route. No toilets. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Bedgebury National Pinetum (near
Goudhurst) has a range of walks and an easy access trail, as well as various cycle tracks. The Visitor Centre is accessed from the B2079 road, about 1 km from the A21 road.
Blean Woods National Nature Reserve has trails ranging from 1.5 to 13 km, one of which is an easy access trail. The reserve is accessed off the A290, with the entrance opposite
Blean,
Canterbury. Picnic area but no toilets.
Bough Beech Nature Reserve, at the north end of Bough Beech Reservoir, has a nature trail and is near the castle-rich Eden Valley Walk, see
below.
Brockhill Country Park near
Sandling,
Hythe (signposted from Junction 11 of the M20 road) has circular walks of 5 and 9.5 km with gates,
stiles and steps however several high-up views. These walks link to the
Saxon Shore Way. Also shorter walks. A leaflet is available from the Visitor Centre / cafe. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Brookers Farm circular walk, starts from Caldecott Farm off the B2075 road near
New Romney.
Chartwell,
Westerham has three
waymarked walks that are accessible even when the property is closed, leaflets available when they are open.
Dartford Heath has walks of 1.8 km and 1 km, and an easy access trail of 1.3 km. Start at the car park on Heath Road between Dartford and Wilmington. No toilets.
Dering Wood near
Pluckley, Ashford has a waymarked trail. It is located off the
Headcorn to
Pluckley road.
East Blean Wood has a circular walk of just under a km and a 2.5 km 'figure of 8' walk. Located off the A291 road on Hicks Forstal Road (signposted to
Hoath).
Evegate Craft Centre by Evegate hamlet and Evegate Manor, north of Evegate Mill[2][3] has circular walks. Evegate is signposted off the A20 road between
Brabourne Lees and
Aldington just SE of M20 J10
Ashford East.
Faesten Dic Walk at
Joyden's Wood (near
Bexley and
Dartford). 3.3 km circular
waymarked trail (following 'Faesten Dic Arrow' waymarks) through the woods and wetlands (the latter on boardwalks). Access is via Ferndell Avenue.
Golding Hop Farm and Bewley Land House. A circular walk high above
Plaxtol Village, Sevenoaks, a charming street based village which slopes down to the conjoined village of Plaxtol Spout by The Bourne. (Directions from motorway) SE from J2A, M26, north before Plaxtol go into start of track where there is parking just after an oast house. From village church (Head down Tree Lane/Sheet Hill), taking the first left and look for the signboards.
Grove Ferry Picnic Site just east of
Upstreet,
Canterbury has a circular walk (signposted from the A28 road, entrance is near the Grove Ferry Inn). Many gates but no stiles, paths mostly level. Toilets but no
visitor centre. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Lullingstone Park near
Eynsford (Castle Road off the A225 road south of Eynsford) has circular walks from its Visitor Centre within the M25/M26/M20 triangle. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Oldbury Hill Picnic Site, near
Ightham (/ˈaɪtəm/ Common has a circular trail. Rail within 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) at
Kemsing. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Parkwood,
Tenterden has woodland walks. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Scotney Old and New Castle,
Lamberhurst,
Tonbridge has walks that are accessible even when the property is closed, estate walks leaflet available when it is open.
Shorne Woods Country Park has
waymarked circular walks and an easy access trail. It is signposted off the A2 road between
Rochester and
Gravesend. The 1 km Easy Access Trail (waymarked orange) has recent extensions (waymarks chequered orange and white) allowing a greater range of easy access walking. 1.4 km Purple Walk, 3.1 km Red walk, 3.5 km Heritage Brown Trail best in dryer spells, hilly and muddy in places. 6 km Explorer Trail (waymarked green) with slightly more difficult terrain. Part of the
Cobham Hall connected Darnley Trail - 10 km, is now open. Open 9 am - dusk except Christmas Day, has toilets, cafe and visitor centre. Car parking £1.50 weekdays, £2 Saturday/Sunday/Bank Holidays, or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket.
Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, east of Canterbury, west of Ramsgate, between
Stodmarsh and
Upstreet, has
waymarked trails. Access both at the Stodmarsh and the Upstreet end, with easy access trails from both. The Stodmarsh entrance is accessed via a track from Stodmarsh next to the Red Lion
Pub. (Click
here for a pdf map of the Reserve).
Stowting. Off the straight B2068 from
Hythe to
Canterbury, a circular walk from the lay-by through Round Wood, past adjoining Golf Club, down to
Stowting which boasts a mill, trout lake, ancient castle earthwork, pub and church.
Trottiscliffe /
Trosley Country Park is located between
Meopham(/ˈmɛpəm/ and
Wrotham(/ˈruːtəm/, signposted off the A227 near 20th century-made hilltop
Vigo Village. It has a variety of circular trails from the visitor centre / cafe - 2.5 km (yellow - easy access route and '
trim trail'), a flat route of 4 km (red), and a 3 km hilly route (blue) within the country park, plus walk B which goes for 5.5 km through the surrounding countryside. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket. The old village itself lies south in the plain has a
pub and Grade I Church of St Peter and St Paul 1 km east at Trosley Court.
White Horse Wood Country Park has circular trails including an easy access trail. It is located high-up and by the dual carriageway between the M2 and M20 (the
A259 road opposite the
Kent County Showground. Small parking charge or covered by Kent's £30 annual ticket. Down its hill past a ruined ancient castle is the historic village with a
pub,
Thurnham
Trosley Country Park is located between
Meopham and
Wrotham, signposted off the A227 near Vigo Village. It has two longer circular trails from the visitor centre - the Harvel Hike (signposted as walk A), 12 km long, and the Coldrum Trail (signposted as walk C), 10 km long