Recreational walks in Kent facts for kids

Welcome to the amazing world of walks in Kent, England! Kent is a beautiful county with lots of different places to explore on foot. Whether you like short strolls or longer adventures, there's a path for everyone.

This guide will tell you about many fun walks where you can discover nature, history, and stunning views. Get ready to put on your walking shoes and explore the Kent countryside!

Short and Sweet Walks

These walks are perfect for a quick adventure or a relaxed day out. They are usually shorter and might have easy paths.

Woodland Wonders

• Ashenbank Wood: This ancient woodland in Cobham is managed by the Woodland Trust. It has two marked paths, one of which is part of the Darnley Trail. You'll see interesting tree stumps and plaques related to Cobham Hall. This trail can even lead you to Shorne Wood Country Park!
• Beacon Wood Country Park: Find this park near Bean, just south of the Bluewater Shopping Centre. It has circular walks and an easy path for everyone. Remember, there are no toilets here, and you might need to pay a small fee for parking.
• Bedgebury National Pinetum: Close to Goudhurst, this place offers many different walks and an easy path. It also has cool cycle tracks! You can find the Visitor Centre from the B2079 road.
• Blean Woods National Nature Reserve: This reserve has trails from 1.5 to 13 kilometers long, including an easy path. It's located off the A290, opposite Blean, Canterbury. There's a picnic area, but no toilets.
• Cromers Wood Nature Reserve: This reserve, south of Sittingbourne, has marked circular walks. It's a great spot for a peaceful walk, but there are no toilets.
• Dering Wood: Near Pluckley, Ashford, this wood has a marked trail. It's a lovely place to explore the forest.
• East Blean Wood: This wood offers a circular walk of just under 1 km and a figure-of-8 walk that's 2.5 km long. You can find it off the A291 road.
• Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve: Located high up near Folkestone, this reserve has marked trails of 2.5 and 5 km. You can get there from the B2067 at Hamstreet. No toilets here.
• Jeskyns Forestry Commission: In Cobham, Jeskyns has several circular trails. It's also part of the Darnley Trail, which connects to Shorne.
• King's Wood: On the Kent Downs north of Ashford, this wood has a circular 'Beech Walk'. It's accessed by the A251.
• Parkwood: In Tenterden, Parkwood offers nice woodland walks. There's a small parking fee, or you can use Kent's annual ticket.
• White Horse Wood Country Park: This park has circular trails, including an easy path. It's located high up by the dual carriageway between the M2 and M20. You'll find a historic village with a pub nearby in Thurnham.

Parks and Reserves with Facilities

• Brockhill Country Park: Near Sandling, Hythe, this park has circular walks of 5 and 9.5 km. Some paths have gates, stiles, and steps, but you'll get great views! These walks connect to the Saxon Shore Way. Shorter walks are also available. You can get a leaflet from the Visitor Centre/cafe. There's a small parking fee.
• Dungeness National Nature Reserve: At Dungeness, this reserve has an easy-access nature trail. The RSPB has a Visitor Centre on site, which is great for bird watching!
• Grove Ferry Picnic Site: Just east of Upstreet, Canterbury, this site has a circular walk. The paths are mostly flat, and there are toilets, but no visitor centre. There's a small parking fee.
• Leybourne Lakes Country Park: With its own exit off the M20, this park has many different trails. Paths link Snodland and New Hythe.
• Lullingstone Park: Near Eynsford, this park has circular walks starting from its Visitor Centre. It's within the M25/M26/M20 triangle. There's a small parking fee.
• Oldbury Hill Picnic Site: Near Ightham, this site has a circular trail. You can even reach it by train at Kemsing. There's a small parking fee.
• Shorne Wood Country Park: This park has marked circular walks and an easy path. It's signposted off the A2 between Rochester and Gravesend. The 1 km Easy Access Trail (orange) has been extended for more easy walking. There's also a 1.4 km Purple Walk, a 3.1 km Red Walk, and a 3.5 km Heritage Brown Trail (which can be muddy). The 6 km Explorer Trail (green) is a bit more challenging. Part of the 10 km Darnley Trail, connected to Cobham Hall, is now open. The park is open from 9 am until dusk (except Christmas Day) and has toilets, a cafe, and a visitor centre. Parking costs £1.50 on weekdays and £2 on weekends/holidays.
• Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve: East of Canterbury, this reserve has marked trails. You can access it from both the Stodmarsh and Upstreet ends, with easy paths from both. The Stodmarsh entrance is next to the Red Lion Pub.
• Trottiscliffe /Trosley Country Park: Located between Meopham and Wrotham, this park has various circular trails from its visitor centre/cafe. There's a 2.5 km easy access route (yellow), a flat 4 km route (red), and a hilly 3 km route (blue). There's also a 5.5 km walk through the countryside. Parking has a small fee. The old village nearby has a pub and a historic church.
• Swanscombe: The Leisure Centre here has information about the Swanscombe Skull Site National Nature Reserve. From there, a short marked walk explores the reserve.
• Wye National Nature Reserve: This reserve has a 4 km trail, which can be steep in some places. It's southeast of Wye, near Ashford and Canterbury.

Estate Walks

• Chartwell: In Westerham, this historic property offers three marked walks that you can enjoy even when the main property is closed. Leaflets are available when it's open.
• Ightham Mote Estate: You can access walks around this National Trust property even when it's closed. Pick up a walks leaflet from the ticket office when it's open.
• Scotney Old and New Castle: Located in Lamberhurst, Tonbridge, this site has walks that are open even when the property is closed. An estate walks leaflet is available when it's open.
• Sissinghurst Castle Gardens: In Sissinghurst, these gardens offer woodland and lakeside walks that you can access even when the property is closed.
• Stoneacre: This small National Trust property is part of a 7 km circular walk in Otham, Maidstone. The walk also includes the Spot Lane Nature Reserve.

Other Interesting Walks

• Brookers Farm: This circular walk starts from Caldecott Farm near New Romney.
• Evegate Craft Centre: Near Evegate hamlet, you'll find circular walks here. Evegate is signposted off the A20 between Brabourne Lees and Aldington.
• Faesten Dic Walk: At Joyden's Wood (near Bexley and Dartford), this is a 3.3 km circular marked trail. It takes you through woods and wetlands, with boardwalks over the wet areas. Access is via Ferndell Avenue.
• Golding Hop Farm and Bewley Land House: This circular walk is high above Plaxtol Village, Sevenoaks. Plaxtol is a charming village that slopes down to Plaxtol Spout. You can find parking near an oast house.
• High Halstow National Nature Reserve: On the Hoo Peninsula, north of Chatham and Gillingham, this reserve has a nature trail with lovely sea and Medway views. It's also home to the Northwood Hill RSPB Reserve. No toilets here.
• Knatts Valley: In West Kingsdown, between the M25, M26, and M20, you'll find many walks of different lengths and slopes. A good starting point with details is The Fox and Hounds Public House.
• Stowting: Off the B2068 from Hythe to Canterbury, this circular walk goes through Round Wood, past a Golf Club, and down to Stowting. This village has a mill, a trout lake, ancient castle earthworks, a pub, and a church.

Medium-Length Adventures

These walks are a bit longer, perfect for when you want to spend more time exploring.

• Blean Woods: This large woodland has a long 13 km trail. The reserve is accessed off the A290, opposite Blean village.
• Darent Valley Path: This path is 30 km long and stretches from Sevenoaks all the way to the River Thames.
• Len Valley Walk: Follow the River Len for 19 km from Maidstone to Lenham.
• Medway Valley Walk: This walk is 45 km long, connecting Rochester and Tonbridge.
• Miner's Way Trail: A 43 km circular footpath that links up the coalfield parishes of East Kent.
• Swale Heritage Trail: This trail is 18 km long, going from Sittingbourne to Goodnestone.
• Trosley Country Park: As mentioned before, this park also has two longer circular trails: the Harvel Hike (12 km) and the Coldrum Trail (10 km).
• Wantsum Walk: This 13 km walk goes from Herne Bay to Birchington.

Long Distance Journeys

Long distance paths.

For serious walkers and adventurers, Kent has several long-distance paths that can take days to complete!

• Greensand Way: This path is 169 km long, starting in Haslemere, Surrey, and ending in Hamstreet, where it joins the Saxon Shore Way.
• Saxon Shore Way: A massive 261 km path that follows the ancient coastline from Gravesend, Kent, to Hastings, East Sussex.
• High Weald Landscape Trail: This trail is 145 km long, going from Horsham, West Sussex, to Rye, East Sussex.
• North Downs Way: A National Trail that is 246 km long! It starts in Farnham, Surrey and goes all the way to Dover, entering Kent at Westerham.
• Stour Valley Walk: This walk is 82 km long, starting in Lenham and passing through Ashford and Canterbury before reaching Pegwell Bay, Sandwich.
• Sussex Border Path: This path covers the border of Sussex, with its eastern part either in or right next to Kent.
• Vanguard Way: This 66-mile path goes from Croydon to Newhaven. The part closest to Kent runs by Haxted Mill, Edenbridge. It connects to the 15-mile Eden Valley Walk, which includes places like Edenbridge and Penshurst, and famous castles like Hever Castle, Chiddingstone Castle, Penshurst Place, and Tonbridge Castle. The Eden Valley Walk then joins the Wealdway.
• Wealdway: This path is 129 km long, stretching from Gravesend to Eastbourne, East Sussex.