Categories What to Do - What do Do in the South East - Parks, Gardens, Walks in the South East What to Do in Kent, Parks, Gardens, Walks in Kent
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What to Do in KentWhat's to Do in Kent Parks, Gardens and Walks
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Formed over a period of 80 million years, from the remains of tiny sea-dwelling plants and animals, the cliffs now offer a rich and varied habit for many species of animals and plants, and spectacular walks. read more... |
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| Hever Castle, Hever, Kent TN8, 01732 865224 Moated castle dating back to the 13th century and childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Later acquired by William Waldorf Astor who created the spectacular gardens, and a house of beautiful furniture, paintings and tapestry. The Yew Maze, a miniature model house exhibition, and an adventure playground are other attractions at this historical castle. Tudor Jubilee Celebrations June 2nd - 5th. Join in the merriment of a royal celebration when Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn celebrate Anne's coronation in a weekend of Tudor revelry. Tudor music, have-a-go archery and demonstrations from a variety of craftsmen of the period including a jeweller to the crown. Children can come in costume and join the parade to win a prize for the best dressed prince and princess. Royal Half Term Fun June 6th - 10th. Younger visitors are invited to recreate the splendour of court life as they dress in Tudor costume plus interactive demonstrations on dressing a Knight from specialists on life in Tudor times. |
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| Penshurst Place, Penshurst, Kent, TN11, 01892 870307 Described as the grandest and most perfectly preserved example of a fortified manor house in England. Staterooms, tapestries, furniture, portraits and armour on display. In addition to the manor house, there are 10 acres of gardens, a toy museum and a venture playground. Weald of Kent Craft Show Bank Holiday 5th - 7th May. A quality outdoor craft show for all the family with up to 250 artist craftsmen. |
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| Groomsbridge Place Gardens and Enchanted Forest, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, 01892 861444 The beauty of Groomsbrigde has attracted movie makers and can be seen in Pride & Prejudice. Traditional gardens created 300 years ago and developed to their present magnificence. The Enchanted Garden can be entered through a gate, where stunning gardens are on view, along with a children's playground, activities, and animals such as deer, can be seen wandering the land. |
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| Quex House & Gardens, Birchington, Kent CT7, 01843 842168
Quex House is a regency house that has been home to five generations of the Powell-Cotton family, and remains a family home today. Some rooms are open to the public at limited times during the summer months, whilst the museum and gardens are open all year at limited times. The museum houses various treasures including African zoology and ethnographic collections from Africa and the Indian sub-continent. Other galleries display textiles, weaponry and ceramics from Europe, China and Japan.
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| Shorne Woods Country Park, Gravesend, Kent, 01474 823800 Shorne Woods Country Park is an area of Outstanding Natural covering 288 acres of woodland. A Site of Special Scientific Interest within the Kent Downs, with a mixture of chestnut coppice woodlands that are full of wildflowers in the spring, ancient woodland with towering old trees, open meadows to play and picnic in, and ponds and wetlands that are home to dragonflies in the summer time. There are views of the Thames from the open grassland at the park's highest point. Shorne Woods is renowned for its fungi and blue bells and the woodlands are full of wildlife including dormice and bats. |
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| Bedgebury National Pinetum, Goudhurst, Kent TN17, 01580 879842 Owned by the Forestry commission, the 320 acres of parkland are situated among the lakes and valleys of the Kent countryside and surrounded by the 2,600 acre Bedgebury Forest. Stunning scenery all year round produced by over 6,000 trees and over 2,000 species of conifer. Walking, cycling, nature walks, four orienteering courses, archery with a qualified instructor from April-October and concerts are held throughout the year. Enjoy a gentle family cycle ride in a beautiful woodland setting or top speed mountain biking around Bedgebury’s challenging single-track routes - 10km of newly surfaced family cycle track round the 2000 acre forest - over 12km of single-track mountain biking. Cycle hire available. |
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| Trosley Country Park, Vigo, Kent, 01732 823570
Trosley Country Park is 160 acres of woodland and chalk downlands, and home to a variety of wildlife. There are two walks within the park, an easy access walk and a more adventurous walk across steeper terrain and panoramic views across the Wealds. The visitor facilities have been extended with a timber building built of sweet chestnut from wood from the park, which is environmentally friendly with a living green roof.
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| Lullingstone & Preston Hill Country Park, Eynsford, Kent, 01732 823570
Lullingstone & Preston Hill Country Park covers 460 acres of Kent countryside, and was once a medieval deer-park. The Park has over 300 veteran oak, beech, hornbeam, ash and sweet chestnut trees, of which some are thought to date back 800 years. As well as a visitor centre, there is also an education centre enabling all ages to learn all aspects of the countryside. Preston Hill
is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is open to the public but with restrictions. Wild flowers cover the grounds in the summer months and wild goats graze the grassland.
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| Walmer Castle and Gardens, Walmer, Kent CT14, 01304 364288 Originally built during the reign of Henry VIII as part of a chain of coastal artillery defences against Catholic attack from Europe,Walmer Castle has evolved over time into an elegant residence where the Duke of Wellington once resided. The armchair in which Wellington died on 14 September 1852 can still be seen. His campaign bed also remains on display, along with a pair of original 'Wellington boots' and numerous personal in Wellington museum. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother made regular visits to the castle. Some of the rooms used by the Queen Mother are open to visitors, as is her magnificent garden, given to Her Majesty on her 95th birthday. The beautiful gardens surrounding the house also include a commemorative lawn, woodland walk, croquet lawn and a working kitchen garden. The remainder of the grounds are mostly wildlife gardens. |
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| The National Trust, Places to Visit Across the South East, 0844 800 1895
Back in 1895, the National Trust was founded with the aim of saving our nation's heritage and open spaces. Over 100 years later, they are still working hard to uphold these values. the National Trust looks after historic houses, gardens, mills, coastline, forests, farmland, moorland, islands, castles, nature reserves, villages... and pubs. They have acquired a wide range of fascinating, and often surprising, places that you can now visit and enjoy. From the humble Alfriston Clergy House (their first house) to the grand houses of Edwardian socialites, by way of caves, lighthouses, gardens, pubs, beaches, castles and abbeys (to name but a few). Choose places to visit from Romantic Places, Houses & Buildings, Garden & Parks, Coast & Countryside, or Site & Monuments. Visiting their events is a great way to make your day out amazing. Talk to an expert, learn a new skill, enjoy some music or watch a re-enactment. Walk, cycle, camp surf... they have it all. Click here to visit the National Trust website and find the ideal day out for you.
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| White Horse Wood, Detling Hill, Kent ME14, 01303 266 327
White Horse Wood, Kent County Council's newest country park, offers beautiful countryside, local history and panoramic views. The site hosts the medieval ruins of Thurnham Castle, which are easily explored. Within the park boundaries there are also traces of an Iron Age settlement, providing even more historical interest.
Located within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the park is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. Over 20,000 trees have been planted at the site including - oak, ash, silver birch, wild cherry and crab apple. And five hectares of land has been seeded to create an area of open grassland.
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| Teston Bridge Country Park, Teston, Kent ME18, 01322 865 995
Beside the River Medway, Teston Bridge Country Park is ideal for picnics, barbecues and playing games with the kids.
Teston Bridge is a 32 acre site consists of three meadows nestling beside the River Medway.
The park is a Local Wildlife Site and attracts many different forms of wildlife. From blankets of wildflowers to small mammals and insects, there is lots to see and lots to explore.
No matter what your ability this is an ideal place to enjoy a walk. Take a short stroll around the easy access trail in the park, or if you are more adventurous carry on along the Medway Valley Walk. With a new children's play area and catering van on site, it makes for an ideal day out.
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| Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent ME15,
Mote Park, Maidstone's largest park, is set in 450 acres of historic parkland. Within walking distance of Maidstone town centre it offers a pleasant and relaxing enviroment, making it a great place to spend the day. There are a range of sports facilities including football pitches, a pitch and putt golf course, and horse riding is allowed in the park for those with permits.
The large lake in the middle of the park supports a vareity of water fowl. It offers opportunities for sailing, angling and model boating.
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| Maidstone Millennium Park, Maidstone, Kent ME16,
The Maidstone Millennium Park runs along the banks of the River Medway from Teston Bridge Country Park to Allington. It offers 10km of easily accessible paths linked by three nationally acclaimed pedestrian bridges.
The park features a rose garden and a roofed ampitheatre. The creation of the park led to the planting of 1500 new trees in Maidstone.
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| Lullingstone Castle & the World Garden of Plants, Eynsford, Kent, DA4, 01322 862114
Lullingstone Castle is one of England’s oldest family estates, dating back to the time of Domesday.
The present Manor House and Gatehouse were built in 1497 and have been home to the same family ever since. Both Henry VIII and Queen Anne are known to have been regular visitors.
Where cutting edge horticulture meets plant heritage thanks to a nine month kidnap ordeal in Colombia in 2000.
Tom Hart Dyke’s innovative World Garden, laid out in the shape of a map of the World, pays tribute to the plant hunters of old and brings horticulture bang up to date with its daring plan to grow exotic blooms, outside, in the Garden of England.
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| Haysden Country Park, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9BE,
Haysden Country Park comprises 64 hectares of beautiful countryside, and is a great location for a family day out. Situated in the heart of Kent, just to the west of Tonbridge, the park is a relaxing setting for a variety of leisure activities.
Visitors can spend time exploring the Nature and Historical Trails, or simply enjoy a stroll or cycle in the countryside. The park also has a children's play area and an outdoor picnic area.
With two lakes and a stretch of the River Medway running through it, the park is a popular venue for water activities.
The park is home to a rich variety of wildlife, and is designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.
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| Stubbs Wood, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14, 01732 823 570
Stubbs Wood is located within the Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and offers visitors fantastic views over the surrounding countryside. A Site of Special Scientific Interest, Stubbs Wood is home to many rare animals and plants.
From the Gravesend ridge there are many superb views over the Weald and Bough Beach reservoir.
In the areas of ancient woodland you can find English oak and beech tress which dominate the woodland; although holly, whitebeam, ash, chestnut, hazel and rowan are also present.Flowers in Stubbs Wood
You can also find bluebells, wood sorrel, yellow archangels and ramsons.
Unusually for Kent, there are some areas of heathland with heather, bilberry, bracken, heath bedstraw, wavy hair grass and heath speedwell.
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| Preston Hill, Eynsford, Kent TN14, 01322 865 995
A Site of Special Scientific Interest, Preston Hill has great views across the countryside to Lullingstone Country Park. Preston Hill is half grassland and half woodland and in the summer months is covered with wild flowers. A variety of butterflies including chalkhill blues and dark green fritillaries can also be seen on the chalk grassland. The grassland is managed by grazing the park's own herd of feral goats, which came from the Great Orme, near Colwyn Bay in North Wales.
You can see the remains of an old MOD firing range on site.
The site has no waymarked trails, so is best suited to hardy walkers who are familiar with using OS maps.
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