Here are the 7 Best Walks in Kent

In the Garden of England, you’ll find verdant hills, wonderful woodlands and a dramatic coastline. To take in all these different landscapes, there are endless walking opportunities, whatever your fitness level. From one-hour strolls to day-long treks, there is a rambling route for everyone. Here are just some of the best walks in Kent that showcase its scenic beauty.

7 Scenic Walks in Kent

1. North Downs Way National Trail

This is the big walk in the region and it runs for 153 miles (246km) through the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It starts at Farnham on the Surrey/Hampshire border and ends at Dover. As you walk the North Down Way through Kent you’ll pass through rich woodland which is home to lots of flora and fauna. This walk is great for nature lovers.

2. Saxon Shore Way

Looking for a great coastal walk? The Saxon Shore Way runs 160 miles (257km) from the lively port of Gravesend, in North Kent, to the popular seaside town of Hastings in East Sussex. As you follow Kent’s ancient coastline, you’ll pass Iron Age hill forts, glorious churches and a cathedral, Martello towers, historic ports and castles.

3. Greensand Way

This linear walk is 108 miles (173.81km) long. The route starts in Haslemere, in Surrey, and ends in Hamstreet, in Kent. On this walk, you’ll pass through the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs, both Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You’ll also pass many Sites of Special Scientific Interest. As you can see, this is an incredibly interesting route with lots to see along the way.

4. South Foreland Lighthouse Walk

This route leads around Langdon Hole and Fan Point towards South Foreland Lighthouse. This Victorian lighthouse on the South Foreland in St. Margaret’s Bay was built in 1843 and went out of service in 1988. It used to warn boats of the dangerous offshore banks of the Goodwin Sands. Along the clifftops, you can see remnants of gun emplacements and other wartime structures. The Lighthouse is open to the public between April and October. But you can enjoy the walk any time of the year.

5. Reculver Walk

The Reculver walk takes you past a heritage hotspot and is particularly popular with families. This circular route is 3.5 miles (5.6km) and passes the ruins of St Mary’s Church which is shrouded in a mist of myths. There’s also a Roman fort used for defending the coast from invasion from Europe. This area is also a haven for wildlife. In winter, thousands of migrating birds gather here on their way to the Arctic. In summer, sand martins nest in the cliffs.

6. Emmetts Garden to Churchill’s Home

This walk starts at the National Trust’s Emmetts Gardens in Sevenoaks in Kent. This five-mile walk takes you over the Weald (an area between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs). This countryside stroll through woodland is incredibly peaceful and scenic, even more so during the spring months when the gardens are a riot of colour. The endpoint of this walk is another National Trust landmark, Chartwell, the family home of Sir Winston Churchill.

7. Ightham Mote

This 5.5-mile (8.8km) looped walking route will take you about 3 hours to complete, but we suggest taking even longer and enjoy a scenic picnic along the way. Ightham Mote is located near Sevenoaks in Kent. It is a charming, medieval manor house, garden and estate, belonging to the National Trust. Start your walk here and follow the trail up the steep bridleway. As you walk along the route you will have superb views across the Kentish countryside. Look out for the old quarry and fish ponds, possibly dating to the Roman period.