Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

What to see and do in the

Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Exploring the Mid Kent Downs

From Detling to Chilham and Wye

Places to go… Cowslips and Early Purple Orchids
near Spuckles Wood
…to explore

Welcome to the Mid Kent Downs in the Kent Downs Area
of Outstanding Natural Beauty… an area of dramatic chalk
hills and panoramic views, with pockets of flower-rich
grassland. Ancient villages and churches nestle deep within
the hidden dry valleys and wooded hill tops.

This is a landscape that has evolved over thousands of years
through a close relationship between land and people. Historic
networks of hedgerows frame the farmland of small fields and
traditional orchards, expansive ancient coppice woodland and
farmsteads providing evidence of the area’s strong farming
history. Many of the lanes and byways were once ancient
droveways.

In spring and summer, stunning flowers and the scents of wild
herbs tantalise the senses – thyme, marjoram, cowslips, scabious,
salad burnet, harebells and rock rose carpet the steep banks of
the Downs. In places, rare and beautiful orchids flourish.

There are many places for you to enjoy and learn about this
wonderful landscape…

Page 1

Places to go… Doddington

…to discover downland villages

Explore the ancient downland villages, hamlets and scattered
rural communities surrounded by farmland and woodland. Some
can trace evidence of habitation since prehistoric times, while
many are listed in the Domesday Book. Nowadays, the rural
quiet and beauty of these villages with their local shops,
traditional Kent pubs and beautiful ancient buildings, continue
to charm and delight the visitor.

Chilham, with its famous village square and many historical
buildings lies in the valley of the River Stour. • Hear the Town
Crier, visit the monthly Country Market in Lenham. • Wye
means “heathen temple” or “sacred place”, but for many years
has been a bustling market town! Behind the Georgian facades,
most buildings date back to medieval times. • Ringlestone – one
of the most haunted places in Kent? Hear some ghostly tales at
the Ringlestone Inn – a traditional alehouse since 1615 – which
claims to have ‘spirits aplenty’. • Visit Challock to see the
famous murals in the church of St Cosmos and St Damian. •
Kentish tracery – an outstanding architectural feature is to be
found in the stonework in the chancery windows of St. Mary’s
Church, Chartham. • Apparently, there are no other places called
Sheldwich, Badlesmere and Leaveland in all England. Discover
these and other scattered rural communities in the Downs.

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Places to go… Beech Court Gardens

…for history, heritage and gardens Page 3

The Mid Kent Downs features a number of unique visitor
attractions. Be sure to check opening dates and times with
each attraction…

Brogdale, home to the National Fruit Collection, has the largest
collection of fruit trees in the world. Over 4,000 different varieties
of fruit, nuts and vines are grown in 150 acres of beautiful
orchards. • Take a steam driving course at the Bredgar and
Wormshill Light Railway. Staffed by a “group of friends”, the
railway opens to the public one Sunday a month during the
summer. • At the Brook Agricultural Museum, you can learn
about one of Kent’s most distinguishing features – the oast house.
• Leeds Castle – the ‘loveliest castle in the world’, with 500 acres
of gardens and parklands • Doddington Place Gardens offers 10
acres of landscape gardens and tea rooms set in the grounds of a
Victorian mansion, including a woodland garden and an
Edwardian rock garden. • Tour around Beech Court Gardens and
you will find many rare and beautiful trees. Outdoor Shakespeare
productions and Art Week are among the events staged here. •
See the finest collection of clocks in the country and enjoy the tea
rooms at the unique Georgian house of Belmont, set in beautiful
gardens and surrounded by classical English country parkland.
See below for a list of attractions in and around the Mid Kent
Downs.

Houses, gardens and castles Outdoor attractions

Beech Court Gardens Thurnham Castle Bredgar & Wormshill Light Farming World
Challock The remains of this typical motte Railway Boughton, Nr. Faversham
01233 740735 and bailey castle can be found on Bredgar 01227 751144
www.beechcourtgardens.co.uk the North Downs Way trail 01622 884254 www.farming-world.com
between Detling and www.bwlr.co.uk
Belmont House and Gardens Hollingbourne. Museum of Kent Life
Throwley, Nr. Faversham www.nationaltrail.gov.uk Brogdale Horticultural Trust Sandling, Nr. Maidstone
01795 890202 01795 535286 01622 763936
www.belmont-house.org Brewery tour Faversham www.museum-
www.brogdale.org kentlife.co.uk
Doddington Place Gardens Shepherd Neame Brewery
Doddington, Nr. Sittingbourne Faversham Brook Agricultural Museum
01795 886101 01795 532206 Brook, Nr. Ashford
www.doddingtonplacegardens.co.uk www.shepherd-neame.co.uk 01304 824969
www.agriculturalmuseumbrook.org.uk
Mount Ephraim Gardens
Hernhill, Nr. Faversham Fishing Gliding
01227 751496
www.mountephraimgardens.co.uk

Leeds Castle Mid Kent Fisheries Kent Gliding Club
Leeds, Nr. Maidstone Chilham Challock
01622 765400 01227 730668 01233 740274
www.leeds-castle.com www.midkentfisheries.co.uk www.kent-gliding-club.co.uk

Both of the above are private clubs which welcome day visitors.
Booking is essential.

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Places to go… …to ride

…to walk Bed & breakfast for horses and their riders is provided by Holiday
Horse at the Eastling Centre, near Faversham. Horse riders are
A myriad of footpaths can be found in the Mid Kent Downs – both welcome to use both the Eastling Centre and Kent Downs Outdoor
public rights of way and permissive access routes – offering a Centre at Coldblow Farm in Thurnham as bases for exploring the
variety of walks for everyone. • There are many circular walks local bridle paths and byways, or as stopover points on long distance
accessible from the North Downs Way National Trail, including rides. Trail rides, trail camps and rodeo games are organised by
their Lost Landscape Heritage Walks. • The Kentish Stour Rawhide, and horse riding tours are available through Have Horse
Countryside Project has created Train Rides to Ramble, a series Will Travel. See the Contact Page for details.
of walks from Wye, Chilham and Charing railway stations. • Call
the Kent Downs AONB Unit for the free Explore leaflets, featuring …to cycle
walks enabling you to discover the parklands, woodlands, chalk
grassland, wildlife and history of the Downs. • Explore and The Kentish Stour Countryside Project has produced two cycling
understand the farmed countryside through Defra’s Conservation booklets – Meanders along the River Stour, and Bike Trails by
Walks and Rides in Kent. Maps can be downloaded from their Rail in the Stour Valley – featuring maps and information on each
website. • For self-led or guided walking holidays, contact Walk route. Details of the National Cycle Network can be found on the
Awhile or Orchard Trails, who can arrange luggage transfers and Sustrans website, and lots of useful information is provided by CTC,
accommodation. See the Contact Page for phone numbers and the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation. See the Contact Page for
websites. details.

www.kent.gov.uk/explorekent Page 5

Use the interactive map to create your own walking, riding and
cycling routes. Or download circular walking and riding routes
from the Walks & Rides section. Find details of bike hire outlets,
cycling holidays and events, and recommendations for the best
guide books for the area.

Suggested walks and cycle rides

Explore series – obtainable through Woodland Trust Circular walks along the North
Kent Downs AONB Unit www.woodland-trust.org.uk Downs Way
Torry Hill Park, Milstead, nr Hucking Estate Thurnham
Harrietsham, Wormshill, Ringlestone
Sittingbourne – a parkland walk Train Rides to Ramble in the Stour Wye & Hastingleigh
Sheldwich Lees, Sheldwich, nr Valley – by the Kentish Stour
Countryside Project Lost Landscapes Heritage –
Faversham – a parkland walk From Wye Railway Station Circular Walks along the North
Doddington Place, Doddington, nr The Crown in the Jewel Downs Way
Through the Gap Hollingbourne
Sittingbourne – a parkland walk Kings Wood Chilham
Wye Downs – explore farmed Stewards of the Countryside Charing
Detling
landscape From Chilham Railway Station
Wye Downs & Juniper Wood – explore From the Bottom to the Top Kent Tourism
One for the Tree Lovers Apple Source
woodlands and chalk grassland Around the Lake
The Down Walk Bike Trails by Rail in the Stour
Defra’s Conservation Walks & Rides Valley – by the Kentish Stour
in Kent – maps can be downloaded From Charing Railway Station Countryside Project
at http://countrywalks.defra.gov.uk/ Ups & Downs The Buffalo Ride
Thurnham Court Dip Slopes & Dry Valleys King of the Downs
Stede Court, Harrietsham To The Very Top The Coppice Cloud Chamber &
Doddington Place
Churchfields, near Faversham Pulpit Rides
Gosmere Farm, near Faversham The Duke of Burgundy Ride
Little Olantigh, Wye
Mount Field, Chilham
Belmont Park, near Faversham
Arnolds Oak Farm, near Faversham
Plumford Farm, near Faversham

Page 6

Places to go… Beech tree, Spuckles Wood View to Challock Church

…for wildlife, woodlands and Large Skipper
nature reserves

There are ample opportunities throughout the region for
you to explore the landscape and enjoy the wildlife by
visiting the many woodlands and nature reserves. Look for
areas managed by the Kent Wildlife Trust, Kentish Stour
Countryside Project, English Nature, Forestry Commission
and Woodland Trust.

Take a walk around the Hucking Estate near Hollingbourne – the
Woodland Trust’s ground-breaking restoration project involving
the planting of 180,000 trees and bringing mature woodland
back to life. • As an ancient woodland site, Kings Wood is home
to a diverse range of flora and fauna. See the unusual sculptures
and the children’s play structures representing creatures of the
forest. • Enjoy dramatic views looking south into the Devil’s
Kneading Trough from the Wye Downs. • Visible for miles
around, the Mount has long been a significant landscape feature
of the Perry Wood Local Nature Reserve, near Selling. The top
of this hill offers a superb panorama, and a wooden platform
known as the ‘Pulpit’ has been built to help visitors get an even
better view.

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Nature reserves and woodlands

Cromer’s Wood Nature Reserve The Larches Perry Wood
Wormshill Detling Selling
www.kentwildlife.org.uk www.explorekent.co.uk www.faversham.org
OS Explorer 149 OS Explorer 148 OS Explorer 149
Grid Reference TQ 906604 Grid Reference TQ 789586 Grid Reference TR 045553

Wye National Nature Reserve Long Beech Wood White Horse Wood
www.english-nature.org.uk Charing Thurnham
OS Explorer 137 OS Explorer 137 www.explorekent.co.uk
Grid Reference TR 077457 Grid Reference TQ 985506 OS Explorer 148
Grid Reference TQ 809587
Hucking Estate Lorenden Park
Hucking Painters Forstal
www.woodland-trust.org.uk www.faversham.org
OS Explorer 148 OS Explorer 149
Grid Reference TQ 844582 Grid Reference TQ 992589

Kings Wood Park Wood
Nr. Challock Chilham
www.forestry.gov.uk www.woodland-trust.org.uk
OS Explorer 137 OS Explorer 137
Grid Reference TR 027499 Grid Reference TR 042526

Marbled white Harebells

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Places to go…

…to eat and drink

This is a farmed landscape and its local communities take pride in
the area’s high quality produce, available in local shops, pubs,
restaurants and accommodation. Try the fruit, beer, cider and
juices, lamb, pork, fresh vegetables and salads, cheeses and
preserves. Call the Kent Downs AONB Unit for details of farm
shops and fresh produce, pubs and restaurants.

A programme of farm walks takes place in the Kent Downs in
early summer. Meet the farmers, sample some produce and see
how farmers manage the landscape that we all enjoy. See our
website for details.

Farmers’ Markets Look for the Produced in Kent logo
which guarantees locally produced food,
Farmers markets are a treat of colourful, seasonal, fresh produce. crafts and other goods.
Visit the Wye Farmers Market, the oldest farmers market in
Kent, which is dedicated to locally produced food. Held on the 1st For a list of pubs, restaurants and tea
and 3rd Saturdays each month, from 9.00am – 12.00pm, on The rooms in the area, see below.
Green. Faversham has a growing farmers market that meets on
the second Sunday of each month, beside the Macknade Farm
Shop. Lenham Country Market is held on the 2nd Sunday of
each month, between 9am and 2pm.

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Eating and drinking

Badlesmere Doddington Newnham
Red Lion – Pub Chequers – Pub Tapster Bar & Bistro
Bilting Eastling The George Inn - Pub
Perry Court Farm – Tea room Carpenters Arms – Pub Ringlestone
Bodsham Harrietsham Ringlestone Inn – Pub & restaurant
Froggies at the Timber Batts Taste of Bengal – Restaurant Selling
– Restaurant Pepperbox Inn – Pub & restaurant Rose and Crown – Pub
Boughton Aluph Hastingleigh White Lion – Pub
Flying Horse Inn –Pub Bowl Inn – Pub Stockbury
Brook Devils Kneading Trough – Restaurant The Harrow Inn – Pub
Honest Miller – Pub Hollingbourne Thurnham
Challock - near Ashford Dirty Habit – Pub and restaurant Black Horse Inn – Restaurant
Chequers – Pub & restaurant Park Gate Inn – Pub Warren Street
Halfway House – Restaurant & bar Sugar Loaves – Pub Harrow Hill Hotel – Restaurant
Charing The Windmill – Pub Westwell
Bowl Inn – Pub Hucking The Wheel – Pub
Pilgrims Table – Tea room & wine bar Hook & Hatchet – Pub & restaurant Wormshill
Royal Oak Inn – Pub Lenham Blacksmiths Arms – Pub
Chilham Chequers – Fish Bar Wye
Badgers Hill Farm & Cidery – Tea room Chopstick & Bowl – Restaurant Joshan of Wye – Restaurant
White Horse Inn – Pub Dog & Bear Hotel – Pub & restaurant New Flying Horse Inn – Pub
Woolpack Inn – Pub and b & b Lime Tree Restaurant and Hotel Tickled Trout – Pub & restaurant
Crundale Lurcocks – Deli & coffee shop Wife of Bath – Restaurant
Compasses Inn – Pub Pippa's Tea Room King’s Head – Pub & restaurant
Detling The Red Lion – Pub Golden Wye – Restaurant
Cock Horse Inn – Pub White Horse – Pub & restaurant

Page 10

Places to go… Brenley Farm Black Horse Inn
Blue House Farm Monckton Cottages
…to stay

A variety of accommodation is available in this part of the Kent
Downs, ranging from hotels and bed & breakfasts, to
campsites, hostels and even a bunk barn. Some of these
establishments can provide a pick up/drop off service at local
railway stations and at the start and finish of your walk. And
some welcome dogs! See the next page for a list of Quality
Assessed accommodation in the area.

A number of bed & breakfasts, self-catering
barns, campsites, pubs and attractions have
gained green accreditation with the Green
Tourism Business Scheme, recognising
environmental and social good practice.
The Kent Downs AONB was the first area
in Kent to achieve green accreditation with
the GBTS – look for the logo.

Page 11

Bed and breakfast Hotels

Brenley Farm Leaveland Court Owens Court Farm Eastwell Manor
Boughton Leaveland Selling Boughton Lees
01227 751203 01233 740596 01227 752247 01233 213000
www.brenley-farm.co.uk www.leavelandcourt.co.uk www.owenscourt.com www.eastwellmanor.co.uk
Dog & Bear
The Old Alma East Lenham Farm Black Horse Inn Lenham
Chilham Lenham Thurnham 01622 858219
01227 731913 01622 858686 01622 737185 www.dogandbearlenham.co.uk
www.eastlenhamfarm.co.uk www.wellieboot.net
Detling Coach House Page 12
Detling The Cottage Mistral Bed & Breakfast
01622 737590 Milstead Wye
01795 830367 01233 813011
The Woolpack Inn www.chapman.invictanet.co.uk
Chilham Dean Court Farm
01227 730351 Westwell New Flying Horse Inn
www.shepherdneame.co.uk 01233 712924 Wye
01233 812 297
Palace Farmhouse Sandhurst Farm Forge www.shepherdneame.co.uk
Doddington Newnham
01795 886820 01795 886854 Selsfield Bed & Breakfast
www.sandhurstfarmforge.co.uk Wye
Crabtree Farm 01233 812133
Hastingleigh Ringlestone House
01233 750327 Ringlestone Hamlet
01622 859911
www.ringlestone.com

Self-catering Eastwell Manor Camping and Hostels
Boughton Lees
Lime Tree Cottages 01233 213000 Kent Downs Outdoor Centre
Lenham www.eastwellmanor.co.uk at Coldblow Farm
01622 851310 Thurnham
The Hayloft and Orchard Barn 01622 735038
Monckton Cottages Cottages at Frith Farm House www.coldblow-camping.co.uk
Chilham Otterden 01795 890701
01227 730256 www.frithfarmhouse.co.uk Monks Cottage
Leaveland
Farnley Little Barn Ripple Farm 01233 740419
Crundale Crundale www.caravansitesinKent.com
01227 730 510 01227 730748
www.ripplefarmorganics.co.uk Pine Lodge Touring Park
The Old Dairy Hollingbourne
Selling The Pavilion at Blue House Farm 01622 730018
01227 752212 Warren Street www.pinelodgetouringpark.co.uk
01622 858423
The Stable Brenley Farm (Bunk barn)
Hastingleigh Tilmangate Barn Boughton
01233 750248 Harrietsham 01227 751203
01622 843096 www.brenley-farm.co.uk
Twitchers
Hollingbourne Well Cottage Palace Farm Hostel
01622 880238 Hollingbourne Doddington
Tel: 01622 880991 01795 886200
The Old Dairy www.northdownscountrycottages.co.uk www.palacefarm.com
Stockbury
01622 884222 Page 13

Contact page

Kent Downs AONB Unit Walks, National Trails, Nature Reserves & Woodland Management
For information on the Kent Downs AONB, telephone 01303 For further information on walks, cycling, maps and publications go to:
815170 or visit our website www.kentdowns.org.uk

Tourist Information Centres North Downs Way Woodland Trust
www.nationaltrail.co.uk/northdowns www.woodland-trust.org.uk

To help plan your visit to the area, contact one of the local

Tourist Information Centres: Kentish Stour Countryside Project Forestry Commission
www.kentishstour.org.uk www.forestry.gov.uk
Ashford Maidstone

+44 (0)1233 629165 +44 (0)1622 602169

www.ashford.gov.uk www.tour-maidstone.com Kent Wildlife Trust Walk Awhile
www.kentwildlife.org.uk www.walkawhile.co.uk

Canterbury Swale Sustrans – National Cycle Network
+44 (0)1227 378100 +44 (0)1795 417478 www.sustrans.com
www.canterbury.co.uk www.tourism.swale.gov.uk

Faversham Kent Tourism Horse riding Kent Downs Outdoor Centre
+44 (0)1795 534542 +44 (0)1271 336020 at Coldblow Farm
www.faversham.org www.kenttourism.co.uk Eastling Centre Thurnham
Eastling, nr Sittingbourne 01622 735038
The information provided in this leaflet is published in good 01795 890746 www.coldblow-camping.co.uk
faith. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy www.holidayhorse.co.uk
of the information, the Kent Downs AONB Unit cannot be Have Horse Will Travel
held responsible for any loss, damage or inconvenience Rawhide 01303 862996
caused by errors, omissions or subsequent changes. Gillingham
01634 364 832 Page 14
www.rawhide.org.uk

The Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Kent Downs AONB
Railway and station

The Kent Downs was designated as an Area of Outstanding AONBs are nationally important landscapes, protected by law to
Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1968. The AONB covers nearly a quarter ensure their conservation and enhancement. AONBs are living
of Kent, stretching from the London and Surrey borders across to landscapes – havens for wildlife and places for people to live, work
Dover. The Kent Downs is one of 40 AONBs in England and Wales. and enjoy the countryside.

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