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Discover the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) a nationally protected landscape stretching from the white cliffs of  Dover to the Surrey and London border. With ancient bluebell woodlands, rugged chalk coastline, internationally rare chalk grassland, and ragstone villages there is beauty to explore all year round.

If you look after land in the Kent Downs AONB or you help people to access the Kent Downs, we have a range of grants, funding, and support available for nature recovery, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and sustainable visiting initiatives.

It's Bluebell Season!

Explore Kent's ancient woodlands and discover spectacular spring wildflowers

Bluebells-in-Kings-WoodOur top five Bluebell walks in the Kent DownsIf you're looking for inspiration on the best places for some bluebell spotting, look no further.Save Our top five Bluebell walks in the Kent Downs to favourites
Kings Wood woodlandParks & open spaces tagsWoodland tagsKing’s WoodKing's Wood is a large forest near Challock that combines opportunities for appreciating art and nature in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. AshfordSave King’s Wood to favourites
Woodland tagsPerry WoodPerry Wood is a truly unique spot amid the rolling chalk of the North Downs. With lovely woodland walks, a picnic site, and panoramic views… FavershamSave Perry Wood to favourites
Walking tagsIde Hill walk – peaceful paths and inspiring hillsLeave the picturesque green at Ide Hill – the highest village in Kent – and follow the path to the first stile to join the… Ide HillSave Ide Hill walk – peaceful paths and inspiring hills to favourites
Woodland tagsDenge and Eggringe Woods and Bonsai BankDenge and Eggringe Woods are a large areas of adjoining woodland with a good network of paths and bridleways. CanterburySave Denge and Eggringe Woods and Bonsai Bank to favourites
Parks & open spaces tagsLyminge ForestLyminge Forest offers miles of cycling and walking routes and is one of a complex of woods which together create one of the largest woodlands… LymingeSave Lyminge Forest to favourites
Parks & open spaces tagsAshenbank Wood Ancient WoodlandThis ancient woodland provides a quiet, peaceful link between the newer sites of Jeskyns Farm and Shorne Woods, and it has some interesting historical features. GravesendSave Ashenbank Wood Ancient Woodland to favourites
Parks & open spaces tagsHucking Estate WoodlandHucking Estate is much more than just woodland – this entire area is being preserved as a wonderful remnant of the traditional rural English landscape. HuckingSave Hucking Estate Woodland to favourites
Parks & open spaces tagsRanscombe FarmRanscombe Farm Reserve is famous for its wild flowers. It has an extensive network of footpaths and spectacular views of the Medway Valley and the… RochesterSave Ranscombe Farm to favourites
Woodland tagsCovert and Covet WoodsCovert & Covet Wood are two beautiful peaceful woodlands under Forestry Commission and private ownership. Walkers are welcome in the private woodland, but asked to… BarhamSave Covert and Covet Woods to favourites
Women enjoying a walkWalking tagsHarvel HikeA pleasant 6.6 mile walk along the southern edge of the North Downs takes in some picturesque scenery and thriving woodland of Whitehorse Wood. Starting… West MallingSave Harvel Hike to favourites

Experiences

Discover unique experiences in the Kent Downs with local experts. Each experience offers an authentic and immersive insight into the Kent Downs, it's nature and heritage

Food & DrinkBecome a Rebel FarmerVisit the beautiful microfarm, sample incredible organic local produce, and learn how to grow your own, all-year-round 4 hoursSave Become a Rebel Farmer to favourites
Food & DrinkOut to the Woods – Chapattis on a ChulaLearn traditional Indian cooking techniques and tools — in the heart of Kent’s woodlands! Learn how to follow ancient recipes to make delicious wood-fired chapatis…Save Out to the Woods – Chapattis on a Chula to favourites
Arts & CraftsOutdoor StudiosThe Outdoor Studios team will teach you all about the local area during a guided walk, sharing their ecological expertise, revealing how they use nature… 3-5 Hours £100 ppSave Outdoor Studios to favourites
Family FunWhite Cliffs Countryside – Samphire HoeBe one of the first to join a new exploration birdwatching off Samphire Hoe, the spectacular nature reserve at the foot of the imposing White… 3 Hours £60 Per TicketSave White Cliffs Countryside – Samphire Hoe to favourites
Arts & CraftsThis Art of MineExperience the joy of working with clay — all in the calm and inspiring surroundings of the Kent countryside. Create your own platter to take…Save This Art of Mine to favourites
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Discover Kent's Heritage Coast

Explore the magnificent chalk cliffs between Folkestone and Kingsdown form Kent’s Heritage Coast, one of Britain’s most evocative and best-known landmarks and the only UK destination to feature in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022.

Kent’s Heritage Coast – Lonely Planet Best in TravelThe Lonely Planet ranks Kent’s Heritage Coast as one of the world’s best regions to visit in 2022 We are absolutely delighted that Kent’s Heritage…Save Kent’s Heritage Coast – Lonely Planet Best in Travel to favourites
Cycling tagsCathedral to Coast cycle ride – Canterbury to DoverUndertake your own Pilgrim's Progress on this marvellous 50 mile (80km) circular ride using Regional Routes 16 and 17 linking Dover, Canterbury and Folkestone. Canterbury, Dover, FolkestoneSave Cathedral to Coast cycle ride – Canterbury to Dover to favourites
Marshy LandWalking tagsSt Margarets Bay walk – guarding the gatewayThis 4.7 mile England Coastal Path circular walk, much of it along quiet roads where the going is very easy, is dotted with reminders of… St Margaret-at-CliffeSave St Margarets Bay walk – guarding the gateway to favourites
Beaches tagsShakespeare CliffShakespeare Cliff, thought to have inspired a passage from Shakespeare's King Lear, is a dramatic cliff-top site with stunning views over Samphire Hoe and Dover… DoverSave Shakespeare Cliff to favourites
Beaches tagsFolkestone BeachThis fantastic family bay is a great place to go swimming, visit the mermaid café, and play in the adventure playground in the Lower Leas… FolkestoneSave Folkestone Beach to favourites
folkestoneBeaches tagsCycling tagsWalking tagsExplore Folkestone: Walking & Cycling RoutesExplore the historic coastal town of Folkestone, home to the stunning Harbour Arm and Lower Leas Coastal Park, you can even catch a glimpse of… FolkestoneSave Explore Folkestone: Walking & Cycling Routes to favourites
Walking tagsHythe to Folkestone Walk: Art & NostalgiaThis walk from Hythe to Folkestone gives you the best opportunities to appreciate the stunning artwork which is displayed at Folkestone Harbour as well as… Folkestone, HytheSave Hythe to Folkestone Walk: Art & Nostalgia to favourites
Dover BeachBeaches tagsDoverBask at the foot of those iconic White Cliffs and look out across the world's busiest straits. DoverSave Dover to favourites
Parks & open spaces tagsCreteway DownA great place to explore, Creteway Down offers dramatic views across Folkestone and the Channel. The steep downland also provides a habitat for a large… FolkestoneSave Creteway Down to favourites
Walking tagsSouth Foreland Lighthouse walkDiscover the White Cliffs of Dover, the most iconic symbol of our county, along this refreshing walk overlooking the English Channel - one of the… St Margaret-at-CliffeSave South Foreland Lighthouse walk to favourites

Easy Access Trails

Ideal for people who are wheelchair users, those with pushchairs or just those who like flat surfaced routes with no gates or stiles.

Walking tagsWhite Horse Wood easy access trailA short walk of 0.7miles (1.1km) through Kent County Council's newest country park. A longer walk can be completed of 0.9miles (1.4km) if viewing Thurnham… ThurnhamSave White Horse Wood easy access trail to favourites
Walking tagsCamer Park easy access trailA linear walk of 1.25 miles (2km). The path surface across the park is short grass followed by a hardened surface with occasional stones up… MeophamSave Camer Park easy access trail to favourites
Walking tagsKnole easy access trailA walk of 3 miles (4.8km). Paths continually climb and descend throughout the walk. Admission to park is free. Parking charges apply. Opening times 10.30am… SevenoaksSave Knole easy access trail to favourites
Walking tagsShorne Woods Country Park easy access trailShorne Woods Country Park has it all: woodland, waymarked trails, a pond, a sensory garden, a picnic area, a trim trail, a café and so… ShorneSave Shorne Woods Country Park easy access trail to favourites

Sustainable Visiting & Accessibility Initiatives

Find out about our work to help support sustainable tourism in the Kent Downs and help everyone enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of this beautiful landscape

Samphire-Hoe-cliffsOur UNESCO Global Geopark AmbitionCelebrating and protect our natural and cultural assets whilst contributing to the sustainable development of the local economy.Read more
Enhancing Access OpportunitesHow can we help to increase public access in the Kent Downs for health and wellbeing where it is most needed?Read more
Three friends laugh as they walk across open grassland, Two are walking and one in an electric wheelchairChanging Places ToiletsOur commitment to installing two Changing Places toilets in the Kent Downs AONB, working with our colleagues in Kent Country Parks.Read more
Sustainable TourismSupporting sustainable, low-impact tourism activities to secure the future resilience of our natural and cultural assets.Read more
Green Pilgrimage ProjectHow the economic benefits of PiIgrimage tourism can protect natural and cultural heritage.Read more

Grants & Funding for Rural Businesses

Find out about grants and funding for rural businesses in the Kent Downs to support nature recovery, biodiversity, sustainable tourism

Farming in Protected LandscapesA new grant programme for landowners and landmanagers for projects to support People, Place, Climate & Nature in the Kent Downs.Read more
Sustainable TourismSupporting sustainable, low-impact tourism activities to secure the future resilience of our natural and cultural assets.Read more
Light-through-trees-Denge-WoodTree Planting & EstablishmentFree and subsidised trees to help protect our irreplaceable trees and woodlands ensuring 'Right Tree, Right Place'.Read more

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Find out more about our work on the ground to help conserve and enhance this landscape, mitigate and adapt to climate change and our aspirations for UNESCO status as a Cross-Border Global Geopark.

Darent Valley Landscapes Partnership SchemeAn exciting large-scale partnership, working to conserve and enhance the distinctive heritage landscapes of the Darent Valley and to connect people to the Valley to…Read more
Farming in Protected LandscapesGrants to support nature recovery and mitigate the impacts of climate change.Farming in Protected Landscapes
Elham-Valley-close-up-grapesViticultureHow can the growing number of vineyards in the Kent Downs increase in biodiversity and climate change mitigation and adaptation?Read more
A man looks at a river with trees across it for natural flood managementNatural Flood ManagementWhat is the best practice in water management on farmland addressing both flood and drought risk?Read more