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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.

The Kent Pilgrims' Festival

Discover a modern-day pilgrimage festival of walks, performances, and events to help you reconnect with Kent’s rich pilgrim heritage, beautiful landscapes and nature.

Kent Pilgrims' FestivalThe Kent Pilgrims’ FestivalDiscover a modern-day pilgrimage festival full of walks, performances, and events to help you reconnect with Kent’s rich pilgrim heritage, beautiful landscapes and nature, and…Save The Kent Pilgrims’ Festival to favourites
Kent Pilgrims' Festival tagsOutdoor Activities tagsPilgrimage tagsPilgrimage of the Chough23rd September 2022 9:00-18:00Join a two-day journey of transformation through Kent with the British Pilgrimage Trust, exploring Becket and his emblem, the Chough. DoverSave Pilgrimage of the Chough to favourites
Arts & Crafts tagsFamily Fun tagsKent Pilgrims' Festival tagsMeet the Pilgrims25th September 2022 10:00-16:00Hear the stories of Dover's medieval pilgrims at this free, drop-in event for all ages, at Maison Dieu (Dover Town Hall). DoverSave Meet the Pilgrims to favourites
Kent Pilgrims' Festival tagsOutdoor Activities tagsPilgrimage tagsHistory Hike – Wye to Chilham23rd September 2022 7:45am - 5:30pmBecome a pilgrim for the weekend on this 8-mile history walk from Wye to Chilham with Ildi Pelikan. WyeSave History Hike – Wye to Chilham to favourites
Canterbury CathedralCulture & Heritage tagsKent Pilgrims' Festival tagsOutdoor Activities tagsCanterbury UNESCO Tour22nd September 2022 9:30am - 3:30pmJoin a new guided tour of the UNESCO-listed city of Canterbury combining the three sites that together give Canterbury this title. CanterburySave Canterbury UNESCO Tour to favourites
Via Francigena signpostKent Pilgrims' Festival tagsOutdoor Activities tagsPilgrimage tagsVia Francigena Challenge25th September 2022 9:00-18:00Join a one-day walking challenge for adventurous women of any or no faith in a modern-day pilgrimage along the famous Via Francigena. CanterburySave Via Francigena Challenge to favourites

Join our journey to UNESCO status!

In celebration of the chalk and the channel, we are working to secure Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark status for the Kent Downs AONB together with our neighbouring protected landscape in France; the Parc Naturel Regional des Caps et Marais d’Opale. There will be lots of ways for everyone to get involved!

White-cliffs-and-sand-ripples-St-Margarets-BayAspiring Cross-Channel UNESCO Global GeoparkFind out more about our aspiration for a Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark and how you can get involvedSave Aspiring Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark to favourites
Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark For Kent BusinessHow Kent Businesses can get involved with our bid for UNESCO Global Geopark statusSave Cross-Channel UNESCO Global Geopark For Kent Business 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

Arts & CraftsMosaic Makers in NatureLearn the ancient art of mosaic on this nature experience in the Kent Downs AONB, with afternoon tea included. 4 hours £100 per personSave Mosaic Makers in Nature to favourites
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
Arts & CraftsThis Art of MineExperience the joy of working with clay, in the calm and inspiring surroundings of the Kent countryside. Create your own platter to take home, before…Save This Art of Mine 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
Man chopping wood with axeOutdoor ActivitiesNatural PathwaysDiscover what it was like to be a traditional woodsman and immerse yourself in the culture, myth and folklore around Kent's ancient Great Oak trees.Save Natural Pathways to favourites
WellbeingThe View over the WallConnect with nature, heritage and wellbeing on an awakening guided walk through the most beautiful landscapes in the Kent Downs. 3-4 hours £35 per personSave The View over the Wall 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

North Downs Way Accommodation GrantThe grant scheme will support the development of new low-cost accommodation, that has a low or positive landscape impact on the North Downs Way National…Read more
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