Ancient Woodland and Waters

Linking Coast to Downs Route 3

Milton Creek

This is a wonderful and wild place, with plenty of space for meeting friends and enjoying nature. As well as play and community spaces, there are expansive areas of natural habitat, perfect for wildlife. The creek itself is a shallow tidal inlet with a rich history. In Victorian times, this waterway was very busy with the brick and paper industries that once thrived here.

Borden

This beautiful village is full of heritage buildings and charm. As you reach ‘The Playstool’ recreation ground, you can enjoy the view across the landscape back to Sittingbourne and the coast. Thanks to the fertile, free-draining soil here, this landscape was once full of orchards. In fact, the National Cherry Collection was once housed nearby at Tunstall.

Bredgar

This thriving heritage village lies just outside the National Landscape. Nestled in the rising chalk downland hills, you can find a charming village centre and duckpond with a welcoming farm shop, tea room and The Sun Inn pub. The land that surrounds is a mix of open arable and some modern orchards with small fruit trees.

Church Wood and Gorham Wood, Bicknor

South west of Bredgar and Deans Hill lies a steep and tranquil chalk valley of sheep-grazed pastures and ancient woodland. The woodlands here are rich in wildlife having been present since at least 1600AD. In Gorham and Admirals Community Woodlands there are more than 52 ‘ancient woodland indicator species’, including many stunning orchids. In Admiral Wood, you can enjoy outdoor cooking and forest school activities with Out To The Woods CIC, just remember to book in advance.

The Hucking Estate

This is a large and majestic woodland owned and managed by The Woodland Trust. At the carpark, you can enjoy the spectacular view as the downs fall away toward The Swale. The far end of the estate to the south marks one end of this Linking Coast to Downs trail, as it meets the North Downs Way above Hollingbourne. The Hucking Estate offers a patchwork of habitats and footpaths for exploring – look out for creative wooden sculptures lost among the trees.

Credit Explore Kent

Linking Coast to Downs

The Linking Coast to Downs series of walks and rides has been developed to promote access between the atmospheric coast of Swale and the rolling hills of the Kent Downs National Landscape.