Holly Hill Wood

Holly Hill Wood is a beautiful area of peaceful, unspoilt beech and yew woodland (the name is thought to come from a corruption of ‘Holy Hill’) that commands views over the Medway to the east.

This is one of the highest points in Kent at 196 metres above sea level. On a sunny day, from the concrete ‘trig point’ that still remains at the top of the hill, you can sometimes also see as far as Canary Wharf in London.  At 17.7 acres Holly Hill isn’t large, but the sense of isolation and tranquillity engendered by its hilltop location more than make up for its small size.

Holly Hill is situated on the North Downs just off the road between Birling and Vigo. For visitors arriving by car the site is well sign posted and there is a small on-site car park. Car parking is free, but the car park is locked at night. Walking from the car park leads into an extensive stretch of accessible and relatively uncommon beech and yew woodland interspersed with quality chalk grassland on the valley sides.

Following the network of public footpaths, you will be rewarded with wonderful glimpses across the valley towards the villages of Burham and Wouldham on the east bank of the River Medway.

Holly Hill is part of the ‘Valley of Visions’, a Heritage Lottery funded Landscape Partnership Scheme implemented by the Kent Downs National Landscape. This scheme aims to conserve and protect the valley’s habitats and heritage features, and to reconnect people to this impressive landscape.