Explore More Kent

Find a Walk Near Me

Free Access to the Garden of England

Kings_Wood_Sculpture_Explore_Kent

Nature on your Doorstep

  • Free access all year round to the Garden of England
  • With over 7,100 km over 4000miles of pathways to explore in Kent you are never far from a PROW
  • Hidden green spaces in Kent connected by the public rights of way network
  • Fun, free and easier to access than you might think
  • Connect with nature, see and learn about the natural world on your doorstep
  • Great for health and wellbeing

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Your Right of Way

  • You have the right to walk on all public rights of way
  • A public right of way can be used by anyone at any time.
  • – some of them go through farmers fields, churchyards, even people’s gardens- it sometimes feels wrong, but it’s OK- you can use them- it’s your right of way

Walking near Otford

Respect, Protect, Enjoy

 

  • Leave gates as you find them
  • Leave no trace of your visit, take all your litter home
  • Don’t have BBQs or fires
  • Keep dogs under control
  • Dog poo – bag it and bin it
  • Plan ahead, check what facilities are open, be prepared
  • Follow advice and local signs and obey social distancing measures
  •  

How to Read the Signs

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Footpath

Bridlepath

Horses and bikes

Restricted Byway

Byway

Planning your Trip

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Explore Kent

#Quick and easy walks incl accessible

Day trip whole family

OS Apps and Kent Connected

Free entry level

On the go on your phone

North Downs Way

Jewels in the Crown

XXX amazing

Multi day itineraries

10 mile chunks

England Coast Path

 

OS PAper maps

 

EXP logo (EN) high res Print download

Your free access to the Garden of England

All year round

 

 


 

To help you enjoy more of the Garden of England, we’ve put together some tips on how to explore Kent’s amazing public rights of way.

 

NATURE ON YOUR DOORSTEP

With over 7,000 km of public rights of way to explore in Kent, you are never far from green space

⇒ Discover the hidden green spaces in Kent connected by the public rights of way network

⇒ Connect with nature, see and learn about the natural world on your doorstep

⇒ Great for health and wellbeing for the whole family

⇒ It’s fun, free, and easier to access than you might think.

YOUR RIGHT OF WAY

You have the right to explore all public rights of way

⇒ A public right of way can be used by anyone at any time

⇒ Some public rights of way go through farmer’s fields, churchyards, even people’s gardens

⇒ It sometimes feels wrong, but it’s OK, it’s your right to use them responsibly. Simply familiarise yourself with the four signs below and follow the route on maps or apps as you go.

 

RESPECT, PROTECT, ENJOY

Help protect the countryside

⇒ Close gates behind you

⇒ Leave no trace of your visit, take all your litter home

⇒ Don’t have BBQs or fires

⇒ Keep dogs under control

⇒ Dog poo – bag it and bin it

⇒ Plan ahead, check what facilities are open, be prepared

⇒ Follow advice and local signs and follow social distancing measures.


 

How to Read the Signs

Kent’s vast public rights of way network is often signposted and always mapped so you shouldn’t get lost and you’ll know what other types of users to expect along the way.

FOOTPATH

Look for the yellow arrows

Footpaths are for walkers, runners, mobility scooters, powered wheelchairs, and prams.

Footpaths are generally safe from traffic but sometimes they cross busy roads.

 

BRIDLEWAY

Look for the blue arrows

Bridleways are for walking, cycling, mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs, and horseriding.

Cyclists must give way to walkers and horse riders.

 

RESTRICTED BYWAY 

Look for the plum arrows

Restricted byways are for walking, cycling, horseriding, and any non-motorised transport, plus mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.

 

BYWAY OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC

Look for the red arrows

Open to all traffic, including cars, but they’re mostly used by walkers, cyclists, mobility scooters, and horse riders.

 

 


 

Plan your Trip

Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly stroll or a multi-day adventure, there are plenty of tools to help you plan your trip and find your way while you’re out and about.

FOR INSPIRATION AND PRE-BUILT ITINERARIES

 

Explore Kent

Find itineraries for outdoor activities including long walks, accessible walks, cycling routes, horse riding routes, and outdoor gyms.

 

Visit Kent

Feel inspired with hundreds of ideas for daytrips and staycations to suit your mood, including tips on the best local producers, pubs and restaurants to sample along the way.

 

North Downs Way

A 246 kms specially signposted route with multi-day itineraries or shorter walks taking in the best of the Kent countryside.

The North Downs Way is the jewel in Kent’s walking crown stretching from Surrey to Dover and through the magnificent city of Canterbury. As a National Trail, the North Downs Way is well-kept and very clearly signposted – just look for the acorns.

England Coast Path

A continuous coastal National Trail around Kent’s glorious coastline. Parts of the path are still under construction and you can see completed sections here.

 

CREATE YOUR OWN ITINERARY

& NAVIGATE ALONG THE WAY

 

Kent Connected

Find walking and cycling itineraries and navigate on the go.

A quick and easy app to find walking and cycling routes between any towns and villages in Kent. Eg you could search for a walk from Wye to Chilham via The North Downs Way. Includes OS map, Open Streets, and Open Cycle map layers for easy planning of walking and cycling routes.

 

OS App and Paper Maps

The most detailed and accurate maps available free online or as paper maps.

Plan your trip and navigate on the go using OS paper maps or free OS maps online. The OS Maps app with premium features is also currently available as a 7 days free trial. OS maps are the most detailed and accurate maps for walking with different types of public rights of way clearly marked.

 

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