Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
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.
#UpTheKentDowns
The Kent Downs AONB has exactly what visitors desire for all year round, unmissable, sensory, and immersive experiences, where you can ‘live like a local’ and enjoy your short breaks sustainably.
The Kent Downs Blog & News
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!
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
The North Downs Way National Trail
The North Downs Way National Trail offers walkers and cyclists 153 miles (246 km) of spectacular scenery, picturesque villages and glorious rolling countryside, passing through the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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