Walkers on a country footpath
  • 30 April 2020

Explore Kent – challenging countryside walks

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Kent’s long-distance trails deliver wide horizons, stunning scenery, rich history and an exhilarating sense of freedom. Some of these routes can be attempted in one go for the experienced walker, while you can pick and choose sections of each of these routes for a day out or a shorter walk with friends or family.

We have more than 4,200 miles of countryside and coastal paths; creamy cliffs, rolling downland, mind-expanding marshes, sweeping beaches, sleepy villages, heritage-packed cities and towns – you can stroll through them all.

Really get away from it all on one of Kent’s long-distance trails: The 153-mile, ridge-top North Downs Way winds through the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Chalk peeps from the soil beneath your boots and magnificent views frame the horizon on a route which echoes the historic Pilgrims Way.

Tread the 108-mile Greensand Way through ancient woods, the Kent Downs AONB and bluebell groves, past magnificent historic homes, including mesmerizing Knole.

Or attempt the 160-mile Saxon Shore Way arches from Gravesend to Hastings through some of Britain’s most compelling coastal landscapes.

Challenging countryside walks for when you want that little bit more…

Elham Valley Way

Follow this 22.5-mile route as it meanders through the hidden byways, ancient woodland and attractive villages surrounded by parkland, orchards and farmsteads.

Eden Valley Walk

Follow the banks of the River Eden and the River Medway and along delightful paths and lanes, through the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the 15 mile Eden Valley Walk.

Tunbridge Wells Circular

The sheer variety of landscapes from patchwork fields and small hamlets to steep sided woodland valleys and fast-flowing streams make this 27.5-mile Tunbridge Wells Circular one of the most popular walks in the county.

High Weald Landscape Trail

Discover panoramic views and hidden hamlets along the path of the 90-mile long-distance High Weald Landscape Trail which runs through the famous Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Way of St. Augustine

The Way of St. Augustine is approximately 17 miles long, connecting the shrine of St. Augustine in Ramsgate to historic Canterbury, following the footsteps of St. Augustine.

Saxon Shore Way

Imagine stepping back in time and discovering the coastline of the garden of England as it stood more than 1,600 years ago. The 160-mile Saxon Shore Way does exactly that!

Medway Valley Walk

Discover ancient castles, historic villages and some of Kent’s finest wildlife sites along the 28-mile Medway Valley Walk, which runs from Tonbridge to Rochester.

Greensand Way

Stride out along 108 miles of the Greensand Way and discover some of the finest walking experiences in the South East.

Royal Military Canal

Stretching for 28 miles between Seabrook in Kent and Cliff End in East Sussex, the Royal Military Canal is the third largest man-made defence structure in Britain.

North Downs Way National Trail

The 153-mile North Downs Way offers spectacular views and a fascinating heritage- passing through the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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