Walking in Kent's great outdoors

Enjoy the beauty of Kent's green hills, woodlands and spectacular coast at your own pace, Strolling while waves whisper on the shore. Racing, breathless, across breezy downs. The thrilling sight of dazzling white cliffs, the smell of spicy orchard blossom. Escape into Kent's marvelous outdoors.

Easily accessible from London and mainland Europe, Kent offers many attractions for walkers to explore. Offering more than 180 gardens open to the public and historic cities alongside bustling market towns, picturesque villages and hidden hamlets.

There are three key long distnace walking routes through Kent. The North Downs Way, Kent's premier walking route, runs through the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with magnificent views, and largely follows the historic Pilgrims Way.

The Saxon Shore Way offers incredible landscapes ranging from Dover's famous White Cliffs, overlooking the Channel and the coast of France, and the golden sands of such famous resorts as Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate, to the wildlife sanctuaries of the Medway Estuary and Cliffe Marshes and the haunting scenery of Romney Marsh.

The third route, the Greensand Way, passes through much ancient and semi-mature woodland, and has had a significant number of magnificent houses, gardens and parks built along the Greensand ridge.

Over 4,200 miles of footpaths criss-cross Kent and there's something for everyone, from short strolls to day long hikes. So leave the car behind and ‘go green' walking: many routes are through protected countryside, so you can savor their unspoilt charms again and again.

Feel your senses come alive, spotting rare orchids and butterflies in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or ambling ripe lanes past oast houses and hop fields. Enjoy uplifting views over wide, open landscapes and play hide-and-seek with the kids in ancient bluebell woods - magical! Keep your options open at more than 80 country parks, picnic sites and nature reserves.

For more information -

You can find over 70 walks with information and guides to download on the Explore Kent website, or why not use the interactive map to view paths and create your own walks anywhere in Kent. .

There's nothing quite like exploring outdoor Kent.

Walking routes

Click on one of the themes below to browse our selection of short walks in Kent.