10 country parks in Kent to visit for a winter walk, including Bedgebury Pinetum, Betteshanger and Knole

There’s no better way to take in the crisp winter weather than a bracing walk in a country park.

The Kent countryside is full of picturesque parks with rambling trails, stunning views and exciting playgrounds for you and your family to enjoy this season - and here are 10 of our favourites…

Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Cranbrook

This beautiful forest isn’t just for Christmas. Home to the sell-out Christmas at Bedgebury light trail, this award-winning park welcomes lots of visitors over the festive season but is open all year round for families to enjoy. With a stunning collection of conifers, more than 12,000 specimen trees and a location set in the rolling hills and valleys of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this is a great spot for nature lovers. When it comes to activities, there are miles of walking, running and cycling trails, a play trail and play areas for children, an on-site cafe with views of the pinetum and lake, and even a Go Ape treetop adventure.

Details: Lady Oak Lane, Goudhurst, Cranbrook TN17 2SJ. Open daily from 8am until 3.30pm. Closing times change depending on season. Parking charges apply.

Betteshanger Country Park, Deal

If you want an action-packed country walk that will keep the kids busy, then you might want to head to this Deal destination. The 250-acre park on the site of the former Betteshanger Colliery has lots of fun outdoor activities for your children to take part in, including a smooth, traffic free tarmac track for family cycling, an off-road mountain biking track, more than 5km of running and walking paths, a new play park with a zip line and maze, and the on-site Kent Mining Museum. To top it all off, there are incredible views of the North Downs slopes and surrounding woodland.

Details: Sandwich Road, Deal CT14 0BF. Open daily from 8am to 4.30pm. Parking charges apply.

Brockhill Country Park, near Hythe

With two specifically designed walks, you can choose whether to take a relaxed stroll around the lake or venture through the Kent Downs to capture Hythe’s spectacular views over the English Channel. There are also large meadows, woods and valleys to explore, with a variety of wildlife, from marbled white butterflies to green woodpeckers, to look out for. Your kids can also burn off some energy in the play area, complete with swings, monkey bars and a climbing frame.

Details: Sandling Road, Saltwood, Hythe CT21 4HL. Open daily from 9am to 9pm or dusk. Parking charges apply.

Knole Park, Sevenoaks

This National Trust property in Sevenoaks is one of Kent’s most picturesque country parks. With more than 1,000 acres of trees, woodland, valleys and parkland sweeping over the grand estate, there is plenty of space for you and your family to explore. The historic park began life as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s palace and deer park in 1456, and is now a much-loved visitor attraction and continues to be one of the county’s biggest deer parks to this day. As you stroll through the grounds, keep an eye out for the herd of wild sika and fallow deer that roam the parkland.

Details: Knole House, Sevenoaks TN15 0RP. Open daily from 10am to 4pm. Free for National Trust members, £6.00 per adult for non-members. Parking included in your ticket.

Lullingstone Country Park, near Swanley

For the green-fingered among you, a trip to this botanical haven is a must. The park, nestled on the unassuming outskirts of Eynsford, contains an astonishing 300 oak, beech, ash, hornbeam and sweet chestnut trees, some of which are thought to be 800 years old. There are four trails taking you through the 460 acres of chalk grassland and ancient woodland, where you can also see the stunning displays of wildflowers, depending on when you visit. If that’s not enough, Lullingstone Castle and the World Garden, with its remarkable collection of plants, is just a 10 minute drive away.

Details: Castle Road, Eynsford DA40JF. Open daily from 8am to 9pm or dusk. Parking charges apply.

Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park, Faversham

This peaceful spot just outside of Faversham is a hidden gem of nature and wildlife. The town’s former hub of the gunpowder industry closed down in 1934 and has now been transformed into a number of outdoor trails that weave in and around open water, marshland, woodland and the old gunpowder buildings. Many of these abandoned buildings are now home to native plants and wildlife. Part of the country park has also been turned into a nature reserve, with a focus on conservation of birds, bats, insects and amphibians.

Details: Western Link, Faversham ME13 7UD. Open daily from 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 4pm on weekends. Entry and parking is free.

Pegwell Bay Country Park, Ramsgate

If you want to get the perfect Instagram photo on your winter walk, then this is the place for you. Pegwell Bay has beautiful views of the coastal towns of Sandwich and Deal to the west and the striking cliffs of Ramsgate to the east, so you really do get to capture the best of the Kent landscape. In addition to its unrivalled location, there are lots of waterfront walking and cycling trails to follow while you’re there, as well as picnic spots, play parks and on-site refreshments to keep you going all day long.

Details: Sandwich Road, Ramsgate CT12 5JB. Open daily from 9am to 9pm or dusk. Parking charges apply.

Riverside Country Park, Gillingham

With riverside walks, covered woodland trails and charming open fields, who would have thought that this slice of Green Flag countryside could be found in the heart of Medway? There are a selection of coloured trails to follow - you’ll find lots of keen runners and dog walkers in particular along these routes - that will take you around the 100 hectares of country park, including the Medway Estuary, Motney Hill and Berengrave Local Nature Reserve. The marshes attract lots of wildlife, not to mention the purpose-built bee garden and bug hotel, which are a great way to discover more about the creatures that inhabit the area. There is also a children’s playground and cafe for when you need a pitstop.

Details: 333 Lower Rainham Road, Rainham ME7 2XH. Open daily from 8am until 5pm. Closing times change depending on season. Entry and parking is free.

Trosley Country Park, Gravesend

If you’re in this neck of the woods, you might be surprised to find a delightful 170-acre country park right on your doorstep in Gravesend. The chalk grassland slopes, which have become a Site of Special Scientific Interest, welcome a variety of wildlife to the area. There are also uninterrupted views over the North Downs from several spots along the park’s three walking trails. If you want to see something different on your day out, see if you can spot the Coldrum Stones, an ancient listed monument of 15 sarsen stones, before taking a break at the woodland play area and cafe.

Details: Waterlow Road, Vigo, Gravesend DA13 0SG. Open daily from 8.30am to 9pm or dusk. Parking charges apply.

White Horse Wood, near Maidstone

Discover the medieval ruins of Thurnham Castle and the remains of an Iron Age settlement as you go for a wander through these enchanting woods. The park, just outside of Maidstone, has been transformed in recent years and is now filled with sculptures and more than 20,000 newly-planted trees. There is also a chance to take in views of the North Downs and, if you feel like going further afield, you can join the North Downs Way from here and follow it to either Canterbury or the south coast of Kent.

Details: Detling Hill, Maidstone ME14 3JE. Open daily from 9am to 9pm or dusk. Parking charges apply.