Kent Accessible Countryside
Disabled Access, Wheelchair walks, Easy Access, Access for All, Mobility, Walks on Wheels, Miles without Stiles - whatever the term the following is all about accessibility to the countryside and green spaces of Kent.
Walks Greenspaces and Countryside
Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest - "Bedgebury is an award winning visitor attraction with something for everyone." -"3 walking trails & 3 cycling trails and Tramper hire" - The 2 miles (3.2 km) Pinetum trail is graded as Easy Access - from the Forestry England website <br>
- Download the Easy Access Trail leaflet from the Explore Kent website
Bewl Water - "The main visitor area, The Waterfront Café and The Boat House Bistro are all accessible to wheelchairs. Sections of path extending from the main car park to both Seven Pound Creek Jetty and to Heatherells Jetty are suitable for wheelchairs with wide tyres." "There is disabled parking available just outside of the Waterfront Café." - from the Bewl Water website
Broadwater Warren - RSPB Reserve - "The white Nature trail is 1.5 miles (approx 40 minutes) taking in heathland, woodland and the decoy pond. The first 200m is flat, and hard-surfaced. After that the trail is on an unsurfaced track. There are wide kissing gates adapted for wheelchair and buggy users. The second is the green heathland and woodland trail which is 3 miles long (approx 2 hours) which takes you round the whole reserve including an optional detour to the heathland viewpoint. This is generally unsurfaced, and can become muddy in autumn and winter. There is a section of boardwalk crossing ecologically important wet woodland, and narrower kissing gates. Benches can be found along both Trails. Along both trails there are permanent and temporary information signs." - from the RSPB website
Brockhill Country Park - "There are 2.5 kilometres of Easy Access pathway that provide access to Brockhill’s central areas, such as the café, playground and view point, where you can enjoy the beautiful sights of the surrounding countryside." "The main path from the café to the play area has recently been resurfaced and flat as far as the play area. After this it slopes quite steeply to the lake path." - from the Kent County Council website
Clowes Wood Easy Access Trail - 3.2 miles / 5.15km - "Easy access means that the route is suitable for pushchairs and all wheelchairs. Easy Access walks are free of stiles and obstructions. They generally have a hard, compact surface although some walks may use grassy surfaces, which can become muddy in winter months." - from the Explore Kent website
Dunorlan Park - "Dunorlan Park is naturally hilly. However, there is a relatively level path around the lake that can be easily reached from Hall’s Hole Road car park. The red paths are steep and may not be suitable for some visitors. Steps are also highlighted in red." - from the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council website
- Download the site map
Fordwich to Reed Pond Easy Access Trail - 2.5 mile / 4km - "The path is well-compacted and smooth but with stones of up to 40mm in the final approach to Reed Pond. It climbs gradually from the woodland up to the pond with occasional flat surfaces. There are no seats." - from the Explore Kent website
- Download the Trail Leaflet
Hadlow - "A flat walk of 1.2 miles (1.9km). The paths are a mixture of tarmac and a hard coarse surface. There are frequent rest areas along the route. A radar key may be required for wide access through the kissing gates." - from the Explore Kent website
- Download the Trail Leaflet
Hemsted Forest - "Hemsted has around five miles of hard surface road around the forest which allows for easy walking and wheelchair use." - from the Forestry England website
- also see a trail leaflet in our archive
Hilbert Woods - "There are good path networks across the area. Recycled plastic boardwalk has been used to create an all access path through the woodland. This pathway allows for a walk the length of the stream with passing spaces. It is roadside parking only for visitors to the park." - from the Kent High Weald Partnership website
Jeskyns Country Park - "A walk of 1.25miles (2.2km). The all-ability route follows hard fine surfaced paths over gently rolling hills taking in Henhurst Lake. There are plenty of resting points but there no toilets in the park. There is a shorter route, the Court Wood trail, at 0.25 miles if required" - from the Explore Kent website and leaflet
- Download the Trail Leaflet
Knole Easy Access Trail - (NT - charges) - We understand that there are is a picnic area next to the car park that has decking flooring and a ramp suitable for wheelchair users. - "A walk of 3miles (4.8km). Paths continually climb and descend throughout the walk." - from the Explore Kent website
- Download the Trail Leaflet
Leybourne Lakes Country Park - "The best accessible paths for visitors with wheelchairs and/or pushchairs are around Ocean Lake which are hard surfaced and reasonably flat. There are no width restricting features, such as stiles or non RADAR kissing gates" - The Cafe has unisex toilets with baby changing facilities and a dedicated disabled toilet
Perry Wood - "The woods can be explored by following the carved posts leading from the car park marking out the various routes around the woodland. There is a short easy access route with handrails, and more adventurous routes up and down the steep slopes of the woodland." - from the Kent Downs AONB website
- also see the Perry Woods website for more details and a site map
Romney Marsh Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve - "Wheelchair accessible. Most of the paths are level and hard and there is a choice of clearly signposted nature trails." - "Disabled access is available to 90% of the site" - from Kent Wildlife Trust website
Royal Military Canal - West Hythe - A walk of 1.9 miles (3km) or 4 miles (6.4km). The route mainly follows paths that are flat and have a hard fine surface.
- Download the Trail Leaflet
Samphire Hoe - "Samphire Hoe is wheelchair and pushchair friendly. There are toilet facilities including those for the disabled (RADAR key) and a baby changing room. There is a recommended ‘access for all’ way around the Hoe. The route follows the front path, signposted “West shore via the Hoe” passing through the chicane. The full circuit is 2km long. The section through the Hoe is tarmac; the sea wall is smooth concrete with two ramps giving access to and from the middle terrace providing good sea views. The average gradient is 1:15 with some steeper sections and occasional cross slopes maximum 1:25." - from the Samphire Hoe website
Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and Jeffery Harrison Visitor Centre - "Visitors in Wheelchairs have access to the visitors centre, three hides and most of the nature trail" - from Kent Wildlife Trust website
Jane Austen and Tonbridge Walk - 2.4 miles / 3.86 km - "This easy access walk, suitable for wheelchairs and buggies will take you on a literary journey through the heart of beautiful Tonbridge." "This walk will take you to places known to be connected to the Austen family." - from the Explore Kent website
- Download the Trail Leaflet
Tonbridge to Haysden Easy Access Trail - "This delightful route is found in the Walks for All series and is mainly flat along a tarmac path with hard surfaces around the lake. The walk is also very convenient for visitors taking advantage of the train." - from the Explore Kent website
- Download the Trail Leaflet
Toys Hill - (NT) - "There are a number of waymarked and surfaced trails to explore as well as a wheelchair accessible route." - from the Kent Downs AONB website
- Download the Trails leaflet from the National Trust website