09 February 2010Sevenoaks District has many areas of beautiful countryside and natural attractions. For details of popular countryside locations in your area, click on one of the links below:
Farningham Woods Nature Reserve
This ancient woodland covers the top of a hill to the north of Farningham Village and is a distinctive feature in the landscape. It is jointly owned and managed by Sevenoaks District Council and Farningham Parish Council and was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in 1987.
Farningham Woods is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which means it is one of the most valuable areas of woodland in Kent. It is 68 hectares (168 acres) in size and is home to the Small-Leaved Lime, a rare tree which is only found on one other site in Kent. There are several other unusual plants here including the largest British colony of the nationally rare Deptford Pink. The fields on the north side of the woods are ex-arable land which has naturally reverted to chalk grassland. They are now grazed by sheep to help improve their nature conservation value.
There is a waymarked 1.6 mile walking route taking in most of the site as well as a network of other paths. There are no specific facilities for cyclists or horse riders, however a byway crosses the site between Calfstock Lane and Button Street which can be used by both. The nearest toilet facilities are in Farningham Village.
Farningham Woods can be accessed from the A225 south of Horton Kirby, where a car park is located at the end of Calfstock Lane. Alternatively. The nearest station is at Farningham Road, two miles north of Calfstock Lane.
Other local attractions include Lullingstone Park Visitor Centre and Shoreham Woods.
Shoreham Woods
At 189 hectares (467 acres), this is Sevenoaks District Council's largest countryside site. It sits on the west side of the beautiful Darent Valley, overlooking Shoreham Village.
Shoreham Woods is actually five different woodlands, all linked together by rolling downland grazed by sheep. In spring, much of the woodland is carpeted with a spectacular display of bluebells and it is also home to several rare orchid species. The woods are home to many old trees, including a grove of ancient yews.
There are three waymarked walking trails - the Lizard Walk (one mile), the Owl Walk (three miles) and the Orchid Walk (four miles). Free leaflets are available for all of these. The Lizard Walk leaflet is also available in large print for visually impaired people. There is a horse riding route crossing Meenfield Wood, but no facilities for cyclists. A wheelchair-accessible path runs from the Rangers Lodge through Andrews Wood to a picnic area.
The site can be reached from the A224 at the top of Polhill. Heading towards London, turn right at the roundabout just past the nursery into Shacklands Road. The entrance to the car park is 400 yards on the right. The nearest stations are at Shoreham, (one mile from Meenfield Wood) and Knockholt (one-and-a-half miles from Andrews Wood). The car park closes at 5pm in the winter and 7pm in the summer and re-opens at 7am.
Other local attractions include Shoreham Station Visitor Centre, Lullingstone Park and Visitor Centre, Kemsing Downs Nature Reserve.
Oxenhill Shaw & Meadow
Managed as a Nature reserve, Oxenhill sits between Otford and Kemsing at the foot of the North Downs. As recently as 1979 it was an arable field but now it has developed into an attractive mixture of chalk grassland, trees and shrubs.
This is a 25 hectare (61 acre) site, most of which is grassland and scrub but there is a small area of older woodland at the southern end of the site. The grassland supports a range of interesting plants including orchids.
An ideal site for walking, there are a network of paths across the meadow and through the woodland. There is also a horse-riding route marked with blue arrows. There are no specific cycle routes on the site, but a tarmacked public bridleway runs along the northern edge of the site, which can be used by cyclists and is also wheelchair accessible. There are no toilet facilities on site.
Oxenhill can be accessed either from Nightingale Road in Kemsing, where car parking is available, or Tudor Drive in Otford. It is only a 10 minute walk from Otford Station.
Other local attractions include Otford Heritage Centre (Otford Parish Council), Kemsing Downs Nature Reserve.
Kemsing Downs
This site lies high on the North Downs escarpment, above the village of Kemsing. On a clear day it offers spectacular views as far east as Detling and as far west as Leith Hill in Surrey, a distance of over 40 miles. Kemsing Downs is owned by Kemsing Parish Council and managed in partnership with Sevenoaks District Council and Kent Wildlife Trust.
The Reserve is in two main parts, separated by an ancient cart track (now a public footpath) running over the Downs from north to south. The eastern section, known as Green Hill, supports chalk downland rich in flowering plants including nine species of orchid. To the west is a mixture of ancient woodland, chalk downland and ex-arable land, which is developing into species-rich grassland.
The site is ideal for walking and several footpaths cross the reserve, although many of these are steep and therefore unsuitable for disabled visitors. The North Downs Way, which runs for 153 miles between Farnham and Dover, passes through the site, as does one of Sevenoaks District Council's waymarked circular walking routes. Horse riding and cycling are permitted only on the byway at the western edge of the site. The nearest public toilets are in Kemsing village.
Kemsing Downs can be accessed from various entrance points on Pilgrims Way, just to the north of Kemsing. A public car park is available in the village. The nearest stations are at Otford (approximately one-and-a-half-miles ) and Kemsing (approximately two miles).
Other local attractions include Seal Chart Common, Otford Heritage Centre (Otford Parish Council), Oldbury Hill (Kent County Council).
Seal Chart, Fawke & Bitchet Commons
These beautiful wooded commons lie on the Greensand ridge to the east of Sevenoaks in the Parish of Seal. Historically, they were part of the Manor of Knole Park and are now managed by Sevenoaks District Council.
These Commons are all Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), which means they are some of the most valuable areas of countryside in Kent. They are especially important for their ancient oak woodland and remnants of heathland. The commons are home to some unusual heathland plants like Climbing Corydalis and Heath Dog Violet and they also support many species of bird including the uncommon redstart.
The commons are perfect for quiet, informal recreation. There is a network of public paths criss-crossing all three sites, including bridleways (which are also open to cyclists) and footpaths. Some paths are not suitable for wheelchair users.
The commons can be accessed from various points including the A25 east of Seal, but there are no designated car parks. The nearest station is at Kemsing, approximately one mile north of Seal Chart Common.
Other local attractions include Kemsing Downs Nature Reserve (Sevenoaks District Council), Oldbury Hill (Kent County Council), Ightham Mote (National Trust), Knole Park (National Trust).
Westerham Commons (Hosey and Crockham Hill)
These large areas of wooded common land lie high up on the Greensand Ridge in the extreme west of Sevenoaks District. The woodland is managed by the Squerryes Estate.
Both Commons are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's) which means they are some of the most valuable areas of countryside in Kent. There is also a series of old ragstone mines, which now serve as a hibernation site for five species of bats and are managed as a Nature Reserve by Kent Wildlife Trust.
The Commons are ideal for walking, horse riding and cycling as a network of footpaths and bridleways criss-crosses both sites, including the Greensand Way. Some paths are flat but others are steep and the Commons are not generally suitable for visitors with a disability. The nearest toilet facilities are in Westerham, two miles to the north.
The Commons are accessible from the B2026 between Westerham and Edenbridge. The main car park is at Hosey Common just north of Westerham with a smaller car park further south on Crockhamhill Common. The nearest station is at Edenbridge, miles miles to the south.
Other local attractions include Squerryes Court, Chartwell and Quebec House.
Hanging Bank (Stubbs Wood)
Stubbs Wood is located on the Greensand Ridge close to Ide Hill village. There are stunning views to the south over Bough Beech Reservoir and on to Ashdown Forest in the distance. The site is owned by Kent County Council and managed jointly with Sevenoaks District Council.
Stubbs Wood is part of a large Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which includes much of the Toys Hill area. It contains many plants characteristic of ancient woodlands including carpets of bluebells in the spring. The site suffered badly in the 1987 storm but natural regeneration and a programme of replanting have helped it to recover. Some huge ancient Oak and Beech trees survived the gales and still remain.
There are two waymarked walking trails and the Greensand Way also crosses the site. Parts of the site are accessible to horse rides and cyclists on public bridleways. Some of the paths at the top of the slope are suitable for people with walking difficulties but others are steep. Picnic tables are available around the car park, but there are no toilets on site. The nearest public toilets are at Ide Hill, half-a-mile west of the car park.
Stubbs Wood can be accessed off the B2042 just south of Goathurst Common. The nearest station is at Sevenoaks, six miles to the north east.
Other local attractions include Woodland at Toys Hill & Ide Hill (National Trust), Emmetts Garden (National Trust), Bough Beech Reservoir & Visitor Centre (Kent Wildlife Trust).
Kent County Council also manages many open public spaces in Sevenoaks Distinct including Dryhill Local Nature Reserve, Ightham Mote, Lullingstone and Preston Hill Country Park and Stubbs Wood. Please click on the link to reach the countryside pages on the KCC's website.
Contact Sevenoaks District Council's Countryside Team
Contact the Countryside Rangers on 01959 534802
Write to:
The Parking and Amenities Team
Council Offices
Argyle Road
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN13 1HG
e-mail parkingandamenities@sevenoaks.gov.uk
