12 Walks for Christmas

These walks can be done in any order as much depends on the weather and everyone’s ability within the family.  Of course, some will want to try out new bikes and scooters etc.  If you have decided that your New Year’s resolution is getting more active, this is the perfect place to get a head start. 

Walk 1 - Christmas Day

A walk around the lake of Mote Park is approximately 5km but is a wonderful place to try out new bikes and scooters for the early risers before lunch.

Walk 2 - Boxing Day

Allington to Maidstone along the river.  This is an easy walk as it is flat, you can return along the same route, so you can go as far or as short as you like. But Maidstone East Station to Kent Life Heritage Farm Park is 4.2 miles or 7.6km.  The going is flat.

Walk 3

Vinters Park Nature Reserve is approximately a 2 mile or 3.2km walk if you walk the whole way around.  Keep your eyes peeled for the wildlife you will find on the way and take time to listen to the bird song.

Walk 4

Wateringbury Railway Station to Yalding and back.  Follow the river path to Yalding and turn left on to Hempsted Lane towards The Boathouse Pub.  Cross the bridges heading towards the centre of Yalding via Yalding Lees (Meadows).  Turn left over the bridge by the Post Office and head uphill towards The Walnut Tree Pub where you turn left into Kenwood Road and follows the lane until you pass Kenwood Place.  Shortly after that turn left into Bow Hill which will take you back to the station. 5 miles or 8km.  There is quite a big uphill towards Kenwood Place. Alternatively walk one way and catch the train back.

Walk 5

Leybourne Lakes offers approximately 230 acres of good waterside walking where you can adjust the walk to the time and energy you have and it is an excellent place for those using wheels.

Walk 6

Teston Bridge Country Park is a great walk all the way around the perimeter but if you walk alongside the river and follow the footpath it will take you to Wateringbury Station which is a little short of 1.5 miles, where you can return along the same path or a 3 mile 4.8km walk.

Walk 7

Hush Heath Estate Vineyards offers a lovely walk amongst the vines and through the woods and orchards which is perfect for a family.  It takes a little over an hour and is about 3km.

Walk 8

This is an excellent short walk of just under a mile along fairly quiet lanes but do please be careful and listen out for cars.  It has a castle on route to explore as well.  From Sutton Valence High Street or Lower Road, keep right into Rectory Lane where you will come across the steps upto to Sutton Valence Castle, on returning to the lane keep left and then at the end of the lane turn left into Baker Lane and turn left into Tumblers Hill which will take you back to your starting point.  If it has rained a lot and is wet underfoot this is a good route.

Walk 9

White Horse Wood Country Park head out across the flat part of the top of the hill away from the road.  You will come across a stone track where you turn left on to Castle Hill.  Head down the hill where you will come across a path to left to Thurnham Castle which you can explore.  Return to Castle Hill and cross over to the opposite side of the road from the Castle and head along the foot path across the Downs towards Detling – North Downs Way.  Take the first footpath signed on the left hand side and walk down the hill to the Pilgrims Way.  Walk along the Pilgrims Way, watch out for cars, and walk towards The Black Horse Inn.  At the cross road turn left up Castle Hill to return to White Horse Wood Country Park. 2.5 miles 4km but be ready for a steep climb.

Walk 10

Hucking Estate is owned and managed by The Woodland Trust there are all sorts of trails around this woodland, so you can make it as long or as short as you like and of course there is the Hook and Hatchet for refreshments.

Walk 11

Whatman Park is a great place to go and less busy than Mote Park.  The track is sort of set out in a figure of 8 and are lots of short cuts back or you can walk out along the river in Whatman Park, cross at the footbridge at the end of Kerry Hill Way and walk back along the River. This walk is approximately 2 miles or 3.2km from Maidstone East and Maidstone Barracks stations.

Walk 12

Maidstone River Park walk from the Archbishop’s Palace to as far as you would like to go and then return. Lockmeadow car park is a good place to start and finish.  Refreshments can be found at Love Food inside Lockmeadow Entertainment Complex.  This is a very good walk for those who need wheels, be they buggies, wheelchairs, mobility scooters or prams.

More discoveries on foot

More good walks can be found on https://explorekent.org/ and on https://kentcrp.org/mvlstations/ The latter has some great walks from railway stations, either circular or linear where you can catch the train back.