As Spring approaches, you’ll notice bluebells are starting to pop up in woodlands. They are beautiful, like a carpet of purpley blue wonder. I don’t know about you, but I love to go for a bluebell walk. There are lots of lovely places near to me to see these beautiful flowers, so I’ve put together a list of top bluebell walks in Kent.
Bluebell Walks in Kent
Hole Park
Located in Rolvenden, near Cranbrook, Hole Park is a privately owned 16-acre garden, set in much larger parklands. Hole Park is known for its Spring display of bluebells. If you are visiting at this time, there will also be an abundance of daffodils, camellias, primroses, fritillaries, wood anemones, wisteria and magnolia on show. So a walk around these glorious gardens is a real treat to the eyes and the other senses too!
If you are going to enjoy the bluebells, in particular, the bluebell walk at Hole Park is circular and there are plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the views, as well as the sounds and scents on offer. If you need refreshment, there is a tea room on-site which offers light lunches and afternoon teas.
Address – Benenden Road, Rolvenden, Cranbrook, TN17 4JA
Perry Wood
Perry Wood near to Faversham is a great day out. Not only can you head there for a bluebell walk, but you can also visit if you are on a pedal bike or a horse.
There are several routes you can take when visiting, including a shorter walk for those who may struggle a little with the steeper slopes through the woodlands. The routes are all signposted by the carved posts from the car park.
Due to the gravel and sand mounds, Perry Wood offers excellent views across Sandwich, Wye Downs, Isle of Sheppey and the Swale rover. This, of course, is in addition to the bluebells on offer throughout the routes.
Address – Selling, Faversham ME13 9RP
Bedgebury
Bedgebury is best known for its trees. Located on the outskirts of Goudhurst, the pinetum is a treat all year round. But if you are a bluebell fan, you’ll know that bluebells thrive in wooded areas, so Bedgebury makes a perfect home for these beauties in Spring.
Bedgebury is a treat for the eyes in the Spring. They have a plethora of colourful flowers growing throughout the various walks, including azaleas, rhododendrons and of course bluebells. The pinetum is perfect for a full day out, so pack and picnic and hotfoot it down there.
Address – Bedgebury Road, Goudhurst, Kent, TN17 2SJ
King’s Wood
Located near Ashford, this 1500-acre woodland is one of the biggest and oldest forests in Kent. Kings Wood is particularly beautiful in Spring when there is an enormous carpet of these indigo beauties. As this forest was once a royal hunting ground, deer in vast numbers can often be spotted roaming the woods.
When you are walking through the trails, you may spot several unusual sculptures. Local artists have been encouraged to spend time in the forest working on pieces which are sympathetic to the nature that surrounds them. There’s a 2.5-hour walk past a number of these, so if you are heading there for the amazing bluebell carpet, you’ll also be treated to some art.
Address – White Hill, Challock, Kent, TN25 4AR
Emmetts Garden
Emmetts Garden near Sevenoaks is National Trust property. The woods at Emmetts Garden are really special. They have been awarded a SSSI (site of special scientific interest). This is all down to the type of bluebells that grow in the woods. They are English native bluebells, and as such are illegal for people to pick whilst on their walks. By protecting the bluebells, it will ensure that this variety of bluebell is protected so that visitors can enjoy them, year after year.
There are woodland routes available from the ticket office. This will direct you on the best route to take to enjoy the bluebell walk at Emmetts Garden. On your walk, not only will you see the gorgeous flowers, but you will also enjoy the panoramic views that Emmetts Garden has to offer, as it stands on one of the highest points in Kent.
If you are looking for a bluebell walk in Kent with your dog, then Emmetts Garden could be ideal. Dogs are welcome, but you need to keep them on a lead. Wellies or other appropriate outdoor shoes are recommended.
Address – Ide Hill, Sevenoaks, TN14 6BA
Hucking Estate
There are two routes through Hucking Woods on the outskirts of Maidstone. The shorter of the two is just a mile long and starts by Hucking village. The longer route is three miles and will take you on a lovely route filled with flora and fauna. There is a healthy bluebell display throughout Hucking Estate’s woodlands.
Address – Hucking Estate, Hollingbourne, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 1QP
Scotney Castle
Not only are there bluebells in the woods here, but there’s also a very old castle. Scotney Castle in Lamberhurst dates back to the 14th century. You’ll be greeted by bluebells as soon as you enter the long drive up to the estate.
The castle estate is a huge 770 acres and there are three official trails covering the parklands and woodland – perfect for a spring-time bluebell walk in Kent. If you haven’t had your fill of Spring by the time you’ve wandered the trails, you can explore further by visiting the gardens which are awash with colour in Spring.
Address: Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 8JN
Mariners Hill
This woodland was badly damaged by the big storm of 1987, but this hasn’t damped the spirits of the bluebells which pop up in their drove every spring.
Located in Chartwell, Mariners Hill has several paths, ideal for short circular walks. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, why not walk some of the longer Greensand Way. The whole of the Greensand Way is around 108 miles, so even taking a short wander along it is bound to bring you some beautiful panoramic views and a few bluebells along the way.
Address – Hosey Common Road, Crockham Hill, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6TB
Ightham Mote
Just down the road from Knole Park is Ightam Mote. There is a popular 8.5-mile walk between the two locations. But if that’s a bit too far, you can just enjoy Ightham Mote Estate on its own. Ightham Mote is probably one of the most famous locations for bluebells walks in Kent as they have around 15 acres of the gorgeous indigo blooms.
Scathes Wood at Ightham Mote is the best place to go bluebell spotting. You can pick up a self-guided walking route trail leaflet from the estate office.
Ightham Mote has one of the best displays of native bluebells. Easily distinguished from its dominant Spanish counterpart, native bluebells are much smaller, have narrower leaves and if you give them a sniff, you’ll find they have a pleasant delicate scent – Spanish bluebells do not smell.
Address – Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, TN15 0NT
Oare Gunpowder Works
Located just outside of Faversham, Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park is perhaps a place you’ve never heard of before. Even less so for their bluebells. At the top of the park, there is a natural woodland which is home to many plants including the bluebell.
The purple-blue carpet of bluebells found in the woodland at Oare Gunpowder Works is impressive and a real hidden gem when you are looking for bluebell walks in Kent. You never know what else you might see there as the woodland is a habitat for lots of wildlife including woodland butterflies like the speckled wood and holly blue
Address – Western Link, Faversham, ME13 7UD
Riverhill Himalyan Gardens
The team at Riverhill Himalayan Garden love the bluebell so very much, they want to rejoice them by having a bluebell festival. Hurrah I say! They want everyone to come and celebrate the arrival of bluebells (and Spring, of course) by taking in the magnificent displays of these blue beauties. This year’s festival takes place between 21st April and 3rd May (excluding 26th and 27th April).
They offer lots of photo opportunities which is a great idea. We all want to take photos of the bluebell carpets, but we must be careful, as walking through bluebells can damage them for years to come, sometimes even killing them off for good!
Riverhill, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0R
Trosley Country Park, nr Vigo
The 170-acre park, situated near Vigo on the North Downs, is another Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are three trails at Trosley Country Park, ranging between 3.5 and 7.5 miles, which will take you through the chalky grasslands and the Trosley Woods, ideal for bluebell hunting.
There’s parking, a café, toilets and one of the routes is an accessible trail, so it’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy. It’s also pretty scenic from every viewpoint on the routes.
Address – Waterlow Rd, Vigo, Gravesend DA13 0SG
Chartwell
Chartwell was once Winston Churchills home and now is a National Trust property. It’s also a fantastic place to see bluebells this Spring. There’s a large area of woodlands on the estate as well as formal gardens. You can even link up some of the other places on this list with trails running between Chartwell and Toys Hill or Emmetts Garden.
Chartwell is located in Westerham and if you are visiting, there’s lots more than just bluebells to see. It’s a lovely day out with lots of walks, some great scenery and a few facilities thrown in for good measure.
Address – Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1PS
Sissinghurst Castle
The woodlands at Sissinghurst Castle are rumoured to have over 125 million bluebells. I’m not quite sure who counted all those bluebells, but I’m not going to argue and ask for a recount. Even if the numbers are slightly out, that’s still an awful lot of these gorgeous flowers – so well worth a visit for a bluebell walk in Kent.
Located in Cranbrook, the gardens and woodlands at Sissinghurst Castle aren’t just a treat for bluebell lovers, there are plenty of other wonderful wildflowers to enjoy, as well as more cultivated plants in the formal gardens.
If you are heading to see the bluebells, there is a three-mile walk through the bluebell wood, which also goes along some of the surrounding fields. It’s amazingly picturesque.
Address – Biddenden Road, Cranbrook, TN17 2AB
Hamstreet Woods, nr Ashford
This is another ancient woodland which has also been marked as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Located in Hamstreet, near Ashford, the woodlands are over 400 years old and is the final part of the oak forest that once covered the Weald. There are a number of shorter trails which can be easily covered in a day, but the woodlands also form part of the previously mentioned Greensand Way.
If you visit during Spring-time, you’ll be treated to a dazzling display of bluebells as well as other spring woodland flowers. Hamstreet Woods are also home to several rare butterflies and moths.
Address – Hamstreet, Ashford TN26 2HH
I hope this has inspired you to go bluebell walking this Spring. Remember to treat the bluebells with respect and not to trample on them – they take a very long time to grow back!
If you know of any other gems for bluebell walks in Kent, I’d love to hear about them.
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