Phoebe Shipton
Kent is a walker’s paradise in any season; however, autumn is perhaps our favourite. From the wooded hills of the High Weald AONB to the sprawling country house estates, the colours of autumn can be admired from all angles. For ‘leafpeepers’ who want to admire the autumn foliage in all its glory, the Kent Downs is one of Britain’s most wooded landscapes, ensuring plenty of enchanting autumn palettes, from ochre to umber. The county is also sprinkled with bucolic country homes with glorious gardens, such as Great Comp Gardens and Lullingstone Castle.
Where to stay in Kent during autumn
Autumn is an idyllic time to visit the Garden of England, and the season provides a great excuse for a much-needed getaway and seasonal reset. We’ve got a range of cosy, characterful cottages and dog-friendly hideaways throughout Kent, which can serve as a beautiful base for your trip. Explore the full collection and filter by your chosen location here.
From family days out to leisurely strolls with the dog, we’ve rounded up our Top 5 Autumn Walks in Kent below.
Top 5 Autumnal Walks in Kent
We asked our team to suggest some of their favourite local spots throughout Kent for whimsical walks, colour explosions and impressive estates.
1. Hever Castle
When you see the striking red Boston ivy clinging to the side of Hever Castle, you know it’s autumn. Experience their Autumn Forest Bathing Workshops or around the lake and look out for autumnal delights like fungi, edible berries, conkers and hazelnuts. From the 29th September, the castle and grounds officially enter their ‘Autumn Colour’ period, which can be admired here. A walk around the lake takes about 1 hour – dogs can join you on your walks around the grounds, but make sure they are kept on a lead at all times.
2. Bedgebury Arboretum
The National Pinetum at Bedgebury lies at the heart of Kent’s High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. While the Pinetum is world-renowned for its conifer collection, at this time of year it is ablaze with autumn colour. A walk down Dallimore Valley passes the liquid amber, tulip trees, ginkgos, oaks, black birch and recently-planted nyssas, all of which have been chosen for their spectacular autumn colour. Around Marshal’s Lake, the dawn redwoods and swamp cypresses, despite being conifers, all take on various shades of burnt orange and foxy red before shedding their needles. The spindle and maples are already turning a vivid pink.
There are several trails you can opt to take at Bedgebury – take a look at this map to choose yours. On three different dates throughout October, there is also a guided autumn colour walk experience available.
3. Adisham/Barham Downs
This walk begins in the quiet village of Adisham on the edge of the old coal mining area of East Kent. It joins the North Downs Way for a short section by following little-used footpaths and bridleways with some interesting woodland sections. Good views open up north-eastwards to the coast as you return to the village. It is a fairly flat walk with no stiles, although paths can be muddy in wet weather. Combining colourful autumnal woodland with open, undulating sections, this is a great walk to enjoy during the ‘ber’ months. If you want to extend the walk to incorporate a cosy pub stop, cross the footbridge over the A2 (continue straight at point 12 on this map to find it) and venture to The Black Robin on Black Robin Lane, or slightly further to The Mermaid Inn in Bishopsbourne.
4. Wye Downs Walk
This walk around the village of Wye has some challenging climbs in places but offers some spectacular views from the Downs, together with some fascinating local features. Wye Crown, a landmark that can be seen for miles around, was created in 1902 by local students to mark the coronation of King Edward VII. Wye Downs National Nature Reserve is managed by English Nature and offers views over the Devil’s Kneading Trough and beyond. Follow the route provided by Kent Downs National Landscape here.
5. Knole Parkland
A 600-year-old estate with acres of ancient parkland, Knole is home to the last remaining deer park in Kent and one of the few parks in the country to have escaped the 18th-century fashion for landscaped treatments thanks to the Sackville family’s conservative approach. It is also filled with ancient trees that reveal the wood’s medieval past and whose colourful leaves make the site stunning in autumn. Hawthorn, oak, hornbeam, silver birch and ash colours mix together for a beautiful effect. There is a choice of walking trails that you can discover here.
Autumnal Walks in Kent: Honourable Mentions
For an invigorating and bracing outing, nothing beats a cliff-top walk from St Margaret’s to Kingsdown. Start and the old War Memorial and follow the Saxon Shore Way towards Deal. Refreshments can be taken either at the Bluebird Tea Rooms at the Memorial or at the Zetland Arms Pub in Kingsdown. The walk should take about 45 minutes, and if you are heading from St Margaret’s, there is a gradual slope all the way down to Kingsdown, of course, this means a slight incline all the way back if you choose to walk back!
Another lovely area to explore for walks and gardens is the Goodnestone Park Gardens. You can either go into the Gardens themselves or explore in and around the pretty village of Goodnestone, where there are a number of walks suitable for all ages.
