The Czech writer Milan Kundera created prose of sublime fiction that was aligned with elements of philosophy, curiosity and the natural world. He famously once said that ‘To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring. It was peace’
For many of us, this idea is perfectly served through the walks and hikes we undertake with our canine companions on a daily basis. It offers a time for reflection, the stirring reward of physical activity and if we are fortunate enough to have awe-inspiring scenery at hand too, then the experience can be elevated beyond measure.
The county of Kent is a fantastic location for dog owners and walkers for this very reason. It has such a variety of horizons for the eye to fall upon and a wealth of terrains underfoot that make it a sensorial delight. Chalk cliffs and windswept coastlines are joined by ancient woodlands, sheltered orchards and farmland that moves through the seasons in captivating ways. Accessible and unspoiled, these are places destined for adventures and respite from the pace of modern city life that will have every dog and owner pairing spoilt for choice.
Here is a brief collection of the very best dog walks in Kent.
Hamstreet Woods
This is a National Nature Reserve created around woodland that was once strictly managed for timber production and has now been allowed to thrive and flourish. There are almost 250 acres of oak trees, hornbeam and hazel coppice here, home to free-roaming deer, nightingales up above and butterflies that wander from flower to flower. The seasons here bring striking changes too, with an azure floor in the spring and summer before the gold and copper colours take charge in the colder months from October onwards.
You can find Hamstreet Woods on the edges of Romney Marsh in Ashford and the Woods Circular Trail has proven to be a popular route to follow. This is a 2.5-mile loop that combines open strolls with forays into denser woodland where dogs can explore to their heart’s content. For longer excursions then there are connections possible with the Saxon Shore Way that develops out towards the coast and all the dramatic scenery that comes with it.
Reculver Country Park
Located near Herne Bay, this is a considerably more compact dog walking location, but there is definitely no compromise in quality of the view. Over 60 acres of grassland here touch upon the sweeping cliffs and shingle beaches that reveal themselves at low tide. The reward is evident in the scenery available, with a panoramic vista of the Thames Estuary complementing the wide open spaces where your four-legged friend can roam without obstacles. Although caution must clearly be observed on some of the cliff-top paths, there is nothing quite like the sight of seabirds in flight, the skies filled with their calls on the wind. Romans, Saxons and monks have all been drawn to this area over the centuries and the two-tower ruins of the medieval church are a rather striking reminder of its enduring appeal.
A 3.5-mile Reculver Towers & Coastal Path Loop delivers a great selection of everything on offer and the Whitstable to Reculver path is a 7-mile challenge that many like to keep for those leisurely weekend afternoons when the light and the weather are both most favourable.
The Crab and Winkle Way
The Crab and Winkle Way from Canterbury to Whitstable is a seven-mile trail that could easily be seen as charting an important path through the history of Kent. What was once England’s first regularly operating passenger railway is now a traffic-free route of gentle gradients and marvellously maintained surfaces. Leaving the famous cathedral city in search of your very own Canterbury Tales with a dog on a lead soon becomes a journey of long and uninterrupted landscapes. Tackling the full seven miles may well be rewarding but perhaps a little too arduous for smaller paws, so options such as the Clowes Wood Loop near Tyler Hill are welcome alternatives with paths that meander underneath shaded woodland. Reaching Whitstable brings the ultimate prize of that bracing coastal air, but as ever, it is the journey through villages that link the past to the present that means more than the destination. One could spend a lifetime of walks along The Crab and Winkle Way and still uncover exciting new sights and scents just waiting to be explored with every visit.
Scotney Castle Estate
The Bewl valley of Kent is where Sussex meets the county, and it provides a compelling argument for that age-old claim that Kent is indeed the Garden of England. Just a few miles from Royal Tunbridge Wells, in all its regal splendour, is where you will find Scotney Castle, home to almost a thousand years of history that has made it both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Trust Concern. For decades, the rhododendrons, azaleas and beautiful wisteria of its gardens have drawn attention from all over the country and as the highest Three Paw-Print rating from the National Trust demonstrates, dogs on a lead are always welcome.
The Woodland and Parkland Circuit of 5 miles takes in quieter aspects of the estate. This is a steady descent to the River Bewl and wonderful wildflower meadows that cover a lot of ground without ever feeling too strenuous. If you are looking for a slightly more sedate introduction, then the Scotney Estate walk is just 2.5 miles through ancient woodlands with a great aspect of the castle staying in your sights at all times.
Man’s best friend could not wish for a more interesting landscape to accompany you on as you stretch your legs together in Kent. Making any of these paths and trails part of a daily or weekly ritual is guaranteed to put a spring in your step and fill your lungs with wonderful, clean air.
