Kent's Coastal Parks

Kent is blessed with a wide variety of country parks, nature reserves and open spaces. Many of which can be found along our dramatic and beautiful coastline.  Some sit on the cliff tops offering dramatic and far reaching views out to sea and along the coastline, others attract some of Kent’s most interesting wild and bird life. But they all offer one thing, a wonderful day out, guaranteed!

The added benefit of a park is the facilities such as disabled parking, surfaced paths and toilets, so they can be enjoyed by everyone.

A trip to the Kent coast is a must when the sun is shining. So here are some of Kent’s best coastal parks for you to enjoy whilst at the coast this summer.

 

Leysdown Coastal Park, on the Isle of Sheppey

Leysdown Coastal Park is adjacent to the sea wall at Leysdown with big views across the Thames estuary and North Sea. There is a large area for recreation, play area, pitch and putt golf course and two café / kiosks with toilet facilities and ample parking.

 

Oare Marshes, near Faversham

Managed by Kent wildlife Trust, Oare Marshes comprise sheltered marshland and mudflats that provide a superb habitat for many birds. The site is important for the breeding of wetland birds, as well as its appeal to migratory birds. Hides on the site offer excellent vantage points to observe the birds from.

 

Elmley Marshes RSPB Reserve, Sheerness

Elmley Marshes is a nationally important area of coastal grazing marsh that supports a large variety of wildlife. The site also comprises smaller areas of saltmarsh, brackish water pools and fleets. The grassland provides a home to wintering populations of wigeon (a species of international importance) and impressive numbers of teal, shelduck, shoveler and pintail. Elmley Marshes is also one of the best sites in the UK to see wintering raptors.

 

Reculver Country Park, near Herne Bay

Managed by Kent Wildlife Trust, Reculver Country Park is a unique place combining undeveloped coast, historic buildings and wildlife interest.  Designated internationally important as a Special Protection Area, and nationally important as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England. The Reculver Towers are a landmark and Scheduled Ancient Monument that can be seen across the coastline from Herne Bay to Birchington in Kent. From the Towers there are 180° views, from Herne Bay to Margate. The eroding cliffs provide an important habitat for a range of insects and birds. The cliff top grassland provides a pleasant walk for visitors between the Reculver and Bishopstone/Herne Bay. A cycle route was installed in the Country Park in 2008.

 

Pegwell Bay Country Park, near Sandwich

Managed by Kent Wildlife Trust, Pegwell Bay Country Park forms part of the Pegwell Bay/Sandwich Bay Local Nature Reserve and has a combination of wildlife habitats found nowhere else in the South East of England. In the summer the grass is dotted with wild flowers such as orchids and broomrapes. In the winter the foreshore and mudflats attract thousands of wading birds, including dunlin, sanderling and grey plover. Birds of prey, such as merlin, can also be seen at the site. Birdwatchers can use the public bird hide, which is also accessible for disabled visitors. There are excellent opportunities to explore beyond the park using the Public Rights of Way, especially using the Saxon Shore Way which passes through the site.

 

Fowlmead Country Park, near Deal

The site has undergone a dramatic transformation from an old colliery site to a wonderful new 200 acre park and leisure reserve. This has involved planting 130,000 new trees and shrubs, and reserving protected areas for birds and other wildlife. This fantastic park at Sholden has eleven activity zones. Each zone offers something different to explore, from rolling woodland and small lakes, to top class cycling facilities. Visitors can enjoy superb walks and admire the spectacular sweeping views over the east Kent coast.

 

Samphire Hoe, near Dover

Samphire Hoe Picnic Site is an amazing site, and is the perfect place to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the countryside. The site offers something for everyone including a wealth of wildflowers, birds and walks. Accessible to all, Samphire Hoe Picnic Site is a great place to explore; and the further from the car park you walk, the wilder your surroundings become. Interestingly, the site was made from the material dug to create the Channel Tunnel. Sea Angling is allowed at Samphire Hoe.

 

Western Heights Nature Reserve, Dover

The Western Heights Nature Reserve is carved into a hill, and is an interesting place full of surprises. It is surrounded by chalk meadows that are full of colourful wild flowers, butterflies and birds. There are also some splendid views of the English Channel. One of the largest and strongest Napoleonic fortresses in the country is located at the site.

 

Lower Leas Coastal Park, Folkestone

The Lower Leas Coastal Park is split into 3 zones. The formal zone comprises pine avenues, formal planting and hard landscaping. The area below the famous Leas at Folkestone was created in 1784 when a landslip produced a new strip of land between the beach and the new cliff line. The fun zone contains the largest free play area in the south east including the zigzag path and the ever popular amphitheatre. The play area is designed specifically for inclusive play (wheelchair accessible with low level play panels). The remainder of the park is the wild zone where sensitive habitat management ensures that wildlife can enjoy the park as much as we do. A summer programme of free events provides something for everyone with storytelling, participative art, live music, guided walks and much, much more.

 

East Cliff and Warren Country Park, Folkestone

Explore the dramatic landslip landscape (scenery formed by landslides) of East Cliff and Warren Country Park. The area is rich in wildlife and offers magnificent views of the famous white cliffs. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the park on one of its way marked circular trails.

 

Creteway Down, Folkestone

A great place to explore, the Creteway Down offers dramatic views across Folkestone and the Channel. This area of steep downland also provides a habitat for a large range of wildlife. Visitors can enjoy a walk along a section of the North Downs Way that crosses the area.

 

Dungeness National Nature Reserve

Dungeness is unique - a desolate landscape with wooden houses, power stations, lighthouses and expansive gravel pits. Yet it possesses a rich and diverse wildlife within the National Nature Reserve in one of the largest shingle landscapes in the world. The diverse wildlife, complex land form and sheer size of Dungeness make it one of the best examples of a shingle beach in the world, home to many uncommon plants, insects and spiders. It is also a great place to see migratory birds in the spring and autumn. Dungeness has been designated as a National Nature Reserve (NNR), Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It is home to 600 species of plants which is a third of all plants found in the UK. The National Nature Reserve stretches across Dungeness to encompass the vast RSPB reserve and is intended to help protect the landscape and its wildlife.

 

King George VI Memorial Park, Ramsgate

Enjoy some outstanding views across the English Channel as the park is located on the edge of white chalk cliffs.The Park was formed out of the grounds of East Cliff Lodge, the home for over fifty years of the nineteenth-century philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore. The house was demolished in the 1950s but its stable courtyard survives and the early nineteenth-century glasshouse is built against its outer side. The park covers a large area of open space with areas set aside to woods and football pitches. It's also the perfect place to have a cup of tea or an ice cream during the summer months in the cafe, to walk dogs, or start a cliff top walk towards Broadstairs or Ramsgate.

 

All of the parks listed above offer excellent access for disabled users with surfaced paths, disabled parking, disabled toilets, some cafes and more. More information about all of these parks including: opening times, disabled access, facilities and public transport can be found on the Explore Kent website.