← Back✦ Historic site

Cooling Castle and its associated landscaped setting

4 ha

BirdsWildlifeHeritage

Free entryDogs welcome4 ha

Getting here

51.45548, 0.52276

Open directionsv

Google Maps↗Driving directions Apple Maps↗Driving directions Waze↗Live driving navigation Google Transit↗Bus, rail or tram Apple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🐦105+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Blue Tit
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🐦105+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Robin and Blue Tit
✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

6 activities

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Robin, Blue Tit, Mediterranean Gull +102 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Robin, Blue Tit, Mediterranean Gull +102 more · last seen 2026

Free

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Waterside walks

Good match

Grazing marsh and ditches — waterside walking

Varies

Insect spotting

Good match

Insects — Southern Green Shieldbug, 7-spot Ladybird, Acrossus rufipes +8 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Southern Green Shieldbug, 7-spot Ladybird, Acrossus rufipes +8 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Good match

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 2 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Chattenden Woods WalkWalking route

Named route

King Charles III England Coast Path: Iwade to GrainWalking route

Named routeRef ECPNational walking route

Saxon Shore WayWalking route262 km

Named routeLength 262 kmRegional walking route

Curlews, Convicts & ContrabandWalking route

Named route

Hoo Peninsula PathWalking route

Named route

🚴

Cycling

67 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Heron TrailCycling route

Named routeRef 179National Cycle Network

NCN National Route 1Cycling route

Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route158 m

Named routeRef 179Length 158 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route132 m

Named routeRef 179Length 132 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route490 m

Named routeRef 179Length 490 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route558 m

Named routeRef 179Length 558 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Wildlife to spot

40,566 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

40,566 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds59 species

summerautumnwinter

2026

Hobby · Mediterranean Gull · Woodpigeon · Blue Tit · Robin +54

HobbyFalco subbuteo2025
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
MagpiePica pica2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
CootFulica atra2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
Great TitParus major2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos2025
SwiftApus apus2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
GadwallMareca strepera2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
CuckooCuculus canorus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

springautumn

2026

Water Vole · Rabbit

Water VoleArvicola amphibius2025
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus

🐝

Insects8 species

summerautumn

2025

Southern Green Shieldbug · Acrossus rufipes · Field Grasshopper · Speckled Bush-cricket · Four-lined Horsefly +3

Southern Green ShieldbugNezara viridula
Acrossus rufipesAcrossus rufipes
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima
Four-lined HorseflyAtylotus rusticus
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

40,566 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds59 species

summerautumnwinter

2026

Hobby · Mediterranean Gull · Woodpigeon · Blue Tit · Robin +54

HobbyFalco subbuteo2025
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus2025
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus2025
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus2025
RobinErithacus rubecula2025
JackdawColoeus monedula2025
BlackbirdTurdus merula2025
MagpiePica pica2025
RookCorvus frugilegus2025
PeregrineFalco peregrinus2025
LapwingVanellus vanellus
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2025
CootFulica atra2025
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2025
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2025
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis2025
Great TitParus major2025
Carrion CrowCorvus corone2025
Greylag GooseAnser anser2025
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus2025
Herring GullLarus argentatus2025
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2025
StarlingSturnus vulgaris2025
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus2025
CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo2025
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2025
Tufted DuckAythya fuligula2025
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2025
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs2025
Canada GooseBranta canadensis2025
Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti2025
Common GullLarus canus2025
NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos2025
SwiftApus apus2025
House SparrowPasser domesticus2025
Little Ringed PloverCharadrius dubius2025
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2025
RedwingTurdus iliacus2025
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2025
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2025
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2025
GreenfinchChloris chloris2025
JayGarrulus glandarius2025
GadwallMareca strepera2025
DunnockPrunella modularis2025
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus2025
Rock DoveColumba livia2025
KestrelFalco tinnunculus2025
Tawny OwlStrix aluco2025
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava2025
Stock DoveColumba oenas2025
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca curruca2025
WhitethroatCurruca communis2025
SwallowHirundo rustica2025
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla2025
Little EgretEgretta garzetta2025
CuckooCuculus canorus2025
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus2025
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2025

🦌

Mammals2 species

springautumn

2026

Water Vole · Rabbit

Water VoleArvicola amphibius2025
RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus

🐝

Insects8 species

summerautumn

2025

Southern Green Shieldbug · Acrossus rufipes · Field Grasshopper · Speckled Bush-cricket · Four-lined Horsefly +3

Southern Green ShieldbugNezara viridula
Acrossus rufipesAcrossus rufipes
Field GrasshopperChorthippus brunneus
Speckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissima
Four-lined HorseflyAtylotus rusticus
Green ShieldbugPalomena prasina

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Roger Smith · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Cooling Castle Ruins

1 / 15

Events & activities nearby

Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.

Bookable tours

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Forge CommonUrban park3 km→🌱Pottery Road Recreation GroundUrban park4.4 km→🌱Hoo CommonUrban park4.5 km→🌱Hemony Grove Recreation GroundUrban park4.6 km→🐄The Fenn Bell Conservation ProjectVisitor farm4.7 km→🌱Deangate Community ParklandUrban park3.1 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: b86fa4ac-9dec-4ec5-8105-a23092207c78