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← Back🌳 Broadleaved woodland

Great Wood

✦ Ancient woodland50 ha

📷 David Martin · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeSeasonalInsects
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome50 ha

Getting here

51.32206, 0.21714

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 📍Open access throughout summer — no booking required

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour

Free

Insect spotting

Chalk and limestone grassland — chalkhill blue, adonis blue and rare moths; Insects — Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Gatekeeper +84 more · last seen 2026

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Magpie, Woodpigeon, Blackbird +38 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Magpie, Woodpigeon, Blackbird +38 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Hiking

Named hiking route nearby: North Downs Way (Eastern)

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 32 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Darent Valley PathWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
North Downs Way (Eastern)Walking route
Named routeNational walking route
Ightham Mote Circular Walk to Oldbury Hill, Ightham MoteWalking route8.8 km

Enjoy this scenic circular walk from Ightham Mote to Oldbury Hill, which offers fine views across the Kentish countryside while passing through an area of mixed woodland as well as fish ponds and an old quarry, possibly dating to the Roman period.

Named routeLength 8.8 kmDuration 03:00Round tripLocal walking route
Samuel Palmer TrailWalking route

Immerse yourself in the life, work and inspiration of Samuel Palmer on an audio-guided journey through Shoreham and surrounding areas.

Named routeLocal walking route
Oftord to Canterbury CathedralWalking route

follows North Downs Way from Otford to Broughton Lees

Named routeRegional walking route
Shorehill Lanepublic footpath · 279 m
Public pathpublic footpathLength 279 mSurface pavedPath type: service
🐴

Horse riding

4 public paths nearby

Public paths
Shorehill Lanebyway open to all traffic · 401 m
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 401 mSurface groundPath type: footway

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Path in Great Wood

📷 David Martin · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Path in Great Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱St Edith's WellUrban park2 km→🏞️LULLINGSTONE & PRESTON HILLCountry park4.2 km→✦Otford PalaceHistoric site2.1 km→✦Otford PalaceHistoric site2.2 km→🌱Palace FieldUrban park2.2 km→🌱Palace GreenUrban park2.2 km→

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