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St Mary's Abbey: a Benedictine abbey north and east of Water Lane

6 ha

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Free entryDogs welcome6 ha

Getting here

51.29286, 0.41097

Open directionsv
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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
  • ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • ☕The Old Mill Tea Room — a good base for a longer summer day out

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
Bike parkingCaféParking· PaidToilets

Best for

7 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, House Sparrow +58 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Woodpigeon, Magpie, House Sparrow +58 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Plants — Wood Bristle-moss, Swartz's Feather-moss, Crescent-cup Liverwort +48 more · last seen 2026; Plants — Wood Bristle-moss, Swartz's Feather-moss, Crescent-cup Liverwort +48 more · last seen 2026

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Meadow Brown, Large White, Gatekeeper +41 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Meadow Brown, Large White, Gatekeeper +41 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Historic site

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

8 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Augustine CaminoWalking route
Named routeRegional walking route
Oftord to Canterbury CathedralWalking route

follows North Downs Way from Otford to Broughton Lees

Named routeRegional walking route
Scenic Green Trail Section 1Walking route6.4 km
Named routeRef SGT1Length 6.4 kmLocal walking route
North Downs Way (Eastern)Walking route
Named routeNational walking route
Greensand WayWalking route
Named routeRef GWRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
NCN National Route 177 (Proposed)Cycling route
Named routeRef 177National Cycle Network
NCN Regional Route 12 (Kent)Cycling route
Named routeRef 12Regional cycle route
NCN National Route 178Cycling route
Named routeRef 178National Cycle Network

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Gatehouse, St Mary's Abbey

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Gatehouse, St Mary's Abbey

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Manor Park Country ParkUrban park500 m→🏞️MANOR PARKCountry park500 m→🌱Leybourne Lakes Country ParkUrban park3.5 km→🌱Wateringbury Playing FieldsUrban park4.7 km→🌱The Village GreenUrban park300 m→🌱Manor Park Country ParkUrban park500 m→

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