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St Mary's Priory: an alien Benedictine priory 100m east of St Mary's Church

1 ha

📷 Marathon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsInsects
Free entryDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

51.44085, 0.47008

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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
  • 🐕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

4 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Mallard, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon +85 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Mallard, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon +85 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — 16-spot Ladybird, Mecinus collaris, Blue-tailed Damselfly +87 more · last seen 2025; Insects — 16-spot Ladybird, Mecinus collaris, Blue-tailed Damselfly +87 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

11 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Purple Circular WalkWalking route
Named route
Red Circular WalkWalking route
Named routeRound trip
Strood Community TrailWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Darnley TrailWalking route10 km

Named after the Earls of Darnley, who owned Cobham Hall & the land that you will see en route, the trail is an excellent way to see local highlights. Gently undulating countryside via Cobham Park, Ranscombe Farm Reserve, Ashenbank & Jeskyns Community Wood

Named routeLength 10 kmDuration 02:00-02:30Round tripLocal walking route
Chattenden Woods WalkWalking route
Named route
🚴

Cycling

118 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Heron TrailCycling route
Named routeRef 179National Cycle Network
NCN National Route 177Cycling route
Named routeRef 177National Cycle Network
NCN National Route 13Cycling route
Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network
NCN National Route 1Cycling route
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route19 m
Named routeRef 1Length 19 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface blocks
Main RouteCycling route132 m
Named routeRef 177Length 132 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface concrete

Wildlife to spot

Photos

The rood screen of St Mary's Church, Higham

📷 Marathon · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

The rood screen of St Mary's Church, Higham

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Coalhouse Fort battery and artillery defencesHistoric site3.6 km→🌱Coalhouse Fort ParkUrban park3.8 km→🌱Church GreenUrban park3.9 km→🌱Broomhill ParkUrban park4.4 km→✦Coalhouse FortHistoric site3.8 km→⛪St Catherine's ChurchReligious grounds4 km→

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