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Water Wood

✦ Ancient woodland33 ha

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome33 ha

Getting here

51.32882, 0.25245

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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

8 activities

Wildlife

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

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Magpie +53 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Magpie +53 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Bluebell, Spanish Bluebell · last seen 2017

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Gatekeeper, Peacock, Small White +115 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Gatekeeper, Peacock, Small White +115 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

6 signed routes nearby · 9 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
🐴

Horse riding

11 public paths nearby

Public paths
Restricted Byway SD279restricted byway · 772 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 772 mSurface dirtPath type: bridleway
Knatts Valley Roadbyway open to all traffic · 578 m
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 578 mPath type: unclassified
Knockmillrestricted byway · 177 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 177 mPath type: service

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Water Wood

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Water Wood

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱St Edith's WellUrban park3 km→✦Otford PalaceHistoric site4.6 km→✦Otford PalaceHistoric site4.7 km→🌱Palace FieldUrban park4.7 km→🌱Palace GreenUrban park4.7 km→⛪St Mary's ChurchReligious grounds2.9 km→

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