Bredhurst Woods – Gillingham, Kent

Area Information:

Bredhurst woods dog walk provides a great mixture of woodland and grassland that covers around 600 acres. Located on the North Downs it is one of the largest woods in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and offers you and your dog a great walk any time of the year. Over the last few years the woods have had mud tracks replaced with solid pathways and signposted routes all thanks to ‘The Bredhurst Woods Action Group’ (BWAG).

The grassland areas are largely fenced but not totally dog proof if you have a determined dog and you are away from busy roads.

There are lots of footpaths and routes that your dog walk around Bredhurst woods can take aswell as the circular walk we suggest below which will take around an hour. It does have some steep paths but if you take the walk in the direction shown below then you will only have 1 short steep path and the walk can quite easily be shortened.

BWAG have their own website where you can find out more information and download maps and information leaflets.

Click here to visit the BWAG website

Click here to go straight to the BWAG Maps and leaflets.

Bredhurst Woods Location:

Bredhurst Woods Facilities

– Free Parking in Hurstwood Road or village hall car park when not in use.
– Childrens play area behind village hall.

Dog Walk Information:

Distance: Circular walk is around 4.0km (2.5 Miles)

Time: Approx. an hour dependant on pace.

Terrain: The walk takes you across the grassland valley and through woodland. Some steep ascent and decents exist on unmade footpaths with the main route through the woods having a more solid foot path but can still be very muddy during the winter and wet weather.

Stiles: None. Only kissing gates.

Dogs on leads?: Dogs allowed off lead. Day Valley and Strawberry Banks is fenced but not necessarily dog proof.

Dog Bins: Yes. One behind the cemetery and one at the end of the footpath near Strawberry Banks.

Bredhurst Woods Circular Dog Walk Route:

Circular Dog Walk details:

Away from main roads and partly fenced this walk is ideal for dogs that want a good run.

The walk consists of 3 main areas for a circular walk.

Day Valley – Partially fenced grassland area.
Bredhurst Woods – Large woods
Strawberry Banks – Large partially fenced grassland area.

Start your walk by parking along Hurstwood Road and walk up towards the church.
Follow the road round the church and join the footpath at the rear.
When you reach the road turn right and walk along the road until you reach the house where you will find a kissing gate and a footpath that will take you down into ‘Strawberry Banks’.
This footpath between the fields can become extremely mudding over the winter.
When you reach ‘Strawberry Banks’ turn left and follow the footpath around the edge until you reach a kissing gate on the far side of the valley opposite to where you entered the field.
Turn right once through the gate and head into the woods following the path all the way along to the Bridle Way gate.
Turn right and follow the Byway until you reach a turning on your right. Head right, over another bridle gate and left at the cross road next to the wooden mushrooms.
Follow the path downhill to the bottom and into ‘Day Valley’ through another kissing gate.
Turn left and walk round the edge of the field or for a shorter walk head diagonally right up to the gate that takes you back onto the Byway.
Turn right and follow the road all the way along where you will finally reach the church and back to where you started.