White Horse Wood Country Park – Detling, Maidstone, Kent

Area Information:

A fairly new country park set in the Kent Downs with newly planted woodland and open grassland.  Surfaced pathways loop around the site and un-surfaced public rights of way and the ‘North Downs Way’ can also be accessed from the park.

Accessed from the Maidstone bound A249 Detling Hill the park has a large Pay and Display car park,  picnic benches and panoramic views across Maidstone’s countryside.  Way marked trails and dog bins are located around the park.  Unlike most other country parks though there are no toilet or refreshment facilities.

Most of the footpaths lead away from the car park and the busy A249 dual carriageway.  There is a fairly wide band of woodland between the footpath and the road and so we found it ok to walk with the dog off lead.  Please use your own judgement though and assess whether you think your dog will be ok before letting them off.

A map of the park can be found by clicking the link below.

Click here for a map of White Horse wood country park.


Location:

 


Facilities

  • – Large pay and display car park
  • – Picnic benches available
  • – Dog bins located around the park

Walk Information:

Distance: The country park provides a fairly short walk over surfaced footpaths but the walk can be made longer by following other unmade footpaths.  See our circular walk for more details.

Time:  Dependant on pace and route taken your walk can take anything from 30 mins to 1 hour.

Terrain:  The country park is set on fairly flat terrain with fairly solid footpaths.  If you take the footpaths out of the country park then there is some fairly steep steps, slopes and ascents across un made footpaths.

Stiles:  None.  Only kissing gates.

Dogs on leads?:  Dogs allowed off lead.  Most of the fields and woodland are fenced but not necessarily dog proof.  The busy A249 runs close to the country park so may be advisable to keep your dog on the lead when walking near the entrance or in the car park.

Dog Bins:  Yes.  Can be found all round the country park.


OWTD Circular Walk Route:


Dog Walk:

Start your walk from the main car park and follow the sign for the woodland walk located next to the information board.  Follow the footpath until you reach the footpath junction and take the path sign posted ‘North Downs Way’.  Follow the footpath down until you reach the kissing gate.  Pass through the gate and head straight on and down the slope following the unmade footpath.  When you reach the next kissing gate head left and follow the footpath along the edge of the field.  Towards the end of the field the footpath heads left up the hill and exit the field onto the lane via the kissing gate.  Head down the lane and as you reach the right hand bend turn left and pass through the kissing gate.  Follow the footpath up hill through the woodland and into the field at the top via another kissing gate.  Turn left and head diagonally across the field and you will eventually come out at the top of the lane.  Head across the lane and back into country park where the car park is off to your right or turn left and head back into the park to enjoy the view.


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