Clay Pits Wood

A short drive from Faversham takes you into Clay Pits Wood, a modest woodland that's worth an afternoon if you're already staying at Mount Ephraim or Brook Farm nearby. The name comes from the old extraction work - you'll spot the evidence in the uneven ground and the way water collects in certain spots, creating small ponds that attract birds and give the place a slightly wilder feel than your average managed forest.

It's not dramatic. There are no viewpoints, no café, no visitor centre. What you get instead are quiet paths threading through established woodland where locals bring dogs and families wander without much fuss. The terrain is soft underfoot in places, boggy in others after rain, so decent boots make sense. An hour is genuinely enough to cover the main routes, though you could stretch it to ninety minutes if you're in no rush.

Walkers will appreciate it as a quick leg-stretcher between bigger attractions in Kent. Kids under eight might find it a bit samey - it's trees, paths, the occasional pond. Older children who like building things from fallen branches or spotting wildlife do better here. If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots like Mount Ephraim or Brook Farm, it's close enough to slot into an evening walk without planning ahead.

Free to visit. No facilities that I saw. Spring and early autumn are nicest - winter can feel a touch waterlogged, and summer brings the midges.