Wye Downs

The Wye Downs rise up suddenly east of Faversham, a proper chalk ridge that dominates the landscape if you know where to look. What you get here is a dramatic escarpment with views that stretch across the Kent Weald, and on a clear day you can see well beyond the local farmland. The grassland itself is chalk downland - the kind of place where you'll spot orchids in summer if you're paying attention, and the walking is straightforward enough for most fitness levels.

Most visitors come to walk. There's a decent ridge trail that takes you along the top, and you can lose an hour or two up there without thinking about it. The views are the main draw, frankly. It's not a place to linger for hours unless you're a serious botanist or photographer, but it's brilliant for a bracing walk with proper vistas at the end of it.

Historically minded visitors might appreciate that this is genuine downland chalk grassland, the sort of landscape that's been shaped by grazing for centuries. It feels less manicured than some of the more famous Kent beauty spots, which is part of its appeal. Families with teenage walkers will get more from it than those with young kids - there's no playground or visitor facility to speak of, just open downland and a good footpath.

Dunn Street Farm Campsite sits just five miles away, making this an easy addition to a week's base in the area. Spring and early summer are prime times, when the wildflowers are out. Free to visit, naturally, and no time limit on how long you stay.