Best walks near Ashford International by train

Beginner-friendly: Just keep the sea on your left and follow it to Broadstairs.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Margate

Broadstairs

Time: 3h–6h

1 lunch spot: the Captain Digby (1h30–3h in)

5 end-of-walk rewards: the Tartar Frigate, the Neptune's Hall, Siam Kitchen, the Magnet Micropub, or the Prince Albert

Warnings: Very popular and busy.

Adapted from: Railwalks.

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Highly recommended: Deer park, fields, woods, coppiced woodland, escarpment ridge, bluebell and wild garlic woods and Weald views.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Knole House: enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself.

Ightham Mote

Time: 5h–9h30

1 lunch spot: Ightham Mote café

1 end-of-walk reward: the Bucks Head

Warnings: Some mud inevitable.

Source: Trains2Green.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Quiet country lanes, meadows, rolling wooded hills, and two very attractive villages.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Shoreham

Otford

Time: 4h–7h30

3 lunch spots: Shoreham (1h30–2h30 in) — the Samuel Palmer, the Kings Arms, or the Mount Vineyard

3 end-of-walk rewards: the Crown, the Bull, or the Woodman

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Stately home.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Chiddingstone Village

Penshurst Place

Time: 3h30–7h

4 lunch spots: Chiddingstone (1h–1h30 in) — the Tulip Tree, or the Castle Inn; Penshurst (2h–4h in) — the Leicester Arms Pub, or Penshurst Place café

1 end-of-walk reward: the Little Brown Jug

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Highly recommended: Escarpments.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 6h30–12h30

2 lunch spots: Frant (1h30–3h in) — the Abergavenny Arms, or the George

3 end-of-walk rewards: the Crown Inn, the High Rocks, or the Pantiles

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Hidden valleys, ancient woods, quaint old farms, reservoir shoreline, hilltop village and gentle but rolling Wealden landscape.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Bewl Water

Time: 5h–9h30

2 lunch spots: the Old Vine (1h30–3h in), or Waterfront Café (2h–3h30 in)

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Canterbury

Chilham

Time: 4h30–9h

2 lunch spots: the Flying Horse (2h–3h30 in), or Perry Court Tea Room (2h–3h30 in)

3 end-of-walk rewards: the Chilham Square, the White Horse, Chilham, or the Woolpack Inn, Chilham

Warnings: Penultimate section of the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury.

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Highly recommended: Chalky escarpment ridge, steep climbs, open downland with Channel views, cliff top promenade, shingle beach and historic harbour.

Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 5h30–10h30

1 lunch spot: the Gatekeeper Inn (1h30–3h in)

3 end-of-walk rewards: Valiant Sailor, the Lord Morris, or the Park Inn

Warnings: Steep climbs near start.

Source: Trains2Green.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended

Chilham

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury

Time: 3h–6h

2 lunch spots: Chilham (30m–1h in) — the Chilham Square, or the Star Inn

5 end-of-walk rewards: the Monument, the Unicorn Inn, the West Gate Inn, the Carpenters Arms, or the Old Buttermarket

Warnings: A fifth urban.

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Highly recommended: Coastal cliffs, chalk downland, sea defences, wild landslip area, wartime installations, ridge between valley and sea and town crossing.

Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Western Heights

Knights Templar Church Ruins

Time: 4h–8h30

1 lunch spot: Camping Café (1h–2h30 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Malvern, or the Priory Hotel

Warnings: Cracked sea defences.

Source: Trains2Green.

Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Reverse direction: Railwalks (inc. GPX).

Highly recommended: Clifftop chalk paths, two significant climbs, level pebble beach coastpath, open sea views and historic town.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Dover Castle: A vast medieval fortress overlooking the port and the Channel to France.

Time: 5h30–11h

3 lunch spots: Saint Margarets Bay (3h–6h in) — the Pines Tea Room, or the bay kiosk; plus Walmer Castle and Gardens (3h–6h in)

3 end-of-walk rewards: the Port Arms, the Sir Norman Wisdom, or the Queen Street Tap

Warnings: Mobile may switch networks.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.

Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club, Walking Post (inc. GPX) and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Reverse direction: Railwalks (inc. GPX).

Highly recommended

Coastal: three quarters along the coast.

Hastings

Time: 4h–8h30

2 lunch spots: the New Beach Club (1h30–3h in), or the Cove (2h–4h in)

8 end-of-walk rewards: the Jolly Fisherman, the Lord Nelson, the Royal Standard, the London Trader, the Hastings Arms, Ye Olde Pumphouse, the Cutter, or the Albion

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.