Walks you can reach from Bekesbourne by train

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

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).

Flat Kent countryside, arable fields, woods, ancient villages, oast houses, polytunnel farms and riverside.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Flat marshland, creek embankments, farm fields, quiet country lanes, woodland and tidal waterways.

Time: 4h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Easy coastal walk, flat terrain, seaside villages and open shoreline.

Coastal: three quarters along the coast.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walks: Railwalks (inc. GPX) and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Flat orchards and fruit farms, tidal river seawall, coastal creeks, mudflats, salt marshes, drainage ditches, dykes, windswept grazing marshes and historic market town streets.

Time: 5h30

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Recommended: Mostly tarmac or hard-packed gravel, largely traffic-free and following the Crab and Winkle Way cycle path with a few steps and good bridges over the road. A delightful final stretch alongside the Great Stour through Westgate Gardens into Canterbury. Follows the Crab and Winkle Way; services at Blean can be reached via alternative routes. There is a seat at a church en route for a rest or picnic.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 3h–6h30

Warnings: One road crossing near the Canterbury end needs more care.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: A flat estuary walk along the sea defences, following the England Coast Path nearly all the way.

Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.

Time: 6h30–13h30

Lunch: Only one village stop en route.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Recommended: Lovely views out over the marshes. A lovely, varied route through woods, fields, gentle hills, orchards and a river estuary, with small sections of mostly safe road walking. The first half is farmland over very gentle hills; the second follows the Medway estuary on the England Coast Trail, with lovely views over the marshes and mudflats. Quite a lot of tarmac and with some muddy parts and slanted cycle gates. The estuary section is on the England Coast Trail. Optional detour along a causeway to 'Horrid Hill'. Break points at Borden, Newington, Rainham, Riverside Country Park and the Strand leisure area.

Time: 5h30–11h

Lunch: Break points with pubs/shops at Borden, Newington and Rainham; cafes and toilets at Riverside Country Park and the Strand.

Warnings: Steps, stiles and gates throughout, plus slanted cycle gates along the estuary. A field path beyond Newington was not reinstated across crops. Care crossing main roads.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Pleasant, green and fairly quiet out of Canterbury, with a footpath shadowing the A257; flat and easy. Almost entirely footpath after Black Pond Farm into Sandwich and but with a longish stretch on a B-road (Fleming Road) with regular traffic.

Time: 6h–11h30

Warnings: Includes a longish stretch of walking on a B-category road (Fleming Road) with regular traffic.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Some really spectacular views; takes in some of the best countryside north Kent has to offer. A straightforward, almost entirely off-road route with a good mix of woodland, farmland and golf course. Easy to follow and not too challenging, though it can become very boggy near the river in autumn and winter and a few woodland sections get overgrown with nettles in summer. Golden Hill makes a nice stopping place with great views.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 5h–10h

End-of-walk reward: Plenty of places to eat and drink around the Buttermarket in Canterbury.

Warnings: Some felled trees across woodland paths, and a footpath between Horselees Road and Dunkirk Road at Boughton under Blean was very overgrown with stinging nettles. The downloaded track uses straight lines that do not match the paths in places, notably at Rheims Way where you should use the underpass.

Walk details: Slow Ways.