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Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve

1.9 miles (3 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Follow a series of well laid out footpaths around this lovely nature reserve on this short walk in Sevenoaks. The site covers 71 hectares (175 acres) and includes several lakes, ponds, reedbed and woodlands. The reserve attracts a wide variety of birds including Greylag Goose, Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Moorhen, Coot, Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck.
Waymarked trails take you around the lakes where you can stop and look out for the birds from one of the hides. You can also visit the pretty elemental gardens with wild flowers, orchids and habitats designed to attract various insects and butterflies.
There's also a very good visitor centre with a wealth of information and touch tables where you can handle birds nests and birds feathers.
If you would like to extend your walk you could head a couple of miles south and visit Knole Park. Here you will find 500 resident deer, ancient woodland, dry heathland, acid grassland and wood pasture.
There's another great wildlife watching spot near Sevenoaks at Bough Beech Reservoir. The reserve is located a few miles south of the town and includes nice bluebells woods and lots of birdlife to look out for on the water.
Just to the west is Chipstead Lake where there's more nice waterside trails to try.

Postcode

TN13 3DH - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

After your exercise we recommend you stop at the splendid Bricklayers Arms at Chipstead Lake for some post walk refreshments. The lakeside public house, includes three terraced cottages and has a fine menu. There's also a nice outdoor seating area with views overlooking the pretty village green and the lake. The pub's sign represents Sir Winston Churchill, an expert bricklayer and whose home was at nearby Chartwell. You can find it in the village at postcode TN132RZ for your sat navs.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just a couple of miles to the north east there's nearby Kemsing where you can explore the Kemsing Downs Nature Reserve. It's a lovely place for a walk with ancient woodland, bluebells, wildlife and more tremendous views from its elevated location. Near here there's Otford where you can visit the splendid Otford Mount viewpoint and the ruins of the 15th century Otford Palace.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Cows relaxing in a field - geograph.org.uk - 188228

Cows relaxing in a field. Some cows sitting in a field adjacent to Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve.

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve - geograph.org.uk - 1720459

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. A 55 hectare site of woodland & water. Formerly gravel pits

Swan in Sevenoaks Wildlife Centre - geograph.org.uk - 203179

This is part of Sevenoaks Wildlife Centre. In the distance one of the many splendid bird observation hides can be seen.

Bird Hide - geograph.org.uk - 188225

Bird Hide and wetland area view

Footpath junction on Darenth Valley Path - geograph.org.uk - 1448034

Footpath junction on Darent Valley Path The long distance path heads past Sevenoaks Wildlife Trust land (on right) towards the London Road. Another path heads left to Pounsley Road, Dunton Green.

Darent Valley Path - geograph.org.uk - 1720451

Darent Valley Path, in the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. A 19 mile walk from Sevenoaks Station to the River Thames at Dartford. The River Darent flows from its source in the Greensand hills, south of Westerham, to join the Thames, north of Dartford. The walk is through a varied landscape of riverside fringed with ancient willows, hop gardens and cornfields, secretive woodlands, downland carpeted with wild flowers and expanses of marshland and has the added attractions of Roman remains, majestic viaducts, historic houses, old mills and picturesque villages with beautiful churches. There is an alternative start point at Chipstead (TQ500561).

River Darent - geograph.org.uk - 1720419

River Darent

Darent Valley Path (3) - geograph.org.uk - 1720461

Darent Valley Path view

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)