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Blean Woods Circular, Canterbury, Kent

Blean Woods Circular

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Suitable forWalkingRunningCycling
Dog friendlyCountryside4 places along the way

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A twelve-mile circular through the Blean, one of the largest ancient oak and hornbeam woodlands in south-east England, designated a National Nature Reserve. The woods are internationally important for the rare heath fritillary butterfly, support breeding nightingales and nightjars, and are carpeted in bluebells each spring. The RSPB, Natural England and Woodland Trust all manage sections of this remarkable 4,000-hectare woodland complex.

Along the way

1
Blean Woods car parkStart point on the edge of the Blean complex, one of Britain's largest ancient woodland systems.
2
Heath fritillary clearingsActively managed coppice clearings supporting Britain's rarest butterfly, found only in the Blean and a few Devon sites.
3
Church Wood RSPB ReserveAn RSPB managed woodland famous for breeding nightingales, nightjars and willow tits.
4
West Blean & Thornden WoodNatural England national nature reserve with oak standards, hornbeam coppice and veteran sweet chestnuts.

The route

Distance19.2 km
Walking≈ 4 h 33
Running≈ 2 h 04
Climb↑ 168 m
RouteCircular

A 19.2 km circular route from Canterbury to walk, run or cycle, with 168 m of climbing.

Elevation↑ 168 m in total

Before you go

StartParkwood Road, Rough CommonOpen the start in Maps →
FinishBack where you started
ParkingRough Common Road, near Blean
By train or busCanterbury West station, 4 km
UnderfootUndulating woodland. Some muddy sections in winter.

Dogs

DogsWelcome, and there are stretches where they can run free
Season1 Mar – 31 Jul: Dogs on lead near ground-nesting birds on open land
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