Best local walks and hikes while camping at Horton View Farm

We think a short break should be a proper break, and here at Horton View Farm we're all about really switching off from the day to day noise and chaos and doing activities that nourish the soul. That doesn't necessarily mean doing nothing (although that's fine too!) but it does mean leaving with more of a feeling of wellbeing than when you arrived.

As walking in nature is scientifically proven to have a positive effect on mental health, we thought we would bring together some of the local walking highlights to make it easy for you to explore because, if you are camping with us or staying in one of the furnished bell tents, our site is perfectly placed for walkers and adventurers.

There are many footpaths and quiet lanes to wander, as well as easy access to The North Downs National Trail, so whether you're looking for a leisurely stroll or a serious hike, you'll find something to suit you.

The North Downs Way runs for 153 miles from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent, through two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Surrey Hills National Landscape, and luckily for us, right across the top of our lane, just a 10 minute walk from our gate. You can be up on top of the downs with fabulous views within about 20 to 25 minutes, and from there you can carry on a short way along the ridge and drop down into East Brabourne where you'll find the gorgeous family run Brabourne Vineyard and The Five Bells Inn, a historic 16th Century Inn with a lovely garden. Their website has a nice walking map that also takes in the village of Stowting, but you can pick up the route of from the top of Fiddling Lane making a circular walk of about an hour and a half. If you head up over the downs to the pub on the outward leg there's also an option to return on a footpath accessed at the back of Brabourne church and across the fields that will bring you out on Fiddling Lane just opposite the top of Mill Lane.

If you can resist the lure of the Five Bells and want to venture further afield, you can stay up on the ridge and continue on to the historic Village of Wye, taking in the Wye National Nature Reserve on the way. The views from the top of the downs overlooking the Devil's Kneading Trough are breathtaking. It's about 4.5 miles from the top of our lane to the Devil's Kneading Trough and 6 miles to the centre of Wye.

Another option is to park in Wye (there's usually free on-road parking available) and take the 4.3 mile Wye Downs Circular Walk which takes in the kneading trough and the Wye Crown which was cut into the chalk on the downs above the village to mark the coronation of King Edward VII. The walk takes you from the car park at the viewing point into the village of Wye, where you will find three pubs, a small coop supermarket, and two cafes.

View from top of Devil's Kneading Trough By Alex Lockton - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121826843

There's lots more to explore locally on the North Downs Way. Turn right at the top of Fiddling Lane, down past the wonderful Tiger Inn (we'd recommend stopping in for a drink!) and you can head up to Farthing Common and on to Etchinghill for more fabulous views. This stretch of the walk goes to Folkestone if you're looking for a longer hike.

There's more great walks towards the coast. Park at West Hythe and walk along the Military Canal into Hythe, or head in the opposite direction and the canal path takes you along the boundary of Port Lympne Safari Park. We've spotted giraffes, antelopes, zebras and more. There is also a footpath the cuts right up the middle of the park. Many of the fences are covered with bushes but you do get glimpses of animal here and there.

Back at the car park in West Hythe there's Unit 1, a no-frills ale house that also serves great coffee and pizzas. They serve a selection of (very) local craft beers and ciders and they also have pop-up street food on weekends. Head to their instagram page to see what food is on offer and when.

Hythe is our nearest access to another national walking trail, the King Charles III England Coast Path, a project that will eventually link up all the coastal paths around England. The walk from Hythe to the Folkestone Harbour arm is six miles of level ground that takes about two hours, passing through the tiny coastal village of Sandgate with its independent cafes serving great coffee.

We love the whole stretch of coast, from Dungeness National Nature Reserve and Hythe to the South East, through Sandgate and Folkestone Leas Country Park set into the cliff above Folkestone Leas beach, past Folkestone's buzzing Harbour Arm and heading North East to the wild and steep East Cliff and Warren Country park towards Samphire Hoe and the famous white cliffs at Dover. The whole stretch is about 25 miles and within that there are many beautiful shorter stretches and thankfully there are plenty of places to stop for food, drinks and ice cream! For more info on what to do in Folkestone see our blog post here.

View of The Warren with Folkestone in the distance 8/24

Our camp site is just a 15 minute drive from the quaint village of Elham (pronounced eel-am) which is in the centre of the stunning Elham Valley. There are six circular walks, all starting and finishing in the village, which is home to The Kings Arms pub where you can also get teas and coffees. Walks range from 3.5 miles up to a demanding 20 mile all-day hike, and take in some truly magnificent views.

This is our pick of the best and most beautiful walks and hikes in our local area, but it's just a tiny section of what's on offer. If you need more information or inspiration when you're here, please ask. We have lots of suggestions!

There's also lots more information online: The Kent Downs website has plenty of info on walking, cycling and other activities across the downs.

The Explore Kent site also has lots of useful information.