Westwell Downs

The chalk ridge running through Westwell Downs gives you proper views across the Weald - the sort of panorama that makes the short walk worthwhile. You're looking at genuine downland here, open grassland with the kind of wind-whipped character that separates real countryside from the manicured kind.

It's a walker's spot first and foremost. The ridge itself doesn't take long - perhaps 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace - but the ground underfoot can be chalky and slippery in wet weather, so boots matter. The views open up as you climb, and on a clear day you can see a fair distance. History types will get something from the landscape itself: this is old chalk country, shaped by centuries of grazing and agriculture.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit austere. There's no visitor centre, no café, no facilities to speak of. It's the sort of place you come to walk, take some photographs, and move on. Older children who can manage uneven terrain will be fine, but it's not destination stuff for toddlers.

Being so close to Dunn Street Farm Campsite - barely half a mile away - makes it an obvious morning expedition if you're based there. Longberry Farm to the west works too if you fancy a slightly longer drive. Both sites sit well for exploring this corner of Kent without feeling trapped in holiday-park territory.

Free to access, naturally. No admission to pay.