Walk of the Month: Preston Hill Country Park

Distance: 2.3 miles (1 hour) OS Map: Explorer 147 (Start at grid reference TQ529633)

Route Description

There are two lay-byes on the A225 (Shoreham Road), opposite Castle Farm. The route starts at the more northerly of the two, marked A on the map.

From lay-bye A take the path going northeast through a metal gate. Bear left, then right, uphill, through another metal gate.

At the top of the hill go through a metal gate and follow the fence on your left. At the corner of the fence go through another metal gate and turn right along the ridge.

At the far end of the ridge go through a metal gate and bear left downhill. At the bottom go through a metal gate and turn right along the valley.

Follow the valley path, going through several metal gates, until you reach lay-bye B. Turn right along the road back to lay-bye A.

Alternatively, you can start from lay-bye B and do the route in reverse.

Route map

Points of Interest

Preston Hill Country Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The grassland is sometimes grazed by goats from the Great Orme in North Wales to maintain the chalk grassland habitat.

Public Transport

Lay-bye B is about two-thirds of a mile from Shoreham Station along the narrow verge of the A225. Footpaths SR19 and SR726 provide a more pleasant route to point A. Bus service No. 2 between Swanley and Sevenoaks serves Point A but runs only twice daily and not on Sundays.