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A stroll around Leybourne Lakes, Kent

Difficulty Easy

Walking time 1 hour 22 minutes

Length 4.5km / 2.8mi

Route developer: Malerb

Route checker: meli1318

Start location Leybourne Lakes Country park car park
Route Summary This is a flat 3 mile walk suitable for walkers, but can be shortened as described for push chairs and mobility scooters. This is a green flag award winning Country Park. Dogs allowed under control.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

Bus  - Route 71 from Maidstone town centre

Car - From M20 Junction 4 follow A228 north. Straight ahead at traffic lights then take fourth exit at roundabout into the country park.

From M2 junction 2 follow A228 south. Straight over three roundabouts. Take first exit at fourth roundabout.
Description

[1] From the car park, take path to left of the toilet block passing under an arch signed "to the lakes". Go over the second bridge on the right which brings you to the the diving centre. Take the path straight in front of you and follow path keeping the lake on your left. Stay on the main path around the lake. Pass wooden swan.  Continue on the main path, keeping the lake on your left; you will see Tesco over the road to your right. Keep on path to pass in front of new houses then pass grasshopper

[2] Keep to left to pass between two lakes (The Ocean on the left and Roaden Island Lake on the right). Pass metal gate, and just passed the two seats on your left is where able walkers can take the longer route. Pushchairs and wheelchairs should stay on main path passing the butterfly. to return to the car park.

For the longer route - turn right on the path just before the butterfly and walk over a small bridge. Turn left and follow the track towards the hills and the pylon. Go straight over the path crossings with Larkfield lake on your left.

[3 ]When you see the high fence in front of you, turn left under some trees.  Do not cross the railway line. Walk through a wooden gate to follow a rutty path under the trees passing Railway Lake on your left with the railway line on your right.

NB: Likehood of nettles and brambles here but path is accessible. Take care along the path as it runs right by the lake and gets narrow in places. 

Follow the path right at both forks, (the other two paths are dead-ends anyway). The path then widens and turns away from the railway line. Follow to end of path, and turn left on to the track to follow a stream on your right. You will pass water treatment works, which may smell slightly depending on wind direction but you will pass it within five minutes. You will have a pylon on your left then will see a signpost pointing right to Nevill Park and a foot bridge. Keep straight on to join the main path with a butterfly on your left.

[4] Turn right to keep The Ocean lake on your left.  Follow path past the frog. You can walk over the grassy bank behind the frog and pass between two small lakes. Alternatively, continue on main path to reach a metal gate by a small foot bridge. Pass the dragonfly on your right. You will be back to the diving center where many geese gather.Turn right before the yellow barrier to walk over the footbridge. Turn left to return to the car park.

POI information

There are  some of the wildlife sculptures around the Ocean Lake.shment.

Refreshment stall at diving centre weekends and bank holidays.

Play area to right of car park.

Acknowledgements No details available.
  • Turn left in front of bushes and under trees and pass through a gate. Do not cross railway line.
    Turn left in front of bushes and under trees and pass through a gate. Do not cross railway line.
    By - Marlerb
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