Nearby Activities.

  BIRLING ESTATE

Badgells Wood sits within Birling Estate, a beautiful family-owned private estate of 1800 acres.

Take a stroll through the woods or across to our private parkland at the edge of the campsite – it has magnificent views from the top of the downs. A great place to take a picnic and sit amongst the beautiful flowers of the chalk grassland (please keep dogs on leads as there are sheep and goats).

If you fancy a longer walk, there are numerous footpaths crossing the estate including the North Downs National Trail, the Weald Way and the Pilgrims Way.  You can ask Karina for an OS map with the campsite at the centre.

For a spiritual journey, take a walk for 1/2hr along the Ancient Pilgrims Way to Coldrum Stones neolithic burial chamber (it’s older than Stonehenge).

Water Sports

Both Leybourne Lakes Country Park and St Andrews Lakes are a 10minute drive away and offer a range of watersports from open-water swimming, paddleboarding and sailing as well as an aqua-park. Plus, St Andrews Lakes now also have a zip-wire experience with some stunning (& thrilling!) views across the lakes and beyond.

Other Activities

We highly recommend Nature’s Goods at The Nuttery, offering 1-2-1 and group pottery workshops, they also have a rustic farm shop and cafe offering handmade pottery, natural skincare products and homegrown delights (within walking distance of Badgells) and Riverhill Himalayan Gardens is a great experience for younger children, which is about 1/2hr away near Sevenoaks.

Fancy an alpaca encounter? Lower Bush Alpacas is a friendly farm offering meet-and-greet sessions where you can get up close with these gentle creatures. A great experience for families and animal lovers alike, just 6 miles away in Cuxton.

Hemsley Conservation Centre has some of the world’s rarest, cutest and strangest wildlife and is based just along the road in Fairseat.

For some history and culture, head to Rochester Cathedral, Rochester Castle or discover the world of Chatham Historic Dockyards. The Friars at Aylesford Priory is a peaceful retreat with stunning medieval buildings, riverside gardens and a cafe. It’s the perfect place for a tranquil stroll and a moment of reflection and is situated approximately 8 miles away.