Darland Banks
Gillingham, North Kent
Image: Kent Wildlife TrustDarland Banks is a 45 hectare Kent Wildlife Trust reserve of restored chalk grassland with panoramic views across the Medway towns. Walk the slopes to spot rare butterflies, moths and one of the country's largest populations of man orchids, alongside wartime relics. Allow an hour or two and wear sturdy shoes.
Highlights
- Sweeping views over the Medway towns
- Large population of man orchids
- Small blue butterflies and straw belle moths
- Remains of a wartime anti-aircraft gun emplacement
Good to know
- Cattle graze all year, so keep dogs on a lead near livestock
- No bicycle parking
Getting there
Darland Banks, Darland Avenue, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 3ERParking: Limited parking at the junction of Darland Avenue and Kingsway (West Bank) and roadside on Hoath Close (Main Bank).
Get directionsChecked on 15 October 2026 against kentwildlifetrust.org.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Nearby
Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0Capstone Farm Country Park
Capstone Farm Country Park covers over 114 hectares of woodland, old orchards, meadows and a lake on the edge of Chatham and Gillingham. Families can try the two play areas and trim trail, follow waymarked walks or cycle routes, and stop at the lakeside cafe. Allow a few hours, or longer if you are bringing bikes.
Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0Riverside Country Park
Riverside Country Park is a 100-hectare Green Flag park on the Medway estuary at Rainham, with mudflats, saltmarsh, ponds and reedbeds. Walk or cycle the trails, watch the estuary birds and let children loose in the playground before a stop at the café. It works well for families and takes a couple of hours.
Photo: Sunolafjagtenben-hur, CC0The Strand Lido and Leisure Park
The Strand is a riverside leisure park in Gillingham built around a historic open-air lido, opened in 1896 and the only remaining riverside tidal saltwater pool in the country. Alongside the summer lido there is a free splash pad, play parks, a miniature railway, a café, tennis courts and riverside walks. It suits families on a warm summer day and can easily fill half a day.