Skip to content
To Do in Kent
OutdoorsWalksFree

Peene Quarry Picnic Site

Folkestone, East Kent

Grassy chalk slopes of the old quarry at Peene, near FolkestonePhoto: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0

Peene Quarry is a former chalk quarry in the Kent Downs above Folkestone, now chalk grassland with wide views over the coast towards Dungeness. Walkers come for the North Downs Way, summer orchids and butterflies including the scarce Adonis blue. It suits more adventurous walkers and takes an hour or two.

Highlights

  • Views over Folkestone and the coast to Dungeness
  • Chalk grassland with orchids, cowslips and thyme in summer
  • Rare butterflies including the Adonis blue
  • The North Downs Way passes through
  • Old lime kiln beside the lane

Good to know

  • Paths are steep-sided and uneven
  • The site is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest

Getting there

Loading the map…

Peene Quarry Picnic Site, Peene, near Newington, Folkestone, Kent, CT18 8BGParking: Parking is limited to a small lay-by beside the entrance.

Get directions

Checked on 15 October 2026 against kentdowns.org.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check

Nearby

Folkestone Downs, from Kent Downs National LandscapeImage: Kent Downs National Landscape
OutdoorsFolkestone · 2 km

Folkestone Downs

Folkestone Downs is 72 hectares of steep chalk hills above Folkestone, including Castle Hill, Sugarloaf Hill, Round Hill and Cheriton Hill. Climb for huge views over the town and Channel, trace the earthworks of a Norman motte-and-bailey fort and look for butterflies and orchids. It suits walkers with good footwear and a couple of hours.

Kent Battle of Britain Museum, from Kent Battle of Britain MuseumImage: Kent Battle of Britain Museum
MuseumsHawkinge · 2 km

Kent Battle of Britain Museum

The Kent Battle of Britain Museum on the former RAF Hawkinge airfield holds what it calls the world's largest Battle of Britain collection, with artefacts from over 700 crashed aircraft. Explore hangars, the armoury and original airfield buildings, then the aircraft displayed in the grounds. It suits families with older children and aviation fans, and deserves two to three hours.

£10 to £25Directions
Woodland footpath through Paraker Wood near HythePhoto: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0
OutdoorsHythe · 3 km

Paraker Wood

Paraker Wood is a steep-sided ancient woodland pocket park in the Seabrook Valley between Hythe and Cheriton. Follow the public and permissive footpaths, enjoy spring wildflowers and listen for nightingales on summer evenings. It suits a short, quiet walk of around an hour.