RSPB Blean Woods
Rough Common, Canterbury, East Kent
Photo: Robin Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0Photo: Robin Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0
An ancient woodland reserve just outside Canterbury, mixing coppice, tall oak and beech forest, glades and heathland. Five trails range from short strolls to an eight-mile walk, with woodpeckers, nightingales and rare heath fritillary butterflies.
Highlights
- Five trails including an eight-mile walk
- Great spotted and lesser spotted woodpeckers
- Heath fritillary butterflies in sunny glades
Good to know
- No toilets or baby changing on site; the nearest are in Canterbury
- Dogs allowed on public footpaths under close control
- No barbecues or camping
Getting there
RSPB Blean Woods, Rough Common Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 9DDParking: Car park with 1.8m height barriers; larger vehicles can park on Ross Gardens.
Get directionsChecked on 16 October 2026 against rspb.org.uk, rspb.org.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Spotted something wrong or missing? Tell us
Nearby
Image: GulbenkianGulbenkian
Gulbenkian is the University of Kent's arts centre, with a theatre, concert hall and cinema on the Canterbury campus. The programme runs from touring theatre, dance, music and comedy to a strong family strand, including the annual bOing! family festival, with hundreds of events and film screenings every year. Come for a show or film, or a coffee in the café.
Image: Friends of Westgate ParksWestgate Gardens
Westgate Gardens is Canterbury's riverside park, famous for colourful floral displays along the River Stour beneath the medieval Westgate Towers. Picnic on the lawns, take a punt trip, or follow the riverside path out to the Toddlers Cove playground. It suits families and couples and takes an hour or two.
Image: Kent Museum of FreemasonryKent Museum of Freemasonry
The Kent Museum of Freemasonry is a free, Arts Council accredited museum near the Westgate Towers with one of the finest Masonic collections outside London. Regalia, jewels and books cover all Masonic orders through the ages, explained by friendly volunteer guides. It suits curious visitors with no prior knowledge and takes about an hour.