Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve is a significant ancient woodland in Kent, representing a fragment of the historic Orlestone Forest. This national nature reserve features a diverse mix of broadleaved woodlands, including oak, sweet chestnut, birch, and ash, thriving across varied terrain from higher ground to damper valleys. Its rich natural environment and varied landscape make it suitable for several outdoor activities. The reserve offers opportunities for several sports like road cycling, hiking, touring cycling, jogging, and more.
83
Routes
4.6
(54)
Average rating
694
People visited

4.8
(6)
71
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(10)
32
hikers
4.73km
01:15
40m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
20
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
15
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
63
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

52
riders
81.3km
04:06
320m
320m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

31
riders
66.0km
02:43
140m
140m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

18
riders
32.2km
01:36
330m
330m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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7
riders
49.5km
02:51
140m
140m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
66.7km
04:05
520m
520m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

10
riders
15.5km
00:56
60m
60m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
8
riders
62.1km
03:42
200m
200m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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8
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
3
riders
32.7km
01:45
30m
30m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
28.6km
02:01
350m
350m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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6
runners
6.59km
00:41
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, touring cycling, jogging, and road cycling in the surrounding area. The reserve features way-marked trails for exploring its ancient woodland. Komoot users have rated routes in the area an average of 4.49 stars.
Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve provides several hiking opportunities, including three way-marked trails ranging from 1.5 to 3 miles (2.5 to 5 km). Long-distance paths like the Saxon Shore Way and the Greensand Way also pass through the reserve. More information on hiking can be found in the Hiking in Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve guide.
Road cycling is possible on the country lanes surrounding Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve. While the deepest parts of the reserve are woodland, the local area offers picturesque routes for road cyclists. Explore available routes in the Road Cycling Routes in Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve guide.
Cycling is permitted in designated areas within Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve, with maps available from Natural England. Touring cyclists can incorporate the reserve into longer journeys, and komoot offers a Cycling in Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve guide.
Ham Street Woods provides routes suitable for jogging amidst its ancient woodland. Popular options include a 4.0-mile (6.4 km) loop offering views of the Royal Military Canal. Further details can be found in the Running Trails in Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve guide.
The reserve is an ancient woodland with diverse broadleaved trees like oak, sweet chestnut, and ash. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, known for rare moths, butterflies like the White Admiral, and breeding birds such as nightingales. Spring brings white wood anemones and bluebells, while autumn offers colorful foliage.
Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve offers way-marked trails suitable for families. An easy-access route is also available for those with restricted mobility, though some woodland paths may be unsuitable for wheelchairs. Komoot provides a Family-friendly hikes in Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve guide.
The provided information does not specify dog-friendly policies for Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve. Visitors should check official Natural England guidelines for current rules regarding dogs.
Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve contains well-preserved archaeological earthworks. These include a medieval ditch and bank system, as well as the remains of a staggered medieval dam, highlighting its historical significance.
Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 11,000 visitors having shared their experiences. Routes in the area have received an average rating of 4.49 out of 5 stars from users.
Komoot offers several guides for the reserve, including Hiking, Road Cycling Routes, Touring Cycling, and Running Trails. There are also guides for family-friendly hikes and traffic-free bike rides.
Ham Street Woods National Nature Reserve is managed by Natural England. Detailed information and resources can be found on the Natural England website. For general enquiries regarding National Nature Reserves, Natural England can be contacted at 0300 060 3900.

