Shoreham: Woods, Trails and Heritage

Explore Shoreham through a range of interests: woodland and chalk downland, circular trails through the countryside, and places connected with art and history. If you are planning a stay, you can use these themes to decide which aspect of the area interests you most.

Woodland and Chalk Downland

Shoreham Woods covers 189 hectares (467 acres). The area consists of five woodland areas linked by rolling, sheep-grazed chalk downland. Woodland and open, hilly countryside go together here: the woods form distinct areas within a landscape also shaped by the grazed chalk slopes.

To find your way around Shoreham Woods, there is a wheelchair-accessible path from the Ranger's Lodge through Andrews Wood to a picnic area. If you plan to use this path, check local conditions before you travel, as access conditions may change. This lets you plan around the specific path rather than assume the entire woodland is accessible.

Circular Trails and Countryside Views

The Samuel Palmer Trail is a circular route around the village of Shoreham and through the surrounding Darent Valley countryside. Its audio guide tells the story of Samuel Palmer's time in Shoreham and the paintings created there. Use of the audio guide depends on the app being available. The trail therefore connects the village with an introduction to Palmer's stay and artistic work.

Another route is Darent Valley Rail Trails – Ridges and Valleys: a five-mile circular walk east of Shoreham. The route passes through dry valleys and woodland; from the valley heights, panoramic views stretch across the countryside. The two trails have different emphases: the Samuel Palmer Trail features the village and Palmer's story, while Ridges and Valleys is described by its stated distance, valleys and views. Check local conditions before setting out.

Aviation History and Memorials

The Shoreham Aircraft Museum houses hundreds of aviation relics excavated from crashed British and German aircraft. The artefacts on display include parts from Spitfire, Hurricane, Me109, FW190, Ju88 and Do17 aircraft. As the exhibition may change over time, check the current display before visiting if you are particularly interested in a specific aircraft type.

Shoreham Memorial Cross is a war memorial cross on the east-facing slope of the North Downs above Shoreham. It was completed in September 1921 and is a Scheduled Monument. It is also considered a very rare surviving example of a hillside memorial cross. Its location, date of completion and rare form give the cross a distinct historical significance among Shoreham's attractions.

Church and Art

Shoreham Church dates back to Norman times and is a Grade I listed building. The church contains one of the few surviving pre-Reformation rood screens with traditional Tudor ornament. St Peter and St Paul's in Shoreham is also known for its windows by Edward Burne-Jones. These details offer different ways to explore church history and art: from its Norman past and the rood screen to the artist's windows.

Shoreham's attractions range from countryside and circular trails to aviation relics, a war memorial cross and church art. You can plan your stay around whether you want to focus mainly on the woodland and chalk downland, one of the trails described, or the historic sites.

Discover more destinations: Coldred, Horsmonden, Dymchurch, Aldington, Brenchley, Speldhurst, Maidstone, Throwley Forstal.

For the wider travel overview: Kent.