Clowes Wood is an area of mixed woodland managed by the Forestry Commission and open to the public. It is one of several woods in The Blean Woods complex that covers eleven square miles, to the north of Canterbury. In addition to the informal paths running through the woodland there are stony tracks that are reasonably accessible for visitors with wheelchairs and buggies. The Big Blean Walk, a 25 mile circular walk passes through Clowes Wood. The walk, combined with 18 new interpretive panels, promotes all the woods that are part of The Blean to visitors and locals, inviting people to explore a world of history and nature.
The Crab and Winkle Way, a cycle and walking trail running between Whitstable and Canterbury, also passes through Clowes Wood and the trail has a popular resting point and picnic area within the woods. The Crab and Winkle Way is named after the railway line that once ran between the two towns. It is a 7.5 mile (12 km) mainly traffic-free route running partly on the old railway path, but also on woodland and Forestry Commission tracks. For more information about the cycle trail visit http://crabandwinkle.org
Download a free walk guide with a map and information about the history and nature of Clowes Wood and The Blean on the right hand side of this page.
Easy access information
This park and open space has at least one accessible route but otherwise is considered to be less suitable for visitors with pushchairs and/or wheelchairs.
