Betteshanger Country Park

Betteshanger Country Park, an exciting new initiative being part of the wider multi-million pound Betteshanger Sustainable Parks scheme, is located on the site of the former Betteshanger Colliery, near Deal in East Kent.

So what is so good about Betteshanger?

Betteshanger Country Park sits on the former colliery spoil heap and is an outstanding space for people to access and explore the outdoors. The 250-acre site is a centre for outdoor sporting and adventure activities. In fact the opportunities for exploration is pretty much endless whether you are a sole thrill seeker or looking for somewhere to take the family for the day.

The Park provides access to a variety of environments including woodland, grassland and marshland. It houses the most important cycling centre in East Kent, with a 3-kilometre road cycling track providing safe, traffic free road cycling facilities. The track is ideal for families with its safe environment for children to ride and also for serious cyclists where training conditions are ideal. There is a further 10 kilometres of mountain bike trails, all of varying difficulty, designed to challenge and excite all levels of cyclist. A range of bicycles and helmets are available for hire at reasonable rates.

Other activities at the Country Park include an outdoor playpark, archery, den building, fossiling and geo-caching, plus a range of seasonal events. Perfect for people and little ones looking to do something a little different.

Betteshanger Country Park can be easily reached by the A258 and has ample and easy on-site parking. A barrier free, number plate recognition, pay-on-exit parking system is in operation. So you don’t get caught out by accidentally running over time. Car parking charges do apply all year round. Entry to the Park is free for all users. Regular visitors can benefit from annual membership which includes free parking and a range of other benefits.

Betteshanger has changed – for the better!

Betteshanger will soon be the place of choice for outdoor enthusiasts. Major development works across the Betteshanger site are rapidly building momentum. Work on the first phase Visitor Centre, encompassing a Green Energy Centre and the Kent Mining Museum has now commenced on site. Both of these will provides exceptional learning opportunities for all age groups. The new state-of-the-art facility will also provide retail, cycling facilities, education, conferencing, events, gardens and public spaces, as well as offering an iconic entrance to the 250-acre country park and its outstanding leisure and recreation facilities. So whether you seek refreshment following a mammoth cycling session or are looking for a purposeful business meeting venue, Betteshanger is the place to do it.

On completion, Betteshanger will deliver a once-in-a-generation opportunity for everyone to see how ‘old energy’ can be transformed into ‘new energy’ and to get involved with the generation of renewable energy first hand. Coupled with miles of traffic free cycling, muddy mountain bike trails, a sensational events programme, woodland, grassland, marshland and wide-ranging, hands-on activities including archery, fossil hunting and den building, Betteshanger is fast becoming Kent’s must-visit eco-tourism destination.

Reach new heights at Betteshanger Park

Visitors to Betteshanger Park, near Deal, can now experience the adrenaline of mountain climbing thanks to the opening of a new state-of-the-art 9-metre climbing wall.

Operated by the highly experienced Higher Ground Climbing team, the Wall allows visitors to utilise a vast range of climbing techniques and is packed with thrilling features and challenges.

At 9-metres, the Wall is the tallest mobile climbing wall on the market. It can be climbed by 4 people simultaneously using 3 auto-belays and a rope. There are retractable overhangs for maximum variety and excitement, for all climbing abilities.

All climbs are supervised by Climbing Wall Award holders and visitors using the Wall will quickly learn how to scale it in a safe but challenging environment.