The Green Flag awarded Leybourne Lakes Country Park was once a disused gravel workings, but today the site is a patchwork of lake, grassland, woodland and marshland habitats.
Wetland birds, including the kingfishers, tufted ducks, great crested grebes and mute swans thrive on this landscape. Even water voles can be seen diving head first into these lakes, despite being the most dramatically declining of British mammals.
Holborough Marshes is another beautiful nature reserve, which offers the sound of the distinctive song of the nightingale in spring. More wildlife can be spotted in the marshy grassland as the walk winds upstream and past the Snodland Paper Mill.
Step by step guide
Turn left out of New Hythe train station onto New Hythe Lane. Before the roundabout you will see a restricted byway sign on your right. Cross over the road and follow the byway. After 100 metres go through the motorbike barrier. You are now entering Leybourne Lakes Country Park.
Follow the track straight ahead keeping the lake on your left. Go through the metal gate then at the brown sign take the left path signposted to the Ocean Lake. Pass the metal gate and continue straight ahead with the path going between two lakes. You will see houses on your left and the lake on your right. Follow this path around the whole of the Ocean Lake.
You will get to a path that crosses over the main road. Refreshments are available here from the supermarket. Continue on the lake-side path around the rest of the lake until you get to the green sheds. The path straight ahead over the bridge takes you to the main car park (toilets available here). Continue on the lake-side path.
Continue straight ahead at the metal gate. At the crossroads of paths turn left signposted to Brookland Lake and Nevill Park. After 30 metres the path splits again; take the right hand path towards Brookland Lake. Follow the stream on your left for about 1km.
When you reach a metal gate continue straight ahead. You are now leaving Leybourne Lakes Country Park. Join the road and follow it to the left. Take care here as large vehicles use this road. After 100 metres turn right onto the main road (Brook Street). For refreshments in Snodland town centre take the road on the left over the main road. Just after the bridge take the path on your right and then turn left at the bottom of this path onto the High Street. Follow this to take you to the town centre.
Follow Brook Street round to the right and straight ahead you will see Snodland train station. You have the option to finish the walk now or carry on for a further 1.4 miles to visit Holborough Marshes. Take care crossing over the railway line then turn left into Church Field.
At the end of Church Field the road bears round to the right and you will see a path continuing straight ahead which you need to take. You will be adjacent to the train line on your left hand side. When you come to the next path on your right follow this across the stile. You are now entering Holborough Marshes.
Turn left at the old World War II pillbox and follow the embankment with the river on your right.
After a few hundred metres you will see a footpath taking you through scrub on your left. Take this path and follow it to its end through the scrubby vegetation and then alongside the stream on your right hand side.
Go through the kissing gate at the end of the path and turn left to follow the path back to Snodland train station via Church Field, keeping the railway line on your right hand side. If you would like to explore Holborough Marshes further, instead of going through the kissing gate go through the motorbike barrier on your right and follow this main track to the river's edge. You will see a bird hide along the way and also old tram tracks; a reminder of the rich industrial past of this area.
