Around Cobham Park

Cobham Park is one of Kent’s great estates, founded in the 12th century and the former seat of the Earls of Darnley. A massive conservation effort has recently restored it to its former glory, giving countryside access for all to enjoy. Many new woodland trails have opened up, so you can vary or extend your route. On this walk, using long-established rights of way, you see a slice of truly historic landscape, where ancient oak and chestnut trees preside over glorious parkland views.

Cobham village

Tiny Cobham has several splendid pubs, lots of quaint old houses, and the best village shop you’ll find in many a moon. But its pride and joy is the Church of St Mary Magdalene, part 13th-century, lording it over the main street. It contains a magnificent pavement of commemorative brasses and the fine tomb of Sir George Brooke (8th Lord of Cobham, d.1558). Hidden away behind the church is Cobham College, a cluster of picturesque almshouses with a 15th-century refectory. At the west end of the village lies the Jacobean house, Owletts (National Trust – limited opening times).

The Darnley Mausoleum

This extraordinary neoclassical monument at the highest point of the park was designed by James Wyatt as the last resting place for the 3rd Earl of Darnley in 1783, but never actually used. It’s a curious Masonic-looking structure of Portland stone, topped by a pyramid. It was never consecrated and eventually fell into disrepair, suffering vandalism and a serious fire in 1980. Saved largely by the BBC’s Restoration programme, it is now in the care of the National Trust, and open on Sunday afternoons from April to September.

From Lodge Farm, walk through the kissing gate beside the thatched cottage (South Lodge) and follow the path ahead across a field. Ignore all junctions and crossing paths and keep on the main track. In about 0.5 miles (800m) reach a cattle grid with a kissing gate beside it. Go through into the light woodland beyond; signs indicate cattle may be grazing – put dogs on a lead. Keep ahead, past trails marked to either side.

In another 0.5 miles (800m) reach the Darnley Mausoleum. Continue to another cattle grid and kissing gate.

Go through the kissing gate and shortly turn left at a waymarked junction of paths. Now leave the main track and join a much narrower path leading steeply downhill through dense undergrowth. (Do not miss this turning or you may get lost.)

Soon go through a kissing gate into a clearing with intersecting paths left, right and ahead of you through kissing gates into more woodland. Turn left here (don’t go through the gates) and walk along the margin of the fenced woods for 0.5 miles (800m) – cattle may be grazing here. Continue through a patch of denser woodland for another 200yds (182m).

Go through a wooden kissing gate at the end of the woods to emerge on the Rochester and Cobham Park Golf Course (the club house is visible down the slope to your right). Follow the footpath signs bearing half left, and proceed quickly and carefully across the course (look for a line of marker posts, avoiding any other paths). Give way to golfers about to play a hole, and beware low flying balls.

As you leave the golf course behind, look to your right to see the stately cupolas of Cobham Hall rising like a mirage through a screen of parkland trees. Continue along the path over open pastureland, and reach a patch of scrubland at the edge of the field.

Cross a footbridge over a ditch and bear briefly left to a kissing gate – you'll find yourself back on the main track leading to Lodge Farm. Turn right and retrace your steps to the starting point.