Kent-Teach’s Top Dog Walks in Kent

April is Stress Awareness Month and let’s face it we all know that a career in education can have its stressful moments. A healthy coping mechanism for stress is exercise, and what better to way to relax than a walk in one of Kent’s most scenic spots with your furry friend.

Jess, the Kent-Teach Manager is a dog lover and keen walker with her dog Nala, here are her 3 top dog walking spots in the county. 

1) Riverside Country Park, Gillingham 

Riverside Country Park is one of Medway's beautiful country parks and an ideal location for a walk, run or cycle with your four legged friend.

There are various habitats within the park, including mudflats and salt marsh, ponds and reed beds, grassland and scrub, which provide a haven for wildlife and a unique walk in Kent. The estuary has special protection as part of the Medway Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is internationally important for wintering birds that thrive on the invertebrate-rich mudflats. The salt marshes have a specialised ecology and act as high tide roost sites.

Riverside Country Park has received a Green Flag Award, the national standard for quality parks and green spaces. Not only is the park a beautiful location, there are plenty of facilities onsite including toilets and a café, perfect for picking up a drink or snack before you set off!

2) Dumpton Gap Beach Walk, Broadstairs 

If you’re looking for a secluded bay to take a seaside promenade stroll or a walk along a gorgeous sandy beach with your dog, Dumpton Gap has to be it! With breathtaking sea views and no time restrictions for dog walking in the summer, Dumpton Gap is a dog walkers paradise all year round!

During low tide you can set off on a seaside walk to Ramsgate or Broadstairs, following the chalk cliffs all the way to the seaside towns. Don’t forget to check tide times before setting off! If you fancy a spot of rock pooling, Dumpton Gap has it covered, with plenty of pools for you and your dog to explore. What creatures will you discover on your seaside adventure?

Despite the secluded location, there are plenty of facilities on offer such as toilets and a café perfect for warming up with a hot drink after a bracing dose of fresh sea air!

3) Mote Park, Maidstone

Mote Park is a huge green space in the heart of the county town of Maidstone and is popular with both visitors and locals alike. In 2015, it was placed third in the People’s Choice for their Favourite Green Flag Park.

Mote Park covers over 450 acres and includes natural features such as grassland, woodland, rivers and a 30 acre lake. With plenty of amenities on offer such as the newly built café, toilet facilities, children’s play areas, crazy golf and water sports centre makes Mote Park a fun destination for dog walkers and families. 

Where do you go dog walking in Kent? Share your favourite trails with us in the comments!

Exercise is vital for teacher wellbeing, it can reduce the risk of multiple illnesses, it has the power to help reduce anxiety and stress, it can improve memory, boost brain power and increase the happy chemicals in your brain. Despite the health benefits it can be hard to find the time to exercise. Here are 8 ways you can fit exercise around your busy teaching schedule.