Barham lies in the North Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Elham Valley. The landscape features woodlands and south-facing chalk grassland; its history ranges from archaeological remains on Barham Downs to a 14th-century church and a local archive. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on walking routes and the Downs or on local and regional history.
Woodlands, Downs and walking routes
Covet Wood adjoins Covert Wood on the north side of Green Hills. Covert and Covet Woods offer visitors a quiet place to relax as they make their way through the area. In some places, paths are uneven, unpaved or narrow; there are also gates and narrow passages. Check current conditions before visiting and take these path features into account when planning.
A public footpath runs along the upper edge of Covert Wood, which is managed by Kent Wildlife Trust. Jumping Downs Nature Reserve lies south-west of Barham and adjoins Covert Wood. It covers 14 acres (5.66 hectares) of south-facing chalk grassland. While the woodlands are characterised by their paths and wooded areas, here the chalk grassland defines the landscape. Path and site conditions may change; check them before visiting.
Walking and routes
The Barham and Adisham walk was created by the North Downs Way National Trail and uses a section of the North Downs Way. It passes through quiet woodland and offers views across Barham Downs, combining woodland stretches with views over the Downs.
The Elham Valley Way is a long-distance footpath between Hythe and Canterbury. It is 22.5 miles long and passes through rural countryside and the Kent Downs National Landscape. Its named endpoints and stated length offer a specific reference point if you would like to include a longer route in your walking plans.
History and local amenities
Near Barham, Barham Downs is home to an Anglo-Saxon cemetery and a prehistoric linear earthwork on a ridge in the Kent Downs. Both remains are relatively well preserved, despite being partly affected by modern land management. The cemetery contains archaeological and environmental remains. The earthwork is interpreted as a routeway and runs along the ridge for about 700 metres from north-west to south-east. Its length and direction illustrate the earthwork’s linear extent.
The Church of St John the Baptist in Barham dates from the 14th century and has been adapted to meet the needs of the 21st century. Its facilities include a kitchen and a toilet, among other things. The Atherton Heritage Centre in Barham Village Hall offers another way to explore local history: its archive contains more than 11,000 items from the five parishes of Adisham, Barham, Bishopsbourne, Kingston and Womanswold. The Centre helps people explore local history, family history and community life.
Barham Village Store sells local produce such as eggs, honey, juices and bread. It also stocks maps and gifts from craftspeople and businesses in Barham. The range may vary.
Discover more destinations: Herne Bay, Hartley, Alkham, Biddenden, Rolvenden, Wrotham, Penshurst, Maidstone.
Return to the main travel overview: Kent.
