Chilham: History, Gardens and Trails

Chilham combines impressive history with a varied landscape. Highlights include a medieval village square, the Grade I listed Chilham Castle, a historically significant church and several trails through orchards, woodland and agricultural land. Anyone wishing to combine a trip with culture, walks and special discoveries will find various points of interest here to incorporate into their daily plans.

Castle, Gardens and Village Square

Chilham Castle is a Grade I listed house. It was built in 1616 for Sir Dudley Digges and, together with Chilham Square, forms an important reference point in the village's history. The picturesque medieval village square is enclosed by Chilham Castle, a church and timber-framed buildings. This creates a distinctive ensemble in which Chilham's historical character is particularly vividly expressed.

The Chilham Castle estate includes formal and ornamental gardens dating from the 17th century. They are set in a park of medieval origin. The registered grounds comprise approximately 10 ha of formal and ornamental gardens as well as a park of approximately 130 ha.

Church and Creative Experiences

The Church of St Mary is also a Grade I listed building. Its construction history can be read in several parts: the transepts date from the 14th century, the nave from the 15th century, the west tower from 1534 and the chancel from 1863, by David Brandon. The church also contains a freestanding monument to Mary Kemp, Lady Digges, who died in 1631. For those interested in culture, Chilham therefore offers a place where architecture, local history and individual memorials come together.

Another facet of a stay is provided by the Creative Glass Classes. They are offered in a purpose-designed glass studio in Chilham. This complements the historical sights with a creative activity and can provide a distinct direction when planning a varied day.

Trails through the Landscape and Orchards

There are various routes available for walks and hikes. The Chilham Loop leads to the village square and continues via Church Hill as the North Downs Way. The 4.5-mile Chilham West Lost Landscapes Walk runs westwards through Shottenden to the distinctive Mount and old Perry Wood. On the return journey, it passes through orchards. The information about the route and length helps you choose a suitable route for the particular day of your trip without treating all trails alike.

The section of the North Downs Way from Chilham to Canterbury also offers its own perspective on the landscape. It leads through Old Wives Lees and through surrounding orchards, woodland and agricultural land. Anyone wishing to alternate between historical sightseeing and landscape experiences when planning their trip can take these different trail characteristics into account.

Chilham as a Starting Point for Finding Your Accommodation

When looking for a holiday rental in Chilham, it is worth first deciding on the desired mix of history, landscaped grounds, creative activities and walks. A trip can focus more strongly on Chilham Square, the castle and the Church of St Mary, or place greater emphasis on trails through orchards, woodland and open countryside. In this way, choosing accommodation becomes a question of your personal travel rhythm: would you primarily like to gather cultural impressions, plan various walks or combine the two?

If you extend your search to other places, you can also include Chartham, Wickhambreaux, Lydd-On-Sea, Saint Michaels, Greenhithe, Bearsted, Blean and Sevenoaks in your further planning.

For the overarching travel overview: Kent.