Discover Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest: Your Visiting Guide for 2026

I recently spent a day at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest in Kent, and I was blown away by how much there is to see and do. Whether you’re into nature walks, cycling, or just looking for a great family outing, Bedgebury has it all. The collection of trees is absolutely stunning, and the trails are perfect for a relaxing stroll or an adventurous bike ride.

In this guide, I’ll share all the practical info you need to plan your visit, including the best trails, activities, and tips for making the most of your time there, even if the weather isn’t perfect. So, put on your walking boots, pack a picnic, and join me in exploring the beauty and excitement of Bedgebury!

What is Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest

Bedgebury is an amazing arboretum and forest in the heart of Kent. The Pinetum is about 320 acres and has over 10,000 trees, including rare and endangered species.

The surrounding Bedgebury Forest covers approximately 2,600 acres, which you can use for walking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding and running. The forest also has the popular Go Ape high rope course.

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My favourite things about Bedgebury

It’s great place any time of the year. I visited during a very cold winter snap and it was lovely to walk around the park with the trees covered in early morning frost. I like that that there are a mixtures of different trails, so if you don’t have a proper walking shoes, you can still do a shorter loop on a paved path and don’t get your shoes muddy.

I’ve also appreciated that the park had a large cafe, which was fab to visit after my long walk and enjoy a hot drink.

What I found slightly confusing, is that once you leave the area around the lakes and walk into the large area of the forest you have no obvious way of telling which way is back to the visitors centre.

The paths are all marked, but I didn’t have enough day light to complete the longer trails, so had to return back sooner. It would be nice to have a signs back to the car park from any point in the large park. I downloaded the park map, but that only included the small area around the visitor’s centre and my phone map location wasn’t particularly useful either as the signal was poor.

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Is Bedgebury Pinetum worth visiting?

Absolutely, Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest is definitely worth visiting! It’s a fantastic spot for nature lovers, families, and anyone looking to enjoy some outdoor activities.

The main expense is the parking fee, which is around £14.50 for a full day. If you’re planning to visit frequently, an annual membership for £80 might be a good investment as it covers parking and supports the site’s upkeep. Other activities, like renting bikes or doing the Go Ape course (from £21 – £36), will have additional costs, but you can easily enjoy a day out with just the basic entry.

There’s a lots to do to keep everyone entertained. You can explore the beautiful Pinetum with its impressive collection of trees and take a walk or hike on the various trails. Lots of people bring their own bike to go on the family-friendly trails, but there are also more challenging mountain biking routes. The children will enjoy the adventure play areas and Gruffalo sculptures. If you are on a budget you can bring your own picnic or grab a bite at the cafe.

What about visiting if the weather is bad?

If the weather isn’t great, it can be a bit tricky since most of the attractions are outdoors and the only place you can get cover is the visitor centre and cafe. The Go Apes attraction mentions, that they are open in all weathers and that the trees cover most of the route.

Bringing waterproof clothing and sturdy footwear can make a rainy day more bearable. The forest can actually be quite enchanting in the rain, and it tends to be less crowded.

What to see & do at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest

1. Explore the Pinetum Area

The Pinetum has the most complete collection of conifers in the world, including rare and endangered species. All the trees are labeled, so you can learn new types of pines as you walk around. It’s easy to assume that all the pines will look the same, but really they don’t and I was surprised how many interesting trees there were.

2. Walking and Hiking Trails

Pinetum Trail: A 1.25-mile (2 km) trail that takes you through the main tree collection. If you’ve never been to Bedgebury before, I’d definitely recommend that you start with this trail first as you also get beautiful views across the lakes.

Forest Walks: There are also various trails ranging from easy strolls to more challenging hikes in the main forest. I like the Well-being walk as it encourages you to think about where you are and gives you few easy thinking tasks to do as you walk.

3. Enjoy the Cycling trails

Family Cycle Trail: There is a 9-mile (14.5 km) circular route suitable for all ages and abilities, which is like a nice wide path and it’s also O.K for walkers.

Mountain Biking: There are also dedicated trails for different skill levels, including blue and red routes. A lot of these routes as ‘one way’, quite narrow and definitely not suitable for walkers.

4. Have a Fun at Go Ape

This is an adventure course featuring treetop challenges, zip lines, and more. There are several different options from 1 hr routes to challenging route that takes about 2-3 hrs to complete. The tickets are from £21 – £36 and should be pre-booked via ‘Go Ape’ website. The course is open at weekends during the winter season and every day during summer season and children’s holiday including half-term holidays in the winter.

5. Children’s Play Areas

Adventure Play Trail: There is a fun trail with play equipment designed for children to explore and enjoy.

Gruffalo Sculptures: Discover sculptures of characters from the popular children’s book, “The Gruffalo” as you walk through the area around the main lake and visitor’s centre.

6. Horse Riding

There are designated trails for horse riding through the forest.

7. Go for a run through the forest

There are trails of varying lengths and difficulties specially set up for runners. There is also 5 km ParkRun every Saturday at 9 am, which you can join for free (just pay for your parking). You can run the same route any time, just follow the marked trails.

8. Enjoy your Picnic

There are designated spots with tables and benches where you can enjoy your picnic, including in front of the Visitor’s Centre and around the main lake.

9. Visit the cafe and information centre

The information centre can help with maps, guides, and information about the Pinetum and forest. The cafe has good selection of hot and cold meals and drinks with indoor and outdoor seating.

10. Enjoy Seasonal Events, Activities & Educational Programs

Throughout the year, Bedgebury hosts various events such as guided walks, educational workshops, and seasonal celebrations, such as the Christmas Lights, which are very popular. The park also runs educational programs for schools and groups about tree conservation and the park environment.

Practical information for your visit

Address: Lady Oak Lane, Goudhurst, Kent, TN17 2SJ

Ticket Prices: The entrance is free if you walk or cycle in, but if you park at the official car park, you need to pay for parking.

Parking:

• Up to 1 hour: £4.00
• Up to 2 hours: £8.00
• Up to 3 hours: £11.50
• All day: £14.50 per vehicle

If you plan to visit often, the national membership for£93 or £80 just this site, might be worth buying as it gives you free parking for 12 months. You only need one membership per family as the free parking applies to one car, which makes it really good deal.

Opening Times:

• Winter (October to March): Open daily from 8:00 AM until dusk (which is between 4 – 6 pm).
• Summer (April to September): Open daily from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM

The site is closed on Christmas Day

How long to allocate for your visit

You can easily spend the whole day here, but it of course depends on the activities you plan to do and the trails you wish to explore. On my last visit, I had about 3 hrs of day light, as it was in the winter and managed to do the Well-being trail, the Pinetum trail and part of the running trail, but I walked everywhere.

If you plan to explore multiple trails, do the Go Ape course and have a lunch in the cafe, you might really need a whole day.

Pinetum Trail: This 1.25-mile (2 km) trail takes you through the heart of the Pinetum with variety of conifer species. It takes about 1-1.5 hours to complete at a leisurely pace.

Family Cycle Trail: A 9-mile (14.5 km) circular route suitable for all ages and abilities. Allow around 2-3 hours to complete.

The Forest Walk: A 2-mile (3.2 km) trail that takes approximately 1-1.5 hours to walk.

The Dragonfly Trail: A 4.5-mile (7.2 km) trail that typically takes around 2-3 hours to complete.

Mountain Biking Trail – Blue Trail: A moderate 7.4-mile (12 km) route that can take around 1.5-2.5 hours, depending on your pace.

Mountain Biking Trail – Red Trail: A more challenging 8-mile (13 km) route, which may take 2-3 hours to complete.

Go Apes: The shorter routes for younger visitors can take up to 1 hr and the longer route can be done in 2-3 hrs.

How to get to Bedgebury

By Car

From London: Leave the M25 at junction 5 and join the A21 southbound towards Hastings. Bedgebury is signposted off the A21 on the B2079.

From the North and East Kent: Take the A262 to Goudhurst, then follow signs to Bedgebury.

From the South Kent or East Sussex: Follow the A21 northbound towards London, and look for signs to Bedgebury on the B2079.

By Public Transport:

Train:

The nearest train stations are Etchingham and Tunbridge Wells. From these stations, you can take a taxi or a bus to reach Bedgebury.

Bus:

The nearest bus stop to Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest is Peasley Lane, Goudhurst, which is a 3-minute walk away

Facilities

There is a large visitors centre that includes a visitor information office, cafe, toilets and outdoor picnic tables. There are more picnic areas and some benches as you walk through the park, but mainly around the main lakes area.

The main toilets are at the visitor’s centre, but the good news is that there are also mobile toilets in the main forest area and these are signposted.

Accessibility

The Pinetum Trail is designed to be accessible for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and pushchairs. It is a way-marked easy access trail with firm surface and gentle gradients.

The visitor centre is fully accessible to wheelchair users and includes accessible toilets and baby changing facilities. There are designated disabled parking spaces close to the visitor centre.

History of Bedgebury

The name “Bedgebury” is first mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon charter from AD 841 and during the 14th and early 15th centuries, the manor was owned by John de Bedgebury and his descendants.

In 1450, the manor was bought by the Culpepper family, who held it for more than 250 years. If the surname sounds familiar, you are right! Thomas Culpepper was a courtier in the court of King Henry VIII, who got involved with Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII.

Thomas was born around 1514 and served as a gentleman of the king’s privy chamber, which is how he got close to the king’s wife. Their relationship came to light in 1541, leading to a scandal that rocked the Tudor court.

Culpepper and Catherine Howard were both arrested and charged with adultery. Despite their pleas for mercy, the evidence against them was overwhelming. Thomas Culpepper was executed on December 10, 1541 and Catherine Howard was executed a few months later, in February 1542.

The current Bedgebury House, was built in 1688 for Sir James Hayes, who had become wealthy through his wife’s inheritance and financing the recovery of treasure from Spanish galleons. During the 18th century, the estate saw significant development, including the creation of a fashionable lake and landscaped gardens.

From 1836 to 1890, the estate was owned by Viscount Beresford and his family. During this time, some of the oldest conifers in the present collection were planted around Marshall’s Lake.

The National Pinetum was officially established in 1925 by the Forestry Commission. The initial aim was to create a collection of conifer species from around the world’s temperate climates. William Dallimore was the first curator and his expertise helped shape Bedgebury into an internationally recognized collection, which now includes some 56 critically endangered species.

The Bedgebury Park House is not part of the park opened to visitors. In the past it was used as a school and in 2011 was sold to a private hands to become a family home again.

What can you see nearby

Scotney Castle:

Scotney Castle is a picturesque English country house with gardens and a moated 14th-century castle, which is only about 5 miles from Bedgebury.

Sissinghurst Castle Garden:

About 10 miles from Bedgebury, this famous garden was created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson. It is one of the most beautiful gardens in Kent and open all year round.

Bewl Water:

Located around 4 miles from Bedgebury, Bewl Water is the largest reservoir in the southeast of England, where you can do a range of activities including cycling, walking, fishing, and boating.

Tunbridge Wells:

A historic spa town, the Royal Tunbridge Wells is only about 10 miles from Bedgebury and has plenty of independent shops, cosy cafes and pretty streets around the area called Pantiles.

Cranbrook:

A charming town about 6 miles from Bedgebury, which has beautiful historic buildings, including a working windmill called Union Mill, independent shops and local museum.

This blog post was originally published on 4 January 2025 and last updated on 4 January 2025