This guide covers one green space in Northfleet itself and two country parks on the Downs that InKent groups under Northfleet: Camer Park at Meopham and Trosley Country Park at Vigo Village. Together they give you a local walk, a family park with a cafe, and a day on the North Downs. The cards below link to each place’s InKent page.
Northfleet Urban Country Park
Northfleet Urban Country Park covers about 10 hectares of grassland, scrub and broadleaf woodland, and it is one of the parks on Gravesham Borough Council’s website. Informal paths and wide grassy rides link the park’s two levels, and planting of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers supports a range of wildlife. It is popular with dog walkers. The entrances are on Vale Road, on the east side, and Springhead Road, on the west side. Explore Kent says paths are uneven or unsurfaced in places, with stiles and narrow gaps.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: Explore Kent lists it as open all hours.
- Suits: a short local walk, and dog owners.
Camer Park, Meopham
Camer Park is 45 acres of parkland in the Kent Downs National Landscape at Meopham, on Camer Park Road. It became a public park in 1971 and is now one of the parks on Gravesham Borough Council’s website. Visitors can roam the mature parkland or follow walks devised by the Meopham Footpaths Group through the adjoining woodland. There are picnic areas, a children’s play area, a cafe, toilets and a car park, and the council says the site is available for dog walking. Common lizards and slow worms live in the longer grass. The council says the park has at least one accessible route but is otherwise less suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
- Cost: no charge is listed.
- Opening: the council says the park is open on foot 24 hours a day. The main car park is locked half an hour before sunset each evening, so check the time if you plan to stay into the afternoon in winter.
- Suits: families with young children, and dog owners.
Trosley Country Park, Vigo Village
Trosley Country Park, run by Kent County Council, mixes woodland with chalk grassland slopes that are a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It was once part of the Trosley Towers estate. Three waymarked trails range from the steep blue route over the downland to the gentler red route and the yellow easy access route. There is a trim trail, a play area and a picnic area, and the Bluebell Cafe is on site. The Coldrum Trail leads on to the Coldrum Stones.
- Cost: no entry charge is listed, but parking is charged and Kent Country Parks season tickets apply.
- Opening: listed as 9am to dusk or 9pm, whichever is earlier, and closed on Christmas Day.
- Suits: walkers who want a choice of trail difficulty, and families.
Choosing between them
The urban country park is the one for a short, informal walk. Camer Park has the facilities for a family outing, with its play area, cafe and toilets. Trosley is the one for a walk on the downs, with three trails of different difficulty. Camer Park and Trosley are both on the Downs, so check the route and parking for each before you set out.
Getting there
Northfleet station is on Station Road and is served by Southeastern and Thameslink. Its station page has live departures and facilities, and journey times change, so check Southeastern’s journey planner for current times and fares. Northfleet Urban Country Park and Camer Park have pages on Gravesham Borough Council’s website, and Trosley is on Kent County Council’s country parks pages, so check each page for access and parking before you travel. Camer Park has a car park, and parking at Trosley is charged.
Frequently asked questions
Is Northfleet Urban Country Park free?
No charge is listed, and Explore Kent lists it as open all hours. It has entrances on Vale Road and Springhead Road.
Which of these parks has a cafe?
Camer Park has a cafe, and Trosley Country Park has the Bluebell Cafe. Check each owner’s page for cafe opening times.
Is Trosley Country Park suitable for a gentle walk?
Trosley has three waymarked trails. The blue route is steep over the downland, the red route is gentler, and the yellow route is the easy access trail.
Can I take a dog to Camer Park?
Gravesham Borough Council says Camer Park is available for dog walking, and it provides dog bins around the site. Check the council’s page for any rules on leads.