Knole Park Estate and Knole House

We’ve trodden the paths on this walking route hundreds of times, as Knole Park is situated in our hometown! Whenever we visit our families back in Sevenoaks, Kent, we head to Knole to enjoy the gentle, peaceful walks and admire the resident deer. As you’ll see from our photos, it’s a beautiful place to visit in all seasons, and this route shows off the best of the estate.

The easiest way to get to Knole is by car, using the National Trust-owned car park (free for members, a small fee applies to non-members). Our route begins here and heads through the golf course adjacent to Knole House (look out for signs indicating when the path crosses a hole – beware of flying golf balls!). The paths here are all paved or dirt track, making for a gentle walk as you admire the exterior of the House and make your way over to the South East side of the Park, where you’ll walk two sides of a long triangle – Chestnut Walk and Broad Walk. The route loops back around to Knole House where we recommend stopping for a look in at the picturesque courtyard, and you’ll also find the orangery, book shop and general shop, as well as toilets.

Before heading back to the car park you can stop off at the National Trust Brewhouse Cafe just around the corner from Knole House, with the usual hot and cold drinks, light bites and sweet treats on offer. There’s toilets for those that skipped the House, and a choice of indoor and outdoor seating. For those with four-legged friends, dogs are only permitted outside. Even so, we think the best seats are found on the elevated sun terrace, where you’ll be treated to a sweeping view over the cricket ground and golf course – perfect for a Summers day! There are water bowls for dogs here, as well as dog waste bins by the cafe, car park and near the cattle grid at the main entrance to the Park. Make sure you carry poo bags with you until you can dispose of them properly. As there are hundreds of deer and other wildlife roaming the Park, dogs must be kept on lead under close control as you walk across this historic estate.