Arrive on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Cobham Wood is one of the few ancient wood pastures left in the UK, 190 acres of open grassland and veteran trees in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, grazed by Highland cattle and protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. At its highest point stands the Darnley Mausoleum, designed by James Wyatt in the 18th century for the Earls of Darnley when the family vaults at Westminster Abbey were full, though it was never used for burials; restored after featuring in the BBC's Restoration in 2003, it opens on limited days, with views over the North Downs. The National Trust has no car park: on mausoleum open days there is informal parking near South Lodge Barn, from which a waymarked path of just under a mile leads to the monument, otherwise it is a two-mile walk from Shorne Wood Country Park. Dogs are welcome on a lead in the woodland but not inside the mausoleum. Reviewers enjoy the benches, the birdsong and spotting the cattle. Tips from visitors: the waymarking is sparse, so download the Trust's map first, the tracks turn muddy after rain, and there are no toilets except at South Lodge Barn.
There is no on-site parking - the nearest parking is at Shorne Wood Country Park. Darnley Mausoleum is now closed for the winter. 2027 opening days will be posted here when available.
No reviews yet
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
No pin photos yet
Dogs, with restrictions
Just under 1 mile each way on unmade, uneven tracks with kissing gates, from the informal parking near South Lodge on Lodge Lane (open days only); the Mausoleum itself is reached by steps.
