Joyden's Wood

What it’s like

Two waymarked woodland trails with a Saxon dyke to explore and free entry all year round.

Two circular routes give you the choice: the Faesten Dic Trail at 3.3km takes you past the visible remains of a Saxon defensive earthwork, while the shorter Woodland Walk at 2.7km is the one to pick if little legs are flagging. Either way there's birds, butterflies and the odd woodland animal to spot, which is about as good as it gets for a free morning out.

It costs nothing to get in, which is the main selling point when you've got a weekend to fill without spending anything. There's no set opening hours to plan around here, just turn up and pick your trail. The Faesten Dic itself is the bit worth building the walk around, a genuine Saxon structure with remains you can actually see, not just a plaque telling you where something used to be.

The catch is parking. There's no car park on site, so you're relying on limited street parking along Summerhouse Drive, the pay and display on Bexley High Street, or leaving the car at Bexley train station and walking in. Buses run from Swanley, Dartford and Bexley if you'd rather not deal with parking at all.

Toilets are another thing to plan around. The nearest are at Summerhouse Drive Library, which keeps limited hours, or you're looking at a four mile trip into Dartford town centre. If you've got a pushchair or need step-free access, use the Summerhouse Drive entrance with its wide kissing gate and surfaced stone track. The Ferndell Avenue entrance isn't accessible for either.

Facilities

Need to know

Parking

Limited street parking along Summerhouse Drive

Pushchairs

Accessible at Summerhouse Drive entrance with wide kissing gate and surfaced stone track

Wheelchairs

Wheelchair accessible at Summerhouse Drive entrance with wide kissing gate and surfaced stone track

Dogs

Allowed. Refer to walking dogs policy

Getting there by bus or train

Buses from Swanley, Dartford and Bexley

• Enter via Summerhouse Drive if you've got a pushchair or need step-free access
• Bring cash or check ahead for the pay and display on Bexley High Street
• No toilets on site itself, plan a stop before or after
• Bexley train station is within walking distance if you'd rather skip the parking hunt altogether

Plan your visit

Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists

See all Woodland & Forest in London · Things to do in London