Bough Beech Reservoir
This large reservoir near Sevenoaks includes a nature reserve with nice footpaths at its northern end. It's a nice place for an easy stroll with plenty of birds to look out for from the bird hides and viewpoints.
Park at the visitor centre at Winkhurst Green to start your walk. Then pick up the footpaths heading south along the western side of the reservoir. There's pockets of woodland, fields and nice views across the water. The woodland areas are lovely in the spring when they are covered in bluebells.
The area is a great place for wildlife watching so make sure you bring your binoculars. Look out for Mandarin Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Common Tern, Little Ringed Plover and Grey Heron on the water.
After your walk you can enjoy refreshments at the visitor centre. You'll also find interesting displays and exhibitions here.
Hever Castle is located just to the south. It's a nice place to continue your walking in the area with lakes and woodland surrounding the castle. Around here you can also pick up the Eden Valley Walk and follow it to the lovely Penshurst Place.
Just to the north of the water you can visit Toys Hill and enjoy great views on the Greensand Ridge.
Another great place for wildlife is the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. The site covers 71 hectares (175 acres) and includes several lakes, ponds, reedbed and woodlands.
Postcode
TN14 6LD - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsBough Beech Reservoir Ordnance Survey Map 
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Bough Beech Reservoir Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Bough Beech Reservoir OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Bough Beech Reservoir Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Explore the Area with Google Street View 
Pubs/Cafes
In nearby Ide Hill you'll find the 18th century Cock Inn. They have an outdoor seating area with views over the adjacent village green to the fine church. There's also cosy fires indoors and they do very good food with a fine selection of ales. You can find them at Camberwell Lane with a postcode of TN14 6JN for your sat navs.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Head a couple of miles north of the lake and you can visit the picture postcard village of Ide Hill. Here you'll find a pretty village green and a 19th century church is notable as the highest church in Kent. The Ide Hill circular walk visits Toys Hill and Chartwell House, the former home of Sir Winston Churchill.
The circular Chiddingstone Walk visits the reservoir from the nearby village. The National Trust owned village includes a number of quaint timber framed Tudor buildings, a picturesque village pond, an ancient pub and the 15th century Chiddingstone Castle with its beautiful grounds and gardens.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Kent Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
This is the southernmost end of Bough Beech Reservoir showing the curve of the dam.
Pond near Bough Beech Reservoir
Bough Beach Sailing Club. On an access road from Winkhurst Green Road
Stile on the path below Bough Beech Dam
Bough Beech Oast, Winkhurst Green, Ide Hill. The lower part is a gift shop and upstairs a small museum about the oast house and hop picking, and about Bough Beech. Surprisingly the building doesn't appear to be listed.
Bough Beech Reservoir Nature Reserve Visitor Centre. This Oast House and Barn near Winkhurst Green Road is used by Kent Wildlife Trust as a visitor Centre for the nature reserve on the Northern area of the Reservoir. The barn has toilets and the Oast has a cafe downstairs. A small car park is also provided.
This marshy grassland, abutting the northernmost boundary of Bough Beech reservoir, can be viewed from the Oast House Visitor Centre. It provides a feeding area for waders.
The reserve in summer. Part of the nature reserve, as seen from the viewing platform outside the visitors' centre, which is being grazed by sheep during the summer months