10 Free & Fun Ideas in the Fresh Air

We know you’ll love the beautiful settings recommended: ideal to take a break from screen time, unwind, relax the mind and boost your physical health too.

Think smiling rosy cheeks from the freshest of fresh air!

1. The Commons – 104 hectares of free wide open green spaces right in the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. If you look carefully, you may even spot some wildlife.
2. The Rocks – A cluster of giant, ancient, sandstone rocks, free to clamber over and explore – ideal for active imaginations: a moonscape, a castle, a fort, hiding from trolls or goblins, finding fairies, children cannot resist its fantastical & mystical lure.  And all within a short walk from the town centre!
3. Calverley Grounds  – beautifully manicured landscaping, winding paths, gardens, cafés, tennis and basketball courts, croquet, and a wooden adventure playground and a lovely little knoll to roll down! And all just a 2 minute stroll from Tunbridge Wells train station.
4. Local woodlands and nature reserves – Wander the woodlands and turn a walk into an exciting adventure. While the trees are without their leaves it is the perfect time to look for woodland birds in their natural habitat.  Get the kids involved with a game to find how many different sounds they can hear or how many different birds they can spot as they forage into the wild. Look out for Robins, Blue Tits, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Wrens one of the smallest of birds with the loudest of voices!
5. Dunorlan Park  – A park with so many accolades and its own tree trail! Children can try to identify the Scots Pine, the Weeping Willow, the Japanese Maple tree, the Oak tree, and the Copper Beech. As you explore the park can you spot the Grecian temple? Perfect for romantic strolls and also vast enough for the kids to run free, walk (or scoot) around the lake and a have a bite to eat in the café.
6. National Trust  estates have a myriad of paths to walk round which are free, naturally you can adapt the walk to suit the length of your legs!  There are 5 National Trust properties within a 40 minute drive from Royal Tunbridge Wells.
7. Another option for little legs is the parent & toddler buggy friendly walks outlined on the Kent and High Weald Partnership web site.

8. Pepenbury Woodland is in a beautiful location, is a 10-minute drive from the town centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells and can be admired at any time of year. Free to wander through but donations are gratefully received as Pepenbury provides care for adults with learning disabilities through day services and supported living. Make sure to visit the children’s’ playground and the café, where you can buy plants that have been grown in Pepenbury.
9. Bewl Water activity park near Lamberhurst offers school holiday programmes for children. Watch the kids burn their energy with a variety of activities: walking, cycling, soft play, aqua park, water sports, adventure play and laser challenge. This term the kids can enjoy the Ranger Bear’s Winter Quest. Pick up your free map from the Waterfront Café which will guide you through the trail as you collect each clue, unscramble the hidden word, and find Ranger Bear’s friends. Their colouring competition is also back this year, but this time little ones will need to get creative and colour in Ranger Bear to be in with a chance of winning an extra special prize and feature on the wall of fame. To enter, head down to the Waterfront Café where you’ll find colouring sheets and crayons. Pop your entry through Ranger Bear’s ‘Bear Mail’ postbox and keep an eye out on Instagram (@bewlwater) where the winner will be announced on March 17^th.
10. Grosvenor & Hilbert Park  has one of the best play areas in town: adventure playground for young children; zip-wire for the more adventurous; basketball court for older children and 5-a-side court, skate and bike park.  Not only is it the town’s oldest park alongside its lake and grottoes, Grosvenor & Hilbert Park is connected to Hilbert Woods Nature Reserve. This is another haven for wildlife in the heart of the town. Warming refreshments are available in the Hub café and look out for craft and educational events this half term.