Ranscombe

Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve, Ranscombe Farm, Cuxton, Rochester, Kent ME2 1LA

Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve

Is located just off Junction 2 of the M2 on Sundridge Hill, Cuxton.

If you're coming from London then you're looking for this

Or if you're coming from Kent you're looking for this - immediately after crossing the Medway Bridge

From either direction follow the signs for West Malling and then about 100 yards after the last roundabout you'll find the entrance...

Parking

Is always a bit tricky here as there isn't a lot available and even that isn't always available! We'll let you know in pre-race emails what are the available options, if in doubt, please park off site as it solves issues, its a little bit of a walk, but nothing excessive, won't cause congestion and you won't get stuck a field if it rains hard! Car sharing is always preferred if at all possible.

1) Entrance parking - there are ten spaces here, right by the entrance feel free to grab a space here if there is space.

2) Base camp parking - There is a lovely new car park here from January 2020, about 30 spaces or so.

3) Field parking - If 1& 2 gets full then this is also an option. . If there has been any rain it's not great as its on a chalk slope, and wet chalk is like ice, so if in doubt and you don't have a four wheel drive then I'd think twice about this. It's fine getting out, its getting in which is more of an issue as getting out is downhill. If its dry generally its fine and we can fit about 30 cars in here, just park nose in towards the trees.

4) Off site parking - Just past the reserve there is lots of free street parking. Pilgrims Way doesn't have a lot but a little further down there is basically unlimited street parking as highlighted in red in the image below and there is a footpath you can take that crosses the railway line and up in to the reserve, or just use the main road/footpath to enter the Reserve if you're parking here. Please do if at all possible, it keeps Rachel stress free! As parking her main worry at this venue!

Facilities

There are toilets at base camp now which are self compostable, this means only THREE things are to go down them. The three P's - pee, pooh and paper. Anything else mustn't go down there and be deposited in the bins/bags provided.

Public Transport

The nearest train station is Cuxton and that's about half a mile away. (You can see the station in the parking map above).

Local Hotels

What are the nearby hotels?

The closest Travelodge is at Rochester (1 Mile). Medway M2 (7 miles), Maidstone Central (8 miles)

The closest Premier Inns are at Rochester (1 mile), Gravesend Central (8 miles), Gillingham Business Park (8 miles).

The closest Holiday Inn hotels is at Holiday Inn Rochester (6 miles)

There are lots of B&Bs in the Rochester area, the Trip Advisor list of reviews starts here.

Camping sites in the area can be found here. (There is no camping or overnight parking allowed at Ranscombe)