28/08/2026
Looking for some inspiration for this Bank Holiday? The Pluckley Walk follows a gentle circular route through one of Kent’s most picturesque villages, known both for its orchards and for inspiring the world of H. E. Bates’s much-loved Darling Buds of May. Created to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the television series, this walk takes you through the countryside that brought the Larkin family to life on screen.
Starting in Pluckley, a village long associated with Bates, who lived nearby at Little Chart Forstal, the walk leads you through classic Kent landscapes of orchards, hop gardens and quiet fields. His stories capture the warmth, humour and richness of rural life, and these surroundings remain much as he described them.
As you explore, you will pass through areas connected with the filming of The Darling Buds of May, as well as spots that reflect the rural scenes Bates transformed into vivid storytelling. From peaceful lanes to views across the Low Weald, this route helps you experience the countryside that shaped one of Kent’s most enduring literary voices.
Discover the Pluckley Walk here https://explorekent.org/activities/pluckley-walk/
If you are heading out this Bank Holiday, please help protect these landscapes by following the Countryside Code. Leave gates and property as you find them, take any litter home with you, and if travelling by car, please park considerately so local residents and driveways remain accessible. Enjoy your visit and help keep the countryside welcoming for everyone.