Print pageHow to get here
By train
From Canterbury East station, follow signs for city centre, crossing over main road on a bridge, and make your way to bus station, just inside city wall, opposite Fenwick's store (see bus details, below). From Canterbury West station, turn right out of the station and walk 180 m to the main road. Cross over at pedestrian crossing on your left, then go to bus stop a few yards away on the left (see bus details, below).
By bus
From bus station, or St Dunstan's (by Westgate Towers), No. 27 (Bay A4 at bus station) runs hourly to Rough Common from 9.07 am to 2.07 pm Monday-Saturday (no Sunday service), stopping by the reserve access track (ask for Lovell Road).
Nos. 4 and 4A (Bay B1 or B2 at bus station) run about every 15 minutes Monday-Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sunday through the day (ask for Rough Common turnoff), then walk 450 m along Rough Common Road to Lovell Road on left; reserve access track is opposite on right-hand side of road.
By road
From the A2, Dover direction: take Canterbury turnoff, and after 0.25 mile (0.4 km), turn left, signposted Rough Common and Blean, up steep hill. Drive through Rough Common village, passing the Dog and Bear pub on left. 100 m further on, look out for Brown tourist sign for reserve at the bus stop on the left.
Turn left onto access track, which is tarmaced for first 90 m, and then becomes a rough track. Continue for further 180 m to the car park.
From A2, Canterbury direction, take Canterbury turnoff, then follow signs for A2 London. On leaving built-up area, and the last of a series of roundabouts, continue following signs for London and A2, then after 0.75 mile (1.2 km), turn right, signposted Rough Common and Blean. Drive up steep hill into Rough Common village, passing Dog and Bear pub on your left. After 90 m, look out for Brown tourist sign for the reserve beside bus stop.
Turn left up access track, which is tarmaced for first 90 m, then becomes rougher track. Continue for further 180 m to car park. From Canterbury city centre, take A290 Whitstable road, driving uphill for 1.5 miles (2.4 km), then turn left at mini-roundabout, signposted Rough Common.
Drive through Rough Common village for 400 m, then, when road curves to the left, turn right at bus stop, where there is a brown tourist sign for reserve. Drive up access track, tarmacked for first 90 m, then rougher surface for the final 180 m to car park.
Sat nav POI file
If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.