Families love this park in Kent which has a cafe and is “great to explore” – and the bonus is there’s cheap parking
Families love this park in Kent which has a cafe and is "great to explore" - and the bonus is there's cheap parking (Image: Mote Park Watersports Centre)
This gem of a park in Kent is hard to beat because it has so much for all ages to do and will occupy families for hours. Set aside a day and make the most of this park which so many people rave about.
Those who have been there love everything from the giant seahorse and swan pedalos and the fact you can take your dogs to the park, to the paddle boarding, duck feeding and the fairytale like streams in the woods.
Mote Park in Maidstone is also home to a watersports centre, said to be the busiest one in Kent, which means there are plenty of water-based activities along with all the things you can do on land. It is open seven days a week, weather permitting, and is also dog-friendly.
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The lake is very safe, with shallow water areas where children can stand up, with no boats or moving currents, said the centre. But you must do water activities through the centre, visitors can not simply jump in and swim.
One of the most frequent questions people ask the centre is whether or not they have to book the magnificent swan or seahorse pedalos. The answer is no. All hire is done on a first come, first served basis.
For those not wanting to get on the water, there are picnic spots wherever you turn, a skate park, an outdoor adventure playground where there is a 32ft Skytrail or a 32ft climbing wall, and for smaller children, a natural woodland play park.
There is also a Segway course, so you can give those legs a rest and whizz along on wheels, nine hole Dino Mini Golf, outdoor training equipment, and a free Red Bull Digger BMX track. Days out are sometimes more about rest and relaxation, or getting in your daily step count in stunning surroundings, and Mote Park is also perfect for this type of outing.
You could run or walk your legs off in this park as it is so vast, a total of 450 acres, and the lake alone is 30 acres. It’s a great place for dogs who will enjoy a different environment to explore.
Mote Park has 4.5 stars out of a possible five on Tripadvisor, from a whopping 1,026 reviews. One person wrote: “Today we had a family trip to Mote Park including the dog. It was fantastic. It was great to see the train still running after all these years which I went on with my brother bringing back lots of memories.
“The car park is a reasonable price, only £2 for six hours or over six hours, it’s £12. Also lovely to see so many ducks and Canadian geese which all had duck food. The paths are much better as you have a choice of steps or a ramp that leads down to the riverside.
“As for the cafe, much better than it was. The food was great. Every member of staff was very happy, hard working and friendly. This is the second time we have been in one week. We will be telling our friends and families of the massive changes for the better.”
Mote Park (Image: Visit Maidstone)
“Lovely to see all the dogs being part of the family and not just a dog. The play park is fantastic for younger generation, with lots of exploring to do. If you don’t believe me, then take a trip yourself, you will not regret it. We will come again for certain.”
There is the Mote Park Cafe, toilets nearby, and parking is cheap at the three car parks which all have disabled parking. The park is run by Maidstone Borough Council and it’s currently open from 8am to dusk every day.
Children will love the miniature railway operated by Maidstone Model Engineering Society which is open to the public every Sunday afternoon during the summer. They can ride along a charming little track which goes under the branches of trees.
It does not charge for the rides but said “cash or card donations are gratefully received”. And as the videos on the society’s page show, even adults are allowed to travel behind the engines.
And keep your eyes out for the model boats on the lake from Maidstone Cygnets Model Boat Club, which is based near the boat house.
And if you fancied a swim after all this, you could go to Maidstone Leisure Centre, which is also at Mote Park, but note the Lagoon Pool is closed until late July while the new Splash Pad is being built.
The striking 450-acre Kent country park with a massive lake, swimming, seahorse pedalos and cheap parking (Image: Mote Park Watersports Centre)
Where to park for Mote Park
The main entrance address is: Mote Park, Mote Avenue, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 7SU. Parking: Monday to Friday – 8am to dusk. Saturday and Sunday – 8am to dusk.
8am to 10am is free. After 10am up to six hours is £2. More than six hours is £12. The council said all the money raised, including from the £40 year-round residents annual season tickets, is ploughed back into maintain the park.
Parking is free for Blue Badge holders, if all the bays are full, people can park in a standard bay “as long as the Blue Badge is clearly on display”. The bays are: Mote Park Main (next to Café) has 13 disabled bays; School Lane has two disabled bays; Burning Ground has two disabled bays.
Mote Park Cafe
Its opening hours are 9am to 5pm from April to September and 9am to 3pm October to March. An exciting menu of tasty dishes, hot and cold drinks, light bites and snacks are available.
Beautiful Mote Park, the four hundred and fifty acre free park in Maidstone, Kent which features grassland, woodland, rivers and a 30 acre lake (Image: Getty Images.Moment RF/Paul Williams 2018)
Mote Park Watersports Centre
The centre is open seven days a week throughout the year and all general hire is on a “first come, first serve basis”, so there is no need to book. You can do kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, sailing, hire a boat and dragon boating.
It has instructors for every discipline, all of whom are Royal Yachting Association qualified, British Canoeing qualified, First Aid trained with Full DBS checks in place.
‘Very safe’
It will be good news to those in charge of children, to hear the lake is “very safe”, with shallow waters for children to stand up in, no “boat traffic” and no moving currents, and a large launch and landing area for the public.
You could try a rowing boat or head out in one of those massive swans or seahorses and explore the islands, reeds and trees. You can find out more about everything on offer here.
History of Mote Park
Mote Park has a history stretching right back through history. It was originally the main water source for a Roman villa. Later history saw Mote Park House became a country estate, with the owner creating the park around their home, including planting trees.
Sadly, the mansion was demolished in 1793 and subsequently rebuilt. It is now a retirement complex. Maidstone Borough Council bought the park in 1929 for £50,000 and it is looked after by the council and “an amazing team of volunteers”, said Visit Kent.
Mote Park parkrun
Of course, the park is superb for exercising. There is opportunity for grass and harder surface running, with the Mote Park parkrun which meets at 9am every Saturday. Like all Parkruns, it is free but organisers ask people to register before they meet in Mote Avenue. It is for people who want to walk, run or jog.
Courtesy of Kent Live
