Summer holiday days out can be an expensive business, so get on your bike or put on those hiking shoes for a cheap day at the forest.

There are 12 country parks run by Kent County Council, none of which charge any more than £2.50 for parking and are free to explore.

There is also the Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest, home to the one of the world’s most significant conifer collections, which costs £8.50 per car load.

Whether its on a walking trail, a cycling track or campsite, each park has its own quirks and attractions.

Here is the run down of where to go:

Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Goudhurst

Ideal for walkers and cyclists, these 350 acres of rolling Wealden countryside are home to the world’s most complete collection of conifers, started in the 1840s by the Beresford Hope family. The work is continued today by the Forestry Commission. The park is also home to Go Ape! adventure attraction. Guided walks can be booked.

Open: 8am to 8pm throughout August.

Parking cost: Daily £8.50.

Address: Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Park Lane, Goudhurst TN17 2SL

Contact: 01580 879842.

Brockhill Country Park, Near Hythe

This is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest because of its marbled white butterflies, green woodpeckers and carpets of snowdrops in winter. There is a central lake, fringed with trees and large walnut and variegated sycamore trees.

Open: 9am to dusk or 8pm.

Parking cost: Monday to Friday £1.50. Weekends and bank holidays £2.

Address: Brockhill Country Park, Sandling Road, Saltwood CT21 4HL

Contact: 01303 266327.

Dryhill Local Nature Reserve, Sevenoaks

The former quarry site has become a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the structure of its rocks, which are studied by geologists to discover the conditions which existed in the Lower Cretaceous period. The discovery of fossils also made it Kent’s first geological Local Nature Reserve.

Open: 9am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Free.

Address: Dryhill Local Nature Reserve, Dryhill Lane, Near Sevenoaks TN14 6EP

Contact: 01732 823570.

Grove Ferry Picnic Site, Near Canterbury

A top spot for a picnic overlooking the River Stour, following the Stour Valley Walk. It is adjacent to Stodmarsh Nature Reserve and home to the Grove Ferry River Trips, running daily trips up the calm waters.

Open: 9am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Monday to Friday £1. Weekends and bank holidays £1.50.

Address: Grove Ferry Picnic Site, Upstreet CT3 4BP

Contact: 01303 266327.

Lullingstone Country Park, Eynsford

The area is nationally important for its collection of trees, with more than 300 oak, beech, ash, hornbeam and sweet chestnut, some of which are more than 800 years old. The park also has areas of chalk grassland which are filled with orchids in spring and summer.

Open: 9am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Monday to Friday £1.50. Weekends and bank holidays £2.

Address: Lullingstone Country Park, Kingfisher Bridge, Castle Road, Eynsford DA4 0JF

Contact: 01322 865995.

Manor Park Country Park, West Malling

Its native trees make this a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, thanks to the squirrels, woodpeckers, nuthatches, blue tits and robins here. The lake also supports lots of wildlife, including swans, coot, moorhen, mallard and dabchicks.

Open: 9am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Monday to Friday £1.50. Weekends and bank holidays £2.

Address: Manor Park Country Park, St Leonard’s Street, West Malling ME19 6PE

Contact: 01474 823800.

Parkwood Picnic Site, Near Tenterden

The flora and fauna in this woodland habitat made the area a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. Some parts are still coppiced, which make ideal nesting places for nightingales, nuthatch and green and great spotted woodpeckers, as well as several common warblers.

Open: 9am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Free.

Address: Parkwood Picnic Site, Appledore TN26 2BJ

Contact: 01303 266327

Peene Quarry Picnic Site, Peene

In the summer the grassland is covered in rare flowers and herbs like cowslip, vetches, thyme, rock rose and orchids. These plants attract butterflies like the rare Adonis blue, common and chalkhill blues, blue and green hairstreak and marbled whites. There are 45 nationally rare insects found in the area.

Open: 9am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Free.

Address: Peene Quarry Picnic Site, Peene CT18 8AQ

Contact: 01303 266327.

Preston Hill, Eynsford

Half grassland and half woodland, the whole area is covered in wildflowers in the summer, attracting butterflies like chalkhill blues and the dark green fritillary. The grassland is managed by the grazing of the park’s herd of goats. There are no marked trails so the park is best suited to experienced walkers.

Open: 9am until dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Free.

Address: Preston Hill, Shoreham Road, Eynsford TN14 7UE

Contact: 01322 865995.

Shorne Woods Country Park, Gravesend

Lying on what was the Cobham Hall Estate, it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its wildflowers. Stone Age tools have been found in the area and a Second World War RAF billet camp still lies hidden in the trees.

Open: 9am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Monday to Friday £2. Weekends and bank holidays £2.50.

Address: Shorne Woods Country Park, Brewers Road, Gravesend DA12 3HX

Contact: 01474 823800.

Teston Bridge Country Park, Teston

The park’s 32 acres are home to three meadows next to the River Medway. This stretch of the river has one of the highest levels of fish stocks in the Medway, including pike, chubb, barbel, roach, perch and bream. It is also an ideal place for a stroll along the Medway Valley Walk.

Open: 9am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Monday to Friday £1.20. Weekends and bank holidays £1.70.

Address: Teston Bridge Country Park, Teston Lane, Teston ME18 5BX

Contact: 01622 817623.

Trosley Country Park, Near Meopham

Its chalk grassland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, thanks to its array of butterflies each summer, including the chalkhill blue. Once part of Trosley Towers Estate, the park also has lots of walking trails and circular routes as well as views over the North Downs.

Open: 8.30am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Monday to Friday £1.50. Weekends and bank holidays £2.

Address: Trosley Country Park, Waterlow Road, Vigo Village, Meopham DA13 0SG

Contact: 01732 823570.

White Horse Wood Country Park, Maidstone

The medieval ruins of Thurnham Castle can be explored and the park is also home to traces of an Iron Age settlement. More than 20,000 trees have been planted here and five hectares of its land has been seeded to create an area of open grassland.

Open: 9am to dusk or 9pm.

Parking cost: Monday to Friday £1. Weekends and bank holidays £1.50.

Address: White Horse Wood, Detling Hill ME14 3JE

Contact: 01303 266327.