Walk 16 : Hurst Green to Chiddingstone Causeway

Standard walk: 21km (13miles), 6 hours 30 minutes. For the whole outing including trains, sights and meals allow 10 hours.

Short walk: 9km (5.6 miles), 2 hours 45 minutes.

OS LandRanger Map Nos. 187 and 188. OS Explorer Map Nos. 147 and 146 (for part of the short walk). Hurst Green, map reference TQ 400514 is in Surrey, 12km east of Redhill.

7 out of 10

This is a long but rewarding walk along the hills of northern Kent, much of it passing through woodland, along the Greensand Way, a popular route with walkers. In the afternoon you can enjoy views over the countryside to the south. A walk particularly recommended in late April and early May when it offers a whole series of bluebell woods and also in the autumn with the beautiful show of colours as the leaves change. The walk also passes Chartwell, (former home of Winston Churchill) and through the secluded upland village of Ide Hill, a possible tea stop.

You may reduce the length of the standard walk by 12km to 9km (5.6 miles) by following the main route directions as given until [3].Then follow the Shortened route directions to finish at Oxted.

Alternatively, you can trim a 1km (0.6 mile) descent and ascent section off the standard and short walks by using the short cut at [2] indicated in the walk directions text.

Varying the walk You may vary the end of the standard walk and finish at Penshurst. This still keeps the length of the standard walk at 21km (13 miles), but does make for less hilly and easier finish. Follow the Standard walk directions to [6], then follow the Alternative ending for the Standard walk at Penshurst directions. (The directions from [6] are available from the website referenced in the appendix under Updates, News and Credits.)

Chartwell (tel 01732 868381, www.nationaltrust.org.uk) the former home of Winston Churchill, is now owned by the National Trust. Churchill lived at Chartwell from 1924 until just before his death in 1965. The house is open from Wednesday to Sunday from late March until early November 11am – 5pm.

Ide Hill was noted for its fine hunting. During the 16^th century the old Hunting Lodge became a secret rendezvous for Henry VIII and his future queen, Anne Boleyn of Hever. In times of unrest, a beacon on the hill, transmitted alarm signals from the South Downs to Shooters Hill, Eltham (on the outskirts of London). To the south-east of the village is Hanging Bank, a one time gallows site.

Take the train nearest to 9.10am (before or after) from London Victoria station to Hurst Green. Journey time is just over half an hour. Trains back from Sevenoaks run frequently. Journey time is just under half an hour. For the short walk take the trainnearest to 10.30am. Buy a day return to Hurst Green. (Note for the standard walk: Hurst Green and Sevenoaks are on different lines. Generally ticket inspectors are pretty reasonable about accepting a return ticket from another line if you explain that you have been walking. However you can play safe by purchasing a travelcard for zones 1 - 6 and then just buy a return from zone 6 to Hurst Green. Then if your return ticket is not accepted, at least you will only have to pay for a single to the zone 6 boundary: Knockholt, 2 stops up the line)

The standard walk is probably the most car unfriendly walk in this book. However a possible option is to park your car at Edenbridge and take a train from Edenbridge Town to Hurst Green. From Sevenoaks you can take a train back to Edenbridge (Edenbridge and Edenbridge Town stations are 1km apart). For the short walk you can park your car at Hurst Green (not to be confused with the Hurst Green in East Sussex) one stop down the line from Oxted.

Standard walk The suggested lunchtime stop is The Fox & Hounds (tel 01732 750328), Toys Hill, 11km from the start of the walk, which serves good enough food from 12 to 2pm Monday to Thursday and 12 to 2.30pm Friday to Sunday. An earlier possible lunch stop is the NT restaurant at Chartwell (tel 01732 863087), 7.5km from the start of the walk, which is open more or less the same dates as Chartwell House (see above) and serves good food from 11 noon to 4 pm. However, to access the restaurant you either have to be a National Trust member, or pay the entrance fee to the grounds (currently £3.25). Staff at the gate do not always insist on payment from walkers, especially if you say you are only visiting the restaurant, but you should not rely on this: ie, you should ask at the gatehouse first.

A late lunch stop is The Cock Inn, Ide Hill (tel 01732 750310) 13km from the start of the walk. However the food here is just sandwiches and rolls, and better food may be obtained at the Elan Arts Centre and Tea Room (see below under Tea). Short walk / Standard walk alternate The Carpenters Arms (tel 01883 722209), Limpsfield Chart, 4km from the start of the walk, which serves good food from 12 to 2pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 12pm to 3pm on Sunday.

Picnic Although you might consider virtually anywhere along the route, there are a couple of recommended spots highlighted in the text. The first is between Toy’s Hill and Ide Hill and the second is after Ide Hill looking south towards Bough Beech water.

Standard walk The suggested early tea stop is at the Elan Arts Centre and Tea Room, Sundridge Road, Ide Hill (tel 01732 750344), which is open from 8.30 am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday in season. Out of season (October to March) from 9.30 am to 3.30pm (Wed - Fri) and 11am – 5pm (weekends).

A later tea stop is at the Farmers pub, London Road, Sevenoaks (tel 01732 450085 www.farmers-pub.co.uk) Short walk - The suggested tea stop is at Robertson’s, 42 Station Road West, Oxted (tel:01883 712777), which provides coffee, light meals, teas and is open Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 5pm. The alternate tea stop is the Oxted Inn, 1-4 Station Road West, Hoskins Walk, Oxted (tel:01883 723440).

Start: Hurst Green Station is near : RH8 0LL. [gmap]

Finish: Penshurst Station is near : TN11 8JJ. [gmap]

London to Hurst Green | Penshurst to London

Alternative route from Hurst Green to Ide Hill

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• Hurst Green to Ide Hill alternative route (Updated: Sep-06)

The text above was taken from the 2004 edition of the book, and may be a little out of date. Please check the updates for this walk.