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Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk

A Country House, Igtham Mote (NT), Knole Palace and deer park (NT), as well as pretty countryside, and close to London.

Deer Park Greensand Hills Kent National Trust Stately Home Tourist

History

Club walks since April 2015, and a summary which goes back to Jan 2010.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sat, 16-May-26 Borough Green to Sevenoaks 15 fairly cloudy
Sat, 29-Mar-25 Borough Green to Sevenoaks, with optional Greensand Way ending 25 Sunny
Sat, 16-Nov-24 Borough Green to Sevenoaks 11 cloudy but bright day
Sun, 17-Dec-23 Borough Green to Sevenoaks 6 dry some sunshine breezy but mild
Wed, 07-Dec-22 Borough Green to Sevenoaks - Plaxtol with its Cromwellian church, Fairlawne Estate, Ightham Mote, Knole Park then into Sevenoaks 13 cold and overcast in the morning then lovely and sunny from lunchtime onwards
Sat, 04-Jun-22 Borough Green to Sevenoaks 22 a bit autumnal
Sun, 13-Mar-22 Borough Green to Sevenoaks 4 rain before lunch
Wed, 27-Oct-21 Borough Green to Sevenoaks - Basted Village, Plaxtol with its Cromwellian Church, Ightham Mote and Knole Park 19 breezy sunny mostly with some cloud
Sat, 08-May-21 Borough Green to Sevenoaks - Plaxtol, Igtham Mote and deer in Knole Park - plus apple blossom and bluebells 7 overcast all day with threatening skies and a blustery wind
Fri, 27-Dec-19 Borough Green to Sevenoaks 13 mild sunny winters day
Sat, 17-Nov-18 Borough Green to Sevenoaks 10 brilliant
Sat, 08-Apr-17 An old favourite among apple orchards 30 nice and sunny
Sat, 21-Jan-17 Borough Green to Sevenoaks 12 very calm and sunny
Wed, 15-Jun-16 Midweek day walk - Borough Green to Sevenoaks 3 quite sunny with a couple of brief showers
Sat, 26-Sep-15 Sat 26 Sept Book 1 Walk - Borough Green to Sevenoaks 35 warm sunshine
Wed, 14-Jan-15 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sat, 19-Jul-14 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk 15
Wed, 09-Apr-14 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sun, 20-Oct-13 a Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk 4
Sat, 11-May-13 a Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk 19
Sat, 23-Mar-13 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk 6
Sat, 01-Dec-12 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sun, 11-Dec-11 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sat, 03-Sep-11 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sat, 02-Apr-11 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Wed, 19-Jan-11 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sat, 17-Jul-10 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sat, 30-Jan-10 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sat, 05-Sep-09 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sun, 28-Dec-08 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sat, 15-Mar-08 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sat, 08-Sep-07 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Wed, 17-Jan-07 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
Sun, 19-Nov-06 Borough Green to Sevenoaks Walk
branchline
Sat, 16-May at 09:55

Length: 15.1km (9.4 miles) or 17.4km (10.8 miles) via Shipbourne

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Travel: 09.55 train from Victoria, calling at Bromley Sth (10.12) St Mary Cray (10.18) Swanley (10.23) arriving Borough Green at 10.41

Frequent return trains from Seven Oaks.

Ticket: Buy a day return to Borough Green , which usually seems to be accepted for return from Sevenoaks. (If not, buy a single from Sevenoaks to Otford.)

For walk directions click here , for GPX click here , for a map of the route click here .

As this is not a long walk, a leisurely pace is recommended to experience the fresh green woods, apple orchards, fields with sheep and lambs (and hopefully buttercups) and the quiet village of Plaxtol. This could possibly be the best time of year to enjoy this walk.

Lunch: The lunch pub is the lovely Chaser Inn, with a large garden slightly off the route. Tea or light lunches are available at Igtham Mote, a national trust property. The café is accessible without paying an entrance charge.

You eventually end up in Knole Park, with it’s sweet chestnut, oak and beech trees (and deer). There is a National Trust tea room which is open till 5pm. Other tea options in Sevenoaks including Gails which is open till 6.30pm.

L=1.36


  • Walker
    May-26

    Alas, how could we abide it, we Left Behinds, cruel exiles from the excitements of the Scottish trip? 15 of us (one on a later train, who caught up with us at lunch) tried to console ourselves as best we could, tackling the long climb to the airy heights of Plaxtol, descending across the trackless slopes of the Fairlawne Estate, and sheltering behind shrubs in the garden of the Chaser Inn to eat our meagre (actually not at all meagre…) lunch of fish and vegan chicken and salad and too many chips. Throughout this we saw no bogs, no crags, no jagged arêtes, but the countryside was pleasingly decked in flowers, and sheep and lambs snoozed in the shade. Actually the latter precaution was not needed as it was fairly cloudy - some sun in the morning, a bit of light rain towards the end, though nothing serious. Nine lunched in the not at all busy pub (what has happened? This place used to be really packed), all but one sitting outside. Two had drinks. One stopped in Shipbourne to see a friend. By my calculation that leaves three who did something else, whatever that was. One of the pub lunchers hurried on to get to a social event. The rest bypassed Ightham Mote to focus on getting to Knole House. Since it was raining slightly when we got there at 3pm, we sat inside. The appetite for cakes was somewhat dented by the surfeit of chips at lunchtime. Approaching Sevenoaks there was a glorious cacophony of birdsong, which I stopped to listen to. I then joined four others at the Chequers Inn. I think we got a train - very crowded for some reason - about 5.30pm. It is worth noting that our Borough Green tickets did not go through the barriers, but they were accepted by gateline staff without demur.

Walker
15.1km (9.4 miles) or 17.4km (10.8 miles) via Shipbourne bad walk tag
9.29 train from Charing Cross (9.32 Waterloo East, 9.38 London Bridge) to Borough Green, arriving 10.15
Buy a day return to Borough Green, which usually seems to be accepted for return from Sevenoaks. (If not, buy a single from Sevenoaks to Otford.)
For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, for a map of the route click here.
This pretty little Kentish walk has had winter outings over the past three years, but has not been aired in spring since 2022. It is not massively long or demanding, but worth lingering over, as it goes through a range of pretty territory including woods, apple orchards and the cute village of Plaxtol. The grassy expanses of the Fairlawne Estate may well have lambs on them (no guarantees, though).
You can have lunch at the National Trust tea room at Ightham Mote, but if you want a pub lunch the excellent Chaser Inn in Shipbourne is reachable by a small diversion. It has super outside tables by the church if the weather is fine. After the Chaser, the route takes you back past Ightham Mote, which could be an early tea stop.
After Ightham Mote, the standard walk route climbs up into the hills, but I personally much prefer the route westwards along the Greensand Way, a delightful walk that slowly climbs the escarpment with fine views and good spring flowers, including some wood anemones and a lovely field of primroses. This route is waymarked but a GPX or directions for it can be found in SWC walk 41: Yalding to Sevenoaks. It is about the same length as the standard route.

(Full disclosure: there are also some patches of wood anemones on the standard walk route too, and approaching Knole Park it skirts Godden Wood, a very good wood anemone spot that is worth exploring...)
Either route eventually takes you to Knole Park, whose National Trust tea room can be rather busy but has a nice upper deck if the weather is fine. It shuts at 5pm. A late tea option in Sevenoaks is Gails, open till 6.30pm.
Trains back from Sevenoaks are every ten minutes or so.
  • Walker
    Mar-25

    25 on this modest little outing. Sunny for the most part (a bit of high cloud mid morning and some grey cloud at the end). As with all large groups there was a fair bit of stretching out, with hares streaking off and yours truly in the tortoise position, but a compensation for being a backmarker was that one walker ahead of me remembered to stop and observe the partial solar eclipse (using the pinhole on paper method). That in turn reminded me to dig out the eclipse viewing glasses I bought in 1999 and never used (because the eclipse was blocked by 30,000 feet of cloud). Finally, after 25 years in a drawer those glasses had their day in the sun. After this myself and another walker again fell behind, but getting to the Chaser Inn found a cheerful group eating in the garden. There were about 14 of us in all, with others apparently having gone on to Ightham Mote. What a delight it was to sit in the sun in interesting company and with the whole of spring before us! The pub has also upped its (formerly woeful) game when it comes to vegetarian choices, though the vegan fish and chips two of us had turned out to be a ball of batter covering…I don’t know what. Slivers of a distinctly weird fibrous substance. I shall try to blot out the memory. We lingered over tea and coffee at the pub, so were not in the mood for further refreshment at Ightham Mote. Around 10 of us split off from the official route here to follow the lovely Greensand Way, where the flowers included far more bluebells than ought to be out at this juncture, lots of violets, and a bank of wood anemones that were perplexingly all closed up (stern letters will be sent to their parents). There were almost no butterflies to my surprise. At One Tree Hill we had a pow-wow and I proposed a diversion to Godden Wood to see more wood anemones. But in the event the group had once again streaked off by the time we got to the splitting point. So only three of us did this. The flowers were sparse at the edge of the wood, but there were great carpets of them further in - a joyous sight. I could have lingered there for hours, but tea beckoned. Here the choice was braving the appallingly long queue for the tea room at Knole House or going into Sevenoaks for other options. Both had their adherents but for me and my companions the temptation of sitting on the Knole House sun deck won out. A very nice cream tea watched by patient and polite jackdaws (who knew they would get the crumbs in due course…) The Knole House crowd got a 5.29 train: some of those who had tea in Sevenoaks got the 5.21. Back to London by 6pm, which will be 7pm tomorrow. Happy days are here!

PeteG
Length: 16.1km (10 miles), 4 hours 30 minutes walking.

"The walk starts in Borough Green, and goes south through woods and along streams to the old village of Plaxtol with its Cromwellian church. Then through the park of Fairlawne House to Ightham Mote, a beautiful moated medieval manor, and lunch in its National Trust restaurant.

The route onwards is up a bridleway, through orchards and alongside a new lavender farm and along shaded woodland paths leading to the 1,000-acre Knole Park and its 365-roomed Knole House, then up by footpaths to tea in Sevenoaks, with the station some way downhill from the centre."

Trains: Get the 0955 from London Victoria to Borough Green & Wrotham arriving 1041. Frequent return trains from Sevenoaks to Charing Cross, though some are a lot faster than others. From the walk description: " Borough Green and Sevenoaks are on different lines but a day return to Borough Green is usually accepted for the return journey from Sevenoaks"


Lunch: The suggested lunch place is the National Trust restaurant at Ightham Mote , some 6.9 km into the walk. Y ou could also divert to the Chaser Inn in Shipbourne.


Tea: The refurbished Brewhouse Tearoom has an entrance in the north wall of Knole House. In Sevenoaks, various tea places and the Chequers Inn.

  • Judith
    Nov-24

    7 met at Borough Green Station on a cloudy but bright day , not really cold. We ignored the instruction to cross the A227 at the pedestrian crossing on the railway bridge, which meant we dashed across it later at the junction with the High Street, and then were in the wrong position to use another pedestrian crossing over the A25 so most dashed across that too. Everyone survived. 3 more emerged from a coffee shop on the High Street and another one a bit later so11 in all. The walk is a lovely mix of woods, streams, orchards, small roads (not too many) and fields. Plenty of beautiful leaves on the trees and also on the ground. Quite a few horses in fields and lots of deer in Knole . Boots were certainly needed but the mud level was not too bad. No one went to the pub and we all ate or drank at the National Trust café at Ightham Mote. We all left Ightham Mote together but found ourselves behind, among, and eventually ahead of a very big group of young people. Some high speed Saturday Walkers disappeared ahead, the more moderate walkers finding them later in Sevenoaks Wetherspoons, but two slower walkers were lost and not seen again. Some got trains soon after 4.15pm.

Wanderer
Length: 16.1km (10 miles).
Toughness: 4 out of 10.
Trains: Catch the 10.00 train from London Bridge arriving Borough Green 10.39.
There are frequent trains back to London from Sevenoaks.
Buy day return to Borough Green ( usually accepted for the return journey from Sevenoaks)

The walk starts in Borough Green, and goes south through woods and along streams to the old village of Plaxtol. Then through the park of Fairlawne House to Ightham Mote, a beautiful moated medieval manor, and lunch in its National Trust restaurant.The route onwards leads to Knole Park and its 365-roomed Knole House, then up by footpaths to tea in Sevenoaks.

Lunch : The suggested lunch place is the National Trust restaurant at Ightham Mote . For a pub lunch, you could divert to the Chaser Inn in Shipbourne (tel 01732 811 168)

Tea: The Brewhouse Tearoom (tel 01732 450 608) has an entrance in the north wall of Knole House, without the need to pay an entrance fee. There are various options in the centre of Sevenoaks.

bad walk tag

  • Wanderer
    Dec-23

    Platform 1 London Bridge

  • Wanderer
    Dec-23

    6 off the train at Borough Green. Four had plans to lunch at the pub in Shipborne and expected to finish the walk in the dark. The two picnickers set off apace and reached Ightam Mote around 12.15. After quickly eating lunch, they were slowed down by the long queue for coffee. Fuelled with caffeine, our feet carried us off on the Sevenoaks circular afternoon route. We soon realised our mistake but decided to carry on and enjoyed the climb up One Tree hill and surrounding woodland. From there, we followed the Greensand Way back to Sevenoaks arriving there in good time for the 15.33 train back to London. A pleasant day for walking, dry some sunshine breezy but mild . I hope the pub lunchers enjoyed their day and managed to navigate in the dark.

  • Alice
    Dec-23

    Thank you Wanderer. We had a fine day. We stopped to admire a particularly festive crocheted pillar box hat in Sevenoaks and then made our way to the Chaser Inn. We arrived at just after 12.30 having scrumped a few windfalls in the first apple orchard - so delicious. Lunch at the Chaser Inn was ample and served very quickly so we were able to leave by 1330 and got to Sevenoaks before dark. The person wearing wellies was particularly smug as the diversion to Shift pborne involved climbing a claggy hill and wading through ankle deep mud. The white harts with large antlers in Knole Park were a sight to behold, and all amicable with the rutting season over. A final beer in the Sennokian in Sevenoaks before the 1703 back to London Bridge. A winter walk worth repeating.

Marcus

Book 1 Walk 36 - Borough Green to Sevenoaks


Length: 15 km (9.3 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10
London Victoria: 10-25 hrs Southeastern service to Ramsgate Bromley South 10-42 hrs
Arrive Borough Green: 11-10 hrs
Return

Sevenoaks to London Charing Cross: 7 trains an hour
Rail ticket a day return to Borough Green & Wrotham works at Sevenoaks railway station, although you will need assistance to pass through its barriers
Leaving Borough Green you walk through the town before heading down enclosed paths to the pretty hamlet of Basted, with its ponds. You now head along a number of bridleways which can be muddy. Onwards then through apple orchards and along tracks to the village of Plaxtol, where a visit to its Cromwellian church is recommended. You now walk over the grassy fields in the Fairlawne Estate. Shortly before leaving it, at a cross paths, it's decision time. For a pub lunch you take the route in the Directions to Shipbourne and the Chaser Inn. Otherwise, the main walk heads for the National Trust property, Ightham Mote, where you stop for lunch at its very acceptable cafeteria.
After lunch the main walk continues up bridleways and at times on the Greensand Way to a Lavender Farm, before you drop down to cross fields before heading along tracks and paths which dip in and out of woodland. You eventually come out almost opposite Sevenoaks Preparatory School. You now walk down the side of its playing fields to a woodland path which takes you to a deer protection gate, an entrance to Knole Park. You now enjoy a walk through this park to Knole House. Here you can stop at its Brewhouse Tearoom - if still open - for an early tea. Otherwise, your tea options are in Sevenoaks which you reach after leaving the park through another deer protection gate.
In Sevenoaks High Street you find the usual suspect coffee shops plus Bills and a number of pubs, You have a bit of a hike from the High Street downhill to Sevenoaks Railway Station, served by regular Southeastern trains to London Charing Cross.
Walk Directions are here: L=1.36
  • Marcus
    Dec-22

    13 off the train for today's walk. It was cold and overcast in the morning then lovely and sunny from lunchtime onwards , and a couple of degrees C warmer: it was one of those scarf, hat and gloves sort of days, but once we were walking we all soon warmed up. No wind today. Some mud but not as bad as I was expecting on the bridleways between Basted and Plaxtol. No-one opted for the detour to Shipbourne for a pub lunch and instead all in the group headed for Ightham Mote, where half of us dined and some of our sandwichers joined us for a warming cuppa. There was a bit of a queue to be served but we all managed to find seats in the very busy cafeteria. The food on offer did its job to provide us with sustenance for the afternoon leg of the walk. Amongst our fellow diners was a SWC Saturday regular with her own walking group, another 13 in number, and it was nice to exchange pleasantries with her: they were doing a Sevenoaks Circular walk - possibly following our SWC extra walk directions, or a variation of it. I stayed behind as our group, post prandial, made ready to leave: I wanted to visit the NT shop, which I duly did, and purchased some very nice stocking filler presents for my great nieces and nephews. The afternoon leg, in the sunshine, was delightful - this walk seldom disappoints, whatever the weather. There was still some leaves on beech and oak trees, a lovely yellow to orange colour, adding to the lovely colour on the path floor. I'm not sure if the faster walkers stopped for tea in Knole Park or Sevenoaks, but I caught up with four in our group in Knole Park at the same time as our SWC walker with her own walking group appeared, and we mixed and matched up the path as we all exited it and entered Sevenoaks. The SWC walkers all headed for the railway station and whilst I stopped for a cuppa in the station foyer my companions caught one of the regular fast trains to Charing Cross. I followed them on the next fast train leaving Sevenoaks. A proper cold winter's day walk, latterly in lovely sunshine. More please.

  • Marcus
    Dec-22

    Addendum - correction: I have just remembered our SWC colleague was not leading her own walking group / club but a branch of U3a - if not, something similar.

Stargazer

SWC Walk 36: Borough Green to Sevenoaks bad walk tag

Distance: 9.3 Miles or 15.0 km for those more metrically minded

Difficulty: 4 out of 10

Train: Take the 9:55 AM Ramsgate train from London Victoria (stopping at Bromley South 10:12), arriving at Borough Green at 10:41. Return trains from Sevenoaks are frequent. Buy a day return to Borough Green.

This walk is posted as a special request, as a walk previously led and enjoyed by Bridie. It is a pretty and varied walk passing both Ightham Mote and Knole House. It passes through orchards and pretty woods and has some fine views from the Greensand escarpment. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

The recommended lunch venue is either at Ightham Mote or the Chaser Inn, a large pub with an interesting and varied menu, in Shipbourne via a short diversion (in the walk notes).

Tea can be had at the Brewhouse Tearoom at Knole House if you arrive early enough. If not, Sevenoaks has a number of options mentioned in the walk notes.

Enjoy the walk!

  • author image
    Mike A
    Jun-22

    Stephen quite liked to offer foraging opportunities on the walks he led for the Ramblers. When this walk was posted in late summer back in the day, it was possible to pick up an apple or two after entering the orchard off Winfield Lane (about a kilometre on from the sleepy picturesque village of Basted). Some had heavy rucksacks as they left the orchard and headed towards Plaxtol!

  • Walker
    Jun-22

    22 on this walk, with Stephen Backes also one of the party in spirit, referenced in conversation multiple times during the day. The weather was frankly a bit autumnal - windy and cloudy. The sun tried to come out in the afternoon, but only managed it to any degree once we were back at the station. During the crossing of the Fairlawne Estate there was a parting of the ways, about half going directly to Ightham Mote and the others taking the extra loop to the Chaser Inn in Shipbourne. This was weirdly empty - I had expected it to be rammed. Appropriately for Derby Day, the five of us who ordered food were given a nice table in “the Jockey Room”. We were later joined by an equivalent number of picnickers for drinks. I have in the past criticised the vegan/vegetarian offering in this pub, but the menu has now been revamped. I was very satisfied with my bean chilli and there were no complaints about the vegetarian nachos to my right. A walker who ordered salmon was unhappy with the portion size, however. At Ightham Mote three peeled off briefly to have a look at the house: the rest of us carried on through the woods, up the hill, and across the lavender fields (not out yet, but alive with twittering larks). Perhaps it was the flashes of sun, but at this point all looked particularly lush and lovely, and I started to worry we would finish too early (which we did, really…). Getting to Knole Park around ten of us braved the tea queue, the well meaning staff a bit of a case study in dither and disorganisation. We went onto the upper deck, whose existence I confess I had previously not noticed, and which we (and the occasional scavenging jackdaw) had to ourselves. Here we had a great view of the old rooftops of the house as we wolfed our scones and debated if it should be jam or cream on top. (Cream, obviously: end of discussion!) Then by the park route rather than the town to Sevenoaks station, which we reached at 5pm. The fast train to London was busy. Back in Charing Cross by 5.30pm. How strange…

Wanderer

Length: 15 km (9.3 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Trains: Catch the 10.25 Ashford International train from London Victoria (Bromley South 10.42), arrive Borough Green: 11-09 hrs
Return trains: Sevenoaks to Charing Cross:xx:01, xx:04, xx:31, xx:34 (change at Orpington for Victoria), or xx:58 slow train direct from Sevenoaks to Victoria.
Buy day return to Borough Green (usually accepted for the return journey from Sevenoaks)

The walk starts in Borough Green, and goes south through woods and along streams to the old village of Plaxtol with its Cromwellian church. Then through the park of Fairlawne House to Ightham Mote, a beautiful moated medieval manor, and lunch in its National Trust restaurant.The route onwards is up a bridleway, through orchards and alongside a new lavender farm and along shaded woodland paths leading to the 1,000-acre Knole Park and its 365-roomed Knole House, then up by footpaths to tea in Sevenoaks, with the station some way downhill from the centre.

Lunch: The suggested lunch place is the National Trust restaurant at Ightham Mote. If you prefer a pub lunch, you could divert to the Chaser Inn in Shipbourne (tel 01732 811 168), a large and elegant pub which serves inventive food all day. Directions to this pub are given in the main text.

Tea: The newly refurbished Brewhouse Tearoom (tel 01732 450 608) has an entrance in the north wall of Knole House, without the need to pay an entrance fee. There are various options in the centre of Sevenoaks including Caffè Nero at 112 High Street (tel 01732 779 050) and Costa Coffee at 2 Blighs Rd (01732 462 159). There is also a branch of the popular Bills on the High Street.

bad walk tag

  • Brian
    Mar-22

    The Malabar Coffee House, 81 High St, Sevenoaks, an independent operation, does excellent tea, coffee and cakes. It has outside seating and is facing you as you enter the High St.

  • Red Rambler
    Mar-22

    2 walked the first half with warming soup at Igtham Moat. Then another 2 joined who had lunch at Godden Green. BTW the Vicar at Plaxton church gave us a vivid history talk.Rain before lunch and then moody skies..

  • Thomas G
    Mar-22

    4 rain before lunch

Marcus
Book 1 Walk 36 - Borough Green to Sevenoaks

Length: 15 km (9.3 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10
London Victoria: 10-25 hrs Southeastern service to Ramsgate Bromley South: 10-42 hrs
Arrive Borough Green: 11-10 hrs
Return: Sevenoaks to Charing Cross: 8 an hour (change at Orpington for Victoria, or underground - Embankment, District Line - to Victoria )
Rail ticket: a day return to Borough Green usually works
This lovely walk is enjoyable in all seasons and today should benefit from autumn colours which should be on display in woodland sections.
Leaving Borough Green we walk through Basted village with its ponds to head along a bridleway which is often muddy. Then its through an apple orchard and along tracks to the village of Plaxtol, with its Cromwellian church (worth a visit). We next walk down through the grassy parkland of the Fairlawne Estate and head for the National Trust's Ightham Mote, a lunch option. For a pub lunch you need to detour to the village of Shipbourne and its pub, the Chaser Inn.
After Ightham Mote we head up through light woodland, passing hoppers huts, to exit by a lavender farm. On then over fields and along bridleways to Sevenoaks Primary School. From there it is a short distance to an entrance to Knole Park, which we walk through, viewing herds of deer along the way. Tea can be taken in Knole House's Brewhouse Tearoom, or a little later in Sevenoaks High Street.
Walk Directions are here: L=1.36
  • author image
    Mr M Tiger
    Oct-21

    17 at the station and 2 joining later made for 19 The day was breezy sunny mostly with some cloud Although we had been promised mud, there was little to go round. Hardly enough to make a pie. And only the faintest hint of autumn colour. The group split after Plaxtol. 4 headed for the Chaser, the rest went straight to Ightam Mote. 3 of the 4 ate at the Chaser 1 just drank. The Ightam posse were not seen again. And so to Knole Park where the deer were at it. The stags bellowed, the hinds pretended not to notice. Then home

Marcus
Book 1, Walk 36 - Borough Green to Sevenoaks

Length: 15 km (9.3 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10
London Victoria: 10-25 hrs South-Eastern service to Ashford International Bromley South: 10-42 hrs
Arrive Borough Green: 11-11 hrs
Return

Sevenoaks to Victoria: 19 & 49 mins past the hour, plus 05 & 35 mins past the hour (slow stopping service)
Sevenoaks to Charing Cross: 00 & 30 mins past the hour
Rail ticket a day return to Borough Green usually works. If your return ticket is queried, use your sweet talking skills to get through the barriers at Sevenoaks
Covid-19 Compliance : please note the current guidance on this website and observe social distancing. You should all come prepared to exchange contact details for track and trace purpose. You can either pre-register for this walk (not essential ) by e-mailing me at swc-marcus@walkingclub.org.uk or, if you prefer, please write your name, e-mail address and contact 'phone number on a small piece of paper for handing to me on the train or when we assemble at walk start. Thank you.
This is a pleasant, undemanding walk and modest in length which takes you through Kent countryside, a village with a Cromwellian church, parkland and by a moated Manor House before, in the afternoon, you walk through the vast Knole Park with its herds of deer. The apple orchards you walk though in the morning should be coming into apple blossom for a touch of colour, and the bluebells near Igtham Mote, the said moated Manor House, should be close to their best.
It's a picnic lunch today, although you can purchase hot (and cold) takeaway food from the cafe in Igthtam Mote if you wish. At the time of putting this walk up on our website, the only pub on this walk, requiring a detour to Shipbourne - the Chaser Inn - is reporting no outdoor table availability at lunchtime today - so there is little point in taking the detour today.
The afternoon leg of the walk takes you initially uphill though woodland, then through a lavender farm before it's over fields and down a long woodland track to come out beside Sevenoaks Preparatory School. You now head down between pitches in the school's playing fields, along a track which passes through a stud farm then up to a deer protection gate where you enter the 1,000 acre Knole Park. Having traversed the park you eventually exit the park through another deer protection gate to head up a path which takes you up into the heart of Sevenoaks. You should find somewhere open for outdoor refreshments or a takeaway. The downhill walk to the railway station is the only dull bit on today's lovely walk.
Walk Directions are here: L=1.36
  • Anonymous
    May-21

    Thank you. Could you please suggest a longer option/variation? Cheers.

  • Marcus
    May-21

    With Explorer Map 147 you can plot your own route as long or short as you like diverting from the walk's directions. But this walk as posted is as it is - 9.3 miles - a distance which is quite long enough for many SWC walkers. We try to post 3 walks on a Saturday and walk posters try to offer a choice of distances and location. I am sure you will find on offer this Saturday a longer walk for those of you who like a more challenging outing.

  • Walker
    May-21

    Once you get to Knole Park you could switch to the Sevenoaks to Westerham walk.... Or a bit earlier you merge with the route of Leigh to Sevenoaks, which you could follow backwards (with the GPX) to Leigh.

  • Anonymous
    May-21

    Thank you both. Very helpful.

  • Walker
    May-21

    If anyone is not bored with bluebells by now, if you stay on the Greensand Way beyond Ightham Mote (Borough Green to Yalding walk if you need GPS or directions) the bluebells on One Tree Hill are now about as good as you will ever see them. There are also good displays of wild garlic on this route (National Trust owned and behind a fence, so leave your damned foraging equipment at home: pick one leaf and I will find hunt you down mercilessly....). Lots of yellow archangel too.

  • Marcus
    May-21

    Although the weather forecast for the south-east improved slightly overnight, SWC's fair-weather walkers opted to play safe and stay away from today's walk. Hence only 7 assembled at Borough Green railway station, to set out on today's adventure. Whilst it was still raining when the train left Victoria station, it soon stopped - and not a single drop of rain fell on us for the rest of the day ! OK, so the the weather was not brilliant, being overcast all day with threatening skies and a blustery wind , but it remained dry. The countryside was lush and lovely with Spring flowers in abundance, and lots of wild garlic lining the route. As I was book checking, my 6 companions were ahead of me. Apart from meeting up with one of them at Igtham Mote, I did not see them again - I hope they enjoyed their day as much as I did. Do feel free to file your own report. Noting Walker's comment posted on Friday, after taking lunch in the cafe at Igtham Mote I switched to the Sevenoaks Circular walk on the Greensand Way, to enjoy the wonderful full-on bluebell displays either side of and in One Tree Wood. I'm now bluebelled out for this year. On through Knole Park and a brief stop for tea, then through Sevenoaks centre to the railway station - and home in good time to watch Man.City-v-Chelsea on the box. Lesson for the day - the weather forecasters don't always get it right.

  • Anonymous
    May-21

    "wild garlic lining the route": Just wonder if may share which part of the route... interested in picking some wild garlic...Thank.

  • Anonymous
    May-21

    From memory, it was most apparent on the stretch between Winfield lane and Yopps Green - more towards the latter.

  • Anonymous
    May-21

    Thanks a lot! I will try to go .

PeteG
Borough Green to Sevenoaks
bad walk tag

Length: 9.3 miles/15 km 4 out of 10


The walk start in Borough Green, and goes south through woods and along streams to the old village of Plaxtol with its Cromwellian church. Then through the park of Fairlawne House to Ightham Mote, a beautiful moated medieval manor, and lunch in its National Trust restaurant. The house is also open & is decorated for Christmas. It should be light enough to walk until 4.30pm & the last 20 minutes are on lit streets.
The route onwards is through orchards and along shaded woodland paths leading to the 1,000-acre Knole Park, then up by footpaths to tea in Sevenoaks, with the station some way downhill from the centre.
Trains: Get the 1015 Ashford International train from Victoria (Bromley South 1031) arriving Borough Green 1101. Frequent return trains from Sevenoaks to Charing cross. Buy a Borough Green return

Lunch: is the cafe at Igtham Mote & being National Trust, there will be a queue & picnic tables.

Tea: Knole Park or in Sevenoaks
  • Anonymous
    Dec-19

    Thanks for scheduling, Pete.

  • Marcus
    Dec-19

    A lucky number for some - and for all us with the weather today - as 13 gathered on the platform of Borough Green Station to set out on today's walk in lovely Kentish countryside on a mild sunny winters day , ideal for walking - and walking off the excess turkey and Xmas pud. Paths and bridleways were muddy all day but I hope this did not spoil the walk for the participants. It just made a Toughness 4 rated walk a 6 on the day. In the grounds of the Fairlawne Estate 4 of us broke away from the group to head for the Chaser Inn for lunch, leaving 9 on the main route to head for Ightham Mote. We never saw the main cohort again - I hope they enjoyed the remainder of their walk. Please add a brief report to mine. The Chaser Inn was fully booked but the management took pity on 4 mud-splattered walkers and found a table for us, which we much appreciated. The staff were all friendly despite being busy and they served us very acceptable meals without any long wait for the food to arrive. We left in good time for the table to be reset for the reservation to be honoured for others. Post prandial we encountered the worst of the slippery mud on bridleways and paths leading to Ightham Mote, slip sliding all the way through sloppy, slubberdbub mud. On reaching the Mote one of us opted to take the Sevenoaks Circular walk route back to Sevenoaks via One Tree Hill, leaving 3 of us to continue on the Book 1 route. We thought we might catch the main group at the cafe in Knole Park, but they were gone by the time we got there, if indeed they had stopped for a cuppa. Deer were everywhere in the Park - I do not believe I have seen so many before - with coats in so many different colours. A lovely sight in the setting sun for us Chaser Inners. Onwards through the Park and straight down Sevenoaks High Street to the railway station, where we picked up teas and coffees from the franchises before catching fast trains to Charing Cross around 4-28 pm. A lovely day's winter walking, mud notwithstanding, in the best of SWC company.

HollieB
9.3 miles/15 km
Toughness: 4 out of 10

The village of Plaxtol, Fairlawne House parklands, Ightham Mote, Knole Park.

Trains: 9:55 London Victoria (10:12 Bromley South), arriving at Borough Green at 10:40. Return trains from Sevenoaks are frequent. The stations are on different lines, but a day return to Borough Green is valid for Sevenoaks.

Lunch: The walk route passes the National Trust café at Ightham Mote. A diversion will take you to the Chaser Inn at Shipbourne (Tel 01732 810360).

Click here for full details and directions

bad walk tag
  • Brian
    Nov-18

    "Take the train nearest to 10am from Victoria Station to Borough Green & Wrotham" This would be the 09.55, arriving 10.40, alternatively the 10.25, arriving 11.06. Any votes? Should be a nice walk, weather permitting!

  • Brian
    Nov-18

    The Alpina Patisserie is permanently closed, and there is nothing beyond the High Street on the way to the station. Anyone needing a pitstop before their train will need to fill up at the top of the town.

  • Brian
    Nov-18

    10 met at Borough Green in brilliant sunshine and walked to Plaxtol through woodland and across fields, then to Fairlawne where a unanimous decision took us to Ightham Mote for lunch - picnickers joining those using the cafe at outside tables. 6 then set off ahead, 2 taking an alternative route round Knole Park leaving 4 to enjoy tea and cake at the Malabar cafe in Sevenoaks before catching trains just before 16:00

Walker
Borough Green to Sevenoaks (Book 1, walk 36)
Length: 15km (9.3 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

9.52 train from Victoria (10.09 Bromley South) to Borough Green, arriving 10.37.

Buy a day return to Borough Green (which for reasons that escape me does work for return from Sevenoaks, even though the latter is on a totally different line).

For walk directions click here.

Apologies if my choice seems a bit unoriginal this week, but RMT strike action on Southern puts many springlike walks out of reach today.

Not to worry, though, because there are some old favourites one never tires of and this is one of them. It is a lovely walk at any time of the year but achingly pretty in April, when nature lovers will not be disappointed. There may be apple blossom or it may be too early. There may be some bluebells, since they seem to be coming out early this year. Blackthorn blossom should be turning the hedgerows white. But even if none of these happen, you will still have a walk full of flowers, fresh green leaves and (probably) bleating lambs.

There is also historic Ightham Mote, a moated house now run by the National Trust, and with long days you have ample time to visit it and still finish the walk. Its tea room is a possible lunch stop.

Two recommended variations to the walk are:

- Detour to lunch at the Chaser Inn in Shipbourne. This way also includes a small bluebell wood. Details of how to do this are in the main walk directions.

- After Ightham Mote stay on the Greensand Way to Knole House, a gorgeous walk along an escarment edge with fine views: see paragraph 77 onwards on page 7 of this document for walk directions. Near the end this option has some bluebell woods which may be starting to flower.

If planning to eat at the Padwell Arms, it might be a good idea to ring them and see if they are in a receptive mood. Sometimes they are scratchy about walking groups turning up unnannounced.

Tea is at Knole House's newly refurbished tea room.

Trains back from Sevenoaks are very frequent - every ten to fifteen minutes or so.
bad walk tag
  • Chris L
    Apr-17

    Like many pubs, The Padwell, which lost its 'Arms' a few years ago, does like advance warning if a crowd of walkers plans to descend on them for lunch. The idiosyncratic chef prefers customers to pre-order if possible, so take a look at their online menu before ringing them: http://www.thepadwell.com/menu-2/. The food is excellent and comes in generously-sized portions.

  • Anonymous
    Apr-17

    Not sure if anyone counted but there was a large group. I'd estimate 30. Nice walk as always. Lovely weather, and plenty of spring blossom, with bluebells starting to appear.

  • Anonymous
    Apr-17

    30 nice and sunny

PeteG
Borough Green to Sevenoaks bad walk tag

Length: 9.3 miles (15km) approx 4 hours walking

This walk passes Igtham Mote and Knole Palace (both National Trust). The walk start in Borough Green, and goes south through woods and along streams to the old village of Plaxtol with its Cromwellian church. Then through the park of Fairlawne House to Ightham Mote, a beautiful moated medieval manor. You could probably manage a quick visit, aiming to leave by 14:30.

The route onwards is up a potentially muddy bridleway (hopefully the cold weather will help), through orchards and along shaded woodland paths leading to the 1,000-acre Knole Park, then up by footpaths to tea in Sevenoaks, with the station some way downhill from the centre.

Trains: Get the 0952 Southeast train to Ashford from Victoria, arriving 1037. Return to Borough Green & Wrotham. Sevenoaks has frequent trains to London Bridge & Charing Cross, some much faster than others.

Lunch: National Trust at Ightham Mote (open 10:00 to 15:30). You do not need to pay the entrance fee to use the restaurant. You could also divert to the Chaser Inn, Shipbourne (tel 01732 811 168) for a 'gastro' pub lunch.

Tea: There are various options, but there doesn't seem to be a recommended pub, Two possibilities are The Anchor in London Road, on the most direct route to the station, or at the end of the High Street is The Sennockian (Wetherspoons) just before you turn down pembrooke Road.


  • Anonymous
    Jan-17

    The refurbished NT cafe at Knole is on route but it closes at 4pm in winter... Rich

  • Anonymous
    Jan-17

    12 I think, including 1 on a later train. The weather was very calm and sunny . The group split for lunch, with 4 going to Shipbourne and the rest to Ightam Mote. Ground and foliage had a light dusting of frost and would be muddy patches were also frozen making for easy walking. Nice day out as always in this neck of the woods.

  • Kate H
    Jan-17

    This was a beautiful walk - could be muddy but better on a day of deep frost. I was glad I was part of a breakaway group (led by Maggie) who had lunch at the Chasers pub at Shipbourne, quite pricey but delicious and in front of an open fire. Good varied walking across open fields and through woodland.

Mike A

Borough Green to Sevenoaks

A Country House, Ightham Mote (NT), Knole Palace and deer park (NT), as well as pretty countryside, and close to London.

Book 1 Walk 36

Length : 15 km or 9½ miles
Toughness : 4 out of 10
Getting there : Catch the 10:22 am Canterbury West train from London Victoria to Borough Green. ( 10:39 from Bromley South )
Meeting point : Borough Green Station at 11:04
Tickets : Buy a cheap day return to Borough Green

Brief Description

With rain forecast, here's a walk that's not too exposed with some firmish footpaths.
The afternoon section has a couple of options. For those of you who might want to view the new lavender fields (recommended) on the Shipbourne detour (and perhaps a swift half in the Padwell Arms) you'll need to take a look at point 22. This route returns via Sevenoaks Preparatory School into Knole park.

You may find full details of this walk here

Suggested Lunch stops

Suggested Tea stops

Malabar Coffee shop (posters favourite and open till five and just behind Llloyds Bank) 81 High Street, Sevenoaks TN13 1LE t:0 1732 74305
Alpina Patisserie, on the parade of shops set back on the left and just before the station. Tubs Hill Parade TN13 1DH t : 01732 454669
If you're in a hurry, you can also grab a take-away cuppa in the convenience shop on the station concourse.

Maps

OS Explorer : 147

Return train times

Trains return frequently from Sevenoaks to London Blackfriars, Cannon Street or Charing Cross

  • Anonymous
    Jun-16

    I am increasingly frustrated with Southern trains, having been delayed for 1-2 hours quite regularly mainly due to late adjustments to schedules.

  • Anonymous
    Jun-16

    This is because of a covert industrial dispute - see Forum for an explanation

  • author image
    Mike A
    Jun-16

    Just 3 on this walk with Max the K9, quite sunny with a couple of brief showers Lots of late spring growth giving the walk a verdant feel especially through the Fairlawne Estate. The Antiques Road Show had set up at Ightham Mote for a shoot on Thursday 16th June. Antique buffs may like to repeat this walk tomorrow! (Quite interesting to have Fiona Bruce behind me in the queue for food and then on the table next to us). The lavender fields in the afternoon section set out by Mitchell and Peach were not quite in bloom, but I'd say certainly worth a visit in a couple of weeks or so. At Knole house, work appears to have restarted with new contractors for the new café there. Back at Sevenoaks, two had tea at the Malabar Coffee shop and one went off to check out the local Waitrose. Plenty of trains back to London despite Southern staffing issues!

  • Anonymous
    Jun-16

    Sevenoaks is Southeastern and so not affected by the Southern "staff shortage"

HollieB
Borough Green to Sevenoaks Book 1 walk 36
9.3 miles/15.0 km. Toughness 4/10

Outward Train: London Victoria 9:52, arriving Borough Green & Wrotham 10:37. (Stops at Bromley South 10:08) A return to Borough Green should be fine for the return from Sevenoaks.

A walk through Kent taking in the medieval moated manor at Ightham Mote (National Trust) and the parkland around Knole House (also National Trust). There's a bumper crop of apples this year, and the Ordnance Survey map shows many orchards on the way, but not sure how many of these remain.

For a pub lunch, a diversion to The Chaser Inn at Shipbourne is recommended. This is a popular place so worth giving them a call first on 01732 810360. They currently have a British Food Fortnight on and are threatening to serve school dinners. The route to the pub is described in the online walk directions, but not in older copies of Book 1.
Ightham Mote has a cafe and picnic area.
Knole Park has a tea kiosk til about 5pm, and Sevenoaks has further options.

Return Trains: Frequent services from Sevenoaks to London Cannon Street, but make sure it is a fast service not the stopping service, unless you would like a leisurely tour of South East London. There's also a slow train up to London Blackfriars.
bad walk tag
  • Walker
    Sep-15

    35 plus two dogs on this walk. Lovely to walk in warm sunshine through this pretty corner of Kent. It may be an oldie, this walk, but it bears repeating. Fallen apples were scrumped (translation for non-native speakers: stolen) by some. Some diverted to The Chaser pub, which was curiously deserted, its lovely garden having a fine view of the church. At least one stuck to the Greensand Way, the rest of us stuck to the book route. The contractors rebuilding Knole Park's tea room have gone bust, so who knows when their tea room will ever reopen?. We avoided the temporary kiosk and went in search of a promised "garden tea room" which was in a poky indoor room: why not the spacious Orangery next door? In Sevenoaks some of us went to the pub, and some of those went on to a nice curry by the station. And after all that it was still only 8pm. Sign of the season: on all this gorgeous long sunny day I only saw two butterflies. Even a week ago I saw two dozen.

  • Ian T
    Sep-15

    Of the Ightham contingent, most opted for the Greensand route. As far as I know, only one (yours truly) opted for the proper book route. I got to Knole kiosk exactly the same time as the Greensanders. Ighthams catering facilities are getting tedious. The kiosk (handy if you just want a drink) seems permanently shut. In the cafe a longer slower queue. At Knole House, we managed to get tables inside but yes pokey and chaotic.