16

We were 16 walkers in total, with 15 assembling at the designated station. One walker joined at Hever, while another got off the train there, but we all converged eventually in the middle for lunch and returned together.

The weather was glorious: sunshine, blue skies, and a scattering of white clouds resembling young lambs. This was a dramatic and deeply appreciated contrast to the previous three weeks of relentless rain.

The mud, happily, was less severe than your rapporteur had feared, and certainly less than one might expect for a Weald walk at this time of year. We did wonder whether the absent walk poster had absconded in anticipation of knee-deep sludge, but on this occasion, they would have been safe from both mud and the ire of their fellow walkers.

That said, a few patches remained impressively muddy, requiring judicious gymnastics and mild acrobatics to avoid the worst damage to our boots. Several walkers demonstrated unexpected climbing ability to secure drier paths on the other side of the fence.

We walked at a good pace as a group, but as usual, the lunch break created something of a chasm. One walker raced ahead to reunite with their beloved at home (it was Valentine’s Day, after all). Three enjoyed a picnic, three opted for coffee and sandwiches at the café, and the rest had lunch at the pub (reviews were positive).

We continued onwards in smaller groups, though many reconvened at the Henry VIII pub near Hever Castle, ancestral seat of the Boleyn (or Bullen) family, which we approached via a particularly muddy and narrow path along the castle grounds.

The pub desserts looked (and tasted) excellent, and beer and coffee were equally well received. Morale and sugar levels were restored before we headed for the station.

One of the well-seasoned walkers carried out a hopefully successful recruitment drive in the pub. Let’s see if they - and their cute dog - join a club walk soon.

Some walkers caught the 16:05, while the rest returned on the 17:05 back to London Bridge.

7 turned out despite the dire forecast, hoping that it wouldn't be as bad as predicted but prepared with full waterproofs, a couple of umbrellas and one serious poncho. Paths were good despite recent heavy rain and even those covered in a couple of inches of water were firm underneath. The weather was bright and humid to midday changing to persistent heavy rain . Three decided to cut out the loop to Penshurst and followed a lane directly to Chiddingstone where the church porch offered shelter for lunch after which they went to the Tulip Tree tea rooms for hot drinks and cake. While there, the sky cleared and the sun came out. We carried on towards Hever and were caught up by the Penshurst 4 who had picnicked but not dallied for additional refreshments there. The wind rose in the afternoon and dried our outer layers. We made it to Hever without further significant rain. One went for a drink in the pub there, six went straight to the station. All caught the slightly delayed 16.05 train.

Thirteen of us were on the posted train which was a bit late and decided not to stop at Cowden - so we got off at Hever to do the walk in reverse. After an interesting stop at Hever church, one decided to walk round Hever and the castle instead, but the rest of us followed the route reasonably successfully to Penshurst. There everyone ate in the churchyard but nearly all then repaired to the pub garden for a drink. We were joined by number14 who had missed our train and walked from Tonbridge.

Eventually we realised we would have to make tracks for the hourly train from Cowden and set off at different paces. The afternoon leg was more difficult to follow in reverse, with only sporadic footpath markings, confusing new fences and one unnerving unmarked section through a field of cows with calves and in some cases horns. Some took shortcuts, maybe not all intentionally, and in the end all but two made the 4 pm train. There wasn't much mud, but the remaining patches were horrible. It was sunny but cool in the shade .

18 off the train in Cowden on a glorious sunny day . We were quickly off the road and walking along quiet lanes and paths, a world away from city life. Many of the paths were shaded by trees in full leaf and with a pleasant breeze it was comfortable walking weather. 14 had a picnic in Penshurst churchyard, 2 lunched at the Leicester Arms. The group stretched out a bit in the afternoon with some rushing to get early trains home. Eight visited the tearoom tucked away at the back of Chiddingstone castle for tea/coffee and cake. All were enthusiastic about the setting - a shaded courtyard with comfortable seating. Service was quick and efficient. (It's only open Sunday - Wednesday during the summer months). One hurried off to catch the 4.05 train. The other seven were not in a hurry and had a short stroll through the gardens guided by the walk author before ambling on to Hever. We had time for refreshment at the Heny VIII before heading for the station where we caught the 17.05 back to London along with three others who had gone to the Tulip tearoom. A lovely day in beautiful countryside with hardly any traffic and good refreshment options. Thanks to the walk author who devised it.

21 on this walk on a gorgeous sunny day . No winds. No clouds. Only a very few patches of stubborn mud.

The walk was very idyllic. There were some little and not so little bluebell woods, the best of them about half out, but most less. Patches of wild garlic (a tiny bit in flower) and other woodland wonders. Lots of eye-aching green foliage. Maybe not as many butterflies as I hoped for but a good number of orange tips. Thanks to the walk creator too for alerting me to two swallows sat on a telephone wire, the first I have seen this year. They looked a bit zonked from their long journey from South Africa. Or perhaps they were just enjoying the sunshine.

I did not have the highest hopes of getting lunch at the Leicester Arms, but kudos to them for adapting to the Easter weekend market. They had eight staff devoted to serving food on their garden terraces (the inside tables were deserted) and you could order at an outside bar. There was also a paella on the go and a van serving bacon butties and coffee. A very efficient operation.

In the afternoon quite a few of us stopped at the Tulip Tea Rooms, who have expanded their outside seating with a new back patio. It was then a lovely walk in golden light to Hever.

Here some people were in an inexplicable rush to get the 5pm train, but at least five people carried on to Cowden. Three of us stopped for a drink at the Kentish Horse in Markbeech, its garden bathed in evening sunshine.

Alas the mad urge to rush for trains soon overtook my two companions and they sped off to get the 6pm, me dragging my heels in the hope they would leave me behind so I could stay another hour in paradise. But they kept stopping to wait for me, so in the end I got the 6pm too - rather crowded (just a four car train for some reason) and so a rather jarring reintroduction to urban living.

16 off the train at Cowden for a good day's walk under overcast with increasing sunny periods in the afternoon windless and mild . We began with a pleasant tramp across fields, with extensive views north, then through woods with some muddy patches, reaching Hoath Corner after which the path became even muddier until we gained the tarmac safety of Penshurst. At least three lunched in the Leicester Arms (reports welcome) while the rest picnicked alfresco in the churchyard. The post-lunch walk towards Chiddingstone started off on tarmac, then gravel, then the hard-packed earth and, on the final stretch, shin-deep mud. And yes, gentle reader, pride does come before a fall. As a riposte to my smug boasting last week about the utility of a trekking pole in preventing unwanted facial attacks on the ground, a well-placed bramble brier neatly tripped me up and down I went like a felled tree. Fortunately, a large patch of nettles broke my fall and, such was the ubiquity of large pools of deep, gloopy mud I was far from the only person sporting the walker's trophy of slowly drying patches of Wealden clay. However, the far-reaching views to the Greensand ridge, under a bright blue sky, more than made up for it.

The Tulip Tearooms in Chiddingstone were open, but, for some reason (the known availability of toilets?) we decided to press on to Chiddingstone Castle - where the tearoom was shut. As were the toilets. There was nothing for it but to continue on to Hever station where most, if not all, caught the 16:07 homewards. An excellent day out, with many familiar faces and some new ones.

Still trying to get the china clay off my new Paramo waterproof trousers. Thank god for my 2 walking poles which not only kept me upright all day but guaranteed me a seat on both the train and bus home as it was standing room only. No one spotted the caked on mud. Must remember this in future and recommend it to anyone with mobility issues and a mudfest to deal with.

8 walkers on a calm warm though mainly cloudy day. This proved a perfect day to do this walk. Conditions were dry underfoot. There were fields of rape in bloom, orchards coming along, a few lingering bluebells, Dryads Saddle mushrooms, plus plenty of wild garlic and birdsong. Twice we were treated to the sight a deer in the distance. The Leicester Arms was hosting a wedding party so after a brief liquid lunch we walked on to tea. Two branched off on a short cut to tea at The Henry VIII and the remaining six stopped for refreshment at excellent Tulip Tree cafe in Chiddingstone then on through the grounds of Chiddingstone Castle, which was having an Open Day). All of us met by chance at Hever station in time for the 16.05. A very nice relaxing day out.

I counted 18 names at the station roll call and we all set off in fine and sunny wather although this phrase hardly does justice to the beautiful "last of the summer wine" autumnal glow that we enjoyed all day.

About 6 peeled off to lunch at the Rock in Hoath Corner whilst the rest of us ambled along the gentle trails to Penshurst where most ate outdoors at the Leicester Arms, a couple at the Pantry and a further 2 lunched in a sunny seat in the churchyard.

After lunch the group fragmented a bit and after a short break at Chiddingstone where a small group detoured for a brief "chiding" at the stone we continued on to Hever wher 6 of us stopped for refreshments at the excellent King Henry V111 whose gardens were packed. It looks a great place for a meal. The final short section back to the station ended a superb day out with lots of anarchic chat; a perfect way to spend a sunny and warm autunmnal Sunday.

planning to go - anyone else? heavy rain isn't forecast until late afternoon fingers x'ed!

Yes I am planning on going as well so you won't be on your own. Am hoping it will not be too muddy!! Paula

Two walkers met at Victoria. However after the cancellation of two consecutive trains (excuse-faulty train) and in the face of the bitter and unseasonal cold, we took this as an omen and returned home.

As noted above Southern were in truculent mood and did their best to prevent anyone joining this walk from central London. As a result two car drivers met only five off the train at Cowden, though two more resourcefully took a later train to Leigh and met others at the lunch pub in Penshurst. So 9 walkers on a cold damp and gloomy day, but thankfully with no rain to speak of.

The starters split up in mid-morning with three opting for lunch in Chiddingstone and a circuit back to Cowden. The Penshurst lunchers did much the same length of walk by finishing in Hever. This was not a day for lingering in pub gardens or courtyard tearooms, so there was a reunion on the 4pm train back.

Anyone hoping that last week's heatwave had dispelled the Wealden mud was soon put right, with gloopy stretches around wobbly stiles and along narrow fenced paths. There were plenty of bluebells in the woods but the judges awarded the Flower of the Day award to the ramsons (wild garlic), with thick carpets around every woodland stream spreading up into bluebell territory.

I ended up doing this walk on my own as the rail companies managed to cancel my trains so could not find anyone else by the time got there over an hour later than scheduled.

It was a nice walk but I have to say I found the directions rather difficult to follow - I got lost in the woods - the right fork completely threw me and I ended up climbing up towards a field until I retraced my steps - I would say keep left!! Also at the end I did actually get lost totally at the Hamlet of Hill Hoath where you were meant to vere right but there was a sign saying "private road" on one road on the right and to the left a footpath sign after which I vered right but this took me in completely the wrong direction - in the end found a pub and got rescued but to me it was not at all clear at that point - some more landmarks would have been very useful. Would be a lovely walk on a sunny day!!Paula

I do not know the details of this walk, but would just like to say that it is not uncommon to find “private road”’signs on a right of way. Ignore such signs. Nearly all rights of way are across private land. The ownership of the land or the views of the land owner are irrelevant. It is a RIGHT of WAY for walkers. This sign was probably directed at car drivers anyway.

40 on this walk with glorious sunny weather with an occasional breeze making it perfect weather for this walk with open stretches and shady woods.

Lots of us arrived at the Leicester Arms around the same time and they handled the influx of something like 25 of us with aplomb ( just looked it up to see if it was the right word and it is - self-confidence or assurance, especially when in a demanding situation ), courtesy, enthusiasm, efficiency and friendliness - hats off to the staff and I will pop up a note on trip advisor for them as well.

One day all pubs will be this good.

Other than that there is little to report as as far as I know the walk went off without incident ( well much like most of our walks really ).

Good views, gentle hills and occasional loud voices about recent political developments.

Swift halves, a glass or two of wine, tea / coffee and cake ( dessert really ) at the Henry VIII about 20 minutes before the station topped off the day nicely for about 20 of us.

Generalismo Ovaeata

"winter walks posted in winter"!! This is clearly unacceptable (;>)

What time from clapham?

I agree Pete B - certainly broken my rule

14 on this walk and despite downbeat weather forecast it was cloudy but warm and not wet till 4pm . Nice to be in the Weald again a time of year when the paths are not muddy, but the cloud and fallen leaves make it feel a bit autumnal - decidedly so for the two of us who opted for the longer circular walk in what was by then steady rain.

Lunch at the Leicester Arms was.....hmm. The staff were friendly but the soup was a disgrace - water laced with oil and vinegar, according to my companion, and no hint of the supposed tomato flavouring. I found the menu choices disappointing and had fish and chips (admittedly nicely cooked) faut de mieux. On the plus side we had the outside terraces to ourselves.

Three of us stopped for tea at the Chiddingstone tea room. What happened to the rest of you? Having been nagged by my companions into having a vast slab of chocolate fudge cake - truly a giant piece - I am now on a diet for a month. It was in a vain attempt to use up some of the calories from this that I did the longer walk option.

Southern need to sort out the train indicators at Cowden, which indicated a London Bridge train, only for one going in the opposite direction to pull in at the single platform. Luckily I know north from south. The London train then disappeared from the indicator, with only the one an hour later showing, but did materialise five minutes later. On the plus side this may be the first Southern journey I have taken since May in which neither outward or return train was cancelled or terminated early....

Another four of us left Hever at 3.30 to do the longer walk option, two stopping at Markbeech for a quick half, and we all got the 5.01 train from Cowden station together with a fifth walker from another subgroup. We left three people in the King Henry in Hever. A very nice day out.

I was one of the three in The Henry. 16.05 from Hever after refreshment - delightful