T=swc.78
Length: Main walk: 16.5km (10.3 miles) with options to shorten.
Difficulty: 4 out of 10
This walk starts from a lonely station and wends its way through remote valleys, woods and tiny settlements in the undulating landscape of the High Weald. It descends into the Eden Valley for refreshment stops in the beautiful villages of Penshurst and Chiddingstone, before ending in Hever. Each of these three villages has an interesting church which is worth visiting, as well as a popular historic house open to the public.
Trains: Catch the 10.07 Uckfield train from London Bridge (East Croydon 10.22), arriving Cowden 10.53. Return trains from Hever run hourly at XX.05.
Buy a return to Cowden.
Lunch: In Penshurst village, after about 7 km the Leicester Arms Hotel (01892-871617) is suggested for a pub lunch. The Porcupine Pantry at the entrance to Penshurst Place serves sandwiches, baguettes, hot and cold drinks.
Later in the walk, at Chiddingstone, the Castle Inn (01892-87037) is another possibility. It's under new ownership and website is currently under constructio.
Tea: the suggested tea place is the Tulip Tree (01892-870326) in Chiddingstone. Chiddingstone Castle also has a Tea Room (01892-870347) open to non-visitors.
Directions, map and GPS here