{"id":"69c579af948ce0defd0a5283","title":"Hosey Common And Chartwell","path":"publications/annual-reviews/2022/hosey-common-and-chartwell","contentMarkdown":"# Walk 12: Hosey Common and Chartwell\n\n*Distance: 3.9 Miles (1h 45m)*\n*OS Map: Explorer 147 (Start at grid reference TQ453531)*\n\n![](https://kent.ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/25dd34bf-5c72-4ac4-b93b-40c59f79c069.jpeg)\n\nPark at Hosey Common Car Park (free). Take the B2026, signposted to Chartwell, from Westerham. The car park is half a mile up the hill, on the left, immediately after the first left turn, outside the old school lodge.\n\nGo to top end of car park and cross road. Walk up grass verge and take footpath into wood. At valley bottom, turn right onto broad track downhill, initially through holly and rhododendrons but soon crossing fence into another wood. At metal kissing gate, turn sharp right uphill alongside large trees parallel to a fence.\n\nPass isolated gate and at junction of paths marked by post turn left along path between second and third (counting from right) of line of three large oaks down to gate. Continue downhill to outskirts of Westerham. Go through kissing gate, across bridge and turn left up track. Just past house on right, take uphill path on right between fences (waymarked Greensand Way Link Path).\n\n![](https://kent.ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/34a27fa0-b0a5-41c5-af31-37c2251177f2.jpeg)\n\nAt top go through kissing gate into beech copse. Through next gate turn left along broad track. When track enters open meadow, keep to right along edge of meadow (remains of Iron Age hill fort within adjacent wood) and, when meadow widens on right continue straight ahead towards house with circular tower. Go through gate to right of house.\n\nKeep left along track with wooden panelled fence on left. Continue, ignoring left turning onto narrow path, until T junction. Turn half left past gateway to April Cottage and bear left uphill to road.\n\nCross road and take uphill bridleway almost opposite (a few feet to right). Near top of hill alongside fence around house on right, take path on left waymarked \"National Trust — Limpsfield Walk\". Follow Limpsfield Walk and Greensand Way waymarks until you emerge on road at entrance to Chartwell. If it is open, you can pop into the tea-room for refreshment without paying an entrance fee.\n\nTake path to left of entrance between fences until you reach road at top. Cross road and take path opposite. At first waymarks, at dip in path, take left turn waymarked to Westerham. Follow this path, carrying straight on when crossing other paths. Arrive at car park after half a mile or so.\n\n## Points of Interest\n\n### Hill Fort\n\nThe iron age hill fort is now heavily wooded and difficult to inspect. Briefly in 1961 parts were cleared of trees and an archaeological investigation undertaken. This revealed clearly the construction of the ditches around the site but very few artefacts were found, suggesting that the fort was little used. It may be coincidence that in 1927 a hoard of iron age coins was found on Hosey Common but equally they could be contemporaneous. The fourteen coins, made of gold, silver and copper, were contained within a naturally hollowed out sphere of flint. The find was dated to around 100 BC.\n\n### Chartwell\n\nFor many years the home of Winston Churchill, Chartwell offers not just the opportunity to tour the house with its displays of Churchillian memorabilia but also an exhibition of his paintings, a large garden with black swans on the lake, a woodland walk with fine bluebells in spring, an adventure trail for the children and of course the tea-room/restaurant and shop. Belongs to the National Trust.\n\n![](https://kent.ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/4dcab332-5675-492d-b7a2-7374175ef846.jpeg)\n\n![](https://kent.ngx-ramblers.org.uk/api/aws/s3/site-content/7ddee8b8-cac9-47b9-bf3f-cc0da47b725a.jpeg)\n\n### Public Transport\n\nBuses to Hosey Common are infrequent. A better option is to start the walk in Westerham which is quite well served by buses, for example from Sevenoaks.","contentHtml":"

Walk 12: Hosey Common and Chartwell

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Distance: 3.9 Miles (1h 45m)\nOS Map: Explorer 147 (Start at grid reference TQ453531)

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Park at Hosey Common Car Park (free). Take the B2026, signposted to Chartwell, from Westerham. The car park is half a mile up the hill, on the left, immediately after the first left turn, outside the old school lodge.

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Go to top end of car park and cross road. Walk up grass verge and take footpath into wood. At valley bottom, turn right onto broad track downhill, initially through holly and rhododendrons but soon crossing fence into another wood. At metal kissing gate, turn sharp right uphill alongside large trees parallel to a fence.

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Pass isolated gate and at junction of paths marked by post turn left along path between second and third (counting from right) of line of three large oaks down to gate. Continue downhill to outskirts of Westerham. Go through kissing gate, across bridge and turn left up track. Just past house on right, take uphill path on right between fences (waymarked Greensand Way Link Path).

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At top go through kissing gate into beech copse. Through next gate turn left along broad track. When track enters open meadow, keep to right along edge of meadow (remains of Iron Age hill fort within adjacent wood) and, when meadow widens on right continue straight ahead towards house with circular tower. Go through gate to right of house.

\n

Keep left along track with wooden panelled fence on left. Continue, ignoring left turning onto narrow path, until T junction. Turn half left past gateway to April Cottage and bear left uphill to road.

\n

Cross road and take uphill bridleway almost opposite (a few feet to right). Near top of hill alongside fence around house on right, take path on left waymarked "National Trust — Limpsfield Walk". Follow Limpsfield Walk and Greensand Way waymarks until you emerge on road at entrance to Chartwell. If it is open, you can pop into the tea-room for refreshment without paying an entrance fee.

\n

Take path to left of entrance between fences until you reach road at top. Cross road and take path opposite. At first waymarks, at dip in path, take left turn waymarked to Westerham. Follow this path, carrying straight on when crossing other paths. Arrive at car park after half a mile or so.

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Points of Interest

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Hill Fort

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The iron age hill fort is now heavily wooded and difficult to inspect. Briefly in 1961 parts were cleared of trees and an archaeological investigation undertaken. This revealed clearly the construction of the ditches around the site but very few artefacts were found, suggesting that the fort was little used. It may be coincidence that in 1927 a hoard of iron age coins was found on Hosey Common but equally they could be contemporaneous. The fourteen coins, made of gold, silver and copper, were contained within a naturally hollowed out sphere of flint. The find was dated to around 100 BC.

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Chartwell

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For many years the home of Winston Churchill, Chartwell offers not just the opportunity to tour the house with its displays of Churchillian memorabilia but also an exhibition of his paintings, a large garden with black swans on the lake, a woodland walk with fine bluebells in spring, an adventure trail for the children and of course the tea-room/restaurant and shop. Belongs to the National Trust.

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Public Transport

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Buses to Hosey Common are infrequent. A better option is to start the walk in Westerham which is quite well served by buses, for example from Sevenoaks.

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