# Kent Ramblers: Walk 17

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_017.jpg)

![map 017](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/map_017.jpg)

Distance:   5.5 Miles (2.5 Hours)

OS Map:           Explorer 147 (Start at grid reference TQ455517)

Park in National Trust car park at Chartwell – free for NT members and £4 for others – open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day from 9am until 5.30pm or dusk if earlier.

Leave car park by exit (past restaurant, shops and toilets) and turn left along Mapleton Road past Chartwell house.  When wall on the left ends, just past lay-by, take bridleway uphill through woods.

When path levels out somewhat, take left turn, waymarked “National Trust Limpsfield Walk”.  Continue alongside Mariners Hill, with magnificent views across Bough Beech Reservoir towards The Weald.  After some steps, keep left, leaving Limpsfield Walk.  Follow path downhill until you reach Froghole Lane.  Turn right.

When lane turns sharp right, turn sharp left down path immediately before house called Spark Haw (not path immediately beyond, signposted “Crockham Hill Church”).  Go downhill between fences, across duckboards then down left hand edge of field to asphalt track.

Bear right to path through gate just across track.  Cross middle of one field, follow edge of another and then start to follow edge of a third.  When hedge on left field turns sharp left, carry straight on across field to gate by oak tree soon followed by another gate.  Cross right hand edge of paddock and go through third gate to reach farm track.

Turn left along track through Grange Farm and follow for just over half a mile to Mapleton Road.  Turn left and take first track on right through gate.  Follow track past Obriss Farm and through gate.  Turn sharp left and walk along left hand edge of field.  Cross next field diagonally right, going over highest point of field to far corner, then along next field edge.  Go through short section of wood, then steeply uphill enter more woodland and along track between hedges.  Continue round sharp left hand bend, steep section and then sharp right hand turn (gate straight ahead leads to private house (Bardogs), but path on right is not obvious until you get right up to gate).  Follow path up to Puddledock Lane and turn right uphill.  Pass seat and view point by Octavia Hill’s Well on right where you can stop to rest and admire fine views across The Weald.

Continue along lane to centre of Toy’s Hill village.  Just past red telephone box on left take path going quite steeply uphill.  Follow path, bearing right and climbing steeply at first junction.  Carry straight on or bear slightly left at all later junctions, soon joining Greensand Way and following blue waymarks.  Path first climbs and then descends, emerging from wood along level track to meet lane coming down from right.  Follow lane downhill to valley bottom, then uphill through French Street.  In middle of French Street, turn left along drive (tarred initially), well signposted with various waymarks including one for Greensand Way.  Bear left when hedge does and follow Greensand Way markers until you reach Hosey Common Lane.

Cross lane and take left of two paths downhill and back to Chartwell car park.

The tearoom is normally open from 10 to 5 (not Christmas Day or Boxing Day).

## Points of Interest

### Crockham Grange Cart Shed and Granary

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P017A.jpg)

This Grade II listed building is timber-framed with 
						an open cart shed on the ground floor and a granary 
						above with queen post roof and whitewashed wattle and 
						daub walls.

### Octavia Hill's Well

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P017B.jpg)

The well with views of Bough Beech reservoir (Walk 
						18) and Ashdown Forest was one of the National 
						Trust's first properties, given by Octavia Hill, one of 
						the Trust's founders, who lived and is buried at 
						Crockham Hill (Walk 14).

### Public Transport

On summer Sundays and Bank Holidays there is a bus 
						service, route 246, from Bromley via Westerham.

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