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![\"map](\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/map_422.jpg\")
Volunteer
\nDistance: 8.5 Miles (4 Hours)
\nOS Map: Explorer 136 (Start at TQ502451)
\nPark alongside cemetery just east of Chiddingstone village.
\nAt village end of cemetery take descending track to fine wooden bridge over river Eden and on far side continue in same direction uphill past fine houses first on right and then on left. After track bears left, pass house on right (North Cottage) and very soon (45 metres) after take path on left straight across field down to copse and bridge over river Eden. On far side cross pasture parallel to left hand edge to Mill Lane.
\nTurn right, cross river Eden yet again and soon (170 metres) take footpath on left along left hand edge of field. Half way along go through gap on left and continue in same direction as before now with hedge on right. Follow hedge round to right at corner heading uphill but when field edge bears left go forward into next field and follow left hand edge round to left. Just before hedge begins on left, turn left and soon join farm track.
\nGo through gateway opposite[1], bear left along field edge and follow to far corner. Through kissing gate bear left along edge of golf course[2] gradually bearing right and joining track passing between two ponds. Follow track gradually climbing for considerable distance and when track finally turns right take path ahead through between hedges to Hever Road.
\nTurn left but shortly (half way round bend) take path on right across pasture. At far side cross track and follow right hand edges of two fields to footbridge and gate. Bear very slightly left across middle of large field aiming a little left of old barn. Join track in front of pond, turn left and half way round right hand bend bear left along top then right hand edge of large field descending to kissing gate on right just before corner. Through gate go briefly forward over bridge, turn left along field edge for a few metres then bear right across middle of field climbing to junction of paths at left hand end of hedge. Turn left downhill and at bottom bear left through metal kissing gate and cross river Eden. Follow track around Delaware Farm then turn left along drive to Hever Road.
\nTake path immediately opposite turning right parallel to road. When hedge bears right, go through gate on left and bear left to far edge of field (not path going straight across to steps opposite). Turn left along field edge below railway embankment and follow to gate on right leading to tunnel under railway. On the other side of the tunnel, bear diagonally left across field to gap at far corner. Turn right along Lydens Lane.
\nShortly after passing farm access track on left take path on left through hedge and take path gently uphill across field to kissing gate. Cross track and through next kissing gate bear slightly left across field toward far corner of woodland on left. Pass waymark post and bear right gradually approaching hedge above railway on left. Go through kissing gate in corner and keep right along path parallel to railway then down drive to Hever Lane. Turn left to T-junction with two gateways opposite.
\nTake the path between fences to the right of both gateways, passing lake on right and large house on left (Chippen’s Bank). On reaching Hever Road turn right then take first left and continue to Henry VIII public house.
\nRound corner, enter churchyard, take path to right of church, out of churchyard, past some buildings then alongside fence with drive to Hever Castle car park on the other side. At car park, bear sharp right along rising driveway, moving to grass verge on left in due course. After passing to left of gate across drive, turn half right across turning area in front of houses to take path between fences (easy to miss) and follow to Rectory Lane.
\nTake path opposite along field edge then bearing right over bridge across stream (see Points of Interest). Soon bear sharp left over another stream then follow path uphill through woods. Cross wide ride then at skewed T-junction turn left along bridleway. Follow sunken track between fine outcrops of sandstone then emerge onto lane at Hill Hoath noting Withers (see Points of Interest) on your left.
\nAt first bend take farm track on right then bear left between farm buildings and along path between fences. Pass pond on left and on emerging into large field turn left uphill. At top continue along path between fences soon descending to main street at Chiddingstone. Turn right to starting point.
\n[1] Strictly you should turn right for a few metres then go left through hedge and double back on far side of hedge (even this is an unofficial diversion as the path should go across field cutting off first corner).
\n[2] The path should go diagonally left across golf course here but seems to have been unofficially diverted round edge.
\nAccording to the Historic \n\t\t\t\t\t\tEngland Grade II listing, the farmhouse was probably a \n\t\t\t\t\t\t15th century hall house with the service end demolished \n\t\t\t\t\t\tin the late 16th century and replaced by a cross-wing in \n\t\t\t\t\t\twhich Jacobean fireplaces were later installed and still \n\t\t\t\t\t\tsurvive.
\nThe lych gate and the \n\t\t\t\t\t\t18th or early 19th century roadside wall are Grade II \n\t\t\t\t\t\tlisted.
\nRestored Grade \n\t\t\t\t\t\tII listed cottage from first half of 16th century.
\nGrade II listed fifteenth \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcentury timber-framed building, probably a hall house, \n\t\t\t\t\t\tonce housing the village laundry. According to the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHistoric England listing, the front has a hung-tile \n\t\t\t\t\t\tfirst floor while the rear shows exposed framing with \n\t\t\t\t\t\tplaster infill, so the side facing the path must be the \n\t\t\t\t\t\trear. The ground floor of red bricks is nineteenth \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcentury infill; the pattern of blue headers (the ends of \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe bricks are exposed) is known as diapering.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P422a.jpg\")
For more points of interest, \n\t\t\t\t\t\tplease see our Guide to Three River Valley Walks in West \n\t\t\t\t\t\tKent.
\nTake the train to Hever Station \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthen start and finish the walk there. Take path on the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tside of the line opposite the buildings and join the \n\t\t\t\t\t\troute of the walk in a minute or so.
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