Kent Ramblers: Walk 20

Distance: 5.3 Miles (2.25 Hours)

OS Map: Explorer 147 (Start at grid reference TQ446597)

Park in free car park at Cudham recreation ground (on left, just past Blacksmith’s Arms, when approaching from Green Street Green). Look for any notice indicating closing time, which varies according to time of year.

Leave car park at north end on metalled path past tennis courts. On reaching churchyard, bear right along edge of recreation ground to metal kissing gate. Bear right across Rectory House driveway to another kissing gate and follow right hand edge of field to yet another kissing gate. Cross next field bearing right to path between hedges.

On reaching Mace Lane, turn right and, just before left turn past row of houses, take footpath on right. Follow path through narrow field then over a couple of stiles into steep field – looking back on a clear day you will see fine views of Canary Wharf. Go straight down hill to bottom of valley and over stile into wood. Climb through wood and emerge into field. Go straight uphill to protruding corner of field bordered by oak trees. From this point continue in same direction to far right corner of field and climb stile by gate. Take broad track through woods (chestnut coppice) until you see New Years Lane on left.

Cross lane with New Years Cattery on your left and climb over stile ahead. Follow path through wood and then diagonally downward across sloping field. Climb stile onto path directly downhill between fences.

Cross broad track along valley bottom and take path opposite up right hand side of field. About half way up, climb stile on right and go through narrow band of woodland. Cross large field diagonally to stile at highest corner. From here continue in more or less straight line, first along left hand edge of fields then past Mitchell House, into Knockholt churchyard just to right of church. Emerge into Knockholt Main Road opposite the school and turn right.

Continue past Shelleys Lane on right. When you reach Brasted Lane on left, pavement ends and you may need to cross to triangular piece of grass on left. At end of triangular grass, cross back to right hand side of Main Road and, at bottom of driveway to Windy Ridge, take path into field. Cross top of field to far left hand (top) corner. Take path in corner and follow path into woodland with fence on left, eventually between fences. Soon after end of fences, bear right downhill and at bottom emerge from wood.

Turn left and follow edge of wood, climbing gently. Follow waymarks over stiles to Burlings Lane. Go straight across and take path along right hand edge of field. At corner bear right across field to stile in far corner. Bear left across next field to gate and stile in corner. Cross Cudham Lane carefully.

Go up Thrift Lane opposite past various houses. After Thrift Farm on right, path narrows and leads into wood. At junction of paths turn right downhill to bottom of valley and then up other side. Here the path is very narrow and overgrown between fence and hedge on right but there is a broad stony track running parallel on left that may offer a preferable route to top of hill. At gate and T-junction with another path turn right and follow to Newbarn Lane. Turn right downhill.

Near lowest point of lane, go through gate on left into Woodland Trust’s Blackbush Shaw. Bear right onto track through trees and then along top of grassland. At corner by information board turn right uphill to Newbarn Lane. Cross carefully and climb steps on far side. Soon emerge on Cudham Lane. Turn left and walk past Cudham Hall back to car park.

Points of Interest

Cudham Hall

' was until early 2001 a technical college run by the Amalgamated Electrical and Engineering Union. After the AEEU merged with the Manufacturing Science and Finance Union the Hall was sold (in 2004) and has now been converted to luxury apartments.

Blackthorn and Cherry Plum

These hedgerow shrubs, which bear plentiful fruit in late September and early October, are the parents from which by multiple crosses all cultivated plums and the damson have arisen. Blackthorn (pictured) is also known as the sloe.

Public Transport

Service R10 connects Cudham recreation ground with Orpington Station via Green Street Green.

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