![\"\"](\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_069.jpg\")
![\"map](\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/map_069.jpg\")
Distance: 6.8 Miles (3h 45m)
\nOS Map: Explorer 147 (Start at grid reference TQ584536)
\nPark in National Trust car park at Ightham Mote – open all year, dawn to dusk, whether or not house is open. No charge for members (£3 for non-members at time of writing). There are toilets, but these are only open when house and restaurant open.
\nGo past or through walled garden and leave staff car park at bottom past restaurant and toilets. Turn left along path waymarked with red arrows. At first junction follow red arrows left uphill along left hand edge of field. At top enter wood; red arrows go left but our route goes right. Follow up path through wood to emerge through gate onto road (A227).
\nBear right and cross road to track opposite through gate. Follow track through trees and into open field. Continue along right hand edge of field to track and turn right downhill through gate to Plaxtol Lane.
\nTake footpath opposite and go straight across field past fenced avenue of trees on right and bear right to yellow post. Bear right to another yellow post by stile. Over stile, maintain direction past another yellow post, noting view of Fairlawne house on right. Bear left to corner of field and take gate through fence into Fairlawne gardens. Go down to driveway and bear left, taking lower of two branches of drive. Pass lake on right and go through gate into field. Follow left hand edge of field until fence turns left, when bear slightly right over footbridge. Go straight across next field, between houses at top and through gap to right of first house. Follow lane forward into Shipbourne (pronounced “Shibbun”).
\nTurn right along Upper Green Road, making for church. Cross A227 and go through churchyard. Leave by kissing gate at far side and go down right hand edge of a field. Go straight across next field, making for corner of woodland protruding into it. At corner, enter woodland and bear right along broad track, climbing gradually. After 300m at junction of paths take second left uphill and just beyond top bear right along broad track leading down to stile Mote Road.
\nTurn left but immediately bear right across green towards driveway. Take path between fence and hedge to right of Great Budds. After climbing stile into field, go straight across. When gravel track turns left on entering next field, carry straight on across the field to footbridge and stile into next field. Cross another field, making for some large barns. Go through gates/stiles to left of barns and climb along right hand edge of field to corner, climb stile and bear alongside fence towards wooden gate. Just before gate, turn sharp left along driveway. At junction of drives, bear right onto driveway and follow it down to Underriver House Road.
\nTurn right and then right again into Rooks Hill just in front of Absalom’s Farm. Climb Rooks Hill until you reach woodland and public footpath sign on left. Carry on a few more metres to public footpath sign on right and go through gate. Follow path initially between two fences but later in woodland. At junction of paths by information board, turn left along path climbing steeply, passing steps and bearing left to double back on previous route. Pass seats offering fine views across the Weald. On leaving National Trust property past barrier, turn right along permissive path. On reaching bridleway, go straight across past another barrier and follow permissive path along bottom of open glade. Continue through woodland and, on meeting broader track at corner, go straight ahead along it. On reaching Mote Road, take path opposite back into Ightham Mote estate. On reaching drive at top, turn right into car park.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P069a.jpg\")
The original moated manor on the site was called Fair \n\t\t\t\t\t\tLane and belonged in the 17th century to Sir Henry Vane \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe Younger. He supported Parliament against \n\t\t\t\t\t\tCharles I in the Civil War, but opposed the King's \n\t\t\t\t\t\texecution and fell out of favour with Cromwell.
\t\t\t\t\t\tDespite this, on the restoration of the monarchy, \n\t\t\t\t\t\tCharles II thought Vane's views on democratic reform \n\t\t\t\t\t\tdangerous and had him sentenced to death on a charge of \n\t\t\t\t\t\ttreason. Samuel Pepys, who watched the execution \n\t\t\t\t\t\ton Tower Hill in June 1662, recorded that Vane "appeared \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe most resolved man that ever died in that manner, and \n\t\t\t\t\t\tshowed more of heat than cowardize, but yet with \n\t\t\t\t\t\thumility and gravity". Vane is buried in \n\t\t\t\t\t\tShipbourne church.
![\"\"](\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P069b.jpg\")
In the 20th century the estate was owned by Sir Peter \n\t\t\t\t\t\tCazalet who trained horses owned by the Queen Mother who \n\t\t\t\t\t\twas a regular overnight visitor. The current owner \n\t\t\t\t\t\tis Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
\nIn 2011 the Prince attempted to close a public \n\t\t\t\t\t\tfootpath across the estate but local residents rebelled \n\t\t\t\t\t\tand, supported by local Ramblers, won an appeal to the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tPlanning Inspectorate to keep it open.
\nThe present house was built in the early 18th \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcentury.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P069d.jpg\")
The Queen Anne house was built in 1697 for Richard \n\t\t\t\t\t\tGoodhugh. In 1790 the house was bought by the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWoodgate family of nearby Riverhill House and by 1840 it \n\t\t\t\t\t\twas let to Charles Townsend who was visited by Samuel \n\t\t\t\t\t\tPalmer, a renowned landscape artist who from 1826 to \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1835 was based at nearby Shoreham. Palmer called \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe area around Underriver his 'Golden Valley', \n\t\t\t\t\t\tfeaturing in several of his paintings. In 1976 \n\t\t\t\t\t\tmusic producer John Coletta bought the house where he \n\t\t\t\t\t\tentertained celebrity guests such as his friend Charlie \n\t\t\t\t\t\tDrake. The house has since changed hands at least \n\t\t\t\t\t\ttwice.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P069c.jpg\")
This Grade II listed building is on your left as you \n\t\t\t\t\t\tbegin your ascent of Rooks Hill. Low stone walls \n\t\t\t\t\t\tare topped by a brick layer, black weatherboarding and a \n\t\t\t\t\t\thipped, tiled roof. It is part of a group of \n\t\t\t\t\t\tlisted buildings including a pair of oast houses, the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tfarmhouse, a granary, a cowshed and a cobbled courtyard \n\t\t\t\t\t\ton the other side of the stables.
\nStart and finish the walk at Shipbourne and get a bus \n\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom Tonbridge or Borough Green.
\nAutomatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_069.htm on 2025-12-11 09:19
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