Kent Ramblers: Walk 10

Distance: 3.4 miles (1.5 hours)

OS Map: Explorer 147 (Start at grid reference TQ578558)

Start from free National Trust car park in Styants Bottom Road at Oldbury Hill. If approaching along A25 from Sevenoaks take clearly signposted left turn to Oldbury Hill just after The Amherst Inn (formerly The Crown Point). Car park is first turn on left after 270 metres.

In front of information board in car park, climb steps passing orange waymark. Following orange waymarks, descend into small valley, cross another path and continue uphill. On meeting another path turn right, still following orange waymarks, gently downhill. On meeting bridleway, turn left uphill (now leaving orange waymarked route which goes straight across) with camp site below on right. At top bear left between hedges. Pass some houses and at staggered cross roads carry straight on. At T junction take path straight ahead, muddy in wet weather, continuing to road junction with fine views of North Downs near Kemsing. Turn left and follow road carefully to public footpath sign on right. Take this path, keeping left at any forks, to cross first minor road and then A25.

Take track immediately opposite. Just before fence and enclosure belonging to water company, turn left and follow clear path soon bearing right along fence and to meet broader track, sunken between banks. Public footpath follows sunken track and you could turn left along it. However it is preferable to cross sunken track to less muddy track three or four metres further on. Turn left along this. Continue, following a series of tracks that meander between sunken track on left and slope on right – do not wander too far from sunken track and do not take any track that descends significantly.

Eventually meet up with sunken track where it crosses road at its highest point – if you emerge further down lane, just walk up to highest point. Across lane take right hand of two bridleways, continuation of sunken track. Again you can take more attractive paths to right but don’t descend significantly. Again, eventually meet with sunken track on approaching lane at fingerpost. Turn right past church and school on left.

Immediately beyond school take bridleway on left, a further continuation of sunken track. At junction, straight forward on the uphill path. Pass sign on right advising danger from drop into quarry over fence on right. This path follows what may be one of most ancient routes across the Weald – over many centuries it had become deeply eroded but early in 21st century was filled with hardcore by Kent County Council, in some places to depth of several metres. After gradual descent and before path climbs again take path down steps on left by post bearing blue waymarks.

Follow path, passing series of ponds, to emerge on A25. Turn left for short distance, then cross carefully opposite Styants Bottom Road and follow back to car park.

Points of Interest

The Amherst Inn

Originally a hunting lodge belonging to Sir Jeffrey Amherst, commander-in-chief of the British Army in North America when fighting the French for control of what are now Canadian territories. In 1759 he helped General Wolfe capture Quebec and in 1760 he captured Montreal. He was military governor of Canada from 1760 to 1763.

Oldbury Hill

The most impressive Iron-Age camp in England, built 100-50 BC. The ramparts and ditches that enclose the camp can still be clearly seen on the steep sides of the hill. There are waymarked walks around the site of 1 and 3 miles, well worth undertaking before or after tackling the main walk.

The site also possesses some paleolithic rock shelters where 50,000 year old hand axes have been found.

Oldbury Hill and Seal Chart Site of Special

					Scientific Interest

Much of the walk is within the SSSI which is significant for its ancient sessile oak woodland.
In contrast with the chalk Downs to the north, the wooded ridge along which much of the route passes is a narrow band of acid greensand with pockets of gault clay.

Public Transport

Service 308 from Sevenoaks to Gravesend via Borough Green stops on the A25 near the end of Styants Bottom Road (not Sundays).

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