# Kent Ramblers: Walk 80

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_080.jpg)

![map 080](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/map_080.jpg)

Volunteer

Distance:          2.8 miles (1h 20m)

OS Map:           Explorer 125 (Start at TQ845313, Rolvenden Church)

On street parking is available close to the church.

Immediately to left of white weather boarded house at junction of A28 and Maytham Road take path into churchyard.  Pass war memorial on right, and past church bear left.  Take second path on right emerging through wooden kissing gate (if kissing gate is metal you turned tight too soon so turn left along field edge to correct gate).

Take path heading away from gate following High Weald Landscape Trail, gradually bearing left across fields to gate. Follow path into woodland, passing on left grounds of Great Maytham Hall. Continue, path becoming fenced, to another gate. Go through, turn right (leaving High Weald Landscape Trail here) and walk along edge of field to corner, through gate and downhill through trees to stream. Cross footbridge then go uphill to gate. Follow right-hand edges of two fields passing pond on left. Through another gate, turn left then right around pond.  Go ahead across field to waymarker post and turn left.

Continue to stile, go straight ahead across next field, cross another stile then bear gradually left down to bottom corner of field.  Go through gate and over stream into lane.

Turn right along lane to A28, turn right along edge of main road for about 80 metres then take byway on left through gate.  Go straight ahead, following path beside fence to gate. Go through and follow right-hand edge of field to another gate. On far side turn right, immediately going through another gate. Follow path uphill passing Elphees on left and pond on right.  Soon after pond at kink in field line go over stile ahead and follow left hand edge of field, bearing first right and then left to gate in corner.

Through gate, now joining High Weald Landscape Trail, turn right along field edge to gate.  Cross next field diagonally to corner.  Cross footbridge, stile and then second footbridge.  Turn left until field widens then bear diagonally right to metal kissing gate at far corner onto road.

Immediately go through adjacent metal kissing gate on right and cross field diagonally to gap in hedge.  Bear left along edge of school field and down access track to main road.  Turn left back to starting point.

## Points of Interest

### Water Tower House

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P080a.jpg)

You will catch glimpses of a 
						water tower that was converted into a house as a project 
						featured on an episode of the Grand Designs television 
						series.

### Great Maytham Hall

The Hall was once the home of 
						author Frances Hodgson Burnett. The gardens are said to 
						have been the inspiration for her book The Secret 
						Garden.

### Rolvenden

The C M Booth Motor Museum is 
						tucked away behind an antique shop in the High Street, 
						boasting a unique collection of Morgan 3 three-wheel 
						cars. The Star Inn in the village is a Grade II listed 
						building and was formerly the village poor house.

### Rolvenden Windmill

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P080b.jpg)

The post mill visible on this 
						walk may be the oldest windmill in Kent of which 
						anything remains, perhaps the original mill that was 
						shown standing here on a map of 1596.  It was a 
						corn mill, last used around 1883 to 1885 and virtually 
						derelict by the end of World War I when parts were 
						burned for firewood by troop stationed in the area.  
						It was restored in 1956, paid for by a Mr & Mrs Barham 
						in memory of their son who was killed in a road 
						accident.

### Saxbys

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P080c.jpg)

T-shaped restored C16 or earlier 
						timber framed building with plaster infilling, the 
						ground floor rebuilt in red brick.

### Public Transport

Rolvenden is served by the 297 
						bus from Tunbridge Wells to Tenterden which runs every 
						couple of hours except on Sundays when there is no 
						service.

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