Kent Ramblers: Walk 43

Points of Interest

The Hop Pickers Line

On this walk you will cross the dismantled Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst branch line twice and pass it closely near Smugley Farm. The line was opened in 1892 and closed in the 1960s. Because much of the traffic was related to the hop industry, the line became known as the Hop Pickers Line. A group was formed to create a walking and cycling route along the old track bed but funding could not be found and the group currently focuses mainly on publicising the history of the route through markers and information panels.

Smugley Farmhouse

Finchcocks

This Grade I listed house was for 45 years until 2017 a museum of musical keyboard instruments where many concerts took place. Although the walk encircles Finchcocks and crosses its drive, it offers only glimpsing views on the return leg along the Teise valley.

Spelmonden

The Spelmonden estate was long a mixed farm with hops, fruit and livestock but the growing of hops ceased in 2002. There were huts to accommodate hop-pickers who used to come down from London for a 'holiday' and to earn some money of the family's winter clothes. Some of these on your right as you pass the cluster of farm buildings have been converted into modern holiday lets.

Public Transport

Bus service 256 runs from Tunbridge Wells to Wadhurst, stopping at Lamberhurst from where you can walk to Scotney. The service runs only four times a day from Monday to Friday and not at all at weekends.

Automatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_043.htm on 2025-12-11 09:19