Kent Ramblers: Walk 43

Volunteer

Distance: 9.0 Miles (4 Hours)

OS Map: Explorer 136 (Start at TQ685353)

Park in Scotney Castle car park. It opens at 10am and parking spaces should be booked in advance. There is a parking charge of £4.50 for those not belonging to the National Trust.

On opposite side of drive from entrance to old car park (which may have been restored to orchard following completion of new car park) go through gate then downhill to bridge (not visible from gate – go forward until it comes into view). Cross two bridges following blue waymarked route. When this turns left, go straight ahead now following red waymarks uphill. Go through small gate to left of field gate into wood. On reaching stony track at corner, turn left following red waymarked route uphill. Pass barrier and when red route turns left carry straight on (signposted Kilndown). When, after houses on left, track bears right, go straight forward along path (WC53) eventually becoming track and emerge at Quarry Centre. Nearby pond has seats for a break.

Turn left down road. When after 610 metres road bears right downhill more steeply at Riseden Farm, take path (WC4) ahead up bank on left. Follow path between hedges and through wood then past houses at Riseden into field. Bear right to far bottom corner of field and go over stile onto drive leading to Finchcocks. Turn right then immediately left along drive until it descends to valley bottom. Cross bridge over minor stream and just before second bridge over larger stream (just after lowest point of drive), take path on right along left hand side of field parallel to stream on left. In front of house on left, turn left through gate then right up drive to lane.

Turn left up lane to crossroads. Turn right, pass entrance to Risebridge Farm and just before woodland on right take path on right along edge of field initially with woodland on left. Join track between fenced paddocks and turn left. Follow track without change of direct to embankment then up steps to road.

Cross road and take path opposite. Follow grassy path with fence on left for a couple of fields, noting Whitestocks Lands on left – not the historic timber-framed house it might appear to be at first glance but very much a 21st Century creation. Join asphalt track ahead (stony track running parallel on right is a disused railway). At buildings (Smugley Farm – the timber-framed farmhouse on the left is genuinely 16th Century with later additions) go ahead as far as possible then turn left in front of converted oast houses. Follow track briefly round to right but at corner bear left along unmade track and at T-junction in front of newly-built house turn left again. Follow track round perimeter of garden, soon bearing right to head north along track made of concrete slabs. Cross stream at bottom, take grassy path up right hand side of field then left hand side of next field. Continue to asphalt track and houses on left; take path at corner uphill between hedges then rejoining track past houses to Maypole Lane.

Turn right up to road junction. Bear left into Tiddymotts Lane but after a few metres take path on right uphill leading to churchyard. Turn left downhill along High Street to village pond and seating area.

Cross main road carefully and take path immediately right of the war memorial along asphalt drive. When drive bears right, go through gate straight ahead and along path downhill, keeping left at any forks. Enter large field through kissing gate at corner and follow left hand edge. Take kissing gate into wood and path downhill to emerge on lane. Take drive opposite past houses and bear left uphill to gates of Crowbourne Farm. Bear right along drive and left at corner. At next bend take path on right between fences and follow round edge of cluster of buildings to emerge on another drive. Turn right and follow to next junction of tracks.

Bear diagonally right across track to footpath, over stile and between fences. Emerging into open meadow, follow meandering path, keeping left as far as possible, to bottom corner. Go over stile on left. Go along right hand edge of field but just before first fence go through hedge and along left hand edge of field to road.

Cross the road carefully and turn right past Green Gross Farm (formerly Inn). Follow verge very carefully, across bridge over stream and alongside safety barrier. (It should be possible to walk on safe side of barrier. This used to be overgrown but Kent County Council has cleared it soon and promised to keep it clear in future.) At end of barrier take path on left through kissing gate.

Follow concrete track until it turns right then continue across next field to gap in middle of far side. Follow right hand edge of next field to corner and enter another field through kissing gate. Cross this field to end of woodland then go through metal kissing gate and along left hand edge of field until path joins stony track. Turn left and follow track until the A21 ahead is just one field away. Bear diagonally left to corner and cross footbridge. Bear right along bottom of road embankment to waymark post then bear left to top of field. Cross drive to house on left and go up left hand edge of one field and part way along next to gate on left into Scotney estate. Through gate soon turn right downhill and follow blue waymarks along field edge then through wood to join drive. Turn left back to old car park.

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.

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