{"id":"69394e3a7202e9abd62bd0a7","title":"Scotney And Goudhurst","path":"walks/routes/recommended/scotney-and-goudhurst","contentMarkdown":"# Kent Ramblers: Walk 43\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_043.jpg)\n\n## Points of Interest\n\n### The Hop Pickers Line\n\nOn this walk you will cross the dismantled Paddock \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWood to Hawkhurst branch line twice and pass it closely \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tnear Smugley Farm.  The line was opened in 1892 and \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclosed in the 1960s.  Because much of the traffic \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twas related to the hop industry, the line became known \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tas the Hop Pickers Line.  A group was formed to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcreate a walking and cycling route along the old track \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbed but funding could not be found and the group \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcurrently focuses mainly on publicising the history of \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe route through markers and information panels.\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P043a.jpg)\n\nSmugley Farmhouse\n\n### Finchcocks\n\nThis Grade I listed house was for 45 years until 2017 \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\ta museum of musical keyboard instruments where many \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tconcerts took place.  Although the walk encircles \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFinchcocks and crosses its drive, it offers only \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tglimpsing views on the return leg along the Teise \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tvalley.\n\n### Spelmonden\n\nThe Spelmonden estate was long a mixed farm with \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\thops, fruit and livestock but the growing of hops ceased \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tin 2002.  There were huts to accommodate \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\thop-pickers who used to come down from London for a \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t'holiday' and to earn some money of the family's winter \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclothes.  Some of these on your right as you pass \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe cluster of farm buildings have been converted into \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tmodern holiday lets.\n\n### Public Transport\n\nBus service 256 runs from Tunbridge Wells to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWadhurst, stopping at Lamberhurst from where you can \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twalk to Scotney.  The service runs only four times \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\ta day from Monday to Friday and not at all at weekends.\n\nAutomatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_043.htm on 2025-12-11 09:19","contentHtml":"<h1>Kent Ramblers: Walk 43</h1>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_043.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<h2>Points of Interest</h2>\n<h3>The Hop Pickers Line</h3>\n<p>On this walk you will cross the dismantled Paddock \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWood to Hawkhurst branch line twice and pass it closely \n\t\t\t\t\t\tnear Smugley Farm.  The line was opened in 1892 and \n\t\t\t\t\t\tclosed in the 1960s.  Because much of the traffic \n\t\t\t\t\t\twas related to the hop industry, the line became known \n\t\t\t\t\t\tas the Hop Pickers Line.  A group was formed to \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcreate a walking and cycling route along the old track \n\t\t\t\t\t\tbed but funding could not be found and the group \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcurrently focuses mainly on publicising the history of \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe route through markers and information panels.</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P043a.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<p>Smugley Farmhouse</p>\n<h3>Finchcocks</h3>\n<p>This Grade I listed house was for 45 years until 2017 \n\t\t\t\t\t\ta museum of musical keyboard instruments where many \n\t\t\t\t\t\tconcerts took place.  Although the walk encircles \n\t\t\t\t\t\tFinchcocks and crosses its drive, it offers only \n\t\t\t\t\t\tglimpsing views on the return leg along the Teise \n\t\t\t\t\t\tvalley.</p>\n<h3>Spelmonden</h3>\n<p>The Spelmonden estate was long a mixed farm with \n\t\t\t\t\t\thops, fruit and livestock but the growing of hops ceased \n\t\t\t\t\t\tin 2002.  There were huts to accommodate \n\t\t\t\t\t\thop-pickers who used to come down from London for a \n\t\t\t\t\t\t&#39;holiday&#39; and to earn some money of the family&#39;s winter \n\t\t\t\t\t\tclothes.  Some of these on your right as you pass \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe cluster of farm buildings have been converted into \n\t\t\t\t\t\tmodern holiday lets.</p>\n<h3>Public Transport</h3>\n<p>Bus service 256 runs from Tunbridge Wells to \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWadhurst, stopping at Lamberhurst from where you can \n\t\t\t\t\t\twalk to Scotney.  The service runs only four times \n\t\t\t\t\t\ta day from Monday to Friday and not at all at weekends.</p>\n<p>Automatically migrated from <a href=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_043.htm\">https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_043.htm</a> on 2025-12-11 09:19</p>\n"}