# Kent Ramblers: Walk 43

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_043.jpg)

## 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.

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P043a.jpg)

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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