September: Chiddingstone,
Delaware and Hever
Distance:
8.5 Miles (4 Hours)
OS Map:
Explorer 136 (Start at TQ502451)
Click map to enlarge and click
again to enlarge further
Park alongside cemetery just east of Chiddingstone
village.
At village end of cemetery take descending track to
fine wooden bridge over river Eden and on far side
continue in same direction uphill past fine houses first
on right and then on left. After track bears left,
pass house on right (North Cottage) and very soon (45
metres) after take path on left straight across field
down to copse and bridge over river Eden. On far
side cross pasture parallel to left hand edge to Mill
Lane.
Turn right, cross river Eden yet again and soon (170
metres) take footpath on left along left hand edge of
field. Half way along go through gap on left and
continue in same direction as before now with hedge on
right. Follow hedge round to right at corner
heading uphill but when field edge bears left go forward
into next field and follow left hand edge round to left.
Just before hedge begins on left, turn left and soon
join farm track.
Go through gateway opposite[1],
bear left along field edge and follow to far corner.
Through kissing gate bear left along edge of golf course[2]
gradually bearing right and joining track passing
between two ponds. Follow track gradually climbing
for considerable distance and when track finally turns
right take path ahead through between hedges to Hever
Road.
Turn left but shortly (half way round bend) take path
on right across pasture. At far side cross track
and follow right hand edges of two fields to footbridge
and gate. Bear very slightly left across middle of
large field aiming a little left of old barn. Join
track in front of pond, turn left and half way round
right hand bend bear left along top then right hand edge
of large field descending to kissing gate on right just
before corner. Through gate go briefly forward
over bridge, turn left along field edge for a few metres
then bear right across middle of field climbing to
junction of paths at left hand end of hedge. Turn
left downhill and at bottom bear left through metal
kissing gate and cross river Eden. Follow track
around Delaware Farm then turn left along drive to Hever
Road.
Take path immediately opposite turning right parallel
to road. When hedge bears right, go through gate
on left and bear left to far edge of field (not path
going straight across to steps opposite). Turn
left along field edge below railway embankment and
follow to gate on right leading to tunnel under railway.
On the other side of the tunnel, bear diagonally left
across field to gap at far corner. Turn right
along Lydens Lane.
Shortly after passing farm access track on left take
path on left through hedge and take path gently uphill
across field to kissing gate. Cross track and
through next kissing gate bear slightly left across
field toward far corner of woodland on left. Pass
waymark post and bear right gradually approaching hedge
above railway on left. Go through kissing gate in
corner and keep right along path parallel to railway
then down drive to Hever Lane. Turn left to T-junction
with two gateways opposite.
Take the path between fences to the right of both
gateways, passing lake on right and large house on left
(Chippen’s Bank). On reaching Hever Road turn
right then take first left and continue to Henry VIII
public house.
Round corner, enter churchyard, take path to right of
church, out of churchyard, past some buildings then
alongside fence with drive to Hever Castle car park on
the other side. At car park, bear sharp right
along rising driveway, moving to grass verge on left in
due course. After passing to left of gate across
drive, turn half right across turning area in front of
houses to take path between fences (easy to miss) and
follow to Rectory Lane.
Take path opposite along field edge then bearing
right over bridge across stream (see Points of
Interest). Soon bear sharp left over another
stream then follow path uphill through woods.
Cross wide ride then at skewed T-junction turn left
along bridleway. Follow sunken track between fine
outcrops of sandstone then emerge onto lane at Hill
Hoath noting Withers (see Points of Interest) on your
left.
At first bend take farm track on right then bear left
between farm buildings and along path between fences.
Pass pond on left and on emerging into large field turn
left uphill. At top continue along path between
fences soon descending to main street at Chiddingstone.
Turn right to starting point.
[1] Strictly you should turn
right for a few metres then go left through hedge and
double back on far side of hedge (even this is an
unofficial diversion as the path should go across field
cutting off first corner).
[2] The path should go
diagonally left across golf course here but seems to
have been unofficially diverted round edge.
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Points of Interest
Withers
Grade II listed fifteenth
century timber-framed building, probably a hall house,
once housing the village laundry. According to the
Historic England listing, the front has a hung-tile
first floor while the rear shows exposed framing with
plaster infill, so the side facing the path must be the
rear. The ground floor of red bricks is nineteenth
century infill; the pattern of blue headers (the ends of
the bricks are exposed) is known as diapering.
Cemetery – the lych gate and the
18th or early 19th century roadside wall are Grade II
listed.
North Cottage – restored Grade
II listed cottage from first half of 16th century.
For more points of interest,
please see our Guide to Three River Valley Walks in West
Kent.
Public Transport
Take the train to Hever Station
then start and finish the walk there. Take path on the
side of the line opposite the buildings and join the
route of the walk in a minute or so.
Please report any problems with this walk to
info@kentramblers.org.uk.
Ramblers' volunteers in Kent work tirelessly to
ensure that our paths are as well protected and
maintained as possible. Of course we also organise
led walks but most of our members are independent
walkers who simply want to support our footpath work.
Please
join us and become a supporter too. You need
us and we really need you.
Map contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright
and database rights 2024. Some paths on map are based
on data provided by Kent County Council but do not
constitute legal evidence of the line of a right of way.
Guide to Tunbridge
Wells Circular Walk and other walks in the area
Guide to Three
River Valley Walks in West Kent: Darent Valley Path,
Eden Valley Walk and Medway Valley Walk
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