Kent Ramblers: Walk 17

Chartwell and Toy's Hill

Distance:   5.5 Miles (2.5 Hours)

OS Map:           Explorer 147 (Start at grid reference TQ455517)

Click map to enlarge and click again to enlarge further

Park in National Trust car park at Chartwell – free for NT members and £4 for others – open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day from 9am until 5.30pm or dusk if earlier.

Leave car park by exit (past restaurant, shops and toilets) and turn left along Mapleton Road past Chartwell house.  When wall on the left ends, just past lay-by, take bridleway uphill through woods.

When path levels out somewhat, take left turn, waymarked “National Trust Limpsfield Walk”.  Continue alongside Mariners Hill, with magnificent views across Bough Beech Reservoir towards The Weald.  After some steps, keep left, leaving Limpsfield Walk.  Follow path downhill until you reach Froghole Lane.  Turn right.

When lane turns sharp right, turn sharp left down path immediately before house called Spark Haw (not path immediately beyond, signposted “Crockham Hill Church”).  Go downhill between fences, across duckboards then down left hand edge of field to asphalt track.

Bear right to path through gate just across track.  Cross middle of one field, follow edge of another and then start to follow edge of a third.  When hedge on left field turns sharp left, carry straight on across field to gate by oak tree soon followed by another gate.  Cross right hand edge of paddock and go through third gate to reach farm track.

Turn left along track through Grange Farm and follow for just over half a mile to Mapleton Road.  Turn left and take first track on right through gate.  Follow track past Obriss Farm and through gate.  Turn sharp left and walk along left hand edge of field.  Cross next field diagonally right, going over highest point of field to far corner, then along next field edge.  Go through short section of wood, then steeply uphill enter more woodland and along track between hedges.  Continue round sharp left hand bend, steep section and then sharp right hand turn (gate straight ahead leads to private house (Bardogs), but path on right is not obvious until you get right up to gate).  Follow path up to Puddledock Lane and turn right uphill.  Pass seat and view point by Octavia Hill’s Well on right where you can stop to rest and admire fine views across The Weald.

Continue along lane to centre of Toy’s Hill village.  Just past red telephone box on left take path going quite steeply uphill.  Follow path, bearing right and climbing steeply at first junction.  Carry straight on or bear slightly left at all later junctions, soon joining Greensand Way and following blue waymarks.  Path first climbs and then descends, emerging from wood along level track to meet lane coming down from right.  Follow lane downhill to valley bottom, then uphill through French Street.  In middle of French Street, turn left along drive (tarred initially), well signposted with various waymarks including one for Greensand Way.  Bear left when hedge does and follow Greensand Way markers until you reach Hosey Common Lane.

Cross lane and take left of two paths downhill and back to Chartwell car park.

The tearoom is normally open from 10 to 5 (not Christmas Day or Boxing Day).

Points of Interest

Crockham Grange Cart Shed and Granary

This Grade II listed building is timber-framed with an open cart shed on the ground floor and a granary above with queen post roof and whitewashed wattle and daub walls.

Octavia Hill’s Well

The well with views of Bough Beech reservoir (Walk 18) and Ashdown Forest was one of the National Trust’s first properties, given by Octavia Hill, one of the Trust’s founders, who lived and is buried at Crockham Hill (Walk 14).

Public Transport

On summer Sundays and Bank Holidays there is a bus service, route 246, from Bromley via Westerham.

In addition to the walking routes on our web site we have published three popular walking guides:

Guide to Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk and other walks in the area

Guide to the Kent Coast Path: Part 1, Camber to Ramsgate

Guide to Three River Valley Walks in West Kent: Darent Valley Path, Eden Valley Walk and Medway Valley Walk

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.