Marsh Green and Starborough Castle

Distance:     6.2 Miles (2hr 45m)

OS Map:      Explorer 147 (Start at grid reference TQ439443)

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Parking.  There is a quiet lane that runs past the church and along two sides of the triangular village green.  There is ample space for parking on this lane.  Aim to be as near the church as you can get.

Take path down left side of church and along left side of a field.  Through metal kissing gate bear right along track between fences.  Join asphalt track and go straight forward to parking area for Gabriel’s Fishery.  Leave by the far left corner along stony track, now following Eden Valley Walk.  When this bears left, go ahead along grassy track past former ponds on left then over stile into Cernes Field.  Bear slightly left across the field to a stile and then bear left across small field to join a track at far left corner.

Turn left along track, now leaving the Eden Valley Walk but joining the Vanguard Way, and follow towards Starborough Castle and round to right.  Almost immediately round corner, take stile on left and follow path along edge of Castle grounds and over stile onto Castle drive.  Turn right along drive and take stile on right to path diagonally across field to road.

Bear right across road and take broad track uphill, passing paths joining from both right and left.  Skirt left round wood of overgrown chestnut coppice and after downhill stretch reach gate onto hard track.  Turn right along track and almost immediately take another track uphill through gate on left.  At first track offers fine views to the left of the wooded Greensand ridge (if hedge has been cut) then enters wood and skirts another wood before emerging onto another track near Dry Hill Farm.  Turn left, now leaving the Vanguard Way but joining the Sussex Border Path, and follow track track into wood.  Turn right at corner through plantation of Scots Pine trees.

Ignore left turn and at fork keep left (following Sussex Border Path).  Follow track out of wood (wood on right, fine views of Greensand Ridge and Edenbridge on left).  At first junction where Sussex Border Path goes through gateway on right, keep straight on.  Take next track on right into wood and continue through this wood and Ten Acre Wood until you reach drive leading to Crippenden Manor.  Turn left down drive and just before drive crosses stream take path on the left leading uphill through gate into field.  Keep to right of copse at top of field.  Go through gate and follow left hand edge of next field into another, larger field.  Aim for far left corner of this field and into next field.  About two-thirds of way along left hand side go over stile into wood on left (just before pond) and follow path through wood.  Bear left into fenced area (ignore the invitation to use the permissive path round the edge) and follow left hand side with hedge on left.  Emerge from fenced area and cross drive leading to Ockhams.  Go straight across, over another stile, downhill to follow left hand bank of pond and over another stile onto lane.

Turn right along lane and follow it around left hand bend past lake on left and Christmas Mill Cottage and Christmas Place on right.  At T-junction take path going straight forward over stile and along right hand edge of field.  Halfway along go through gap in hedge on right, turn left for a couple of metres to corner then turn sharp right with hedge on left going downhill.  On emerging into open field, cross downhill to far left corner and emerge on track.  Go straight across and soon reach main road from where you can see the church to your right.

Public Transport

Edenbridge railway station is not far away.  If you follow the Eden Valley Walk west out of Edenbridge you will join our route at the car park for Gabriel’s Fishery and can do the circuit from there.  There is also a somewhat infrequent bus service between Edenbridge and Marsh Green (not Sundays).

Points of Interest

Starborough Castle

Originally as large as Bodiam, the medieval castle was demolished on the orders of Oliver Cromwell soon after the execution of Charles I.  The walk offers glimpses of the surviving moat and on the island the ornamental pavilion built around 1754 using material from the original castle.  The present Victorian house dates from about 1880.

Eden Valley Walk

This 15 mile walk starts at Cernes Farm and follows the Eden and Medway valleys into Tonbridge.  Kent Ramblers’ guide to the walk (Three River Valley Walks in West Kent) is available from our web site.

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.