Walk 99: Wadhurst and Bewl Water

Distance:  6.8 miles (3h 20m)

OS Map:   Explorer 136 (Start at grid reference TQ641307)

Click map to magnify and click again to magnify further

Park in one of the free car parks in Wadhurst.  There are two car parks – a smaller one off White Hart Lane (which goes down the side of the White Hart Inn) and the recommended one whose entrance is down the side of the Greyhound Inn.

From the Greyhound Inn cross the High Street and bear left behind a white building (formerly the NatWest bank but currently for sale) along Church Lane.  At the end enter the churchyard, keep right of the church and bear right out of the churchyard along a path past a No Cycling sign to Blacksmith’s Lane.

Turn right and walk downhill to the corner.  Turn left along a gravel track past Little Pell Farm.  Take the most straightforward route through the farm and along the left hand edge of a field.  The track becomes enclosed between hedges and passes a pond on the left.  When track turns sharp left, go straight ahead into narrow wood.  Continue, crossing several stiles, until you emerge over stile into field (u).  Skirt the edge of a wood on your left.  Bear downhill and over a stile to join a broader path at a T-junction.  Turn right and eventually reach the shore of Bewl Water.

Follow the Round Bewl Water Walk along the shore and through a gate on the right up quite a steep hill.  At the top, follow the path to the left and reach a metalled lane.  Turn right uphill but very soon take a concrete track downhill on the left towards Bryant’s Farm.   (Don’t follow the Bewl Water Route which continues uphill.)  Halfway down the track, just before a gateway, take a path on the right signposted to Hook Hill.  Go down some wooden steps then follow the path as it bears left and follows the lake edge.

Soon after a seat and shelter, reach the bottom of Hook Hill.  Continue forward on a path parallel to the shore.  This path is not a recorded right of way and is not marked on the OS Explorer map (although it is on the Landranger!) but it is a clear and well-maintained path passing through woods and then some delightful wildflower meadows alongside a creek popular with waterfowl.  Be careful at point v at the end of the creek where the wrong path going forward to the lane is more obvious than the correct path on the left.  Follow this path until you can go no further (w) because the path ahead leads only to a hide and there is a nature reserve on your left.  Turn right up a metalled path between hedges to a lane.

Turn right and, immediately after Rosemary Cottage on the left, turn left up drive, through large gate and follow a footpath along the right hand edge of three fields to Chesson’s Farm.  Go straight through the farm and along a metalled track to a lane.

Turn left and just before the lane becomes enclosed in trees take a path through a gate on the right.  Go down the right hand edge of a field and between two large trees into the next field.  Turn sharp left along field edge to a track between banks that gradually bears right, downhill to a gate and a bridge over a stream.  Over the bridge bear right along the edge of a wood; but when the fence bears right go straight on up the hill and then bear right again to a gate to the right of the nearest building.  Once through the gate, turn left along an asphalt lane until you come to a large house on the left.

Go through a kissing gate on the right and down the right hand edge of a field.  About two thirds of the way down, bear left towards the valley bottom and a stile into a wooded glade.  When the path through the glade meets a broader track, bear right over a bridge.  Bear right again into a field and then turn left, uphill along the left hand edge of the field.  At the corner of the field, bear right uphill still following the left edge of the field to a lane.

If you find that the directions and map for this walk are incorrect in any way, please report the problem to info@kentramblers.org.uk.

Points of Interest

Wadhurst and the Wealden Iron Industry

Wadhurst was one of the chief centres of the Wealden iron industry from the 16^th to the 19^th centuries.  The church contains more iron tomb slabs than any other in the country, such as the one below:

For more information about the Wealden iron industry, see our Three River Valley Walks book, below.

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

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

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.