Kent Ramblers: Walk of the Month

April: Horsmonden to Goudhurst

Distance:         8.5 miles

OS Map:          Explorer 136 (Start at grid reference TQ700405)

Click map to enlarge and click again to enlarge further

Note:  There is a short stretch of walking along a busy road about half way through the outward journey.

Park near green in centre of Horsmonden and head north up B2162.  Take first right turn (Back Lane, signposted to Village hall) then turn left down track between Frances Austen Memorial Hall and school.  Follow track as it bears right and beyond gate continue ahead along grassy track between tall hedges.  At crossing of paths by mast go straight ahead, still between tall hedges.  On emerging into large field, cross diagonally passing through gap in hedge in middle of field and continue to footbridge and gate.  Cross pasture to gate to right of chalet then between fences and down drive to lane.

Turn left by large pond and after a few metres take path on right up asphalt farm track.  At T-junction just beyond top of ridge, turn left along track past house on left.  On reaching concrete track at T-junction go straight across into field on right.  Keep left along top of field.  Just before corner (in line with hedge corner below) turn right, initially across field then at hedge down left hand edge of field to river and at bottom bear left to footbridge.  Over bridge follow track along left hand edges of two fields and then just before stream bear right along left hand edge of field.  Go over stile at corner, cross next field diagonally, keeping to right of new pond, then bear right uphill between fences to T-junction.  Turn left and follow farm track to lane (B2079).

Turn left carefully and, just past Stream Farm, take path through gate on right.  Follow path around side of house then bear diagonally across field to far corner to stile and cross. Bear gently left across field to junction of paths and take right fork following edge of lake which is on your left beyond hedge.  In open field bear right climbing away from lake to two-finger post.  Turn sharp left towards thick hedge and take path that runs along right hand side of hedge to pond.  Go over stile and turn left soon joining farm track.  Turn right along track climbing through wood and taking sharp right turn to emerge at Bockingfold Farm.  At T-junction turn left and after a few metres just before farm entrance turn right along track initially between hedges.  Follow until track meets asphalt drive to Ladham House and bear right down drive to lane.  Turn right to crossroads and go straight across.  Continue to main road.

Turn right and follow road round a couple of bends past church into centre of Goudhurst where refreshment is available and there is a village shop.

Take alleyway to right of Weeks Bakery and Tea Room downhill to road and cross to path opposite.  Go downhill through kissing gate, down steps and across duckboards.  Bear right to former kissing gate and plank.  Bear left down grassy slope to kissing gate and footbridge then along right hand side of field.  Through kissing gate follow path between fences to lane.  Go straight across over stile into meadow and bear gently right uphill.  At far side, re-join lane.

Bear left along lane for three quarters of a mile to crossroads.  Turn left and at road junction turn left to visit church.  Return to junction and go straight across uphill to T-junction.  Cross grassy triangle to gate and take path through parkland.  Climb gently then descend briefly to gate and bear right downhill to bridge across stream feeding lake.  Negotiate several stiles and gates, climbing gradually to junction of asphalt tracks and several paths.

Cross track and go through hedge on left crossing orchard along path parallel to tree rows.  At far side bear right to end of hedge then sharp left along left hand edge of vineyard.  Bear left across track into orchard.  Route across next two fields varies from year to year so look carefully for waymarks; description given reflects most recent visit.  Turn right along edge for 50 metres to waymark post.  Turn sharp left through trees and hop plantation.  Go through hedge and across field with more hops then take path between fences to lane at junction.

Cross both lanes and take path down private drive to National Trust’s Sprivers property.  Follow drive round bend to right and pass house to pond.  Bear left then immediately right and continue ahead through woodland to road.  Here you could turn right for short cut to Horsmonden but road is busy with no footway.

Otherwise bear right across, pass gate and go along track.  When there are open fields ahead, bear right through gate then keep left between fences.  In due course enter woodland and on meeting high fence keep right alongside it.  On meeting stony track in front of house, turn right to Furnace Lane.  Turn right uphill and take first left into Gibbet Lane and follow round to right.  At T-junction turn left soon reaching B2162, Maidstone Road.  Turn right back to village green.

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

Points of Interest

Goudhurst

Prosperity first came to the village in the 14th century when Edward III banned the import of cloth and encouraged the establishment of a domestic industry by allowing Flemish weavers to establish businesses across Kent including at Sandwich and Goudhurst.

The weavers’ cottages opposite the church date from the 17th century.  The master weaver lived in what is now Church House opposite the Star and Eagle inn.

Church House assumed a very different economic significance in the early 20th century when the basement was used as the workshop for William Rootes’ cycle sales and repair business which eventually turned to motor engineering and in 1928 after various takeovers became the Rootes Group.

St Margaret’s Church…

… was built in the 14th century to serve the surrounding farms.  The village of Horsmonden then grew up some distance away near the ironworks but retained the old church to serve the residents.

Sprivers

Owned by the National Trust, the house dates from 1756, built by the Courthope family whose wealth came from the Wealden iron industry, to replace a 15th century house of the same name nearby.  Much of the 108 acres of parkland, orchards and woods is open to walkers at all times but the house is let and not open to the public although available for hire as a wedding venue.

Public Transport

Bus 297 from Tunbridge Wells to Tenterden, which runs roughly every couple of hours except Sundays, visits both Horsmonden and Goudhurst.

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.