Hurst Green to Westerham - but ending at Penshurst station

Length: 20.3 (12.6 miles) T=swc.79

 

9.50 train from Victoria (9.57 Clapham Junction, 10.10 East Croydon) to Hurst Green, arriving 10.34

But a day return to Penshurst

Bluebells started very early this year and were at their best last week. Will they be on the fade this week? We will find out. But even if they are going over, this walk provides lots of spring delights and fine views throughout. We might even hear a cuckoo (a man can dream….)

Notes on the route:

1) Yes, the book two version of Hurst Green to Chiddingstone Causeway was posted on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago, but only one walker was reported to have turned up and this walk takes a different route for its first two-thirds.

2) To start the walk, follow the Hurst Green start of SWC walk 79 - Edenbridge to Westerham and stay on it for 8 miles to the Cock Inn in Ide Hill.

3) There switch to the book 2, walk 16 Hurst Green to Chiddingstone Causeway walk and follow this to its end (= Penshurst station)

Lunch is possible after 5.8 mile at the National Trust cafe at Chartwell - some hot food items. For a pub lunch the Cock Inn in Ide Hill after 8 miles is popular and busy, but serves food until 3pm (and from 5pm…), so it might be an idea to arrive a bit after the main rush. A nice alternative used to be the Ide Hill community shop and cafe, but sadly this now shuts at 2.30pm on Saturdays. 

At the end of the walk the Little Brown Jug is a lovely rural pub with an idyllic garden, just across the road from Penshurst station.

Trains back from Penshurst are at 22 past eastbound, changing at Tonbridge (59 minutes) or 09 minutes past westbound via Redhill (1hr 10 mins - and last train at 18.09)