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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Saturday, 22 April 2023

Saturday Walk - Hollingbourne Circular walk via Hucking

Length: 20km (12.4 miles)  (5 out of 10)

"From the station you are soon striding across vast farm fields to meet the North Downs Way (NDW) at the foot of this open downland. Here, the 'Hucking Extension' makes a longer exploration of the attractive Hucking Estate. This 4½ km circuit goes out along grassy rides and woodland paths to the tiny hamlet of Hucking and loops back along a wide open valley. The walk climbs the ridge and continuing along the southern edge of the Woodland Trust's Hucking Estate, an unexpected oasis of grassland and woodland (including bluebells) in a landscape dominated by arable farming. 

The final loop is around Leeds Castle on public footpaths. Modestly describing itself as “the Loveliest Castle in the World”, the moated setting of Leeds Castle is certainly spectacular. 

Note: You are advised to use the latest directions, as the two Hollingbourne walks have had modifications, and are now combined into one document.  


Train: Get the 0955 Ashford International train from Victoria (Bromley South 1012) arriving Hollingbourne 1109. Return trains at xx:16

Lunch: In Hucking (after 8 km) the Hook & Hatchet Inn (01622-880272) has a particularly attractive garden and serves “simple and delicious” home-cooked food all day. The Dirty Habit in Hollingbourne is closed for renovation.

Tea: About ten minutes before Hollingbourne station there are two pubs in Eyhorne Street. The Windmill,  an up-market pub/restaurant, while the Sugar Loaves is a more traditional village pub. Both have back gardens away from the street. T=swc.253



1 comment:

Daisy Roots said...

#10 walkers, including 2 who had started an hour earlier, plus a small dog. A #mainly_sunny day. A very pleasant walk with some good views, lots of birdsong and the bluebells were on display.

The paths were mainly dry as we were on higher ground but there were a few boggy/muddy patches here and there and those who braved the road noise to do the optional Leeds Castle loop had to negotiate one horribly muddy woodland path on the way back.