Saturday Walk - Undulating Kent Downland, then Greensand Way to Igtham Mote, One Tree Hill, Knole House and Deer Park: Yalding to Sevenoaks

Length: 21.2 km (13.2 mi) 

Ascent/Descent: 454/365m 

Net Walking Time: ca. 5 ¼ hours 

Toughness: 6 out of 10

Take the 09.04 Hastings train from Charing Cross (W’loo East 09.07, LBG 09.13, Sevenoaks 09.37 etc.), change at Paddock Wood (09.53/10.03) onto the Strood train, arrives Yalding 10.10. 

Fast return trains: xx.17, xx.29, xx.47 and xx.59

This walk follows the Greensand Way all the way from Yalding to Sevenoaks. The route is fairly well waymarked.

Initially: woods, a couple of commercial apple and undulating Kent farmland. The Greensand Way then climbs up to the moated manor house of Ightham Mote to then slowly further up the escarpment. The final stretch is across the grounds of Knole House.

Lunch: The Swan on the Green in West Peckham (5.7 km, food 12.00 to 14.00, this is scheduled to re-open after a renovation the night before), The Kentish Rifleman in Dunks Green (9.9 km, food to 15.00) and The Chaser Inn in Shipbourne (12.0 km, food to 15.00). 

Tea: cafés in Ightham Mote and Knole House; cafés, restaurants and pubs in Sevenoaks.

For walk directions, maps, height profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.41