This walk doesn't seem to have had a Saturday outing yet.
The walk covers a fairly remote area of the borders of Kent, Surrey and Sussex (although the later is not visited). It passes 3 historic manor houses, each from different historic periods, and climbs to an iron-age hillfort
Trains: The direct trains do not seem to be running. Get the 0957 Portsmouth Harbour train from Victoria, (Clapham J 1003) to East Croyden 1013. Change for the 1022 Uckfield train arriving Hever at 1049. Return trains to Victoria are xx10 and xx40. You need a day return to Hever and a single from Dormans to Hurst Green.
Lunch: Fountain, Cowden 01342 850528 after 6.0 km (3.8 miles). A 18th century community pub owned by Harveys. "It is popular for its fine food served in generous portions. A large conservatory has recently been added leading to a suntrap garden"
2 comments:
About n=14, plus another familiar walker who did the walk independently with 3 friends alighted at the station on a w=sunny day. Soon charming Cowden was reached where one had a tasty lunch in the Fountain Inn accompanied by 3 others who had drinks. The rest had picnic and left early. They might want to file their own report. After lunch two walkers arrived for lunch who managed to get lost during the morning section. The 4 of us then had a delightful walk along mostly small paths through woods only passing the occasional farm houses, some of them quite stately. We saw 2 falconers with 2 Harris Hawks and 2 ferrets hunting for rabbits. Fascinating ! In Dormans we checked out the recommended pub, but it didn't serve tea nor was it very inviting. 3 then left for the next train back while I checked out the other pub which served awful and overpriced tea and was not very cosy either. I decide to continue the walk to Lingfield. Despite crossing a golf course the path is well protected and shielded by a line of trees and quite pleasant.
This is a lovely walk, but finishing in Dormans is quite disappointing. I would start the walk in Lingfield or Dormans, have a later lunch in Cowden and then tea at the Henry VIII near Hever Castle and return from Hever station. Coming to these pages in the near future ...
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