Sunday Walk 2

Staplehurst to Headcorn with Sissinghurst options
Extra Walk 80
Length 14km 7.8m - extendable to 19.4km 12.1 miles.
Difficulty 2 out of 10

An easy walk in the Kentish Weald. Said to be good for wild flowers in spring. If you're lucky, there may still be bluebells about. The walk can be extended to include Sissinghurst Castle, famous for the gardens designed by Vita Sackville-West.

Trains: Get the 10:10 Ramsgate train from Cannon Street  (London Bridge 10:14 ) arrives Staplehurst 11:07.
Trains return from Headcorn at xx:18 and xx:48. Get a return to Headcorn.
Cannon Street underground on the District and Circle Line has been open on recent Sundays, but if coming in from the east, note that a section near Aldgate East is closed today. Bank Station is within easy reach (as are Monument and Mansion House) here's a map. (From Bank, take Exit 5, cross over Lombard St and head down St Swithins Lane, off to the right. Takes about 5 minutes)

Lunch:
• The Bell and Jorrocks, Frittenden (01580 852415) or
• Theres a National Trust Coffee Shop and the Granary restaurant at Sissinghurst Castle 01580 710700 (The restaurant can be accessed without paying the entrance fee)
Tea: In Headcorn High Street, you have the George and Dragon, the Village Tea rooms and the Kings Arms.
Walk Directions here

Sissinghurst options:
Option (a) extends the basic walk to include Sissinghurst. Entry to the castle gardens costs £11.70 unless you're an NT member.
If you want to spend time there, you could finish there by following option (b) (30 mins walk) to get the 15:07 or 17:07 number 5 bus from Sissinghurst village back to Staplehurst. Trains leave Staplehurst at xx:23 and xx:53.
A new option (c) takes you on from Sissinghurst to Cranbrook where you can catch the same no 5 bus at 15:02 or 17:02
Anyone contemplating option (d) (which starts at Sissinghurst) would need to catch a 9:10 or 11:10 train to meet the 10:17 and 12:17 buses from Staplehurst.