Sevenoaks Weald
12 of us enjoyed a wonderful walk in the Kent countryside seeing bluebells, wild garlic and enjoying stunning views which Gainsborough would have loved to paint. Cows. trees,pasture water and only the occasional 18th century manor house in sight. A few rain showers but not enough to spoil the fun
Travel – A long way from Sevenoaks Station, so advise Google group email or directory for lifts, should be pretty safe if masks are worn and windows are open?). Depending on traffic allow at least an hour to an hour and a half by car. M25 swings off left (lanes 1 & 2) at junction 5 turnoff .. Sevenoaks sign painted on lane 3 … this takes you on to the A21 and you then merge on to the A25 Riverhead Sevenoaks road. After about a mile you reach Bessels Green where you turn sharp right by the Kings Head pub and then shortly fork right on to Coldharbour Lane. After two and a half miles, fork left towards Goathurst Common. keep straight on past the Pheasant Plucker Pub for about half a mile then fork left down Nightingale Lane. Keep left along Nightingale Lane to the end of the lane and cross Gracious Lane. The entrance to Stubbs Wood Carpark (also known as “Hanging Banks” ) is immediately on your right by the crossroads.
Route – we will be walking along in an easterly direction through Stubbs Wood with fine views over the Weald, Bough Beech Reservoir, with, on a clear day, distant views of Ashdown Forest and the South Downs. Coming out of the woods we head across fields towards Wickhurst Manor, then turning north up Bayley’s Hill, Pitfield Wood and Millbank Wood to Dibden, where we will see lovely views of the Sevenoaks Ridge. Turning south we head for Goathurst Common through the Montreal Estate, through Hyde’s Forest, Sheephill Wood and Brackhill Wood back to Stubbs Wood.
I have kept the walk on the short side because, there are no pubs! We will have to eat in the open. There are not many benches around, except in Stubbs Wood to look at the view, so advise waterproof clothing as it is pretty damp sitting on a log!
Ups … amazing views.
Downs …. Very muddy if wet, quite a few stiles, very definitely the walk is not a flat one, there are lots of ups and downs and sticks are recommended.