woodland. At the first junction veer left along the Greensand Way, then at a multi-junction of paths take the second right, continuing along the Greensand Way. Descend a slope, head over a crossing path and continue downhill until you leave the woodland at a squeeze-stile on the edge of an open meadow with big views across the Weald. There’s a seat on the left which exploits those views. Dedicated to the memory of a local farmer who lived nearby, it is a magnificent place to sit and reflect on the beauty all around you.
Turn left round the edge of the meadow with Ide Hill church seen ahead, and go down the slope where a stile by a field gate takes you into a second meadow, at the bottom of which you cross a footbridge and walk up the slope ahead. At the top of two linking meadows, leave the track which continues onto Ide Hill, and instead take a footpath through a kissing gate in a hedge on the right.
For a direct route to Ide Hill, avoiding another ascent and saving about ½ mile/800 metres, continue up the track to emerge on a road by the village primary school. Turn right then left to rejoin the main walk beside Ide Hill village green near The Cock Inn.
Guided by a fence with more fine views, you soon enter woodland, cross a small brook and, winding among trees, start to rise up the steep slope. When the way forks take the left branch to gain the crown of the hill where there’s an open grass area with one or two benches from which it used to be possible to enjoy another fine view. Octavia Hill was directly responsible for saving this hilltop for the National Trust. Sadly, on recent visits it was found that trees and scrub had been allowed to block this view. Over the hilltop a path continues alongside a fence, then spills out on the village green at Ide Hill, next to the church. On the far side of the green stands The Cock Inn.
In the early years of the National Trust, Octavia Hill encouraged supporters to donate land in memoriam. Her sister Miranda did this when she gave the Trust the first piece of land on Ide Hill. Other priceless sites along the greensand hills were presented to the Trust at One Tree Hill (Walk 8), Toys Hill (Walks 4 and 5), Mariners Hill and Crockham Hill (Walks 3, 4 and 5)
Emerging from the Octavia Hill woodland on Toys Hill, a clear view shows Ide Hill ahead
Turn right on the road in front of the pub, but take great care for there’s oncoming traffic and a blind corner. A few paces after passing the village hall with the splendid community-run village stores/café next to it (car park and public toilets on the south side) come to the B2042, cross with care and turn left. Take the first turning on the right, a narrow lane which forks almost at once. Do not take the upper branch (the Greensand Way), but remain on the lower option, a metalled lane known as Hanging Bank. This curves left then right, and after about ½ mile/800 metres ends by a house. One path cuts off left ahead, but go through a kissing gate near a garage on the right, and enter a meadow rough with hillocks, and another big view which includes Bough Beech Reservoir.
Veer right through the meadow, pass to the left of a pond, then wander slightly left through a gap, aiming more or less towards a large white house seen ahead. The way goes alongside bushes, then through a kissing gate which brings you onto a drive at Chains Farm. At the head of this come onto the B2042 again at TQ 488 510.
Walk down the road for about 100 metres, before turning right onto a narrow lane/farm drive opposite Oakwood Lodge, the large white house seen earlier. The metalled lane eventually takes you past Henden Manor glimpsed through hedges on the right with a moat around it. Go through the farmyard beyond the manor, after which the lane curves left between fields. A short distance after the curve, go through a bridle gate on the right, and along a bridleway that leads across a large field. On the far side another gate takes you into a belt of woodland where you descend a little to a second gate, after which the way curves right, and continues to slope downhill. Towards the foot of the slope the sunken path often has a small stream running along it. Over a footbridge, the way then rises slightly to pass Tan House, a lovely old tile-hung building in a secluded position.
Now on a drive, follow this to a country road, where you turn left. After about 120 metres turn right through a gate onto a track which cuts through more woodland, beyond which you go through a kissing gate into a narrow meadow. Keep ahead to another belt of woodland. Through this cross a stile beside a bridle gate, then maintain direction along the edge of another meadow. At the bottom of this go through a gate by some willows, then aim half-left towards the right-hand end of a barn at Obriss Farm for more big views to the south. Here you come onto a farm drive and continue, eventually reaching Mapleton Road at TQ 460 501.
Wood near Obriss
Turn right and walk with care along this country road (there’s no pavement) for about 400 metres. Just after passing a cottage on the right, take a footpath through a kissing gate on the left into a belt of trees beside a stream. Soon enter a rectangular meadow and maintain direction along its left-hand boundary beside more woodland. At the far corner go through another strip of trees and over a stile into a sloping meadow. Veer half-right down to a field gate, a stile and another small stream. Over this walk up the next sloping meadow which is divided by trees and bushes. Keep to the left of these and ascend a vague grass path aiming towards a house. At the head of the slope a kissing gate gives access to a continuing path rising between hedges and a garden wall. The way soon turns left where fences divide two sections of garden. Through a white gate turn right down a drive to the head of a narrow metalled lane by a tile-hung cottage.
Follow the lane left, soon passing a few houses, and keep on to where the lane feeds into the B2026 in Crockham Hill. The Royal Oak pub is seen a short distance away on the left. Turn right, and after passing a row of houses, turn right again into Church Road. After passing the village primary school, the road curves towards Holy Trinity church. Octavia Hill is buried in the churchyard. Leave it here and go ahead through a kissing gate beside a field gate into a meadow at a dedicated picnic area. Cross slightly left ahead towards a gate in a fence, and maintain direction over the undulating meadow with Mariners Hill seen above Froghole Farm and its oasthouses.
The path leads to a second kissing gate and a footbridge. Go up the left-hand side of a rising meadow. At the top cross a stile and ascend 134 steps between cascading gardens, and passing a thatched cottage on your left (half-hidden behind a fence and shrubs) emerge onto Froghole Lane. Turn left, and about 400 metres later come to the B2026 again at TQ 448 514.
Immediately on the right you will see another flight of stone steps, which you now climb onto Mariners Hill. At the top of the steps keep ahead on a fenced path which keeps left of a hilltop field. The path soon curves left among trees, with a house seen on the right, and on reaching a corner boundary fence you veer right, then in a few paces break off to the left – now on the route of the Greensand Way.
Mariners Hill was secured for the National Trust by a cheque received by Octavia Hill the day before she died in 1912. With a tremendous panoramic view over four counties (Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex), a brief diversion to the crown of the hill is worth making.
Cross a narrow drive and continue ahead over a wooded common. Ignoring alternative paths that break off right and left, eventually descend a fairly steep slope to a lane opposite the entrance to Chartwell.
Home to Sir Winston Churchill for 40-odd years, Chartwell is now one of the busiest National Trust properties. Refreshments are available at the house-end of the car park.
Cross the lane with care onto a continuing footpath immediately left of the car park entrance. It’s a narrow, fence-enclosed path (muddy after inclement weather) from which you can glimpse views of the extensive Chartwell grounds. Soon rising steeply among trees you reach another narrow lane and cross directly ahead onto a bridleway which takes you through more woodland. Once again, ignore alternative paths and keep ahead, eventually curving right alongside the hedged garden boundary of a house at the hamlet of French Street. Very shortly come to a crossing lane at TQ 458 527.
Leave the Greensand Way here and turn left. Shortly after passing the attractive little white-walled April Cottage, take the right-hand of two footpaths on the right, and descend steeply between fences. At the foot