From Trugger’s Farm, walk forward to Hoath Corner noting on the way a lovely garden and pond with black swans on the left. At the top of the road, turn right for approximately 50 yards to a small green and follow the footpath on the left passing a few houses and on to common land.

The footpath drops down towards a marker post and forward into trees and becomes much wider. At this point turn off right along a narrow path which climbs slightly and forks to the right up to a stile and field. Cross the stile and walk up to the right towards a gate and rocky outcrop on the right. Go through gate and turn left. Further on along the enclosed path turn sharp right by a broken stile into a field.

Keep the hedge on your right. 100 yards further on look to the left for a beautiful view with Penshurst Place among the trees in the middle distance.

You will soon be at a stile which will bring you onto a wide track and in front of Oakenden Farm House, a delightful home. Turn right here and follow the track out to the road at Chiddingstone Hoath.
Turn right but ignore the road off right at the junction, walk carefully along the right hand side until you come to footpaths off to right and left just beyond a duck pond. Choose the one to the left, cross over the stile and keep to the hedge on the left to another stile on the left. You will return to this point later in the walk.

Cross stile into a field with extensive views across the Kentwater Valley into East Sussex towards Crowborough and the Ashdown Forest. As you look ahead you will notice a group of trees over to your left. The path goes to the left of these trees.

From the stile go left a little way then turn off right and walk down the headland path keeping the wire fence on the right. At the next stile turn right into a wide grassy ride and immediately bear left going slightly downhill but keeping near the wire fence on your left. Go through a gate and on to another gate and stile to draw level with a wood over to the left.

You may notice red and white marker tape around gates and stiles, these are routes for horse riders. Keep straight on to reach a field gate down in the bottom right hand corner.
Below, to the left is Bassett’s Mill built in the early 14th century with its two lakes, complete with mill wheel. Continue downhill to the road below. If you would like to have a look at Prinkham House the drive is opposite, slightly to the left, a public right of way.

To continue the walk - turn right along a narrow road. After approximately 100 yards your path passes over a stile on the right but ahead, just around the bend, is Bassett’s Farm House, built in 1328, and worth a closer look. To continue the walk - cross over the stile on the right and walk straight ahead to another stile and a stream. Go through the wood to another stile and cross into a steep field with a narrow footpath climbing up the hillside.

Ignore this path but go right keeping alongside the wood. Pass a broken gate and stile across the path and a steep rocky outcrop on the left. After about 100 yards on the right behind a large oak tree you must now watch the edge of the same wood for a stile leading down to a footbridge. Continue to follow the path bearing left and uphill until you reach the end and come to a field. Cross stile and keep forward uphill now alongside the edge of the wood.

At the top look for a stile about 10 yards beyond a field gate. Cross the stile and walk inside the wood until you emerge into a field. You will remember this field as it is the same you traveled along earlier. You now go to the left and retrace your steps alongside the hedge to the stile onto the road again.

Walk route: "Printable map"