A pleasant walk to the east of Dormansland through open countryside and parkland around Ford Manor and Greathed Manor where the grounds are at times open to the public. (See display board at the entrance to Woodgate Farm which you will pass on the way.) The ground is gently undulating but in spite of there being no hills there are splendid views from many points to the North Downs and the low lying countryside around Edenbridge.

There is limited parking in Dormansland High Street near the Royal Oak, or at the entrance to New Farthingdale opposite the church.

An alternative starting point, a three mile walk, would be to park in Ford Manor Rd. beside the Plough Inn, Dormansland on the B2028. Walk forward from there towards Ford Manor, until you reach a large sign board giving details of the opening of the gardens at Greathed Manor. Here you take the left-hand fork, then bear right to Woodgate Farm. This is explained in the details below marked *.

From the centre of the village walk downhill about 100 yards beyond the Royal Oak. On the right is a footpath with a street lamp at the entrance. Follow this path and cross the road (Hollow Lane) to another path opposite. Again go straight ahead, at first along an enclosed section, then following a fence on your left to the drive leading to Ford Manor.

*Turn left into drive and after a quarter mile go hard right into a track leading to Woodgate Farm. Go forward along the track passing the farm houses.

When you reach the farm yard, turn sharp right into a narrow path which follows a fence round a small playground to a stile. Go forward along the track towards a field gate ahead, but before reaching turn half left to look for and cross a footbridge into the field ahead.

Now follow the headland path round the edge of the field, turn the corner and on to cross wide bridge. From here go straight ahead with remains of a fence on your right up to a footpath sign and an old rusty iron kissing gate into a rough lane. Turn left.

After a short distance to where the lane curves away to the left, go straight on to a stile and then follow the boundary of the field with the hedge on your right until you meet a cross bridlepath between a hedge and fence. Go right to follow the bridleway between a hedge and fence. Go through the field gate at the end and turn right along a lane.

Follow this lane to pass Littleworth Cottage on your right, then through a gate into woodland. A stream runs first on your left, then on your right. Keep straight on until you reach the outbuildings of Home Farm, where you turn right just before a black wooden barn. Keep round to the right.

This track becomes a tarmac drive where the drives from Ford Manor and Greathed Manor join from the left. Keep forward slightly uphill until you come to stone pillars on each side of the road.

If you have started from The Plough, keep straight ahead along the road back to the pub.
To return to the Royal Oak pass the pillars then turn immediately left into narrow (muddy) path. This is the path you came out on. Keep straight ahead, keeping close to the fence on your right. Cross into the enclosed section of the path, and over Hollow Lane and so back to the Royal Oak.

Walk route: "Printable map"