Penshurst Village and Beyond

We went to Penshurst with the intention of walking around the village, and in a way we did. The day began wet and misty and as we had by now got the hang of going through Tonbridge to get to Haysden Country Park we managed Penshurst with hardly a tremor of the direction finder. The map we normally carry with us to guide us to the place unnerringly showed us the way. We found a place to park and disembarked for a wander. So we didn't take the map with us. And so we did not expect sunshine and dressed for rain. The first stop was at the garage come general store and post office for an ice cream. The next was to wander along the highway and look for a footpath to circumnavigate the village - which we did. We walked up Warren road beside the primary school and past some neat houses on a private road following the pathway down to the River Edge, crossing that to Salmon House where we saw ducks on a pond some flying in and one nervous creature who took off in front of me.

The greatest pleasure of the day apart from the exercise was the way the weather changed and revealed the autumn to us. As we had both been to Penshurst place separately and together we decided to walk around the area. We discovered later at the Quaintways Teashop that we could get the information from the gift shop at Penshurst Place itself and decided that a return visit and walk the second part of the village and take a look at the church as well was a good idea.







It was a treat to see the ducks and a couple of posing sheep. The day warmed up and so did we and so far we were on the right track - more or less. The sun came out. We stopped and doffed our coats and enjoyed the warmth. We followed the bridleway rather than the yellow arrow path and reached the top of a rise.





Now, this is where the map would have come in handy and the sunglasses because by this time it was coats off and blinking in the wonderful October sun taking in the autumn colors and the smells of the woods. We passed Wat Stock Plantation and instead of turning right we turned left. If we had had the map turning left would heve been the option. As it was we got on to the road eventually and walked through Weller's Town and onward until we took the road marked Penshurst at Larkin's farm (Hampkins Hill Road). It was at this point we realised that we had strayed a bit from our intended course - we recognised places we had walked past some two years before on a visit to Chiddingstone.

The track near the River Edge - you leave its course otherwise you end up backtracking and keep the woods in front of you and the bridge behind you. The river bends away to Chiddingstone and that is out of your way.




I recognised a gate and a pathway and some houses we had seen before and so we knocked on a door and asked the occupants for directions. We were directed to keep going left down the pathway to find the Railway station. Looking at the map we took the right way and instead went closer to the Vexour Bridge across the River Edge and found a path that led to Station Hill.


(The walk itself would take the path from the Vexour bridge and follow the natural direction that suggests itself - if you want accuracy well do waht we do - guess it)


The Penshurst place has a lodge or gatehouse (on the right)






We met another local who told us that if we walked up the hill, turned right and walked a for about twenty minutes we would arrive at Penshurst. He was right. We did. And once we had unloaded our coats into the car we sought a cafe for some tea and muffins. Quaintways Tea Shop is a delightful and popular place - much better than the pub I think for walkers.

As a bonus we saw the rear end of the Penshurst Place estate, and I happen to remember that the original approach to the estate was along the avenue you can see in the picture above right. The avenue is in fact a little further along but the picture is nice anyway.



The walk, which I can recommend took about three and a half hours - we stomped the last bit - and streteched our legs for about ten kilometres which is not bad for a couple of casual walkers. On the way we chatted with people and took some pictures as well as took in the scenery. We had time to stop and stare but next time we will take the map with us.