We are the West Kent Walking Group. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
This walk starts at Finche Field carpark, we head South to the centre of the village where the Cat Inn an early 16th century timber framed building operating as a public house since at least 1615 is located. The name is believe to originate from snow leopard or 'ounce' part of the Sackville coat of arms, who once owned it. We head out of the Village along North Lane and the High Weald Landscape Trail and into William Robinson’s Gravetye estate where there is free access to over 600 acres of undulating woods and farmland via a network of public footpaths, bridleways and permissive paths. We head down hill with views across the estate including the Manor House, pass the lower lake and enter Hastings Wood, then through Bushy Wood, past Home Farm, and up the main driveway to the Manor House now a hotel. Passing the Kitchen Garden and the Peach house as we head down hill, and then uphill with views of the upper lake and the manor house and on to Giffard’s wood. We join the permissible bridleway called the Yellow Brick Road which takes us to Sharpthorne where it is a short walk back to Finche Field carpark.
Optional drink in one of the two local pubs.
If you can, please RSVP to this walk via our Meetup site. This will give our volunteer walk leaders an idea of how many are attending, or if you do not use meet-up please text the walk leader.
If you are a paid up member of the Ramblers organisation, you can ignore any waitlist you may find yourself on.
Finche Field Carpark off Church Lane. The carpark is small and additional parking is available in North Lane in front of the Church RH19 4PP, a 5 minute walk away, or Station Road Sharpthorne RH19 4NY a 10 minute walk away
