A Kentish Castles Christmas Cracker
35 people attending
7 places left
'A Yuletide Tudor Trail' was a possible title for this walk, because the shadow of the second Tudor monarch, his second wife and his second daughter will loom large over this festive foray around quiet lanes, along the valley of the River Eden and into the High Weald of Kent. We'll even finish at a pub named after him. As we proceed to Markbeech and then to Chiddingstone and back to Hever (alas, not seeing the latter's castle) we'll encounter cosy cottages, charming churches, tranquil tracks, whispering woodlands and pleasant pastures. The Christmassyness will climax at lunchtime at The Castle Inn at Chiddingstone when we'll banquet beneath the fifteenth-century beams.
The sights:
Markbeech: A small hamlet with a Victorian church perched high up on the northernmost sandstone ridge of the High Weald.
Chiddingstone: A unique and perfect example of a Tudor one-street village, so perfect, that the whole place is in the care of the National Trust. It's quite a film star too, as it featured in the 1985 Merchant Ivory film A Room With a View, Michael Winner's 1983 The Wicked Lady and the outdoor scenes of the BBC's 1971 Elizabeth R, starring Glenda Jackson. St Mary's Church is opulent, C14 and C15, and has the tombs to the Streatfeild family (you may have heard of Noel, the author) who lived at early C19 Chiddingstone Castle. The village takes its name from the Chiding Stone, a Saxon judicial place or boundary marker and place of public correction or 'chiding'. Plus, we're having lunch at the C15 Castle Inn - how cool is that?
Hever: More pleasant timber-framed original and mock-Tudor cottages, including our last pub stop, the Henry VIII. St Peter's Church contains the tomb of Thomas Boleyn of Hever Castle, father of Anne Boleyn and grandfather of Elizabeth I. Unfortunately, we won't see Hever Castle, childhood home of Anne.
The route:
We'll follow a lane to Uckfield Lane which we'll soon leave to follow a footpath south through Oak Wood. Upon reaching Cowden Pound Road we'll turn east into Markbeech, before following a footpath round to Horseshoe Green where we'll pick up a footpath to Buckhurst farm. We'll then follow Truggers Lane east then Rywell Road and Wellers Town Road north. We'll then be on Chiddingstone Road which will take us west to the pub. A permissive path through the grounds of Chiddingstone Castle will allow us to get to Hill Hoath Road which we'll follow south before picking up the Eden Valley Walk through Hever back to the station.
Dogs:
Dogs are very welcome on this walk. There will be lots of fields and woods for them to run free, but there will also be some roads and stiles. A dog off the lead must be obedient.
(All images were taken by the leader in November 2025.)
What to bring
Please wear waterproof walking boots as it'll be a cold, wet month, and although much of the walk will be on tarmac, much will be a slippery Wealden clay. Bring and wear cold weather gear, or wet weather gear, depending on the forecast.
Food & drink
Having a pub lunch:
- Just bring some drink, because we are booked in to have a pub lunch at The Castle Inn at Chiddingstone.
- Please pay a £10 deposit to me which I will collect to pay the pub to secure your place for lunch.
- Please see the menu here.
- I will email to ask what you'd like to eat two weeks before the walk as the pub would like a pre-order. This should promote rapid service on the day.
- Please don't let the expense deter you from having a pub lunch! If you'd like a pub lunch but are concerned about the cost, do make use of the OutdoorLads Foundation (see below).
Having a packed lunch: You are welcome to have a packed lunch on a bench in the village instead of the pub lunch.
A further pub stop: An hour before we get the train, we'll have a drink at The Henry VIII at Hever.
The menu:
MALL PLATES
- Scotch egg of the day £7
- Fried padron peppers & Maldon salt (ve,gf) £6
- Salt & pepper squid, confit garlic mayo £7
- Confit garlic hummus & flatbread (ve) £6
- Penshurst hot honey halloumi bites (v,gf) £6.5
MAIN COURSES
- Beer battered Fish & chips: Haddock in a crisp beer batter, served with chunky chips, lemon, garden peas and tartare sauce (gf)
- The Castle Burger & fries: 6oz Homemade patty in a toasted brioche bun with burger sauce, smoked streaky bacon, lettuce, tomato, gherkin, burger cheese & crispy onions (gfa). Make it a ‘King’ burger with two 6oz patties, extra bacon & extra cheese
- Vegan Moving Mountain Burger & fries: Soy protein patty in a bun with confit garlic mayo, lettuce, tomato, gherkin, smoked cheese & crispy onions (ve)
- Pie of the day: Puff pastry pie of the day served with creamy mashed potato or chunky chips, autumnal greens & gravy
- Halloumi & hummus flatbread & fries: Halloumi flatbread served with red pepper hummus, lettuce, tomato, pickled red onion, garlic mayo & skinny fries (v,gfa) £15
- Ham, egg & chips: Penshurst honey & whisky glazed gammon, served with chunky chips, fried eggs & peas
- Sausage & mash £16
- Cumberland sausage with caramelised onion gravy, creamy mashed potato, autumnal greens & onion rings (gfa) £17
- Chilli con carne with rice: Hearty, slow-cooked beef chilli served with rice, flatbread, sour-cream & optional topping of cheese £16
- Macaroni cheese: Creamy three-cheese macaroni, served with warm ciabatta. £14
SIDES
- Fully loaded fries (gfa) £8
- Chips (ve, gf) £5
- Fries (ve, gf) £5
- Cheesy chips (v, gf) £6
- Side of Mac & Cheese £7.50 with crispy bacon, nacho cheese sauce, spring onions, jalapeños, garlic mayo & crispy onions
- Side salad (ve, gf) £3
- Onion rings (ve, gf) £4
v=vegetarian, ve=vegan, vea=vegan options available, gf=gluten free, gfa=gluten free available
SANDWICHES
- Bacon, brie & cranberry £11
- Salt beef/venison £11
- Pork & apple £11
- All the above served with fries and a green salad
- Coronation chicken £7.5
- Ham & mustard or tomato ................ £7.5
- Cheese & pickle (v) ............................ £7.5
- These three are served with just a green salad; fries are extra at £2 - do say if you want fries
The OutdoorLads Foundation
This under-utilized resource enables paying members to receive up to £200 in total a year towards any expense they incur participating in an OutdoorLads event. I have checked, and this includes pub lunches on walks. Just apply simply and confidentially here, at least two weeks before the event.