This walk is just short of five miles through countryside and woodlands with spectacular views across Sevenoaks. I completed the route in September and to date, its still one of my favourite walks. It turned out to be a route that has it all.
The points of interest along this route are:
- View of Ightham Mote
- Nature pond in Martins Woods
- Views across Kent Downs
- 19th Century hop pickers accommodation
- One Tree Hill
- Shingle Hill Wood
- Rooks Hill
- Hop house
- Farm animals
This route is well pathed but does have some steep hills and woodland steps.
I started the walk at The National Trust Ightham Mote car park – Sevenoaks TN15 0NT. Its free parking for National Trust members and £3 for non members. The ticket machine is cash only. There is a map in the car park with walking paths and trail names. I use a hiking app to follow the paths I want to take and record the route but the map is helpful for people that don’t use an app. Another reason I like the app is when you add pictures to your route it pin points where they were taken as shown in the above photo.
Taking the walking path left out of the car park, you’re instantly met with the woodlands trail giving sneaky views into Ightham Motes beautiful gardens, which nearly had me buying a ticket. The woodlands and gardens were filled with loud chirping and singing yellow tits, fleeing across the path as I approached. This section is small and it’s not long before coming to a gate onto a country lane. Crossing the lane on the left is the nature pond of Martins wood, thriving with life and the healing sound of trickling water is exactly what I love to come across on my walks.
I followed the path left of the pond for further views of Ightham mote, passing an adorable and equally old house with warning signs for their much loved cats. Ightham mote is a unique 14th century moated manor house, gardens and estate that has been remodelled over 700 years with remaining Jacobean staircase and Tudor facade. It is one of the oldest medieval manor houses to survive in England, an absolute pleasure to see.
Following the lane taking a right at Mote farm, it leads you down a path between tall hedged fields till you reach the open countryside with amazing vast views. This is where I meet the first set of farm animals on this route. Adult pigs with large enclosures overlooking the hills watched upon by a lone country cottage. The pigs were friendly and curious as I sat talking to them like they are wildlife. I find being around animals extremely calming and love getting to see them when out and about. I could have sat with them all day, but I pushed on.
Passing the pigs and lone cottage following the path to the right, you are led into Ightham Mote woodlands. Moss covered boulders scatter the ground leading the way to another vast view point.
Past the view point you enter One Tree Hill via makeshift woodland steps of recycled bricks and wooden handrails for those slippery days. The trees are bigger and older in this section of woodlands with many intertwined exposed tree roots. I love photographing these and the micro world around us. Within this section of the route there are even more view points across Kent and additional farm animal enclosures. Along the country lane breaking through the fields were some sheep and horses sharing space. Further on the route there is a well positioned bench overlooking a field holding ponies and donkeys. Next to this is the piglets enclosure with the young pigs sleeping in the sun. I spent a large amount of time sitting on the bench absorbing the view. The animals were circling their pen so I approached the gate to the field. With the donkeys leading the way, they came to the gate one at a time like a school dinner queue, it was like they knew I needed the interaction and were happy to oblige.
Following the path straight will bring you along to the hop pickers accommodation. The building was used during the 18th to mid 20th century for the September hop picking season. Families would travel from London to get away and enjoy the countryside whilst earning extra money. Right after the hop pickers huts you will again pass the nature pond of Martins Wood. Retracing my steps back through the last stretch of woodlands before reaching the car and ending my walk before the car park closed.
Some walks I start knowing I want to build miles. This walk was a slow paced one where the intention was to spend time in nature and I was not disappointed. There were multiple opportunities to extend the walk if you’re looking for something a little longer.
Is the Ightham Mote loop a route you think you would enjoy?