Winding through sun-dappled meadows, flower-studded woodlands, and the picturesque grounds of Scotney Castle, this delightful ramble showcases the Garden of England at its summertime best.
As you stroll past verdant hop fields and orchards heavy with ripening fruit, you'll understand why this corner of the county has earned its fertile reputation. Adding to the appeal are the historic sights, from the romantic, moated castle to quaint villages lined with timber-framed houses. With stunning scenery at every turn, this trail is sure to become a summertime favourite.
The route:
● Today's route commences and concludes just behind The Chequers pub in the centre of Lamberhurst village. From the car park situated here, enter the playing field and walk straight across its centre until you reach a clearing in the trees which will bring you out onto Lamberhurst Golf Club.
● Remain on the public pathway marked in the grass as you cross the sun-drenched course, and pass through a gap in the hedgerow straight ahead which will bring you out into a crop field. As you enter the sun-drenched crop field, turn immediately left to follow the hedgerow as it curves around to the right up ahead. You will soon see a small, pedestrian bridge on your left which you will need to cross before entering a large summer meadow carpeted with wildflowers.
● Follow the grassy pathway as it leads along the bottom of the meadow and when you reach the tree up ahead - rather than follow the pathway to your left (where you'll see a church spire in front of you) - here you should turn right to follow the route into a narrow pathway lined on either side by more wildflowers in bloom. Along this stretch you will walk under the Lamberhurst Byway before crossing one further pedestrian bridge leading you into a large expanse of crop fields bathed in summer sun.
● The pathway through these crop fields will be clearly waymarked on the ground, and will lead you straight ahead for approx. 500m, crossing a stile from the first field into the second, and passing through a wooden gate (with a National Trust sign fixed onto it) from the second field into the third.
● Once in the third field you should continue straight on, following the sign for 'Hop Trail' marked in yellow on the wooden signpost sitting along the field's boundary line. Look ahead and you might spot the hop vines hanging heavy with green cones in the neighbouring field.
● You will soon reach a metal gate leading you into the hop field, and from here you will need to follow the line of the hop vines to its end, before turning left to walk along the far end of the vines, emerging out at the furthest corner from where you entered.
● Walk straight until you reach a small lane ahead which you should cross. On the other side of the lane, walk a few paces to your left before curving back on yourself ever so slightly on the other side of the hedgerow where a wooden gate leads you onto a grass pathway sitting to the right of the field in front.
● Follow the pathway as it leads you through another wooden gate and into an area of sun-dappled woodland. This pretty woodland runs for approx. 500m, dappled sunlight filtering through the leafy canopy above, with your course clearly waymarked on the ground throughout. Keep your eyes peeled for a number of information boards located along this route, each telling the fascinating history of Kent's hop picking heritage. You will even pass a small recreation of Kent's hop picker huts, to truly give you a glimpse into this unique slice of our county's past.
● Just past the hop picker huts, turn right to follow the pathway until you reach another wooden signpost. This time you will need to follow the sign for 'Parkland Trail, Scotney Castle' marked in blue. Enter a large expanse of field through a wooden gate, and continue to follow the signs for the blue Parkland Trail for approx. 700m as the course leads you through the Scotney Castle Estate surrounded by summer blooms.
● Halfway along this path make sure to keep your eyes peeled on your right to spot the fairytale figure of Scotney's moated castle, surrounded by vibrant summer blooms, which will look particularly spectacular against the verdant backdrop.
● At the end of this stretch, turn right to join a pedestrian pathway which runs in front of you. You will pass through two wooden gates (both marked with blue) as this pathway brings you uphill slightly towards the entrance to Scotney Castle (accessed through one further wooden gate). Ramblers may wish to pause today's circuit here to enjoy a visit inside the castle grounds before completing the final stretch.
● With the wooden gate that allows access to Scotney sitting in front of you, turn left and walk straight along the grass for approx. 300m until you see a clearing in the hedgerow on your right-hand side. Here you will need to cross the lane and enter a stretch of woodland ahead, which will shortly bring you to another wooden gate leading into an open field.
● Walk straight through this field, entering the next through a further wooden gate, before turning right to walk downhill through a large crop field - admiring the wide open views across the summer landscapes ahead of you as you do so. At the bottom of the crop field turn left to join a narrow, pathed track which will lead you over the Lamberhurst Bypass.
● You will soon see the entrance to the first crop field you entered at the beginning of today's course on your right, which you should cross the middle of in order to find yourself back at Lamberhurst Golf Club. Retrace your steps from here until you arrive back behind The Chequers in the middle of Lamberhurst village to conclude today's summer ramble.
Perfectly placed pit stop:
No summer ramble would be complete without a refreshing stop for a cool drink or tasty treat. For the perfect pit stop, look no further than the newly renovated 15th century Chequers Inn sitting right in the heart of Lamberhurst village. With a tempting menu of seasonal food and drink, it's an ideal spot to refuel before or after your walk.
Make a day of it:
After completing the loop, extend your summer adventure with a visit to the National Trust's glorious Scotney Castle. Its romantic garden really comes alive during the warmer months, with vibrant blooms filling the grounds.
Alternatively, head to the nearby Bewl Water reservoir, the largest stretch of open water in the Southeast. Rent boats, paddle boards or simply lounge on the grassy shores and work on your tan.
Steps, stats, stiles:
This roughly 4-mile (6.6 km) loop should take around 2 hours to complete at a relaxed pace. The route features a mix of footpaths, fields and woodland trails, with some steeper sections mixed in, so proper footwear is advised. A few stiles need to be navigated along the way. Take particular care in crop fields or after rain when sections can get muddy.
This glorious summer walk was mapped using the Lamberhurst/Scotney Castle Loop trail on the AllTrails app.
