Walk 25: Cudham chalk paths A network of quiet paths and lanes a mile north of the Green St Green ▲ North Downs escarpment is a great way to explore Andrews Wood 2 miles an old landscape of ancient woods, dry valleys, N meadows and hedgerows 3 START (car park) Mace Farm How long? 1.5 hours Bromley (A21) 4 miles (6km) 9 miles Public transport: Infrequent R5/ Meenfield Woods R10 bus service from Orpington station. Knockholt station about Mace Lane 2 2.5 miles. 4 Parking/start of walk: Cudham New Year’s To Shoreham station recreation ground Downe Lane Steep slopes? None, several 1½ miles Water Lane stiles New Year’s Haymans Cottage Wood Pub: Blacksmiths Arms, Cudham Pilots WoodsNewyears Filston Farm Distance from SE London: 13 Wood CUDHAM miles (40mins by car) Birches Highlights: Superb church at 6 Croft Cudham, otherwise just rolling countryside 1 8 5 Recreation ground Knockholt Pound 1 mile See OS Explorer 147 map Click here for GPX map Cacket’s Lane 7 ½ a mile THE WALK the woods (as on the GPX tracks), doesn’t last long. Cross over a stile area: low slung with a verandah Point 1-2 (about 1km) stay on the path as it curves east and a track and you soon emerge and, for me, a hint of New Mexico. Park at Cudham recreation then south-east still in trees. Note in a lovely field (after going over But that might just be me. Anyway, ground free car park off (but don’t take) a broad path off to another stile) with a distant view cross the quiet lane and take Cudham Lane South. Head north, the left. This is point 3. of the Knockholt Pound mobile the path on the left, a bridleway, following the perimeter of the phone masts (that’s not why it’s heading south-west back towards cricket ground, passing behind Point 3-4 (1.1km) lovely though!). Continue in this Cudham through Newyear woods. the Blacksmith Arms pub then Ignore the path off to the left field (sometimes with sheep in After 350 metres or so the path behind the church graveyard and continue south-east as the it) due south for several hundred descends to enter another grassy to reach a black gate in the far path descends into a dry valley metres, then just before it goes dry valley (actually one we saw north-east corner. Go through between meadows. After reaching more sharply downhill cross a earlier). Cross the valley floor (or the gate, cross a driveway for the foot of the shallow valley the high stile into a field on the right walk south on the edge of it, it Rectory House and continue route ascends through woodland and see woods about 600m away doesn’t matter - you come to the on the path heading north-east with a view of pasture on the right. (this is point 5). same place), cross a stile or two across fields divided by a metal At the top turn left (east) at a path and head south past Cacket’s gate. After about 600 metres the T-junction past a sign for Norstead Point 5-6 (650m) Farm to meet Cacket’s Lane and path enters a strip of woodland Manor Farm. (The path on the right Walk west across the pasture point 7. then emerges on to Mace Lane here is a short cut to point 6 if you aiming for the corner of field and (point 2). wanted – the AllTrails GPX clearly woods (the path is not always Point 7-8 (900m) shows you how). After heading discernible) - the metal gate we Cacket’s Lane is quiet too but Point 2-3 (1.3km) east for 500 metres or so you are aiming for is initially hidden, because it links Cudham with Follow almost-car free Mace reach New Years Lane (point 4). but is obvious once you’ve walked Knockholt Pound it’s a wee Lane east then north-east 100 metres or so, and will get bit busier than the other lanes watching out for a wide variety Point 4-5 (1.1km) you into lovely ancient woodland encountered. Turn right (west) of small birds in the hedgerows, Turn left (east) on New Years (called Birches Croft - nice name). on Cacket’s Lane and after 500 as well as sloe and various Lane, soon called Washneys Rd, After 500 metres you emerge via metres take the footpath on the berries. Soon after Mace Farm for about 150 metres until you a gate on to New Years Lane once right (north of west) which will houses the lane becomes a see a signed footpath to the right again, close to distinctive New take you all the way back across chalk path. Continue north-east. heading south. Join this path Year’s Cottage, a cattery. This is pasture and by lovely pines and After about 300 metres note which passes through a metal point 6. a rambling old house back to the path on the right that cuts gate and follow into a grassy field Cudham recreation ground. If across the broad field. This is a then, to the left, enter Hayman’s Point 6-7 (900m) you’re lucky there will be cricket short cut, if you prefer the open Wood over a stile by a pit. This is New Year Cottage, which houses and the odd Spitfire from nearby to the trees, and brings you out a working wood with some tree- a cattery and lots of nice flowers, Biggin Hill overhead. very near point 3. If you prefer felling and muddy tracks. This bit is a very unusual building for the [email protected] kentwalksnearlondon.com.