Fields, Forests & Deer: Ightham Mote & Knole Park | Free Hike | 19 km (12 mi)

📈 Grade: 🐰🐰🐰 Level 3/5 (Comfortable to Moderate)
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🧠 How it will feel
Regular hikers: Comfortable and fairly easy.
Casual walkers: Comfortable, with a steady pace throughout and a few small hills.
Beginners: Moderate, mainly because of the distance, steady pace and small hills.
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Join us for a relaxed Sunday adventure from Tonbridge to Sevenoaks, through the rolling countryside of the Kent National Landscape. Following sections of the Greensand Way, we’ll move between open grassland, quiet woodland trails, country lanes and broad gravel tracks. The route is mostly gentle, with a few moderate climbs to add a little variety without making the walk strenuous.

We’ll pause for lunch at Ightham Mote, where you can pick up hot or cold drinks and snacks and choose a seat indoors or outside. After lunch, we’ll continue past One Tree Hill and into Knole Park, where we may spot some of its resident deer. We’ll then pass the impressive Knole House before finishing in Sevenoaks.

There’ll be plenty of countryside to enjoy and good company along the way, with an early finish while it’s still light. If you fancy carrying on the conversation, you’re welcome to join us for a quick drink at a nearby pub before heading home.
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HIGHLIGHTS
🌳 Kent National Landscape: Walk through a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
🥾 Greensand Way: Follow historic and scenic trail sections.
🌾 Varied Terrain: Enjoy a mix of gravel tracks, open grassland, country lanes, and quiet woodland trails.
🏰 Ightham Mote Lunch Stop: Relax with indoor or outdoor seating, hot/cold drinks, and snacks.
⛰️ One Tree Hill: Pass by this iconic scenic viewpoint.
🦌 Knole Park Deer: Spot the resident wild deer roaming the historic parkland.
Knole House: Walk past the impressive historic estate.
🍻 Post-Hike Pub Drink: Socialise with fellow hikers at a nearby pub after finishing.
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OVERVIEW
📏 Distance: 19 km (≈12 miles)
🥾 Difficulty: Comfortable to Moderate
📈📉 Elevation: 213 m ascent and 153 m descent
🚶 Pace: We’ll walk at a steady, sociable pace of around 4.5–5.5 km/h (2.8–3.4 mph). If you usually walk faster, please be prepared to adjust. This is not a race or a very fast-paced walk and it won’t be a slow, leisurely stroll either. If you prefer to maintain a faster or much slower pace, this hike may not be the right fit for you.
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MEETING POINT AND TIMINGS
📍 Meet: Tonbridge railway station entrance at 10:00 (What3Words)
▶️ Start: as soon as check-in complete (around 10:10)
🏁 Finish: Sevenoaks town centre approximately 15:00
⏱️ Estimated walking time: Approximately 4 hours
🕒 Estimated total duration: 5 hours, including breaks and stops
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📍 OPTIONAL LONDON GROUP TRAVEL
For those travelling from London: A return ticket to Tonbridge costs £12.75 with a Network Railcard or £19.20 without.

08:50 Meet at London Bridge (next to ticket office)
09:10 Walk to platform
09:24 Depart London Bridge
09:58 Arrive Tonbridge
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🚗 BY CAR
Parking is available near Sevenoaks and Tonbridge railway stations.
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FOOD AND FACILITIES
🍔 Lunch: Bring a packed lunch, snacks and water, around 12pm
🚻 Facilities: Toilets, café, tables at lunch stop
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🎒 WHAT TO BRING
Packed lunch and snacks
At least 2 litres of water, and more in hot weather
Proper hiking boots or shoes with good grip
Weather-appropriate clothing and waterproofs
A fully charged phone
Personal medication and basic first-aid supplies
Optional trekking poles
More snacks than you think you need
A smile, good vibes and a sense of adventure
🔦 Head torch
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✅ WHO CAN JOIN
Adults aged 21 and over
No children
No pets
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📅 RSVP & ATTENDANCE
Please RSVP only if you plan to attend, and cancel as early as possible if your plans change. Repeated no-shows or last-minute cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal from the group. If you are stuck on the waitlist and would like to attend, please message the event host directly.
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👣 GROUP PACE & PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
This is a social hike. Please stay within sight of the group and wait at junctions if you walk faster. A back-marker may not always be present. If you leave the group or walk at a very different pace, you’re responsible for your own route and safety. By attending, you agree to these guidelines.
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EXIT POINTS
Taxis can be called from the main road near the lunch stop.
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📞 CONTACT
For questions, please message the event host via Meetup. On the day of the walk, you may contact AdrianB via WhatsApp on +44 (0) 7438 812 663.
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER
You are responsible for deciding whether this hike is suitable for you and for taking reasonable care of your own safety. Please read the group policy before attending. The host and group accept no responsibility for injury, loss or damage.