19 and a dog emerged from the train at Hever and set off in milder than of late sometimes sunny weather, initially along lanes but soon slowed down by very muddy paths churned up by horses and forestry vehicles. It was very hard going, made worse for 10 or so who missed a turn off one long stretch of liquid mud and had to tread very carefully to avoid being sucked under. Most of that group stopped for lunch in Cowden, 2 going to the pub, six picnicking in the churchyard which had lots of snowdrops and crocuses. One finished the walk in Cowden. The frontrunners did not stop in Cowden but had their picnic sitting on planks in a field about half an hour further on. The afternoon stretch was much easier, with firmer paths and shorter, less treacherous muddy patches.

The afternoon was particularly pleasant with a long spell of sunshine. We passed lots of horses in stables and in fields. One came trotting over apparently keen to engage but his keeper shouted from across the field that he was a biter so we retreated from the fence to his great frustration. The fastest walkers reached Dormans at around 2.30. Two went straight to the station, the rest went into the Old House at Home where the later group joined them. This is a pleasant hospitable pub and seemed to have a range of food and snacks for humans and dogs. A lovely day out but boot cleaning took a lot longer than usual.. Forgot to mention there was a farm shop on the morning route which a few people visited and bought sweet treats. They do coffee as well so it could make a nice morning coffee stop on future walks.. We didn't see the Cowden pub lunchers in the afternoon. They might want to post additional comments.

PS We found the farm shop because we had gone somewhat off route in Oak Wood on the long stretch of mud mentioned by Wanderer, and got to the road at Buckhurst Farm. The shop is about 500m west of Markbeech and 220m west of the path where we should have emerged on to the road. There is a permissive path south of the road between the shop and Markbeech which might be helpful for future visitors

When I did a walk starting in Hever on 12 May and passed the King Henry VIII pub, it was covered in scaffolding and looked very much out of commission. I couldn't see any notice/information on what was going on, whether it was just being redecorated or actually closed. Later I looked up its website which gave the impression that the place was fully functioning which it clearly was not at the time. It may be back to normal now but someone may like to phone to check before doing the proposed variation for the end of this walk.

When I posted this walk I tried to find up-to-date info on the KH8 pub, but could only find an instagram page which says the pub is open but receiving a "facelift" (https://www.instagram.com/thekinghenryviii/). Also, according to tripadviser

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g503908-d1507180-Reviews-King_Henry_VIII-Hever_Sevenoaks_District_Kent_England.html

the pub is undergoing roof repairs but is still open.

I called a phone number I found on the internet but got no answer.

16 met at Dormans station in mostly dry and partially sunny weather with a cool wind . At the Fountain Inn the usual suspect was found waiting for us having walked in from Cowden station making a total of17 walkers. About 10 ate at the pub split between

the garden and the conservatory.

We enjoyed the excellent food and the atmosphere of the pub such that the dessert menu provided an excuse for some of the lunchers

to linger longer. Had the sun been out without the cool wind we would have been tempted to give up on the rest of the walk and spend the afternoon in the garden of the pub. However, duty called and we walked on

following in the steps of the picnicers who had by this time already left Cowden.

At Markbeech an advance party informed us that the KH8 was indeed open. With a newly found spring in our steps we marched on. 3 decided to catch the next train giving them only 10mins for a quick drink in the garden of the KH8

while the remaining 7 relaxed for another hour under by now more sunny skies to catch the 18:05 from Hever back to London. A thoroughly enjoyable walk despite the various mutterings by some that the posted morning train departure was too early .....

I forgot to mention that there is currently an Open Studios event (till 16 June: https://www.artinjune.org/) all across Kent and the Surrey Border during which artists in this area open their studios often in private setting to the public. In Cowden we visited a studio where a local resident made small brooches by painting and then baking coloured enamel onto silver. Very pretty.

Four conferred on the train to Hever and agreed it might be better to start from Cowden and aim to get to Dormans before the heavy rain forecast for the afternoon. At Hever, we persuaded a car driver and dog waiting on the platform to join us and left behind another car driver whose companion had already started walking to Cowden. The five Cowden starters made it to Dormans in good time (around 2.30pm), stopping for a picnic in a field along the way. One went straight to the station, the other four went to the Old House At Home for refreshments. The two Hever starters walked to Cowden where they stopped for a drink and a picnic. One then carried on to Dormans and caught up with the four in the pub, the other walked back to Hever. So, 7 walkers on a day of dire weather warnings which didn't transpire until 3.30pm when we had finished the walk. The weather was warm with spells of sunshine and strong winds .

The warm and sunny bank holiday weeekend weather only tempted7 walkers to do this pleasant stroll through countryside and bluebell woods straddling the Kent and Sussex borders. Trains were running punctually, though Southern should have thought to put on more than an hourly two-carriage train from Oxted to Hever. It took not much more than an hour to cover the six kilometres to the lunchtime pub in Cowden where there was plenty of room and a friendly welcome. However, we'd all brought sandwiches, which we consumed in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene. Two of our number left us before the end. One had parked at Hever station and had decided understandably to do a circular walk. We stopped for a refreshing teatime drink at the Royal Oak in Dormansland, about 12 minutes walk from the station and most of us caught the much more comfortable eight-carriage train back to London at 4.46 from Dormans.

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About 14, plus another familiar walker who did the walk independently with 3 friends alighted at the station on a sunny day. Soon charming Cowden was reached where one had a tasty lunch in the Fountain Inn accompanied by 3 others who had drinks. The rest had picnic and left early. They might want to file their own report. After lunch two walkers arrived for lunch who managed to get lost during the morning section. The 4 of us then had a delightful walk along mostly small paths through woods only passing the occasional farm houses, some of them quite stately. We saw 2 falconers with 2 Harris Hawks and 2 ferrets hunting for rabbits. Fascinating ! In Dormans we checked out the recommended pub, but it didn't serve tea nor was it very inviting. 3 then left for the next train back while I checked out the other pub which served awful and overpriced tea and was not very cosy either. I decide to continue the walk to Lingfield. Despite crossing a golf course the path is well protected and shielded by a line of trees and quite pleasant.

This is a lovely walk, but finishing in Dormans is quite disappointing. I would start the walk in Lingfield or Dormans, have a later lunch in Cowden and then tea at the Henry VIII near Hever Castle and return from Hever station. Coming to these pages in the near future ...

Specified train is showing on National Rail website as cancelled. At least six of us will take the one an hour later.

There is one at 10:21.

Have to wait for the connection, but might be a nicer place to wait.

At least one at clapham junction also waiting for the next train

Also getting 10.21 This train goes to Dormans and we could start from there and do the walk in reverse.

Might be at least one walker coming from Ashurst to hever

Good plan @Wanderer. Will do that too.

Will be good for our map reading skills!

Trains back from Hever to Hurst Green at :07.

Some are starting from Dormans at 11.13, others are going to start from Hever at 11.51.

With the posted train cancelled, six took the 10.21 train to Dormans and six planned to take the 10.51 Hever train having booked lunch at the pub in Cowden. One or two others were believed to be travelling by car but were not contactable due to poor phone signals and were not encountered by the Dormans starters so the provisional number is 12. Doing the route in reverse, the Dormans starters relied mainly on GPX which was sometimes misleading but we didn't go too far wrong. The path started next to the train station building but was concealed by parked cars. It took us through some attractive woodland alive with birdsong before reaching the residential area of Dormansland and the Old House at Home pub. We continued through fields and woods, passing Matthew's bug house which has expanded to provide a bug cafe and COVID isolation hut. We saw the various manor houses and trespassed on the farmhouse at Crippenden due to the GPX taking us the wrong way. We are our sandwiches in a field sitting on some planks stacked at bench height on one side. No sign of the Cowden starters. Perhaps they were still in the pub when we passed Cowden village. Or was the 10.51 train cancelled too? Hopefully they'll report on their day. Two caught the 16.07 from Hever, three may have gone to the pub in Markbeech and one dallied, hoping a late started might catch up. a cloudy morning with sun breaking through in the afternoon . Autumn colours starting to show in the woods.

15, including 3 who, unaware of the train problems, arrived by car at Hever intending to meet the group and those who did indeed reach Hever on the later train.

Forgot to say, buy a return to Hever and a single from Dormans to Hurst Green on the return journey.

Will be on the hurst green train arriving at Hever at 10:52

Rich

8 on this lovely walk in light rain which added to the autumnal atmosphere of the day. There were several stretches of beautiful woodland which offered shelter as well as colour. Four lunched at the Fountain in Cowden and four in the porch of the church.There were favourable reports of the pub's food and service. The group set off in stages in the afternoon with two ahead of the rest catching the 3.16 train. A third set off ahead of the pub group and wandered leisurely through the woods being caught up by the others near the end. Three went to the Old House at Home for further refreshments and three caught the 4.16 train back to London. A very pleasant day.

This was an excellent walk through (fortunately, in view of the rain) mainly wooded areas, and one unknown to any of us who walked it. The autumn colours were beautiful, and I look forward to tackling it again when the bluebells are out. Thanks to Wanderer for finding and posting it.