16 at the start, but a 17th turned up later, having missed the stop at Sevenoaks and travelled on to Tonbridge and back. We set off under cloud, keeping reasonably together as we crossed Knole Park. We managed the awkward main road crossing on a bend without mishap.

The next section had some nice patches of bluebells, but the real star was the wild garlic, of which there were several huge areas. I don’t remember seeing it here before. The sun even came out, raising hopes - but only briefly.

One walker had kindly booked for four people at the Cock Inn, but it sounded as if it was quite busy, and since 10 had indicated they wanted a pub lunch, a suggestion was made to try the earlier pub, the Windmill in Sevenoaks Weald. As the updater of this walk, I also wanted to check it out.

10 of us eventually made this diversion, nine lunching. The pub, which in the past has been rather gastro, is now back to standard pub fare. This proved perfectly pleasant, but was a tad slow to come, it being a two person operation. We seemed to be almost the only customers.

(I feel a bit guilty about the couple who booked at the Cock Inn. I hope they filled their table…)

After lunch we did the lovely climb in stages up onto the escarpment, and there had fine views. In the ridgetop woods more wild garlic awaited, including one particularly huge area, full out like all the rest.

Further on, forest operations had created a main road-sized swathe through the trees, which now is all mud, but hopefully will be prettier in due course. Coppicing of the lower slopes of the hill have also created a fine view to the south. There were some good bluebell patches too, all pretty much at their best.

Unfortunately, the view to the south also revealed that rain was approaching fast. It arrived at about 4pm as we got to the Cock Inn. (So cloud turning to rain at 4pm ). After some debate, we stopped at the pub for drinks and tea, and then headed out into the deluge. It was a soggy walk through the woods thereafter, waterproofs getting a thorough testing.

We got to the Grasshopper pub in Westerham at 6.30pm and had a further drink there before getting the 7.16 bus, which sadly had no heating. We split between Hayes-ites and Bromley-Southiens, both groups glad to have heated carriages for the rest of the way back to Central London.

The person who does the walk report should be someone who actually walked with the group, and since it streaked away from me as soon as we left Sevenoaks station, I don’t qualify. But I was the one who did the numbers count, so I have to supply that.

27 on this walk, then. That is, 21 on the station, four (I think) meeting us outside, and I heard rumours of two arriving in a train that came in a few minutes later.

It was sunny at last after days of gloomy grey cloud. There was some fairweather cloud in the afternoon, but basically a lovely day.

Now someone from the main group has to fill in the details: how many lunched at the Cock Inn, whether the service was good….

What I can say from my perspective as backmarker (almost: three waited for/came on the later train and they passed me later) is that there were four or five newbies on this walk, all of whom got comprehensively left behind and so probably will not walk with us again. I did talk to one of them for a while but, what with checking the walk directions and looking at nature, lost touch with him after a bit.

Ah yes, nature. It was all lovely. Lots of lambs. Plenty of eye-ache green. I was chuffed beyond measure to pass a house which had two pairs of swallows nesting in its garage, only the second time I have seen any this year and the first time I have been able to watch them in flight. I did this, I confess, for some time. I saw two more (both very briefly) later in the walk. Swallow numbers in the south east are dramatically down in recent years, so it is good to know some still come. You just hope they find enough insects to eat.

There were also some nice patches of wild garlic in flower, and of course bluebells. The first wood on the walk, shockingly, has become full of brambles since I was last there. But once on the ridge there were some lovely displays, including in places I have not recorded them before. I think the explanation for this is that I have never done this walk towards the end of the bluebell season before. The bluebells on the slopes, which come out early, were definitely fading, but those on the top of the ridge, under sweet chestnut which has barely begun to leaf, are now at at their best.

I passed four picnickers (from the group) on the ridge who had chosen a beautiful spot for it. I carried on, intending to see if anyone was still at the Cock Inn. But at this point last night’s ready meal decided to have an argument with my digestive system…and let’s say I suddenly did not feel sociable. God bless Ide Hill for having a community loo where I could spend a penny (or rather 40 of them by contactless card: don’t worry, I got my money’s worth…).

After this I figured I might as well have a tea and sandwich from the community shop and then go to see the rest of the bluebells. Afterwards I hoofed it to Emmetts (attracted as much by their loo as their tea room…) and there I ran into the Walks Inspector, who had been touring apple orchards near Marden and came to Emmetts to see if any SWC walkers were about. Only I was, so we had tea and did a brief tour of the gardens.

As I was leaving Emmetts at 5pm I was texted that some walkers were having drinks on the green at Westerham. I got there at 6.30pm after an idyllic walk through the woods and of course they were long gone by then: doubtless already relaxing in the bath with a mug of cocoa. I am penning these brief lines on the bus.

Chatted with some of the newbies in the morning. Found ourselves behind a group of 40 or 50 from a gay walking group who seemed to be doing the exact SWC walk. Fearing the Cock Inn would be overwhelmed about 8 had lunch at the Village shop / cafe. Most of the gay walkers picniced on the green but the pub was very busy with long waiting times for food. I think about 8 had food and probably about another 12 stopped for a drink. Emmets looked very busy as well. Met three other newbies nearing Westerham who were close to front and not having any difficulty navigating.

This walk will be busy.

... and wet

N - 6

W - Blissfully wet

6 water-worshippers set out, bolstered by the knowledge that it sometimes rains all day in Blighty, and it did: delightful.The landlubbers missed so much. Good, unpretentious pub grub, and handy hooks aplenty at The Cock Inn, and a warm fireside welcome. In Westerham we supped at an underrated and chic independent cafe, Costa Coffee. Some got the bus to Hayes, two to Bromley South. Very good comany on a memorable day.

6

Blissfully wet

As we ascended the Ide Hill Munro, we walked through cloud.

hello! What time do we meet at Charing X station? And where? Thanks 07399848118

You don't Christine, you meet at the destination station as you get off the train. I believe people going on the walk will typically be somewhere in the middle of the train. Further details are on the website though I'm not sure which section.

There is a brief guide for new members at the top of this page (under the "This week's walks" heading) which explains where to meet and includes a link ("guide for new members that explains all") to more detailed guidance for new members.

Bluebells will probably not be in flower yet but you last week there were wood anemones in this area

Sun at last, sun at last.... hot sun at that. Sleeves were rolled up, sun cream applied, broad brimmed hats left at home in the cupboard were thought of lovingly. Can one warm blue sky day (a bit of cloud in the afternoon) wipe away the memory of six grey winter months? Reader, yes it can. Such is the miracle of the human brain.

Fifteen got off the train, but others kept popping up like pixies in a fairy tale, so I am saying 20 in all. Awash with bluebells the walk was definitely not - just a very few, with lots of stalks about to open - but there were lots of celandines and primroses, and some wood anemones and wood sorrel. Scarcely a hint of new foliage on the trees, however, which is unheard of for mid April. And where were the butterflies? Three brimstones and that was it. What are they waiting for? A man waving a red flag?

The sunny weather obviously having caught the Great British Public on the hop, the Cock Inn was not at all busy and we had a nice lunch outside. Then all was rush rush. Rush past Emmetts Garden with its tea shack, no time to stop. Rush on to Westerham, where I had barely parked my bum in a nice al fresco seat to have my tea, before the urgency of leaving was impressed upon me. On through the woods to Oxted, on which section the mud - present in places all day - went into overdrive. Not so much a walk as a rehearsal for a bog snorkelling contest. (Again, very untypical for mid April.) But lovely birdsong - layers of competing blackbirds, nuthatches, chaffinches - the sound of spring.

And ah, just think. There will be days and days and days like this..... Or will I wake up tomorrow and find it is still a snowy day in February and all this was a dream?

Just to add 10 walkers (about half) continued on into Oxted -- an advance party of 3 plus a further group of 7...

From the advance party -- one walker went straight for the train at Oxted (at around 5.30). Two others (having stopped for a pick-me-up at The Grasshopper at Westerham) finished the day with a couple of swift drinks at the Oxted Inn before catching the 18.24 to London.

After a short break in Westerham, the later group arrived in Oxted about 18:00 and went straight to the train station.

A very nice walk with good views, no rain to speak of and the pub lunch at Ide Hill was very good

8 of us hopped on the 401 bus just after 4pm that arrived as we did at Westerham and thus we left without having any tea or cake much to the chagrin of one couple - i know that this is considered disgraceful by some but sorry some of us do have other things to do of an evening - even if it is just to chill at home.

Home at 18.00

Mr Atetoo Muchatlunch

24 on this walk, plus two more who turned up for lunch. The weather was quite sunny but showery later . About 10 visited the earlier pub, the Windmill in Sevenoaks Weald. I think some just had drinks but at least six of us ate, four of us out on the sunny patio. I think this pub normally expects lunchers to book, but it coped with our influx calmly enough.

We could not wait to get to Emmetts Garden for tea: instead we succumbed at the Ide Hill community shop, which had a nice selection of cakes and did tea in pots. A couple of us then had tea in a remarkably empty Emmetts Garden too.

As we approached Westerham through the woods it got distinctly gloomy - a foretaste of winter walks to come, though in this case it was an approaching shower. In Westerham the group choice was mysteriously to miss the 18.09 Sevenoaks bus, instead rush to a pub for an over-hasty drink, then rush for the 18.22 to Hayes and Bromley South. We met two other walkers on that.

As Walker points out the weather had become somewhat autumnal but nevertheless fairly rain free up to 4pm.

In a senior and slightly contrary moment and with an over familiarity of Knole park in mind, I decided to explore a shorter more northerly route (about 8Km) to Ide Hill initially up Granville Road (with grand houses and leafy gardens) then through pleasant byways and snickets to Kippington.

Two other walkers (you know who I mean!) had the same idea and swiftly passed me en route.

Crossing the A21 (AKA Sevenoaks bypass) was easy via a country lane underpass, and after a small diversion to check out The Woodman (Large dining area and gardens in Bessels Green Road), I rejoined the Greensand Way about 2Km before Ide hill meeting other SWC walkers who were eating at the Cock Inn.

Not a great choice of cakes in Emmetts gardens so on to Westerham to the Tudor Rose Tearooms with those delicious home made cakes and the dulcet tones of a country rock singer emanating from the festival on the green opposite.

That's interesting Mike, as it cuts 3.6 miles off the walk in the morning and makes the walk just under 10 miles for those prefer a bit shorter distance given the walk is quite hilly. I also note that the combined turn out on this walk and Ashurst, both about 12 miles, is 3:1 against the grand march in Salisbury.

Thanks, Anonymous, for that brilliant piece of analysis, only the sharpest brains could have done the complicated maths, I'm sure. So, some walks have higher attendances than others, and sometimes two walks' attendances added together are significantly higher than a third walks' attendance? That's groundbreaking stuff, it really is. How can we get you more involved in the shaping of this clearly underperforming walking club? It needs people like you, more than ever!

Just a shame you weren't on the much derided Salisbury walk yesterday (it has a teeny weeny 11 mile-option, as you - as an avid follower of the blog - will have noticed, surely that's within your limited capabilities?), it would have been great to discuss all your wonderful ideas in detail.

I've got just a couple of questions, one is a little bit of a conundrum, really: if you want to ban all postings of walks with an avg attendance of 11 (as the Salisbury walk has) or lower, then what do we do with the near 50% of Book 1 and Book 2 walks that have avg attendances of 11 or less? Never post them again either? But what will your fellow Traditionalists say to all that? Or shall we just post your personal top 52 in eternal weekly rotation?

And to complete the hat-trick there were also 14 on this walk. Good sunny-spells, with a few drops of rain on a couple of occasions, so light and short lived that we hardly had time to decide whether it was worth digging out our waterproofs before it stopped.

All of us, I think, decided to press on to the second pub, the Cock Inn at Ide Hill, two thirds of the way into the walk. Arriving unannounced at 1.00 we found all of the tables inside were taken, and that the pub was not taking any further orders for food served at the outside tables for half an hour until the kitchen dealt with it's backlog. Most of us made do with a drink and packet of crisps outside before pressing on to the NT café at Emmetts Gardens for a late lunch there, but four lucky members of our group, who had chosen to have there drinks inside, managed to grab a table that was being vacated and were able to order food.

Most of us who had eaten at Emmett's were not ready for tea and cake at Westerham, a mere two miles further on, and chose instead to go directly to either Bromley South or Sevenoaks.

Plenty of bluebells in evidence, though mostly seen at a distance, and just past there prime. A few wood anenomes in flower, and likewise some wild garlic.

A fine, if at times strenuous, walk with little in the way of mud, but plenty of good company.

And to complete the hat-trick there were also 14 on this walk. Good sunny-spells, with a few drops of rain on a couple of occasions, so light and short lived that we hardly had time to decide whether it was worth digging out our waterproofs before it stopped.

All of us, I think, decided to press on to the second pub, the Cock Inn at Ide Hill, two thirds of the way into the walk. Arriving unannounced at 1.00 we found all of the tables inside were taken, and that the pub was not taking any further orders for food served at the outside tables for half an hour until the kitchen dealt with it's backlog. Most of us made do with a drink and packet of crisps outside before pressing on to the NT café at Emmetts Gardens for a late lunch there, but four lucky members of our group, who had chosen to have there drinks inside, managed to grab a table that was being vacated and were able to order food.

Most of us who had eaten at Emmett's were not ready for tea and cake at Westerham, a mere two miles further on, and chose instead to go directly to either Bromley South or Sevenoaks.

Plenty of bluebells in evidence, though mostly seen at a distance, and just past there prime. A few wood anenomes in flower, and likewise some wild garlic.

A fine, if at times strenuous, walk with little in the way of mud, but plenty of good company.

I'm sure I followed the directions correctly and I went straight through a few woods with carpets of bluebells which were at their best, especially in the Ide Hill area.

Did anyone else do this walk? I got an earlier train so was a half hour ahead and thought that the group would catch me up as I'm quite a slow walker, but I didn't see anyone else. It was a bit damp underfoot, and the hailstorm was a little bit trying, but there was also plenty of glorious sunshine - at one point at the same time as rain and made the cascade of raindrops glitter as it came down through bright sunlight in the woods. This really is a super walk. Lots of variety, stupendous views and the bluebells are coming along nicely - noticeably more out than only two days ago. I enjoyed it so much, I'm going to do it again next week!

PS I saw what appeared to be an albino white deer in a small group of other ordinary brown deer. I've never seen such a thing before - has anyone else seen this?

Glad you enjoyed the walk. You do sometimes get albino deer - hence all the pubs called The White Hart. I saw one once near Cowden. Could even be the same one...

Just 2 on this walk and we had just left Knole Park when we were got drenched in a torrential hail/wind storm and we staggered to a nearby cafe packed with many families and young children who had escaped there after abandoning their Easter egg hunt. Warmed by a hot drink we slowly dried off but our enthusiasm for continuing the walk had diminished and with the weather outlook uncertain we decided to improvise a route around Knole Park and thence back to Sevenoaks