https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 1/11

Godstone to Oxted walkCompare two magnificent yew trees in the Surrey churchyards of Crowhurst andTandridge.

Length Main Walk: 17½ km (10.9 miles). Four hours 20 minutes walking time. For the wholeexcursion including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 8 hours.

Alternative Walk, starting from Edenbridge: 14½ km (9.0 miles). Three hours35 minutes walking time.

OS Maps Explorers 146 & 147. Godstone station, map reference TQ362483, is in Surrey, 8 kmESE of Redhill (and 4 km south of its village).

Toughness 4 out of 10; less for the shorter endings.

Features Many British churchyards contain ancient yew trees and two of the largest are just 4 kmapart as the crow flies, in the Surrey hamlets of Crowhurst and Tandridge. They eachhave girths of over 10 metres and are at least 1,000 years old, although as both havehollowed out it is impossible to date them accurately by counting tree rings.Measurement of the Crowhurst Yew's slow rate of growth over several hundred yearshas encouraged speculation that it is much older, perhaps even the second oldest yewtree in the UK (the oldest is reckoned to be in Fortingall, Perthshire).

The Crowhurst Yew is also featured on the Oxted to Lingfield walk (#135) and theTandridge Yew on the Woldingham to Oxted walk (#2), but this is the only walk whichallows you to compare them. The walk itself is mostly through low-lying farmland (withoccasional stretches of woodland) in the valley of the River Eden, but there are alsogood views from the low hills to the south of the river and the Greensand Ridge to thenorth.

After a slightly scruffy start along the busy A22 and through a muddy farmyard, the walkheads east along a low ridge to the first yew in Crowhurst. It then loops round throughthe edge of Staffhurst Wood to the same lunch pub as Walk #135 on the edge of thewood. The afternoon section has been transferred from that walk's original Circular Walkoption and extended to go past the second yew in Tandridge. The final stretch into Oxtedis the same as Walk #2.

www.walkingclub.org.ukSaturday Walkers Club

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 2/11

The low-lying nature of this walk means that you will need to be prepared for muddy orwaterlogged paths after wet weather.

WalkOptions

Several shorter options are described but (with the exception of a short cut into Oxted atthe end) these all miss out one or both of the yew trees which are its raison d'être.

The Alternative Walk starts from a different station and has a 3 km shorter morning.Edenbridge Town is on a different line and so this might be a fall-back option if therewere problems at Godstone.

In the afternoon you can switch to a more direct route along country lanes into Oxted, oran even shorter route to the station at Hurst Green. These variations are available onboth the Main and Alternative Walks.

Few buses venture down the lanes around Crowhurst and Tandridge and you wouldalmost certainly need to call a taxi if you wanted to abandon the walk altogether.

AdditionalNotes

As this walk shares the same lunch pub as Walk #135 several more options are possibleby switching to one of its afternoon variations, creating (say) a walk from Godstone toEdenbridge, or Edenbridge to Lingfield. However, there are some overlaps between theroutes and the circular options from Godstone and (especially) Edenbridge are notrecommended.

Transport Godstone is on the Redhill–Tonbridge branch line, which no longer has any throughservices to London. It is usually quicker to travel via Redhill, and the suggested ‘via EastCroydon’ ticket (see below) is only valid on this route.

There is also a station called Edenbridge on this line, but the directions for theAlternative Walk are from Edenbridge Town, on the Uckfield line. This has an hourlyservice from London Bridge (Mon–Sat), taking 38 minutes; on Sundays you need tochange at East Croydon and/or Oxted.

At the end of the walk there is a half-hourly service from Oxted (and Hurst Green) toVictoria, plus the hourly Mon–Sat service to London Bridge.

For all walk options buy a return to Edenbridge Stations via East Croydon. This isvalid on both the Redhill and Oxted routes and so can be used for the outward journey toGodstone or Edenbridge Town, as well as the return journey from Oxted or Hurst Green.

The Main Walk is not convenient for car drivers: there is a small free car park atGodstone station but no easy way of returning there. However, you could park inEdenbridge between its two stations, travel out on one line and return to your car on theother. For the Alternative Walk you could park in Oxted and take the train out toEdenbridge Town; Oxted station car park is free after 10am, although you are unlikely tofind a space during the week.

SuggestedTrain

Take the train nearest to 10:15 from Victoria or London Bridge to Godstone (changingat Redhill) for the Main Walk. For the Alternative Walk from Edenbridge Town youcould leave an hour later.

Lunch On all the walk options the most conveniently-placed pub for a lunchtime stop is theRoyal Oak (01883-722207) on the edge of Staffhurst Wood, 8¼ km from Godstoneand 5¾ km from Edenbridge. A “Grumpy Mole Restaurant” since November 2016, thisup-market country inn is likely to be fully booked inside at weekends but has plenty ofspace in its garden, with fine views across the Low Weald. It serves a good range oflocally sourced and freshly-cooked food to 3pm, from à la carte meals to bar snacks.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 3/11

There are later pubs on each of the two routes into Oxted, but none if you finish at HurstGreen. A short detour off the main route would take you to the Barley Mow (01883-713770) in Tandridge, which serves food to 3pm and is 5½ km beyond the Royal Oak. Ifnecessary you could also try one of the pubs listed below as Tea places, although theseare all within 2 km of the finish.

Tea On the way into Oxted the main walk route passes the Old Bell (Chef & Brewer, 01883-712181) in Old Oxted, with two more pubs a little further down its short High Street, theGeorge Inn (01883-713453) and the Crown Inn (01883-717853). The direct route(omitting Tandridge) passes The Haycutter (01883-776955) in Broadham Green, whichre-opened in Autumn 2017 after a long closure.

There are several cafés and coffee shops in the main part of Oxted (but nothing nearHurst Green station). Two possible tea places in Station Road West are Robertsons at#42 (01883-712777; open daily to 5pm), a specialist coffee shop with a small tearoom atthe back; and Café Papillon at 54 Station Road West (01883-717031; nominally open to5pm Mon–Sat but may stop serving earlier; closed Sun). There is also a convenientlyplaced JD Wetherspoon's pub right next to the station, the Oxted Inn (01883-723440).

There are more tea places in Station Road East, on the other side of the station; eg.Caffè Nero at #139 (01883-730220; open to 6pm Mon–Sat, 5pm Sun), CoughlansBakery at #76 (01883-716972; open to 5pm Mon–Sat, 3pm Sun) and Costa Coffee at#62 (01883-723149; open to 6.30pm Mon–Sat, 5.30pm Sun).

If you are doing one of the shorter variations as an afternoon walk, the Royal Oak (seeLunch above) serves a full afternoon tea from 3-5pm Mon–Sat.

Help Us! After the walk, we would love to get your feedback

You can upload photos to the ⬤⬤ SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videosto Youtube. This walk's tags are:

swcwalks swcwalk277

By Car Start RH9 8EU Finish RH8 9EU

Help National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Travelline SE (bus times): 0871 200 2233 (12p/min) •TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Version Oct-20

Copyright © Saturday Walkers Club. All Rights Reserved. No commercial use. No copying. Noderivatives. Free with attribution for one time non-commercial use only.www.walkingclub.org.uk/site/license.shtml

Walk Directions

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 4/11

All maps © OpenStreetMap contributors

Walk Options ( Main | Alt. )M. Main Walk (17½ km)i. Main Walk, omitting Tandridge (14 km)ii. Main Walk, finishing in Hurst Green (12½ km)a. Alternative Walk, starting from Edenbridge (14½ km)

Walk Maps

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 5/11

ai. Alternative Walk, omitting Tandridge (11 km)aii. Alternative Walk, finishing in Hurst Green (9½ km)

Walk DirectionsIf you are doing the Alternative Walk (from Edenbridge Town), start at §E.

1. Exit through the station's small car park to the A22. Turn right and go along the pavement for 200m,passing under the railway bridge. On reaching a cottage cross the main road with great care and goalong a driveway towards some farm buildings. At the entrance go through a side gate on the right witha blue arrow, confirming that this is a public bridleway.

2. Go past the farm house, through a fieldgate and across a muddy patch between two barns. Follow thetrack as it curves right, climbing gently alongside a belt of trees screening the remains of a large moataround Lagham Manor . At the top of the slope go through a metal fieldgate and bear right across afield towards another fieldgate.

3. Go through the gate into the bottom corner of a sloping field and turn three-quarters left, aiming for theleft-hand end of the line of trees on the far side. After passing them continue in much the same directionacross the grass towards a gap in the hedge 100m away, which takes you onto a grassy strip between ahedge and a fence, heading E. After going through a gate this becomes a long straight tree-lined pathbetween fields, with fine views on both sides.

4. At the end the path splits and you fork right to head S. In 50m ignore a small gate ahead and veer leftthrough a gap in the hedge, crossing a ditch and going through a metal gate into a large field. Keepahead along its left-hand edge for 100m, then turn half-right at a footpath marker post to go diagonallydown to its bottom corner.

5. In the corner go through a metal kissing gate in the hedge on the left and continue along the bottom ofthe next field, heading E again. Go through two more kissing gates and a belt of trees to come out ontoa road (Tandridge Lane) opposite the driveway to Stocks and Kingswood Farms.

6. Turn left and go along the road for 75m, crossing over carefully at some point, to come to a gateddriveway leading to a fishing lake. Go over a stile to the left of the gate and down the edge of a field,parallel to the drive. Make your way around the back of the lake and continue for a further 60m, thenturn right to cross a ditch on a plank footbridge. Go up a small bank and over a stile into the bottomcorner of a long narrow field.

7. Go diagonally across two fields towards a wood 300m away (aiming for the far left-hand corner of thesecond field), crossing a stile in the middle of the fence separating them. Go over a stile into AshenPlantation and head E on a long straight path through it, ignoring ways off. At the far end go over a stileinto a field.

8. Continue in the same direction along the top of four fields, with a hedge on your left and soon with thespire of Crowhurst church visible ahead. At the end of the last field go over a stile and up to theentrance to St George's church , which is worth visiting. The magnificent Crowhurst Yew is on the farside of the church, to the left of the path.

9. Leave the churchyard by the lychgate in the north-east corner and cross the road carefully to take thesignposted footpath opposite, by the 16 C Mansion House and its farm. The suggested route is toveer left immediately through a gap in the hedge and walk along the field edge parallel to the farmdrive.

The right of way appears to be along the drive, but a metal fieldgate along it is usually locked.

A. Godstone Station to Tandridge Lane (2¼ km)

1

B. Tandridge Lane to Crowhurst Church (1½ km)

2 3

C. Crowhurst Church to the River Eden (1¾ km)

th

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 6/11

10. After passing some barns continue on a rough grassy strip between two large farm fields, heading E. Atthe far end keep ahead through a belt of trees on what looks like a grassy path between hedges, butturns out to be a bridge over the East Grinstead railway line. Go over a stile and straight across a fieldto a stile in the hedge opposite, coming out onto a minor road (Caterfield Lane).

11. Cross the road carefully and continue along the driveway just off to the right, which is also a publicfootpath. In 125m keep left past the entrance to Homefield Farm, going through a wooden kissing gateto the right of a fieldgate to continue along the drive. In front of two low buildings (which are actuallyaircraft hangars) bear right across a concrete forecourt. In the far corner turn right to head S alongsidea hedge, with a grassy airstrip on your left.

12. At the end of the hedge go through a wooden gate, turn left and go down the left-hand side of twofields. At the end of the second field head for a footbridge a little way out from the field corner and crossover the River Eden .

13. On the other side of the river turn left and go up to a gap into the next field. Ignore a stile on the rightand stay close to the river for 250m, then veer right through the second of two gaps in the hedge. Goup the right hand-side of a large field.

14. In the top corner go past a metal fieldgate and keep ahead along a farm track between a hedge and twofields. At the end of the second field (where the track swings right) keep ahead through a small woodengate onto a narrow fenced path. After going past stables follow the fence round to the left and go downthe farm's short driveway to a road (Dwelly Lane) near its junction with Honeypot Lane.

15. Turn left onto Dwelly Lane, heading NW. The turning off this road is easy to miss. 100m past thejunction, cross the road carefully and go through a narrow gap in the belt of trees on the right. Keepahead across the corner of a field to a stile in the fence on the far side, 100m away. Go over this andacross the tracks of the Redhill-Tonbridge railway line in a cutting, via two flights of steps.

16. On the far side go over another stile and continue along the right-hand edge of a field, heading NE. Inthe corner go through a metal fieldgate onto a broad grassy track, with a wood on your left and a largepond in the field on your right. In about 50m go over a stile on the left into the wood.Continue the directions at §H.

17. Arriving from London, go through the subway to leave the station on the other side. Go all the way alongStation Approach to its T-junction with Station Road , near where the latter joins the B2026. Cross themain road at the traffic lights ahead on your right and enter Stangrove Park ; there is an informationpanel with a brief account of its history.

18. Bear left across the grass, passing to the left of a clump of trees surrounding Stangrove Pond, to pickup a tarmac path going past a children's playground. Follow this out to a small housing estate and turnleft down a residential street (Pine Grove). At the bottom turn right onto a minor road (Crouch HouseRoad) and go along its pavement for 500m, with open fields behind the hedge on your left.

19. At the end of a row of brightly-painted cottages turn left onto an unsurfaced driveway through awooded area, which is also a public footpath. In 125m veer right off the drive, as indicated by a yellowVGW waymarker for the Vanguard Way (which is being rerouted). Follow a broad grassy path gentlydownhill, with a wood behind a low wire fence on your right.

20. Go down to the edge of a golf course and follow the path round to the left, past a concrete vehiclebarrier into a belt of trees alongside a fairway. Almost immediately ignore one path branching onto thegolf course, but in a further 50m (where the path ahead veers to the left of the trees) turn right onto thefairway.

These directions attempt to follow a right of way heading roughly north-west across the golf course, but wheresections have become overgrown and neglected a more pragmatic alternative is suggested. The situation mightimprove for the first part of this section because some new yellow VGW waymarkers have started to appear for itsrevised route. Note that there are no signs to warn you about flying golf balls, so take care when crossing fairways.

4

D. The River Eden to Butcherswood Bank (1½ km)

E. Edenbridge Town Station to the Golf Course (1½ km)

5

6

7

F. Across Edenbridge Golf Course (1 km)

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 7/11

21. Cross the first fairway diagonally to the left, aiming for a footpath marker post in the belt of trees on thefar side. A little further on there is another post in front of the second fairway, but the suggested route isto bear left and go through the trees separating the two fairways.

22. At the end of these trees turn half-right to cross the fairway, towards a wooden signpost (pointing tothe 18th tee) with a VGW waymarker. The next waymarker is in the line of young trees directly beyondthe large pond ahead, so skirt around its right-hand side and continue alongside the trees to find themarker post in one of the gaps.

23. Cross the next fairway diagonally to the left, aiming to cross a ditch running across it by a wooden plankbridge between two yellow posts. This should bring you to a gap in the trees on the far side with anothermarker post. Go past this onto a grassy path through another belt of trees onto some rough grassland,passing a green on your left.

24. The VGW now follows a narrow path into the trees ahead, but the suggested continuation is to veer leftoff the official footpath onto a broad grassy path through the rough grassland (parallel to the right of wayin the trees on your right).

25. In 100m this golfers' path veers right to go through the trees to another fairway, but the suggested routeis to keep ahead across the grassland (with no clear path). In a further 100m veer right onto the nextgolfers' path, through another wide gap in the trees.If you peer into the trees on your right you might find a concealed marker post indicating the official right of way, aneglected and awkward path through the trees.

26. Cross the final fairway diagonally to the left, aiming for the next marker post to the left of the trees onthe far side. After passing it keep ahead across a patch of grass to a small metal gate in the perimeterfence, where you leave the golf course.

The fields from here to Honeypot Lane are used for grazing horses and you might have to negotiate sometemporary fences to follow the right of way described here.

27. Make your way around any of these fences to the far left-hand corner of the field. In this corner follow apotentially muddy track through a pair of metal fieldgates into another field. Do not take the grassy trackstraight ahead but veer right across the field, staying near its right-hand edge.

28. In the next corner go over an old stile and keep ahead along the right-hand side of a large field, withKent Brook behind the line of trees on your right. On the far side go over a stile in the hedge and outonto a minor road (Honeypot Lane). Cross over and take the signposted footpath just off to the right,going through an old gate into another large field.

29. Stay close to the right-hand field edge, aiming for a stile in the wire fence on the far side, 150m away.Go over this and up a long flight of steps to cross the Redhill-Tonbridge railway line on an embankment,then down the other side into a large field.

30. Turn half-left to go diagonally across the field on a faint grassy path, heading NW. In the far corner gothrough a wide gap in the hedge on your left and keep ahead across the next field towards a metalfieldgate, with the buildings of Partridge Farm behind a pond on your right. Go through the fieldgate andacross a patch of grass to a minor road (Grants Lane).

31. Turn right briefly onto the lane, then in 50m (opposite Black Robins Farm) turn left onto a broad grassytrack, signposted as a footpath. After going through a metal fieldgate you can see a large pond in thefield on your left. There is another fieldgate at the end of the track, but about 50m before reaching it goover a stile on the right into a wood.

32. Follow the public footpath through the wood, curving left and downhill. At the bottom go over a stile andkeep ahead across the southern side of a large assart (woodland clearing). On the far side ignore agate at the end of the hedge on your left, but go over a stepped stile a little way off to the right intoStaffhurst Wood and follow the path round to the right.There are several waymarked routes through this open-access wood, including green arrows for a self-guided trail.The suggested route follows the yellow waymarkers of a right of way, essentially heading north-west for about500m to Dwelly Lane and continuing to the right of a cottage opposite.

G. Edenbridge Golf Course to Butcherswood Bank (1½ km)

8

H. Butcherswood Bank to the Royal Oak (1¼ km)

9

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 8/11

33. Assuming the path layout remains unchanged fork right at the first path junction and left at the second,both in the first 100m. At the next junction ignore a long straight path off to the left by a post with agreen arrow and yellow footpath waymarkers. A little further on fork left at another post with a yellowwaymarker, confirming that you are still on the public footpath.

34. The path climbs gently through the wood, then levels out and merges with another path from the left.You are now walking parallel with Dwelly Lane off to the left, about 50m away. You pass a pond down tothe right and come to a major path crossing. Ignore a green arrow pointing ahead and turn left onto abroad path, towards a cottage which you can see on the other side of the road.

35. Cross Dwelly Lane carefully (slightly to the right) onto the signposted footpath opposite, which bendsright to go through a strip of woodland parallel to the road. This soon turns left to become a fenced pathbetween paddocks and a field. At the end go over a stile and turn half-right to cross a field towards astile in the hedge on the far side, 175m away.

36. Go over this stile and down the right-hand side of the next field, directly towards the lunch pub. Unlessthere is a new back gate into its beer garden follow the field edge round to the left; just before reachingCaterfield Lane you can go up a bank and cut through a small car park to the Royal Oak pub.

37. Turn left out of the pub and go down Caterfield Lane for 75m (or retrace your steps through the carpark). Just past the footpath where you arrived, cross the road carefully and take the farm laneopposite, signposted as a public footpath and heading W. Follow this past farm buildings, including theimposing Sunt Barn on your left.

38. At the end of the farm keep ahead across a field towards the East Grinstead railway line. Cross thetracks and continue in the same direction up the right-hand side of a large field, initially with a wood onyour right and then a hedge as you descend. Go over a stile next to a fieldgate onto a junction of tracksin front of the buildings of Foyle Farm.

39. Take the second track on the left, passing the farmhouse on your right. Do not continue on the farmtrack ahead but veer sharply right (as indicated by a yellow waymarker on a barn), passing a shed andthen a pond on your left as the track curves round to the left. At a three-way footpath signpost turn rightonto a track heading NW between fields, gently uphill.

40. Continue in the same direction along the edge of the next field, now with a wood on your right. Go overa pair of stiles and down across a large field towards a stile in a hedge. Go through the hedge andacross a smaller field to an old footbridge taking you over the River Eden .

41. Continue along the right-hand side of another large field, still heading NW. In 300m (where the hedgeturns right) keep ahead across the field, slightly to the right. If there is no clear path aim to the right of awide gap in the hedge on the far side; you will be leaving the field through another gap in the far corner,300m away.

42. After crossing the field continue with a hedge on your left to this corner and go out past a vehicle barrieronto a minor road (Popes Lane) at a bend. Keep ahead along the lane for 75m, where there is asignposted bridleway off to the left at a gap in the hedge, just before a “Passing Place” road sign.If you want to cut out the loop through Tandridge, go to §M for a more direct route to Oxted or §O to finish at HurstGreen.

43. For the full walk turn left off the lane onto this bridleway, heading W across a large field and aiming forthe middle of a small wood. On the far side follow a short path through the trees to a lane (Gibbs BrookLane) and turn right. In 75m turn left past a metal fieldgate into a large field and continue along its left-hand edge.

44. Halfway along, the field slopes gently downhill and you can see a house near the far left-hand corner;you will be skirting round it on the left. After crossing an old stile in a low hedge keep left towardsanother in the tree boundary. Go over this stile and follow a narrow enclosed path around the house'sgarden.

I. The Royal Oak to Popes Lane (2¼ km)

4

J. Popes Lane to Southlands (2 km)

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 9/11

45. At the end of the path go across a grassy track and over a stile to continue across another field, stillheading W. On the far side go over a stile and follow a clear path through Southlands Wood, soonbending right to head NW. In 250m go out past a metal fieldgate to a road (Southlands Lane).

46. Turn right onto the road, taking care as there is no pavement and more traffic than the other lanes. In125m turn left into the long driveway to Southlands Cottage, signposted as a public footpath. Afterclimbing gently for 500m stay on the driveway as it goes between a cluster of houses and gardens, witha large house “Southlands” off to the left.

47. At the top of the track go over a stile beside a fieldgate and straight across a field, still climbing. On thefar side go over another stile onto a short path through trees and ferns to a T-junction and turn left ontoa bridleway, briefly joining the Greensand Way (GW).The remainder of the walk is the same as Walk #2/2a.

48. This potentially muddy track climbs gently at first and then goes steadily downhill, with occasional viewsacross the Eden Valley through the trees on the left. At the bottom of the slope the path goes under alow bridge and continues between hedges, with a meadow on the left. In 150m there is a gate into themeadow which is the continuation of the GW.If you want to visit the Barley Mow, follow the directions in [50].

Stay on the bridleway, leaving the GW. The track soon curves right and climbs steadily, eventuallybecoming a tarmac driveway. After going past farm buildings it curves left to come out onto a minor road(Tandridge Lane) at the top of the village. Turn right onto the road and cross another driveway to come tothe tarmac path leading to the church.

a. For the pub turn left through the gate and follow a grassy path sloping up to the right. At the brow of thehill keep right and go up to a metal kissing gate in the corner. Go through this onto a short sunken paththrough a belt of trees, which turns left and merges with a broad path from the right.

b. You soon pass the beer garden of the Barley Mow on the right and the path swings round to its “RamblersRest” bar. After visiting the pub retrace your steps up the path behind its beer garden as far as the pathjunction where you came down from the right.

c. At the junction fork left (leaving the GW) and follow the path gently uphill between houses and gardens. Atthe top turn right onto Tandridge Lane and keep right at a minor road junction after 100m. Go across twodriveways to come to the tarmac path leading to the church.

51. Go up the path and through the lychgate into the churchyard. As you approach St Peter's church(which is usually locked) you pass the magnificent Tandridge Yew .

52. Turn left between this ancient tree and the church to rejoin Tandridge Lane, then almost immediatelybear right onto a signposted footpath through a small copse. At the end of the trees, cross a drivewayand go through a kissing gate into a field. Follow the grassy path uphill to another gate, which leads youonto a golf course.

53. The path heads NE, slightly downhill through trees. At the end of the trees keep ahead across a fairway,aiming just to the left of a house. Take the tarmac drive which starts alongside the house and follow it allthe way through the golf course, taking care as you cross more fairways near the end.

54. After leaving the course and crossing its access road, turn right onto a tarmac path above the A25. Thepath descends and later curves away from the main road, following the course of the old GodstoneRoad. A slip road from the A25 joins from the left and you continue to a crossroads in the centre of OldOxted, with the Old Bell opposite and two more pubs ahead if you want to break for refreshment.

If you want to head directly to Oxted station (1 km away) keep ahead down the High Street. Near thebottom use an underpass on the left to cross the A25 safely and continue along Church Lane. In 600mkeep ahead at a roundabout into Station Road West and complete the directions at [61] in §N.

K. Southlands to Tandridge Lane (1¼ km)

10

49. Main route

50. Route via the Barley Mow (+500m)

L. Tandridge Lane to Oxted Mill (2½ km)11

12

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 10/11

55. For the full route turn right at the the crossroads to head S on Beadles Lane for 200m, then turn left infront of a new housing development into Springfield. Where this street bends left keep ahead on asignposted footpath, briefly along a driveway and then a narrow fenced path to its right. This sooncurves round to the right, later with a stream on the left. Follow the path past a mill pond to Spring Lane,with the converted Oxted Mill ahead on your left.Complete the directions at §N.

56. Continue along Popes Lane to a T-junction and turn right onto Broadham Green Road. In 100m youpass a footpath and the gates of Stockett's Manor on the right as the lane curves round to the left. In afurther 100m there is another signposted footpath on the right.

57. Ignore this footpath and stay on the lane for a further 750m, where it joins a busier road (SouthlandsLane). Continue carefully in the same direction; in about 100m you can use a narrow green on the rightof the road, which widens into the triangular Broadham Green as you join the Greensand Way (GW).Keep to its right-hand side and bear right in the far corner to go alongside Tanhouse Road on a broadgrassy strip for 150m.The remainder of the walk is the same as the ‘alternative afternoon’ route of Walk #2.

58. Cross the road opposite The Haycutter and go over a stile onto a grassy path heading roughly Nacross three fields, negotiating some potentially muddy stiles between them. At the end of the last fieldgo through a metal kissing gate and continue between a house and stables to come out onto SpringLane, with the converted Oxted Mill on the right.

59. Go past Oxted Mill to the sluice-gate at the end of the mill pond and take the signposted footpath on theleft, over a stile into a meadow. Follow the grassy path heading NE, later with gardens and a stream onthe left. Cross the stream at a weir and go up a driveway to a road (Woodhurst Lane).

60. Turn left and go along the road for 100m. At its junction with WoodhurstPark turn half-left onto a tarmac path between fences, which climbssteadily and in 200m comes out onto the A25. Cross this busy roadwith great care and go straight ahead down East Hill Road. Turn rightat a roundabout into Station Road West.

61. The station is at the end of this road, 225m away. There are twopossible tea places towards the end of the parade of shops on the right:Robertsons and Café Papillon. The Oxted Inn is on the right of thestation entrance.

You could also take the pedestrian tunnel under the station and go through a small parking area intoStation Road East: Caffè Nero is on the left; Coughlans Bakery and other coffee shops are down theroad to the right.

62. Continue along Popes Lane to a T-junction and turn right onto Broadham Green Road. In 100m youpass a footpath and the gates of Stockett's Manor on the right as the lane curves round to the left. In afurther 100m there is another signposted footpath on the right.

63. Turn right off the road onto this second footpath, going over a stile and through the hedge into a largefield. A notice instructs walkers to follow the right of way – which is straight ahead across the middle ofthe field – but there is also a well-trodden path around its left-hand edge. If you go across the field youwill eventually end up alongside this field edge for the final 100m, as the field narrows at the far end.

64. In the far left-hand corner go across the River Eden on a footbridge and fork left onto a path betweenhedges, where the path on the right leads towards the buildings of Coltsford Mill (an up-marketwedding venue). In 200m go across a stream leading to the mill pond to come out into a large playingfield, with a running track ahead.

13

M. Popes Lane to Oxted Mill direct (2¼ km)

10

N. Oxted Mill to the Station (1¼ km)

O. Popes Lane to Hurst Green Station (2 km)

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/ 11/11

65. Turn left to make your way between the field edge and the track, then veer right to continue alongsidethe hedge on the far side of the field. In the corner go out past barriers and turn left briefly onto MillLane. At the end of a hedge turn half-right across a green, aiming for a low white building (St Agatha'sHall) which comes into view as you cross Hurst Green Road in the middle of the green.

66. In front of the hall bear right onto Greenhurst Lane, go past a minor road and fork left down the stationapproach road. If the ticket office is closed, the entrance to Platform 1 (for trains to London) is at the left-hand end of the building.

Walk Notes1. Lagham Manor had the largest non-military moat in south-east England. The settlement here changed its

name from Lagham to South Godstone when the railway was built.2. St George, Crowhurst dates from the 12 C, with later additions and rebuilding. This small parish church is

unusual in that it largely escaped the attentions of the 19 C restorers.3. The Crowhurst Yew is a male tree with a girth of 10 metres. In 1820 it was hollowed out and a cannon ball

dating from the Civil War found inside it, partially overgrown with new wood. Coincidentally there is anotherancient yew tree in the village of Crowhurst, East Sussex; a source of confusion in the historical records.

4. The source of the River Eden is in the Titsey estate, 2 km north-east of Oxted on the slopes of the NorthDowns. A Saxon named Eadhelm built a bridge over the river and the town “Eadhelmsbrigge” (laterEdenbridge) gave its name to the river. It flows into the River Medway near Penshurst.

5. Station Road and its continuation (Edenbridge High Street) are on the line of the Roman road from London toLewes.

6. Stangrove Park was created when a Victorian mansion (Stangrove Park House) was demolished and itsestate developed for housing in the 1950s.

7. The Vanguard Way runs for 105 km “from the suburbs to the sea”, from Croydon in south London toNewhaven in East Sussex.

8. Kent Brook is a tributary of the River Eden, with this stretch marking the county boundary between Surrey andKent.

9. Staffhurst Wood is a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest managed by the SurreyWildlife Trust as a traditional ‘coppice with standards’ wood. It has a fine display of bluebells in spring andmany varieties of fungi in autumn.

10. The Greensand Way follows the course of a sandstone ridge just to the south of the North Downs. It runs for175 km from Haslemere in Surrey to Hamstreet in Kent.

11. St Peter, Tandridge dates from the early 12 C. It was restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 19 C; thereis a marble tomb-monument in the churchyard to his wife (Lady Scott) who died in 1872. The church contains areproduction of the famous Ghent Altarpiece by the van Eyck brothers.

12. The Tandridge Yew is a female tree which still produces berries. It is exceptionally tall and has a girth of11 metres. Judging by its measured rate of growth it is at least 1,000 years old; some sources speculate that itis much older.

13. The new housing development at Springfield is on the site of Oxted's Old School, as shown by the “OxteadNational Schools 1872” inscription preserved on the stone wall.

» Last updated: October 30, 2020

© Saturday Walkers Club. All Rights Reserved. No commercial use. No copying. No derivatives. Freewith attribution for one time non-commercial use only. www.walkingclub.org.uk/site/license.shtml

Saturday Walkers Club • © 2000-2020 All Rights Reserved • saturdaywalkers@walkingclub.org.uk

th

th

th th