Chiddingstone to Bough Beech Reservoir

An hour and three quarters walk from Chiddingstone to Bough Beech Reservoir and back by a different route. Total distance about 5 miles.

From Chiddingstone Village, going east and leaving the village school on your right, turn left down a wide path just before the new churchyard, past two houses, and continue downhill alongside a fence. There is a fine view across to the hills from here. The path then takes you across a meadow to the river Eden, which you cross by a footbridge, and so on to Somerden Green. Here you will see a row of cottages on your right, built in 1601 as a workhouse for the poor of the parish. The path continues as a private lane that bridges the railway and brings you to Somerden Farm. Cross the road with great care, the cars travel very fast along this stretch, and continue up the road ahead for about half a mile.

Where the road divides, take the left hand fork for two hundred yards, 'til you come to a marked path on your left. Take this path through the trees to a stile by a field, which you cross to another stile opposite and so to a road used by the Sailing Club at Bough Beech Reservoir. Cross this road, through a strip of woodland and cross a field to a fence, which you surmount and then continue with the high bank of the reservoir on your right. The path then bears left through trees, over a stile and continues between fences to another stile. Here you go half right across the field ahead, to a footbridge over a brook, and again continue half right to a stile by a railway embankment. The path crosses the railway and turns right up a steep path to the road at Bough Beech, where you turn right to the "Wheatsheaf".

Take the narrow unmade road to the east, or left, of the "Wheatsheaf" and when you pass two cottages on your left, take a path by a farmyard gate and continue round the right hand edge of the field ahead. There are lovely views of the countryside around. Go through a gate, carry on by the hedge in the next field, 'til you come to an opening on the left; through here and turn right to a gate by a road. Here you turn right along the road and you could, if you wanted to save a quarter of a mile, continue along this road past Mill Farm to Gilwyns crossroads, and so left back to Chiddingstone. If you prefer to continue off-road take the path on the left, a few yards past the little bridge over the Eden. The path crosses the meadow to a footbridge over the river and straight up the field ahead to a stile by an oak tree. Looking over to the right from here, you have a very fine view of Chiddingstone Castle and St. Mary's church. Crossing over the stile brings you back to the path from which you started your walk, so turn right and retrace your steps back to Chiddingstone.

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