Source: https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/godstone-to-oxted/
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 08:18:23+00:00

Document:
Compare two magnificent yew trees in the Surrey churchyards of Crowhurst and Tandridge.
Main Walk: 17½ km (10.9 miles). Four hours 20 minutes walking time. For the whole excursion including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 8 hours.
Alternative Walk, starting from Edenbridge: 14½ km (9.0 miles). Three hours 35 minutes walking time.
Explorers 146 & 147. Godstone station, map reference TQ362483, is in Surrey, 8 km ESE of Redhill (and 4 km south of its village).
4 out of 10; less for the shorter endings.
Many British churchyards contain ancient yew trees and two of the largest are just 4 km apart as the crow flies, in the Surrey hamlets of Crowhurst and Tandridge. They each have girths of over 10 metres and are at least 1,000 years old, although as both have hollowed 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 years has encouraged speculation that it is much older, perhaps even the second oldest yew tree 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 the Tandridge Yew on the Woldingham to Oxted walk (#2), but this is the only walk which allows you to compare them. The walk itself is mostly through low-lying farmland (with occasional stretches of woodland) in the valley of the River Eden, but there are also good views from the low hills to the south of the river and the Greensand Ridge to the north.
After a slightly scruffy start along the busy A22 and through a muddy farmyard, the walk heads east along a low ridge to the first yew in Crowhurst. It then loops round through the edge of Staffhurst Wood to the same lunch pub as Walk #135 on the edge of the wood. The afternoon section has been transferred from that walk's original Circular Walk option and extended to go past the second yew in Tandridge. The final stretch into Oxted is the same as Walk #2.
The low-lying nature of this walk means that you will need to be prepared for muddy or waterlogged paths after wet weather.
Several shorter options are described but (with the exception of a possible short cut at the 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 there were problems at Godstone.
In the afternoon you can switch to a more direct route along country lanes into Oxted, or an even shorter route to the station at Hurst Green. These variations are available on both the Main and Alternative Walks.
Few buses venture down the lanes around Crowhurst and Tandridge and you would almost certainly need to call a taxi if you wanted to abandon the walk altogether.
As this walk shares the same lunch pub as Walk #135 several more options are possible by switching to one of its afternoon variations, creating (say) a walk from Godstone to Edenbridge, or Edenbridge to Lingfield. However, there are some overlaps between the routes and the circular options from Godstone and (especially) Edenbridge are not recommended.
Godstone is on the Redhill–Tonbridge branch line, which no longer has any through services to London. It is usually quicker to travel via Redhill, and the suggested ‘via East Croydon’ ticket (see below) is only valid on this route.
There is also a station called Edenbridge on this line, but the directions for the Alternative Walk are from Edenbridge Town, on the Uckfield line. This has an hourly service from London Bridge (Mon–Sat), taking 38 minutes; on Sundays you need to change at East Croydon and/or Oxted.
At the end of the walk there is a half-hourly service from Oxted (and Hurst Green) to Victoria, plus the hourly Mon–Sat service to London Bridge.
For all walk options buy a return to Edenbridge Stations via East Croydon. This is valid on both the Redhill and Oxted routes and so can be used for the outward journey to Godstone 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 at Godstone station but no easy way of getting back to your car. However, you could park in Edenbridge between its two stations, travel out on one line and return to your car on the other. For the Alternative Walk you could park in Oxted and take the train out to Edenbridge Town; Oxted station car park is free after 10am, although you are unlikely to find a space during the week.
Take the train nearest to 10:15 from Victoria or London Bridge to Godstone (changing at Redhill) for the Main Walk. For the Alternative Walk from Edenbridge Town you could leave an hour later.
On all the walk options the most conveniently-placed pub for a lunchtime stop is the Royal Oak (01883-722207) on the edge of Staffhurst Wood, 8¼ km from Godstone and 5¾ km from Edenbridge. A “Grumpy Mole Restaurant” since November 2016, this up-market country inn is likely to be fully booked inside at weekends but has plenty of space in its garden, with fine views across the Low Weald. It serves a good range of locally sourced and freshly-cooked food to 3pm, from à la carte meals to bar snacks.
There are later pubs on each of the two routes into Oxted, but none if you finish at Hurst Green. 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. If necessary you could also try one of the pubs listed below as Tea places, although these are all within 2 km of the finish.
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, the George Inn (01883-713453) and the Crown Inn (01883-717853). The direct route (omitting Tandridge) passes The Haycutter (01883-776955) in Broadham Green, which re-opened in Autumn 2017 after a long closure.
There are several cafés and coffee shops in the main part of Oxted, but nothing near Hurst 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 at the back; and Café Papillon at #54 (01883-717031; nominally open to 5pm Mon–Sat, 2pm Sun, but may stop serving earlier). There is also a conveniently placed 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), Coughlans Bakery 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 (see Lunch above) serves a full afternoon tea from 3-5pm Mon–Sat.
If you are doing the Alternative Walk from Edenbridge Town station, start at §5.
Head south on the A22 for a short distance and then take a bridleway on the left, past a farm and round Lagham Manor. Follow the bridleway round to the left and along a low ridge, heading east. Before reaching Tandridge Lane fork right onto a footpath to come out onto the lane opposite Hobbs Farm.
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 go along a driveway towards some farm buildings. At the entrance go through a side gate on the right with a blue arrow, confirming that this is a public bridleway.
Go past the farm house, through a fieldgate and across a muddy patch between two barns. Follow the track as it curves right, climbing gently alongside a belt of trees screening the remains of a large moat around Lagham Manor1. At the top of the slope go through a metal fieldgate and bear right across a field towards another fieldgate.
Go through the gate into the bottom corner of a sloping field and turn three-quarters left, aiming for the left-hand end of the line of trees on the far side. After passing them continue in much the same direction across the grass towards a gap in the hedge 100m away, which takes you onto a grassy strip between a hedge and a fence, heading E. After going through a gate this becomes a long straight tree-lined path between fields, with fine views on both sides.
At the end the path splits and you fork right to head S. In 50m ignore a small gate ahead and veer left through a gap in the hedge, crossing a ditch and going through a metal gate into a large field. Keep ahead along its left-hand edge for 100m, then turn half-right at a footpath marker post to go diagonally down to its bottom corner.
In the corner go through a metal kissing gate in the hedge on the left and continue along the bottom of the next field, heading E again. Go through two more kissing gates and a belt of trees to come out onto a road (Tandridge Lane) opposite the driveway to Stocks and Kingswood Farms.
Turn left briefly onto the lane and then take a footpath on the right past a fishing lake and across two fields to Ashen Plantation. Head east through the wood and continue along the top of four fields to Crowhurst church.
Turn left and go along the road for 75m, crossing over carefully at some point, to come to a gated driveway 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, then turn right to cross a ditch on a plank footbridge. Go up a small bank and over a stile into the bottom corner of a long narrow field.
Go diagonally across two fields towards a wood 300m away (aiming for the far left-hand corner of the second field), crossing a stile in the middle of the fence separating them. Go over a stile into Ashen Plantation and head E on a long straight path through it, ignoring ways off. At the far end go over a stile and continue in the same direction along the top of four fields, with a hedge on your left and soon with the spire of Crowhurst church visible ahead.
At the end of the last field go over a stile and up to the entrance to St George's church2, which is worth visiting. The magnificent Crowhurst Yew3 is on the far side of the church, to the left of the path.
Take the footpath heading east past Mansion House and across the East Grinstead railway line to Caterfield Lane. Continue along the driveway to Homefield Farm and turn right onto a footpath heading south and then south-east to a footbridge over the River Eden.
Leave the churchyard by the lychgate in the north-east corner and cross the road carefully to take the signposted footpath opposite, by the 16thC Mansion House and its farm. The right of way appears to be along the farm drive, but a metal fieldgate along it is usually locked and it is better to veer left immediately through a gap in the hedge and walk along the field edge parallel to the drive. After passing some barns continue on a rough grassy strip between two large farm fields, heading E.
At the far end of the fields keep ahead through a belt of trees on what looks like a grassy path between hedges, but turns out to be a bridge over the East Grinstead railway line. Go over a stile and straight across a field to a stile in the hedge opposite, coming out onto a minor road (Caterfield Lane).
Cross the road carefully and continue along the driveway just off to the right, which is also a public footpath. In 125m keep left past the entrance to Homefield Farm, going through a wooden kissing gate to the right of a fieldgate to continue along the drive. In front of two low buildings (which are actually aircraft hangars) bear right across a concrete forecourt. In the far corner turn right to head S alongside a hedge, with a grassy airstrip on your left.
At the end of the hedge go through a wooden gate, turn left and go down the left-hand side of two fields. At the end of the second field head for a footbridge a little way out from the field corner and cross over the River Eden4.
After crossing the river take the left-hand of two footpaths, initially alongside the river and then along field edges past Bombers Farm to Dwelly Lane. Turn left onto the road, then in 100m take a footpath on the right heading north-east across the Redhill–Tonbridge railway line. Turn left into a small wood, Butcherswood Bank.
On the other side of the river turn left and go up to a gap into the next field. Ignore a stile on the right and stay close to the river for 250m, then veer right through the second of two gaps in the hedge. Go up the right hand-side of a large field.
In the top corner go past a metal fieldgate and keep ahead along a farm track between a hedge and two fields. At the end of the second field (where the track swings right) keep ahead through a small wooden gate onto a narrow fenced path. After going past stables follow the fence round to the left and go down the farm's short driveway to a road (Dwelly Lane) near its junction with Honeypot Lane.
Turn left onto Dwelly Lane, heading NW. The turning off this road is easy to miss. 100m past the junction, cross the road carefully and go through a narrow gap in the belt of trees on the right. Keep ahead across the corner of a field to a stile in the fence on the far side, 100m away. Go over this and across the tracks of the Redhill-Tonbridge railway line in a cutting, via two flights of steps.
On the far side go over another stile and continue along the right-hand edge of a field, heading NE. In the corner go through a metal fieldgate onto a broad grassy track, with a wood on your left and a large pond in the field on your right. In about 50m go over a stile on the left into the wood.
Leave along Station Approach and go straight across the B2026 into Stangrove Park. On the far side go down Pine Grove and turn right onto Crouch House Road. In 500m take the footpath on the left leading onto Edenbridge Golf Course.
Arriving from London, go through the subway to leave the station on the other side. Go all the way along Station Approach to its T-junction with Station Road5, near where the latter joins the B2026. Cross the main road at the traffic lights ahead on your right and enter Stangrove Park6; there is an information panel with a brief account of its history.
Bear left across the grass, passing to the left of a clump of trees surrounding Stangrove Pond, to pick up a tarmac path going past a children's playground. Follow this out to a small housing estate and turn left down a residential street (Pine Grove). At the bottom turn right onto a minor road (Crouch House Road) and go along its pavement for 500m, with open fields behind the hedge on your left.
At the end of a row of cottages turn left onto an unsurfaced driveway through a wooded area, signposted as a public footpath. In 125m veer right onto a broad grassy path, with a low wire fence on your right. Go down to the edge of a golf course and follow the path round to the left, past a concrete vehicle barrier and through a belt of trees alongside a fairway. In 50m the path comes to a track where you turn right onto the fairway.
Follow the waymarked right of way heading north-west across the golf course.
These directions attempt to follow a (partly) waymarked right of way across the golf course, but the route is not easy to find on the ground and has become overgrown at the far end. If you have an OS map or GPS device you may find it easier – if the players do not object – to use golfers' paths going in roughly the right direction (essentially north-west, but zig-zagging left and right along the way). There are no signs to warn you about flying golf balls so take care when crossing fairways.
Cross the first fairway diagonally to the left, aiming for a footpath marker post in the belt of trees on the far side. A little further on there is another marker post in front of the next fairway but this had no direction indicator at the time of writing, so the suggested route is to turn left and go through the trees between between the two fairways.
At the end of these trees turn half-right to cross the fairway, heading NW. You pass a pond on your left and are heading towards a larger pond guarding a green on your right from the fairway on the left. Skirt around its left-hand side and head for a gap in the trees on the far side of the fairway, where there is another marker post.
Continue in the same direction across the next fairway, aiming to cross a ditch running across it by the middle of three wooden plank bridges. This should bring you to another marker post on the far side. Go past this post onto a grassy path through a belt of young trees and some scrubland.
After passing a green on your left continue briefly on a clear grassy path, but where this turns right keep ahead across some rough grassland and through a narrow gap into the trees ahead. You come to another marker post with two yellow waymarkers, one pointing ahead and the other left.
Turn left at this post (with no clear path), staying close to the trees on your left. After passing a grassy mound on your right another marker post directs you onto a narrow and rather overgrown path through some young trees. Follow this for 100m (crossing a track along the way), eventually emerging onto some rough grassland by another marker post.
Strictly speaking you should keep ahead briefly and then turn right at a marker post by a large oak tree, but it is tempting to turn half-right here and go diagonally across the final fairway, aiming for the next marker post to the left of the trees on the far side. After passing it keep ahead across a patch of grass to a small metal gate in the perimeter fence, where you leave the golf course.
Head west and then north on a footpath along field edges beside Kent Brook to Honeypot Lane. Cross over and take the footpath heading north-west across the Redhill–Tonbridge railway line to Grants Lane by Partridge Farm. Head north briefly on the road, then turn left onto a track opposite Black Robins Farm. Turn right into a small wood, Butcherswood Bank.
The fields from here to Honeypot Lane are used for grazing horses and you might have to make your way around (or through) temporary fences to follow the right of way described here.
Make your way across the first field to the far left-hand corner, going around temporary fences if necessary. In this corner follow a potentially muddy track through a pair of metal fieldgates into another field. Do not take the grassy track straight ahead but turn right to go along the right-hand side of the field, again negotiating fences if necessary.
In the next corner go over a ditch and an old stile and keep ahead along the right-hand side of a large field, with Kent Brook7 behind the line of trees on your right. On the far side go over a stile in the hedge and out onto 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. Stay close to its right-hand edge, aiming for a stile in the wire fence on the far side, 150m away.
Go over this stile and up a long flight of steps to cross the Redhill-Tonbridge railway line on a tree-lined embankment. At the bottom of the steps on the far side go over a stile into another large field and turn half-left to cross the field diagonally, heading NW. In the far corner go through a metal fieldgate and keep ahead across the corner of the next field towards another gate, with the buildings of Partridge Farm behind a pond on your right.
Go through the fieldgate, across a patch of grass onto the farm's driveway and out to a minor road (Grants Lane). Turn right briefly onto the lane, then in 50m (opposite Black Robins Farm) turn left onto a broad grassy track, signposted as a footpath. After going through a metal fieldgate there is a wood on your right and you can see a large pond in the field on your left. There is another fieldgate at the end of the track, but about 50m before reaching it go over a stile on the right into the wood.
Take the footpath through the wood and across the side of an assart (clearing) into the south-western part of Staffhurst Wood. Follow the footpath north-west through the wood to Dwelly Lane, then across fields to the Royal Oak pub on Caterfield Lane.
Follow the public footpath through the wood, curving left and downhill. At the bottom go over a stile and keep ahead across the southern side of a large assart (woodland clearing). On the far side ignore a gate at the end of the hedge on your left, but go over a stepped stile a little way off to the right into Staffhurst Wood8 and follow the path round to the right.
Although you are on a right of way there are many additional paths through this wood, with some of the waymarkers being for a self-guided trail (green arrows). Essentially you need to head north-west for about 500m to Dwelly Lane, where the footpath continues to the right of a cottage opposite.
Assuming the path layout remains unchanged you should 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 a green arrow and yellow footpath waymarkers. A little further on fork left at another post with a yellow waymarker confirming that you are still on the public footpath. 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 to the right and come to a major path crossing. Ignore a green arrow pointing ahead and turn left onto a broad path, towards a cottage which you can see on the other side of the road. Cross Dwelly Lane carefully (slightly to the right) onto the signposted footpath opposite, which bends right to go through a strip of woodland parallel to the road.
This soon turns left to become a fenced path between paddocks and a field. At the end go over a stile and turn half-right to cross a field towards a stile in the hedge on the far side, 175m away. Go over this and down the right-hand side of the next field, directly towards the lunchtime pub. Unless there is a new back gate into its beer garden follow the field edge round to the left; just before reaching Caterfield Lane you can go up a bank and cut through a small car park to the Royal Oak pub.
Take the footpath heading west past Sunt Farm and across the East Grinstead railway line to Foyle Farm. Continue on the footpath heading north-west, across the River Eden to Popes Lane.
Turn left out of the pub and go down Caterfield Lane for 75m (or retrace your steps through the car park). Just past the footpath where you arrived, cross the road carefully and take the farm lane opposite, signposted as a public footpath and heading W. Follow this past farm buildings, including the imposing Sunt Barn on your left.
At the end of the farm keep ahead across a field towards the East Grinstead railway line. Cross the tracks and continue in the same direction up the right-hand side of a large field, initially with a wood on your right and then a hedge as you descend. Go over a stile next to a fieldgate onto a junction of tracks in front of the buildings of Foyle Farm.
Take the second track on the left, passing the farmhouse on your right. Do not continue on the farm track ahead but veer sharply right (as indicated by a yellow waymarker on a barn), passing a shed and then a pond on your left as the track curves round to the left. At a three-way footpath signpost turn right onto a track heading NW between fields, gently uphill.
Continue in the same direction along the edge of the next field, now with a wood on your right. Go over a pair of stiles and down across a large field towards a stile in a hedge. Go through the hedge and across a smaller field to an old footbridge taking you over the River Eden4.
Continue along the right-hand side of another large field, still heading NW. In 300m (where the hedge turns right) keep ahead across the field, slightly to the right. If there is no clear path aim to the right of a wide gap in the hedge on the far side; you will be leaving the field through another gap in the far corner, 300m away.
After crossing the field continue with a hedge on your left to this corner and go out past a vehicle barrier onto a minor road (Popes Lane) at a bend. Keep ahead along the lane for 75m, where there is a signposted bridleway off to the left at a gap in the hedge, just before a “Passing Place” road sign.
If you want to shorten the walk by omitting Tandridge, go to §13 to finish at Oxted or §15 to finish at Hurst Green.
Take the bridleway heading west off Popes Lane to Gibbs Brook Lane, then the footpath past Rose Farm and through Southlands Wood. Turn right briefly onto Southlands Lane, then head north up the long driveway to Southlands.
For the full walk turn left off the lane onto this bridleway, heading W across a large field and aiming for the middle of a small wood. On the far side follow a short path through the trees to a lane (Gibbs Brook Lane) and turn right. In 75m turn left past a metal fieldgate into a large field and continue along its left-hand edge.
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 towards another in the tree boundary. Go over this stile and follow a narrow enclosed path around the house's garden.
At the end of the path go across a grassy track and over a stile to continue across another field, still heading W. On the far side go over a stile and follow a clear path through Southlands Wood, soon bending right to head NW. In 250m go out past a metal fieldgate to a road (Southlands Lane).
Turn right onto the road, taking care as there is no pavement and more traffic than the other lanes. In 125m turn left into the long driveway to Southlands Cottage, signposted as a public footpath. After climbing gently for 500m stay on the driveway as it goes between a cluster of houses and gardens, with a large house “Southlands” off to the left.
Go past the house and turn left at a T-junction with a bridleway, briefly joining the Greensand Way (GW). On the outskirts of Tandridge the most direct route is to stay on the bridleway as it curves right up a slope to Tandridge Lane, but you could also detour into the village to visit the Barley Mow. At the top of the village bear right off Tandridge Lane into the churchyard.
At the top of the track go over a stile beside a fieldgate and straight across a field, still climbing. On the far side go over another stile onto a short path through trees and ferns to a T-junction and turn left onto a bridleway, briefly joining the Greensand Way9 (GW).
The remainder of the walk is the same as Walk #2/2a.
This potentially muddy track climbs gently at first and then goes steadily downhill, with occasional views across the Eden Valley through the trees on the left. At the bottom of the slope the path goes under a low bridge and continues between hedges, with a meadow on the left. In 150m there is a gate into the meadow which is the continuation of the GW.
If you want to visit the Barley Mow, follow the directions in §11b.
Stay on the bridleway, leaving the GW. The track soon curves right and climbs steadily, eventually becoming 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 to the tarmac path leading to the church.
For the pub turn left through the gate and follow a grassy path sloping up to the right. At the brow of the hill keep right and go up to a metal kissing gate in the corner. Go through this onto a short sunken path through a belt of trees, which turns left and merges with a broad path from the right.
You soon pass the beer garden of the Barley Mow on the right and the path swings round to its “Ramblers Rest” bar. After visiting the pub retrace your steps up the path behind its beer garden as far as the path junction where you came down from the right.
At the junction fork left (leaving the GW) and follow the path gently uphill between houses and gardens. At the top turn right onto Tandridge Lane and keep right at a minor road junction after 100m. Go across two driveways to come to the tarmac path leading to the church.
Return to Tandridge Lane and take a footpath on the right which leads up to and across a golf course. On the far side turn right onto a tarmac path above the A25. Continue on the old Godstone Road into Old Oxted. Unless you want to go directly to Oxted station via the High Street and Church Lane, turn right into Beadles Lane. Turn left into Springfield and take a footpath to the right of a driveway which curves round to the right to reach Spring Lane.
Go up the path and through the lychgate into the churchyard. As you approach St Peter's church10 (which is usually locked) you pass the magnificent Tandridge Yew11. Turn left between this ancient tree and the church to rejoin Tandridge Lane, then almost immediately bear right onto a signposted footpath through a small copse. At the end of the trees, cross a driveway and go through a kissing gate into a field. Follow the grassy path uphill to another gate, which leads you onto a golf course.
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 all the way through the golf course, taking care as you cross more fairways near the end. After leaving the course and crossing its access road, turn right onto a tarmac path above the A25.
The path descends and later curves away from the main road, following the course of the old Godstone Road. A slip road from the A25 joins from the left and you continue to a crossroads in the centre of Old Oxted, with the Old Bell opposite and two more pubs ahead if you want to break for refreshment.
The suggested route to complete the walk is via Oxted Mill, but if you want to head directly to Oxted station (saving 1 km) keep ahead down the High Street. Near the bottom use an underpass on the left to cross the A25 safely and continue along Church Lane. In 600m keep ahead at a roundabout into Station Road West and complete the directions at [•] in §14.
For the suggested route, turn right at the the crossroads to head S on Beadles Lane for 200m, then turn left in front of a new housing development12 into Springfield. Where this street bends left keep ahead on a signposted footpath, briefly along a driveway and then a narrow fenced path to its right. This soon curves 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 §14.
Head north-west on Popes Lane to a T-junction. Turn right onto Broadham Green Road and follow this all the way to Broadham Green, joining the Greensand Way (GW). At the end of the green turn right to go alongside Tanhouse Road. Opposite The Haycutter take a footpath heading north across fields to Oxted Mill.
Continue along Popes Lane to a T-junction and turn right onto Broadham Green Road. In 100m you pass a footpath and the gates of Stockett's Manor on the right as the lane curves round to the left. In a further 100m there is another signposted footpath on the right.
Ignore this footpath and stay on the lane for a further 750m, where it joins a busier road (Southlands Lane). Continue carefully in the same direction; in about 100m you can use a narrow green on the right of the road, which widens into the triangular Broadham Green as you join the Greensand Way9 (GW).
The remainder of the walk is the same as the ‘alternative afternoon’ route of Walk #2.
Keep to the right-hand side of the green. In the far corner bear right onto a broad grassy strip alongside Tanhouse Road. In 150m cross the road opposite The Haycutter and go over a stile onto a grassy path heading roughly N across three fields, negotiating some potentially muddy stiles between them. At the end of the last field go through a metal kissing gate and continue between a house and stables to come out onto Spring Lane, with the converted Oxted Mill on the right.
Go past Oxted Mill and take a footpath on the left across a meadow to Woodhurst Lane. Turn left along the road, then in 100m turn half-left onto an enclosed footpath. Go across the A25 and down East Hill Road. At the bottom turn right at a roundabout into Station Road West.
Go past Oxted Mill to the sluice-gate at the end of the mill pond and take the signposted footpath on the left, over a stile into a meadow. Follow the grassy path heading NE, later with gardens and a stream on the left. Cross the stream at a weir and go up a driveway to a road (Woodhurst Lane).
Turn left and go along the road for 100m. At its junction with Woodhurst Park turn half-left onto a tarmac path between fences, which climbs steadily and in 200m comes out onto the A25. Cross this busy road with great care and go straight ahead down East Hill Road. Turn right at a roundabout into Station Road West.
[•] The station is at the end of this road, 225m away. There are two possible 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 the station entrance.
You could also take the pedestrian tunnel under the station and go through a small parking area into Station Road East: Caffè Nero is on the left; Coughlans Bakery and other coffee shops are down the road to the right.
Head north-west on Popes Lane to a T-junction. Turn right onto Broadham Green Road, then in 200m take the second footpath on the right to cross a large field. Fork left away from Coltsford Mill and go up to a playing field. Skirt around a running track to reach Mill Lane and continue across the village green to the station.
Turn right off the road onto this second footpath, going over a stile and through the hedge into a large field. A notice instructs walkers to follow the right of way – which is straight ahead across the middle of the field – but there is also a well-trodden path around the left-hand field edge. If you go across the field you will eventually end up alongside this field edge for the final 100m, as the field narrows at the far end.
In the far left-hand corner go across the River Eden on a footbridge and fork left onto a path between hedges, where the path on the right leads towards the buildings of Coltsford Mill (an up-market wedding venue). In 200m go across a stream leading to the mill pond to come out into a large playing field, with a running track ahead. Turn left to make your way between the field edge and the track, then veer right to continue alongside the hedge on the far side of the field.
In the corner go out past barriers and turn left briefly onto Mill Lane. At the end of a hedge turn half-right across a green, aiming for a low white building (St Agatha's Hall) which comes into view as you cross Hurst Green Road in the middle of the green. In front of the hall bear right onto Greenhurst Lane, go past a minor road and fork left down the station approach road. Platform 1 on the near side is for trains to London; if the ticket office is closed, the entrance is at the left-hand end of the building.
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.
St George, Crowhurst dates from the 12thC, with later additions and rebuilding. This small parish church is unusual in that it largely escaped the attentions of the 19thC restorers.
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 another ancient yew tree in the village of Crowhurst, East Sussex; a source of confusion in the historical records.
The source of the River Eden is in the Titsey estate, 2 km north-east of Oxted on the slopes of the North Downs. A Saxon named Eadhelm built a bridge over the river and the town “Eadhelmsbrigge” (later Edenbridge) gave its name to the river. It flows into the River Medway near Penshurst.
Station Road and its continuation (Edenbridge High Street) are on the line of the Roman road from London to Lewes.
Stangrove Park was created when a Victorian mansion (Stangrove Park House) was demolished and its estate developed for housing in the 1950s.
Kent Brook is a tributary of the River Eden, with this stretch marking the county boundary between Surrey and Kent.
Staffhurst Wood is a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust as a traditional ‘coppice with standards’ wood. It has a fine display of bluebells in spring and many varieties of fungi in autumn.
St Peter, Tandridge dates from around 1100. It was restored by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 19thC, and there is a marble tomb-monument in the churchyard to his wife (Lady Scott) who died in 1872. The church contains a reproduction of the famous Ghent Altarpiece, by the van Eyck brothers.
The Tandridge Yew is a female tree which still produces berries. It is exceptionally tall and has a girth of 11 metres.
The new housing development at Springfield is on the site of Oxted's Old School, as shown by the “Oxtead National Schools 1872” inscription preserved on the stone wall.

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