Knockholt Pound and Chevening Circular

Starting from the centre of Knockholt Pound at the junction of Harrow Road with Chevening Lane by The Three Horsehoes pub. The pub dates back to at least the 18th century and stands on an old drovers’ route, at the meeting of five roads. As the village name suggests, there used to be a pound for animals here and Knockholt probably means ‘the oak copse’ in Old English.

To the west of the village, just off the route, are Knockholt Beeches, the highest point of the highest village in Kent and, as legend has it, a spot visited by William the Conqueror.

Walk up Chevening Lane, past houses and a converted old police station, and take the North Downs Way to the right along the edges of four fields with a view to the right to London. In the second field there’s a memorial bench to the guidebook writer Roland Oakeley with views down to Chevening House.

This narrow strip cut out of the woods, just a few metres wide, is called ‘the Keyhole’ which frames Chevening like a picture frame. This was designed by Lord Chatham around 1777 as a place to stop and admire the house while out horse riding through the estate. Lord Chatham had let the house from his cousin, the second Earl Stanhope, and during his 10 year lease made several changes, particularly to the parkland, including the ‘rides’ and avenues still visible today.

Follow the left hand edge of the field with the woods on your left. Follow the path as it bends right, passing a brick wall, continuing along the track, through woods until reaching Sundridge Lane. Turn left into the lane, and walk downhill for half a mile until you reach Keeper’s Cottage on the left. Pass the cottage then turn immediately through a yard and go straight ahead on a broad track into woods marked bridleway. Follow this track through Park Wood, reaching another handy bench to take in the views south.

Descend the left-hand edge of the field, keeping the woods on your left, following the track with views to your right of Chevening House and following Lord Chatham’s ride. Once the country seat of the Lennard and then Stanhope families. The final Earl of Stanhope had no children , so he set the house up as a private trust for use by the British government. Today, the estate is used as a country house for an official nominated by the Prime Minister.

Crossing the drive, follow the path and cross a stile with signpost to St Botolph’s church. Follow the footpath until it emerges at the gateway into St Botolph’s churchyard.

Despite a small village, the large church is due to Chevening House and estate. Over the centuries, subsequent landowners enlarged the church to house their family tombs.
Jane Austen’s uncle was rector from 1813-1851 and some people claim that Chevening House inspired Rosings Park in Pride and Prejudice.

After visiting the church, walk through the churchyard, keeping the church on your left and exit via the gate. Keep straight ahead on an enclosed track until you reach Chevening Road. Turn left at the road and into Turvin’s Farm where there’s a good pit stop of EatnMess.

Be careful on Chevening Road, taking the first marked footpath on the left. Walk along an enclosed track, and then continue up the right hand side of the field, veering left and uphill through a gate. Take a moment to rest on the bench and take in the good views of the route walked, spotting Chevening church, house and parkland, with far reaching views over to Sevenoaks. We were treated to red kites circling and a kestrel.

Keep along the right hand edge of the fields with woods on the right. At the top, turn left and continue along the top of the fields, following the path back round until reaching Chevening Lane. Turn right back along the route walked at the start to retrace your steps completing the loop.