Penshurst Kentish Vineyards Walk
Enjoy fine walking country in west Kent, with a liquid reward
Google Maps Open Source Maps| Statistics and Files | ||
|---|---|---|
| Start: Penshurst | Distance: 3.1 miles (5.0 km) | Climbing: 56 metres |
| Grid Ref: TQ 52758 43802 | Time: 2 hours | Rating: Easy |
| GPX Route File | Google Earth File | About Penshurst |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Start: Penshurst | Distance: 3.1 miles (5.0 km) |
| Climbing: 56 metres | Grid Ref: TQ 52758 43802 |
| Time: 2 hours | Rating: Easy |
| GPX Route File | Google Earth File |
Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)
The Walk:
This walk through wooded country and fertile farmland begins at Penshurst Place, with its magnificent great medieval hall, and passes close by an English vineyard where liquid refreshment can reward the exercise.
The village of Penshurst, which lies beside the River Medway in the garden of England that is Kent, clusters around Penshurst Place, the finest 14th century manor house in England. It was the birthplace of Sir Philip Sydney, a gallant officer who, when he lay mortally wounded on the battlefield in 1586, passed his water flask to a wounded soldier, saying "thy need is greater than mine". The house is still lived in by his descendants, one of which was Lord De L'Isle, who won the Victoria Cross during World War Two at Anzio.
Penshurst village centre
Leicester Square, Penshurst
Both Penshurst Place and Gardens are open to the public. A particular note are the Great Hall, which dates from 1340, and the Minstrel's Gallery. There are also fine paintings, tapestries and furniture, plus a children's toy museum and an adventure playground.
The village of Penshurst is totally unspoilt, and many of the buildings have remained unaltered from the 16th century. The way to the pinnacled Church of St John the Baptist is through Leicester Square, named after the Elizabethan Earl of Leicester, and predating the one in London's West End.
The two houses fronting the square are not so old, having been built by the 19th century architect George Devey. They are decorated with signs and symbols relating to the De L'Isles and several Kentish features, but they appear just as ancient as the very much older timber and tile-hung houses that lean either side of the 16th century lych-gate to the churchyard. The elegant Queen Anne rectory can be seen up the drive.
Penshurst Park
Penshurst and St John the Baptist church
The Leicester Arms is a picture postcard ivy-clad hostelry, with stone flag floors and low beams. It is a very popular establishment, attracting visitors from nearby Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells. The walk out of the village rises gently to provide fine panoramic views of the landscape, with undulating narrow lanes with trees marking the course of streams and copse's crowning the higher ground.
Penshurst Vineyards were set on a slope overlooking the Medway Valley. The vinery was open to the public all throughout the year in the 1980's and 1990's before closing towards the end of the last century. Since then, vineyards have continued to spring up in the area, this being due to the south-east of England climate and favourable ground conditions. There are now over fifty vineyards in Kent, following on from the Penshurst pioneers.
The walk in the countryside just west of Penshurst is wonderful, a nice and easy ramble in the valley at the confluence of the River Eden and River Medway. Both rivers are seen on the way around, which also includes lush meadowland and the view of the park at Penshurst Place.
Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.
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