Knole self guided rambles by Geoff Rambler

Knole Park Self-Guided Rambles Contents Page 2: Seven Oaks – 3 miles / 5 km. Page 4: Wheels - 3 miles / 5 km – suitable for buggies / bicycles. Page 6: Family Woodlands Ramble - 2.75 mile / 4.5 km. Page 8: Valley’s and Dells - 1 mile / 1.5 km. Page 10: Adventure Walk – 1.25 miles / 2 km. Page 12: Open Spaces – 1.5 miles / 2.5 km. Page 14: Foxgloves & Fawns (June/July) – 2 miles / 3.25km. +++++++ We would like everyone (and thing) to enjoy the park, so before you start your walk, please have a read through the Knole Park Walking Code: Please only take pictures and leave foot prints. Please leave wild flowers for other to enjoy and take your litter home. Please do not ‘hide’ it amongst the bracken - it’s unsightly and very harmful to animals that may eat it. Please don’t, under any circumstances, leave glass behind. Broken glass is dangerous to us and wildlife and can also focus the sun’s rays and start a fire. Please avoid the golfing areas. Paths in these areas don’t form part of any of these walks, and these areas can be dangerous. Please don’t feed the deer anything. Their digestion is not suited to many things we eat and offer them and it encourages them to come close to humans. This may be nice, but they will snatch food from children who may also be accidentally hurt should a deer shake his head and catch them in the face with their antler. Please don’t touch what may appear to be a deserted fawn / calf – it is normal for them to be left for periods of time. Its mother knows where it is and may desert it if it smells of human. +++++++++++ Blue lines represent the described route. Yellow pegs – the mentioned way-markers. Red lines mark roadways. 1

Knole Park: Seven Oaks A 3-mile / 5 km walk around an edge of the park, with a chance to see the Seven Oaks near the White Hart (PH). Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Indicative calorie burn 300. Parts can be muddy so sturdy walking shoes are advised. Do use the route description in conjunction with the associated map – it will help will help you follow the described route. 1. Leaving from the main visitor entrance that stands between two towers, turn left past the ‘Welcome to Knole’ sign. Continue to the end of the wall to reach a way-maker post on the corner. Continue straight ahead on path SU30 and decent down through the woods to reach the valley. Turn right and after a few yards take the valley off to the left. 2. Continue along this valley passing a row of fallen trees on the right and then an old quarry on the right. Take the track that runs up between two trees and follow it to reach a group of conifers near the road arch. Turn left and follow the path that rises into the woods. Follow this path that runs parallel to the road. (This path can be muddy). En route you will sight on The White Hart (PH) – on the right and outside of the park. The path will then pass through a shrubbery of Rhododendrons to reach a gate to the park. (If you wish to visit The White Hart you can leave through this gate and walk back on yourself along a pedestrian path.) 3. Follow the path round to the left then the right and continue to follow the path, that remains parallel to the road, and then opens up at the end of the valley you crossed at the end of (1). Remain high and follow the path round to the left - heading round to houses. (Stop at the head of the valley to enjoy a great view along the valley.) On reaching the hard surfaced path turn left and follow it to the way-marker post. At the post follow the wide track round to the right into Chestnut Walk (no name sign). (If you wish to shorten the route you can continue straight ahead along Broad Walk (no name sign), to reach (5).) 4. Follow Chestnut Walk ignoring all unmarked paths to the left to reach a way-marker post two fire hydrant makers to the right. Turn left at this post and follow the path that runs between an old chestnut tree and a younger, protected tree, and then past another round way-maker post. Follow the stony path through the woods. Just past the double-headed arrow way-maker, turn left and follow the surfaced track (Green Sands Way) to where it bears left. Continue straight ahead, crossing Broad Walk (no name sign) to pick up the way-marked Green Sands Way. 5. Pass through the trees and follow the path up to the corner of the garden wall. Continue on your direction of travel along the path that runs between a row of trees and the wall on your right. Follow the wall to the end then round to the right to return to the start of the walk.

Knole Park: Wheels Walk A 3 mile / 5 km walk on fairly flat / dry ground and hard surfaces. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours walking time. Indicative calorie burn 300 - if walking, probably more if pushing a pushchair. Do use the route description in conjunction with the associated map – it will help will help you follow the described route. 1. Leaving from the main visitor entrance that stands between two towers, turn left past the ‘Welcome to Knole’ sign. Continue to the end of the wall to reach a way-maker post on the corner. Turn left and follow the sandy track that runs between a wide avenue of trees. At the end of the avenue of trees / in line with the end of the wall, continue straight ahead to reach a crossroads of tracks. Cross the track to the way-maker post (Green Sands Way)1. Pass through the trees (clump of fallen trees to the right) to reach the hard surfaced Board Walk. (No name sign.) [If you are using an ‘off-road’ buggy you could rather 2. Turn right and follow Board Walk towards a distant clump of trees at the head of the track. At the head of the track - just before the targeted clump of trees - take the wide track off to the left - Chestnut Walk. (No name sign.) Follow Chestnut Walk ignoring all paths to the left that have not been way-marked. Pass the first way-marker post to reach a second post signing the Green Sands Way. (Path runs between an old chestnut tree and two younger protected trees.) 3. Continue along the surfaced track to reach Broad Walk - cross and pick up the waymarked path (Green Sands Way) that you travelled on your way out. Head towards the corner of the garden wall and follow the sandy track between the avenue of trees. Turn right at the next corner and follow the wall back to the start.

Knole Park: Family Woodlands Ramble A 2.75 mile / 4.5 km walk over a mixture of surfaces but parts of this walk can be very muddy - good walking shoes needed. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours walking time. Indicative calorie burn 275. Do use the route description in conjunction with the associated map – it will help will help you follow the described route. 1. Leaving from the main visitor entrance that stands between two towers, turn left past the ‘Welcome to Knole’ sign. Continue to the end of the wall to reach a way-maker post on the corner. Continue straight ahead on path SU30 and descend down through the woods to reach the valley. 2. Turn left and follow the treed bank to find and take the first exit on the left - that runs between the end of the bank and a hollow / old ‘quarry’. Climb the sandy track on reaching the top look out for the Green Sands Way (GSW) way-marker post on the right. Turn right at the post and follow the GSW through the woods, cross Broad Walk and continue straight ahead on the hard surfaced track. At the bottom of a short steep descent lookout for and take the first unmarked path to the right - wide grassed ‘entrance’. (If you reach the way-marked path on the right you have overshot by a few yards.) 3. Follow the path through the woods. Part way along the path you will pass two impressive stumps of fallen trees. Continue to reach a crossroads of tracks and continue straight ahead to reach the hard surfaced Chestnut Walk. Turn right and follow the walk to a T-junction with Broad Walk. Cross Broad Walk to reach a waymaker post. Facing the side with three yellow way-marking discs, take the path that heads away from you at 1 o’clock. Follow the path into the woods and that runs parallel with Broad Walk and the valley to the left. Follow the path that winds through the woods - that remains high - and ignore the occasion track off to the left. On exiting the woods you will see the garden wall ahead. 4. On exiting the woods descend down between two fallen trees, cross the track and pick up the path opposite. Follow the path up to the wall / avenue of trees and bear left to follow the wall round to reach the start point.

Knole Park: Valley’s and Dells 1 mile / 1.5 km. circular walk on good surfaces. Indicative calorie burn 100. Allow 30 minutes walking time - but if you see deer in the valley you may find you spend some time watching them! Do use the route description in conjunction with the associated map – it will help will help you follow the described route. 1. Leaving from the main visitor entrance that stands between two towers, turn right and right again at the crossroads. Turn left into Duchess Walk (sign saying No Vehicle Access) and immediately locate the way-marker post on the left. Join the grass here and walk parallel to Duchess Walk until you reach the 5th tree - ignoring the stump. Head away from Duchess Walk here in a 11 o’clock direction keeping to the right of the tree protected by short posts - aiming for the pair of bright

No Entry Signs.

2. At the crossroad cross the road continue head - on your direction of travel - along a hard surfaced path. After about 200m note on the left a tree with a lot of surface roots. A short distance on when the surfaced path bears to the right to descend to the valley TURN LEFT by a fallen log, and follow the grassy path that runs parallel to the valley that’s on your right. Continue until you reach a T-Junction with a stony path. 3. Turn left at this junction and follow the path to reach some steps to the roadway. Cross the road and continue your assent - following way-marker posts - to the top of Echo Mount. From here you will be able to see where you started your walk and can choose your own return route back.

Knole Park: Adventure Walk 1.25 mile / 2 km. circular walk on good surfaces. Indicative calorie burn 125. Parts of this walk involves walking across one, rough land with no describable route. Good walking shoes advised. Allow 45 to 60 minutes walking time. Do use the route description in conjunction with the associated map – it will help will help you follow the described route.

1. Leaving from the main visitor entrance that stands between two towers, turn left past the ‘Welcome to Knole’ sign. Continue to the end of the wall to reach a way-maker post on the corner. Continue straight ahead on path SU30 and descend down through the woods to reach the Gallops / valley. 2. Turn right and follow the valley towards the roadway that will become visible after a short distance. (Should you need to shorten the walk any path off to the right will take you out of the valley to a point where you will see the house.) As you approach the roadway bear to the right - spotting a way-marker post - to join the surfaced path. Turn right passing between some concrete posts. 3. Continue your ascent. When you meet a Y-Junction take the left branch. Near the top you will reach - on the right - two mature tree with a protected smaller tree between them. At this smaller tree leave the surfaced path by doing a sharp left and ascend the grassy bank to reach the roadway. Cross the road and continue up to Echo Mount towards the near tall tree. At the top continue on your direction of travel keeping a clump of Sweet Chestnut trees to your left, and descend to reach a roadway. 4. Cross the road and continue downwards to meet a surfaced path. Turn right on this path and follow it to crossroads. To avoid walking on the road, cross the road and bear left towards the tree protected by short stumps. Passing to the left of this tree continue on your direction of travel to reach a row of trees. Turn right and walk parallel to Duchess Walk to return to the house.

Knole Park: Open Spaces A 1.5 mile / 2.5 km walk. Mixture of surfaces. Allow 45 min to 1 hour. Indicative calorie burn 150. Do use the route description in conjunction with the associated map – it will help will help you follow the described route. 1. Leaving from the main visitor entrance that stands between two towers, turn left past the ‘Welcome to Knole’ sign. Continue to the end of the wall to reach a way-maker post on the corner turn left and keep close to the wall. Follow the path that runs between the wall and a row of trees. At the end of the wall continue on the descending path that bears off to the right towards fallen trees to reach a way marker-post (for the Green Sands Way) at a crossroads of tracks. 2. Turn right and follow the descending track to reach the valley and turn right and follow the valley towards the roadway that will soon come into view. (Should you need to shorten the walk any path off to the right will take you out of the valley to a point where you will see the house.) As you approach the roadway bear to the right - spotting a way-marker post - to join the hard surfaced path. Turn right passing between some concrete posts. 3. Continue your ascent. When you meet a Y-Junction take the right branch. (At the waymarker post towards the top of the slope look to your right and you should be able to see the dome of the icehouse.) At the top of this path you will meet a roadway and will be able to see the front of the hose where you started your walk.

Knole Park: Foxgloves & Fawns – If done in June / July. Nice walk at other times as well. A 2 mile / 3.25 km walk over a mixture of surfaces. Indicative calorie burn – 200. Allow 1-hour walking time - but if you see deer you may find you spend some time watching them! Do use the route description in conjunction with the associated map – it will help will help you follow the described route. 1. Leaving from the main visitor entrance, that stands between two towers, turn right and right again at the crossroads. Turn left into Duchess Walk (sign saying No Vehicle Access). Follow the car-sized track to a crossroads at which you turn left. After a few feet you will reach on the left some green utility boxes. Turn right here and head upwards over rough grassland to reach the nearest mature oak tree. With your back to the oak tree and facing towards the house, bear right (2 o'clock) keeping a bracken / foxglove patch to your close right - heading past a pair of small hawthorn trees - to reach a pathway. 2. Turn right on the hard stoned surfaced pathway and follow it into woodland where you may see deer grazing. After about 200m note on the left a tree with a lot of surface roots. A short distance on, when the surfaced path bears to the right to descend to the valley, TURN LEFT by a fallen log – which may be hidden by bracken, and follow the grassy path that runs parallel to the valley that’s on your right. Continue until you reach a T-Junction with a stony / sandy path. Turn right and descend into the valley. 3. Turn left and follow the valley. Cross the roadway (take care cars come from both directions) and continue along the valley. After about 300m note BUT DO NOT TAKE the valley that branches off to the right but stay close to the trees on the left. Continue past the path on the left marked ‘shortcut’ on the map. Shortly after the tree line draws back from the valley take the broad grassy path off to the left – just before a hollow in the ground. 4. Follow the track upwards. At the top of the hill you will notice on the left the walled garden of the house. Take a pathway off to the left and follow it upwards to reach an avenue of trees that run parallel to the garden wall. Turn left and keeping the wall to your right follow the wall round to reach the start point.

Foxgloves & Fawns 2 mile / 3.25 km Allow 1 hour without stops.