Toys Hill carpark trail, via Emmetts Garden
This 2 & 1/2 mile walk takes you along the public footpath through Emmetts Garden and to the picturesque village of Ide Hill, where you'll find a commemorative seat to Octavia Hill.
Closures
Map
Start:
Toys Hill car park on Chart Lane, grid ref: TQ470517
1
Head out of Toys hill carpark via the road and cross to the path on the other side. Follow the path, bearing left until you reach a junction of five paths.
2
At a junction of five paths, continue straight ahead on the level, ignoring one leading up on your left and two to the right. Continue along the wide path for some distance to a waymark. Turn left along the path and head down the hill, passing through a wooden gate to the next waymark.
3
At the waymark, turn left and continue along the path. At a crossing track, continue straight onto a wide track. Turn right onto the footpath, past the waymark and through the gate. The footpath will take you out next to the Emmetts Garden tea-room.
We ask you to please stick to the public footpath whilst walking through. If you would like to visit the gardens, normal admission applies - please head to the Visitor Centre for this.
4
Follow the public footpath to the left of the tea-room and down the wide road, with the north and south gardens on your left and right. As the view opens up over the wild flower meadow, turn right down a private drive and past South Lodge. Continue to a road.
5
When you reach the road, turn right along it and follow it into Ide Hill village. Please take care as this is a quiet but small country lane. Head up, past the school until just before the village green.
The church at Ide Hill was originally a small chapel which was erected as part of a personal project by the then Bishop of London, Porteus Beilby.
6
In Ide Hill village, before you reach the roundabout, turn right onto a public footpath. Continue straight.
If you would like to see Octavia Hill's memorial bench, head up to the church and along the track, passed a field until it opens up to a viewpoint and grass. Head down the hill and the bench is to your left with another viewpoint. On the main path, follow it round to the right and back to the main path.
7
If you chose to do the optional detour to Octavia Hill's memorial bench, turn left onto the main public footpath. If not, continue straight out of the woodland, passing between woodland on your right and a field on the left.
8
Go through a metal kissing gate and continue along the dirt track. Head past a solitary oak tree and through another metal kissing gate. At the end of the dirt track, walk under the power cables and continue up the next field.
9
At the corner of the wood bear slightly left to a gate and head up to a small footbridge over a stream. Follow the boundary of the wood then turn right, past a seat.
10
When the path forks, head up the right path and then straight over the next crossroads. Continue forwards back to the five path junction that you crossed at the start of the route.
11
At the five path junction, take the second exit, ignoring one on your left and two on your right, back towards the road. Cross the road back to Toys Hill carpark to finish your walk.
End:
Toys Hill car park on Chart Lane, grid ref: TQ470517
