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Home> Walks> England> Kent> Pluckley and The Darling Buds of May

Pluckley and The Darling Buds of May

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Walk directions

From the church, turn right and walk to the main road. Walk uphill, turn right by The Black Horse car park sign and make for a gate. Cut across the playing field and through a gap in the hedge that takes you into an orchard. Carry straight on keeping the line of trees on your right-hand side, then maintain direction to cross a metalled track at Sheerland Farm.

Continue through the orchards to the road. Cross over to join a footpath by a brick wall. Follow this, climb a stile and follow the path ahead to cross two more stiles.
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Location
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain  - Orchard tracks and footpaths, some field margins, many stiles
  Landscape  - Apple orchards, pasture and pretty villages
  Dog friendliness  - Good, but keep them on a lead
  Parking  - On street in Pluckley
  Toilets en route  - None on route
Walks in Kent Dog-friendly walks in Kent
About the walk
There can be few such memorable fictional families as the gutsy, lusty Larkins: irrepressible Pop, voluptuous Ma, beautiful Mariette and the gaggle of young, noisy children. This walk takes you through the heart of The Darling Buds of May country, for not only was the television series filmed at...
Read more
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Walking in Safety

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About the area
Kent is home to the White Cliffs of Dover, an English icon that marks the point where the Kent Downs AONB stretches from the Surrey Hills down to the sea. Visitors can explore historic parklands, including Knole Park and Sir Winston Churchill’s former home at Chartwell, or beautiful nature reserves, such as the coppiced woodlands of Denge Wood and Earley Wood and the ancient fine chalk woodland of Yockletts Bank.
Explore Kent
Area image

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Hotel
Chilston Park Hotel
★★★★
awardawardawardaward
"Grade I listed building worth seeking out for its paintings and antiques...."
  • Family rooms: 2
  • Free TV
  • WiFi available
  • Lift available
Restaurant with Rooms
Who'd A Thought It
★★★★★
awardaward
"Boutique-styling with a twist, creative cuisine and hot tubs too...."
  • Rooms 20
  • Satellite TV
  • Free TV
  • DVD Player
Inn
The Plough Inn
★★★★
awardaward
"A lovely spot to enjoy award-winning food and stylish accommodation...."
  • Rooms 6
  • Free TV
  • Wifi
  • Open parking
Nearby places to stay
Chilston Park Hotel
Chilston Park is an elegant Grade I listed country house set in 23 acres of immaculately landscaped gardens and parkland. An impressive collection of original paintings and antiques cre...
★★★★    Rating
Who'd A Thought It
The unusually named Who'd A Thought It is located in the quiet village of Grafty Green, convenient for both Maidstone and Ashford. Bedrooms and bathrooms are spacious and individually d...
★★★★★    Rating
The Plough Inn
Tucked away in a truly tranquil setting on top of the Kent Downs, The Plough specialises in exceptional food and boutique accommodation. This medieval inn is a special place where trave...
★★★★    Rating
The Barn at Green Farm Barn
A fabulously restored 19th-century, the listed Barn is located in Green Farm in the delightful Kent Weald. Together with the 'Cow Shed', it forms luxury accommodation for up to 12 guest...
★★★★    Rating
The Barn at Green Farm
A fabulously restored 19th-century, the listed Barn is located in Green Farm in the delightful Kent Weald. Together with the 'Cow Shed', it forms luxury accommodation for up to 12 guest...
★★★★    Rating
Eastwell Manor
Set in acres and acres of landscaped grounds, Eastwell Manor dates back to the Norman conquest and boasts a number of interesting features, including rooms with carved wood panelling an...
★★★★    Rating
Stable Oak Cottages
These beautiful holiday homes are nestled at the foot of the North Downs on the outskirts of Maidstone in a small village of Harrietsham. Here, guests can enjoy the outstanding views, a...
★★★★    Rating
Willow Cottage
Willow Cottage is perfect for a well deserved escape from the bustle of life. Experience nature in luxury on your private patio and enjoy the uninterrupted views and country living. The...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
Chilston Park Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Who'd A Thought It
   AA Rosette Award
The Plough Inn
The Plough Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
Chilston Park Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Who'd A Thought It
   AA Rosette Award
The Plough Inn
The Plough Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Gardenia
   AA Rosette Award
The West House Restaurant with Rooms
   AA Rosette Award
London Beach Hotel, Spa & Country Club
Boys Hall
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Route details
2hrs 30min
Dog-friendly
Difficulty:
Easy

Gradient:
Gentle


Distance:
4 miles (6.4kms)

Ascent:
98ft (30m)

Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby  
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Pluckley and The Darling Buds of May

Recommended by
Walk details
2hrs 30min
Dog friendly
Difficulty:
Easy
Gradient:
Gentle
Distance:
4 miles (6.4kms)
Ascent:
98ft (30m)
Walk directions

From the church, turn right and walk to the main road. Walk uphill, turn right by The Black Horse car park sign and make for a gate. Cut across the playing field and through a gap in the hedge that takes you into an orchard. Carry straight on keeping the line of trees on your right-hand side, then maintain direction to cross a metalled track at Sheerland Farm.
1 of 6

Continue through the orchards to the road. Cross over to join a footpath by a brick wall. Follow this, climb a stile and follow the path ahead to cross two more stiles.
2 of 6

Continue ahead, pass through a gap in a wall and enter an orchard. Follow the path ahead, cross a track and go through a gap into the next orchard. Follow the yellow arrows downhill through several orchards, eventually passing through a hedge into a field and follow the grassy path ahead, with the church away to your right. Go down steps to join the road opposite The Swan Inn.
3 of 6

Turn right, then cross a stile on the left beyond Laundry Cottage and head diagonally across the field – go to the left of the lone tree. Cross a stile, turn right and walk along the field-edge to cross a bridge and two stiles. Bear left, then right at the end of a garden to the road – you'll see duck ponds on either side. Follow the tarmac lane, pass a house and, at a waymarker, turn left and walk past the picturesque village green of Little Chart Forstal.
4 of 6

Go through the kissing gate on your right, walk down the right-hand edge of the field, go through a gate and turn left along the field-edge to a further gate to reach the road opposite the riding centre. Turn right, take the first road on the left past the farm and follow it to Rooting Manor.
5 of 6

Where the road bends left towards some houses, cross a stile by some gates, turn left, signed 'Pluckley', and walk along the top of the field. Turn right as you pass through the windbreak and walk up the orchard edge. In a few paces, take the path diagonally left through an orchard to a grassy track. Turn left, then at the windbreak turn right, soon to take the arrowed path left to pass through a meshed cherry orchard, via gates. Continue across another orchard to an earth track. Turn right and follow it left, keeping left at another track to reach Surrenden. Where the track becomes metalled, go through the kissing gate on the right and bear diagonally left across the field to a gate in the corner. Here you re-join your outward route, following the path back through orchards and past Sheerland Farm to Pluckley.
6 of 6
Location
Starting point
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain - Orchard tracks and footpaths, some field margins, many stiles
  Landscape - Apple orchards, pasture and pretty villages
  Dog friendliness - Good, but keep them on a lead
  Parking - On street in Pluckley
  Toilets en route - None on route
Walks in Kent Dog-friendly walks in Kent
About the walk
There can be few such memorable fictional families as the gutsy, lusty Larkins: irrepressible Pop, voluptuous Ma, beautiful Mariette and the gaggle of young, noisy children. This walk takes you through the heart of The Darling Buds of May country, for not only was the television series filmed at...
Read more
Been on this walk placeholder

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more
Walking in Safety placeholder

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more
Get an AA guide placeholder

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more
About the area
Area image
Kent
Kent is home to the White Cliffs of Dover, an English icon that marks the point where the Kent Downs AONB stretches from the Surrey Hills down to the sea. Visitors can explore historic parklands, including Knole Park and Sir Winston Churchill’s former home at Chartwell, or beautiful nature reserves, such as the coppiced woodlands of Denge Wood and Earley Wood and the ancient fine chalk woodland of Yockletts Bank.
Explore Kent

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Hotel
Chilston Park Hotel
★★★★
awardawardawardaward
"Grade I listed building worth seeking out for its paintings and antiques...."
  • Family rooms: 2
  • Free TV
  • WiFi available
  • Lift available
Restaurant with Rooms
Who'd A Thought It
★★★★★
awardaward
"Boutique-styling with a twist, creative cuisine and hot tubs too...."
  • Rooms 20
  • Satellite TV
  • Free TV
  • DVD Player
Inn
The Plough Inn
★★★★
awardaward
"A lovely spot to enjoy award-winning food and stylish accommodation...."
  • Rooms 6
  • Free TV
  • Wifi
  • Open parking
Nearby places to stay
Chilston Park Hotel
Chilston Park is an elegant Grade I listed country house set in 23 acres of immaculately landscaped gardens and parkland. An impressive collection of original paintings and antiques cre...
★★★★    Rating
Who'd A Thought It
The unusually named Who'd A Thought It is located in the quiet village of Grafty Green, convenient for both Maidstone and Ashford. Bedrooms and bathrooms are spacious and individually d...
★★★★★    Rating
The Plough Inn
Tucked away in a truly tranquil setting on top of the Kent Downs, The Plough specialises in exceptional food and boutique accommodation. This medieval inn is a special place where trave...
★★★★    Rating
The Barn at Green Farm Barn
A fabulously restored 19th-century, the listed Barn is located in Green Farm in the delightful Kent Weald. Together with the 'Cow Shed', it forms luxury accommodation for up to 12 guest...
★★★★    Rating
The Barn at Green Farm
A fabulously restored 19th-century, the listed Barn is located in Green Farm in the delightful Kent Weald. Together with the 'Cow Shed', it forms luxury accommodation for up to 12 guest...
★★★★    Rating
Eastwell Manor
Set in acres and acres of landscaped grounds, Eastwell Manor dates back to the Norman conquest and boasts a number of interesting features, including rooms with carved wood panelling an...
★★★★    Rating
Stable Oak Cottages
These beautiful holiday homes are nestled at the foot of the North Downs on the outskirts of Maidstone in a small village of Harrietsham. Here, guests can enjoy the outstanding views, a...
★★★★    Rating
Willow Cottage
Willow Cottage is perfect for a well deserved escape from the bustle of life. Experience nature in luxury on your private patio and enjoy the uninterrupted views and country living. The...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
Chilston Park Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Who'd A Thought It
   AA Rosette Award
The Plough Inn
The Plough Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Places to eat nearby
Chilston Park Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Who'd A Thought It
   AA Rosette Award
The Plough Inn
The Plough Inn
   AA Rosette Award
Gardenia
   AA Rosette Award
The West House Restaurant with Rooms
   AA Rosette Award
London Beach Hotel, Spa & Country Club
Boys Hall
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby