Day 30 Sevenoaks Weald to Knole: A Small Walk to a Big House

Knole Park, West Front

On the Greensand Way to Knole

For an OS map of today's walk click here.

Today was a fun, short walking day with friends, fueled by Cathi's homemade crumpets in the morning. They were a yummy surprise.

Richard walked with us the three short miles from Sevenoaks Weald to Knole, unwittingly carrying the seals with him, as he was the only one with a light pack and they were stowed in the pockets of my jacket, which Richard kindly carried. We met Cathi and Isabelle at Knole and had lunch together, then Ken and I toured Knole, a large country house. We loved it. It was noteworthy for its impressive medieval/Jacobean hall, several ornately decorated galleries of paintings, dining and drawing rooms on an impressive scale, and the opulent staterooms, with highlights being the Ambassador's bedroom and especially the King's bedroom, which was dominated by silver: it had amazing silver tables, hutches and candlesticks, with monumental tapestries and a huge covered bed—both of which had silver threaded material! We also saw the original manuscript of Virginia Woolf's Orlando (parts of which are set at Knole) and many other treasures. Knole is currently undergoing careful restoration and repair operations by the National Trust—some of which you can see "in action" as you tour the house—and we very much enjoyed our visit.

...at Knole

Fun with Cathi, Richard, and Isabelle...

We concluded the day in the garden with a lovely al fresco dinner made by Richard and Cathi. A pleasant Sunday with a very small walk to a very big house!

10,282 steps,  7.711 km, 295.2 cal
OS getamap measured distance: 3.76 mi (6.05 km)

On a small walk to a big house, a small woman at a big door!