Chiddingstone to Hever Castle/Penshurst

I don't believe there is a bus serves Chiddingstone Village at all. The National Trust say the #232 bus from Edenbridge does but the National Timetable Database show that service has ceased.

The 231/233 from Tunbridge Wells serve Chiddingstone Causeway which is where Penshurst Railway Station is [and not the same place].
Scroll down on this page to find the local taxi numbers to pre arrange taxis from Penshurst station- https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/phrOnwardTravelMap/dc31fae408b283e4d4226b6144bef58f/Penshurst__PHR_.pdf

My thought is to take the bus from Tunbridge Wells to Penshurst Village, pre book one of those taxis to Chiddingstone Village, pre book it back to Penshurst Station, then train (or bus) back to TW (on the train you have to change at Tonbridge, but the train is hourly, compared to the irregular bus schedule.

EDIT- I've just got the map out. There is a good footpath (technically what we call a byway) from opposite Penshurst Church to Chiddingstone Village (about 4km/3 miles) and field paths from Chiddingstone Village to Penshurst Station (about 3km/2 miles). The map is OS Landranger Sheet 188.
For Hever Castle (starting from Tunbridge Wells as opposed to London) I'm not sure that I wouldn't take the same bus to a village called Bough Beech then a 3km/2 miles walk mainly on field paths.

Stuart, thanks!

Are Chiddingstone Causeway/Penshurst Railway/Penshurst Village all the same? The link only shows Penshurst Village

How far in advance do you think I’d need to book the taxi…and are they reliable?

If the Castle Inn pub is open when I’m there, I could make a day of it & have dinner there, which would mean I couldn’t pre-book a taxi…maybe lunch would be better, although I was kind of hoping to have a cream or afternoon tea

Thanks again!

I don't believe there is a bus serves Chiddingstone Village at all.
The National Trust say the #232 bus from Edenbridge does but the
National Timetable Database show that service has ceased. The 231/233
from Tunbridge Wells serve Chiddingstone Causeway which is where
Penshurst Railway Station is [and not the same place]. Scroll down on
this page to find the local taxi numbers to pre arrange taxis from
Penshurst station-
https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/phrOnwardTravelMap/dc31fae408b283e4d4226b6144bef58f/Penshurst__PHR_.pdf
My thought is to take the bus from Tunbridge Wells to Penshurst
Village, pre book one of those taxis to Chiddingstone Village, pre
book it back to Penshurst Station, then train (or bus) back to TW (on
the train you have to change at Tonbridge, but the train is hourly,
compared to the irregular bus schedule

Chiddingstone Causeway and Penshurst Station are effectively the same place, but Penshurst Village is about two miles south of the station down a B road, which has no sidewalk and almost no shoulder. Even I would think twice and gulp a little bit before walking the road from station to village.

Nightfall up in the Lake District now is about 7pm. On Sunday we go onto daylight saving (British Summer Time) so that will become 8pm. So by the end of April it will be close to 9pm.

This is the bus route map= https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/metrobus/MB/231-map-20231127-1db2059d.pdf

Stuart, thanks!

Those walks are a little long for me on top of also touring - but I will consider them (especially the one TO Chiddingstone villlage) since it doesn’t require depending on anyone other than myself, lol

Hever - I’ll have to think about, because it’s the same issue as above - a lot of walking before a long day. I might consider going to London first -and ending up in London for dinner

Thank you!!!

EDIT- I've just got the map out. There is a good footpath (technically
what we call a byway) from opposite Penshurst Church to Chiddingstone
Village (about 4km/3 miles) and field paths from Chiddingstone Village
to Penshurst Station (about 3km/2 miles). The map is OS Landranger
Sheet 188. For Hever Castle (starting from Tunbridge Wells as opposed
to London) I'm not sure that I wouldn't take the same bus to a village
called Bough Beech then a 3km/2 miles walk mainly on field paths.

Stuart, thanks again !

Taxi is the way to go - and I think dinner at the pub could work if I book the return taxi in the day and I know what time I’m having dinner

Chiddingstone Causeway and Penshurst Station are effectively the same
place, but Penshurst Village is about two miles south of the station
down a B road, which has no sidewalk and almost no shoulder. Even I
would think twice and gulp a little bit before walking the road from
station to village.

Nightfall up in the Lake District now is about 7pm. On Sunday we go
onto daylight saving (British Summer Time) so that will become 8pm. So
by the end of April it will be close to 9pm. This is the bus route
map=
https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/metrobus/MB/231-map-20231127-1db2059d.pdf