Our local area
We are located in the small village of Underriver, about 3 miles (5 km) south-east of Sevenoaks, Kent.
The oldest part of the pub dates back to 1820, although there has been a building on the site for many hundreds of years. No records now exist, but it's believed this too was an Inn, as the village was close to the main trading routes between Dover, Canterbury and London.
The name "Underriver" is derived from the Old English sub le ryver which translates into modern English as "under the hill". The village was called “The Golden Valley” by Samuel Palmer, the painter who lived for a time at Shoreham.
The village church, St Margaret's, is a Grade II listed building. It was built in 1867 to the designs of George Gilbert Scott.[1]
Until the early 20th century, Underriver had its own school, forge, post office, pub and church. Today only The White Rock Inn and the church remain!
There are many family attractions in our local area.
Knole Park is a 383.4-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest approx. 3 miles from us. About 43 acres of the park belongs to the National Trust, as does Knole House, which sits within it. The remaining parkland is privately owned by the Knole Estate.
It is in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The park has acidic woodland, parkland, woods and ponds. The park is open to the public and has a herd of around 350 deer, both fallow deer and Sika deer, which are owned and managed by the Knole Estate. The golf course of Knole Park Golf Club is located within Knole Park. The park was the location for the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" promotional video.
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens have scenic walks and a great play area for kids, only 3 miles from us.
The Oast Theatre in Tonbridge is only 4 miles from us so why not enjoy a pre-show dinner at The White Rock Inn! It was a simple 19th century Kentish oast house, in use until 1966, and became the Oast Theatre in 1974. There are ten major public productions a year.
Reuthes is approx. 5 miles from us. The gardens are 11-acres of woodland and one of the country’s best selection of specialist rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and conifers.
Igtham Mote is only 3 miles from us. Enjoy walking on the Ightham Mote estate which offers unique views across the Kent countryside and stunning displays of flora and fauna. There is the renowned ancient bluebell woodland in spring at Scathes Wood, wildflowers in the summer. Discover the hoppers' huts and the source of the water spring that feeds the moat at Ightham Mote.
One of many beautiful rambles around us -
From One Tree Hill car park, turn right downhill to road. Cross over and turn left. Take the path to the right of the Shepherds Mead entrance, between fences, and continue along the top of a large field. At a junction of paths at the corner of the field, turn sharp left down a sunken track between hedges.
At the bottom, turn right past a converted oast house. Follow a metalled drive until you reach the newly redeveloped Coach House on the right. Do not follow the drive as it bears right uphill but instead take the broad track on the left and follow this past a pond. Approx. half a mile the track passes through a narrow band of woodland. Immediately after the woodland on left ends, take path through gate on the left along the edge of a field to the corner. Bear left and go over a stile beside a gate.
Bear right across a field to a stile in the hedge to the right of the farm. Climb the stile, cross a lane and climb another stile into a field. Bear left across the field, passing a large pond on the left, go over a stile by a gate and cross a short field to a second stile.
Continue straight ahead uphill to the highest point of the field where a gate leads to an enclosed track. This track soon turns sharp right and emerges on the road in Underriver, opposite the church. Take a pit stop at The White Rock Inn and then continue right to the footpath after The Forge.
This path initially follows a hedge on the right and continue forward to a stile. Cross this stile and bear slightly right across the next field to another stile. Cross this stile, another field, and another stile. Cross the next field towards another stile, but before you reach the stile bear left and follow the fence to another stile.
Once over this stile there are two magnificent trees ahead – an oak on the left and an ash on the right. Aim to the right of the ash and soon you will see a stile in the hedge. Climb the stile into the road and turn left.
When the road bends left, the entrance to Absalom’s Farm is straight ahead. Take a lane on the right immediately before the farm entrance. Continue up the lane until, just past the entrance to White House, there is woodland on the left. Soon after the start of the woodland take a clearly signposted footpath on the left.
Continue until you reach the entrance to White Rocks Farm Boarding Kennels. Follow the access drive to the kennels, avoiding all left turns, until you reach the road opposite where you left it at the start of the walk.
The oldest part of the pub dates back to 1820, although there has been a building on the site for many hundreds of years. No records now exist, but it's believed this too was an Inn, as the village was close to the main trading routes between Dover, Canterbury and London.
The name "Underriver" is derived from the Old English sub le ryver which translates into modern English as "under the hill". The village was called “The Golden Valley” by Samuel Palmer, the painter who lived for a time at Shoreham.
The village church, St Margaret's, is a Grade II listed building. It was built in 1867 to the designs of George Gilbert Scott.[1]
Until the early 20th century, Underriver had its own school, forge, post office, pub and church. Today only The White Rock Inn and the church remain!
There are many family attractions in our local area.
Knole Park is a 383.4-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest approx. 3 miles from us. About 43 acres of the park belongs to the National Trust, as does Knole House, which sits within it. The remaining parkland is privately owned by the Knole Estate.
It is in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The park has acidic woodland, parkland, woods and ponds. The park is open to the public and has a herd of around 350 deer, both fallow deer and Sika deer, which are owned and managed by the Knole Estate. The golf course of Knole Park Golf Club is located within Knole Park. The park was the location for the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever" promotional video.
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens have scenic walks and a great play area for kids, only 3 miles from us.
The Oast Theatre in Tonbridge is only 4 miles from us so why not enjoy a pre-show dinner at The White Rock Inn! It was a simple 19th century Kentish oast house, in use until 1966, and became the Oast Theatre in 1974. There are ten major public productions a year.
Reuthes is approx. 5 miles from us. The gardens are 11-acres of woodland and one of the country’s best selection of specialist rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and conifers.
Igtham Mote is only 3 miles from us. Enjoy walking on the Ightham Mote estate which offers unique views across the Kent countryside and stunning displays of flora and fauna. There is the renowned ancient bluebell woodland in spring at Scathes Wood, wildflowers in the summer. Discover the hoppers' huts and the source of the water spring that feeds the moat at Ightham Mote.
One of many beautiful rambles around us -
From One Tree Hill car park, turn right downhill to road. Cross over and turn left. Take the path to the right of the Shepherds Mead entrance, between fences, and continue along the top of a large field. At a junction of paths at the corner of the field, turn sharp left down a sunken track between hedges.
At the bottom, turn right past a converted oast house. Follow a metalled drive until you reach the newly redeveloped Coach House on the right. Do not follow the drive as it bears right uphill but instead take the broad track on the left and follow this past a pond. Approx. half a mile the track passes through a narrow band of woodland. Immediately after the woodland on left ends, take path through gate on the left along the edge of a field to the corner. Bear left and go over a stile beside a gate.
Bear right across a field to a stile in the hedge to the right of the farm. Climb the stile, cross a lane and climb another stile into a field. Bear left across the field, passing a large pond on the left, go over a stile by a gate and cross a short field to a second stile.
Continue straight ahead uphill to the highest point of the field where a gate leads to an enclosed track. This track soon turns sharp right and emerges on the road in Underriver, opposite the church. Take a pit stop at The White Rock Inn and then continue right to the footpath after The Forge.
This path initially follows a hedge on the right and continue forward to a stile. Cross this stile and bear slightly right across the next field to another stile. Cross this stile, another field, and another stile. Cross the next field towards another stile, but before you reach the stile bear left and follow the fence to another stile.
Once over this stile there are two magnificent trees ahead – an oak on the left and an ash on the right. Aim to the right of the ash and soon you will see a stile in the hedge. Climb the stile into the road and turn left.
When the road bends left, the entrance to Absalom’s Farm is straight ahead. Take a lane on the right immediately before the farm entrance. Continue up the lane until, just past the entrance to White House, there is woodland on the left. Soon after the start of the woodland take a clearly signposted footpath on the left.
Continue until you reach the entrance to White Rocks Farm Boarding Kennels. Follow the access drive to the kennels, avoiding all left turns, until you reach the road opposite where you left it at the start of the walk.