Octavia Hill Centenary Walk
This circular walk follows the Octavia Hill Centenary walk through the beautiful Kent Downs.
The waymarked walk starts off at the car park at Toys Hill where you can enjoy some splendid views over the surrounding Kent countryside.
At Ide Hill you will visit the memorial bench to Octavia Hill, one of the three founders of the National Trust. See the photos and video below for more details about her interesting life.
Other highlights on the walk include a visit to the historic Chartwell House and the beautiful Emmetts Garden. The 19th century garden contains many exotic trees and shrubs from around the world.
The western side of the walk also visits the small village of Crockham Hill and the church where Octavia Hill is buried.
Octavia Hill Centenary Walk Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Octavia Hill Centenary Walk Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Octavia Hill Centenary Walk OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Octavia Hill Centenary Walk Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The circular Weardale Walk also passes the hill. The waymarked trail visits the historic Weardale Manor Ruins where you can enjoy more splendid views over the area.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Kent Downs Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Octavia Hill's Bench on Ide Hill. One of the three founders of the National Trust, Octavia Hill was a pioneering thinker and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving urban housing and protecting green spaces, and the impact of her efforts is still evident today. Hill's belief in the importance of access to nature for human wellbeing and her advocacy against the destruction of the natural landscape are perhaps even more relevant in today's world.
Toy's Hill Viewpoint. Octavia became a fervent advocate for open spaces for urban populations. Her initial involvement in the campaign to save Swiss Cottage Fields, although unsuccessful, led her to meet Robert Hunter, the solicitor for the Commons Preservation Society. Together, they successfully campaigned against development on several notable sites in London, including Parliament Hill Fields, Vauxhall Park, and Hilly Fields. Their collaboration, along with Hardwicke Rawnsley, culminated in the founding of the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty in 1895. For the remaining 17 years of her life until her death in 1912, Octavia continued her dedication to countryside preservation. She played a pivotal role in helping the National Trust acquire and protect its initial properties and campaigned vigorously for the preservation of footpaths to ensure public access to natural spaces.
In the Rose Garden at Emmetts Garden.
Chartwell House
Holy Trinity Church, Crockham Hill. Octavia Hill lived at Crockham Hill, and thanks to her efforts, much of the surrounding land was acquired for the National Trust. She chose to be buried in Holy Trinity Church rather than Westminster Abbey, and her grave can be found under the yew tree near the porch. Inside the church, there is a stone memorial dedicated to her life, as well as the Octavia Hill memorial window. This window illustrates the stark contrast between the hardships of urban life and the benefits of country life, which Octavia believed should be accessible to everyone.
Royal Oak Cottages in Crockham Hill