Speldhurst to the "Spotted Dog"

Speldhurst loop via Smarts Hill

Weather was dry and sunny but after our 4 days of walks in Wales last week we didn't want anything too strenuous. This walk popped up on the "Fancy Free Walks" site and fitted the bill precisely. We had actually walked sections of this walk before as it took in parts of the Wealdway (our very first long distance walk) and the Tunbridge Wells Circular but the bits in between proved just as nice to walk.

Parking up at Speldhurst Village we set off towards Stockland Green on the TW Circular before peeling off west through Poudsbridge and onto Smarts Hill. Smarts Hill is just a collection of a few houses but it hosts two very good pubs and we chose "The Spotted Dog". This pub sits atop a steep ridge and the outside tables at the back command a terrific view across the Weald to the North Downs.

After lunch we headed SE towards Ashurst Place before turning North to Speldhurst and the car.

Walking towards the Medway valley	Across the Weald to the North Downs
Lunch Stop - Te Spotted Dog	View from the terrace of The Spotted Dog

Stats for the day were ...

Finished Hike: 16 May 2016, 15:18:08

Route: Speldhurst - Smarts Hill

Weather: 

temperature	15°C
humidity	72%
wind	3 mph N

Explorer Link: http://walkmeter.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Hike-20160516-1035

Import Link: http://share.abvio.com/818ee85cf2cf57d1/Walkmeter-Hike-20160516-1035.kml

Hike Time: 3:19:11

Stopped Time: 1:10:03

Distance: 9.76 miles

Average: 2.95 mile per hr

Fastest Pace: 15:23 min/mile

Ascent: 1548

Descent: 1500

Calories: 1023