Hemsted Forest parking

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Hi

I am a TROT member and have a key on the way so I can ride round Hemsted.

I have asked where the box park is and am awaiting a reply, but in the meantime, can anyone tell me where it is? I thought it was on Golford Road, but someone has said there are 2 and you go up through the main car park area?

Can anyone help?
 
I am not an expert on the parking there and where the key lets you into as I can hack to it but have seen lorries/trailers park at either end. It is quieter if you come in at the Cranbrook Road end (just after junction with Mockbeggar Lane) and probably more room to park, get the horse ready etc, but you can also get in at the Beneden end it's either Goddards Green Road or Golford Road, sorry I can't remember.
 
I am really lucky that I can hack there, but also really lucky to have my horses at home. We are just moving house from the Cranbrook/Tenterden road at Fosten Green to Ien Green jst to the south of Benenden hence experience of the car parks at both ends!
 
Double lucky!

Do you know the equestrian centre there? What's it like? Was hoping they would start holding some events, but they never seem to have updated their website!
 
It's called hemsted Forest equestrian centre. Their website says they are going to have 3 arenas and an indoor and stuff. It's entrance is on Golford Road.
 
I am sure there are a couple of places to park, but I am not sure which one the keys would give you access to?
I know the equestrian centre well, I used to work there! Then they were just a riding school but would be great if they did do some shows as I am also only up the road in Frittenden!
 
Horse is in Marden, and I live in Goudhurst. Haven't ridden in Hemsted before, but went for a walk there last week and loved it.

Am taking my lad to Camber for the first time this Sunday....eek!
 
baker that's interesting! It's a TROT car park - apparently you can only ride through the forest if you have a permit, but I'm sure that can't be true as looking on a map the tracks are bridleways....
 
Well I have often wondered the same as I used to frequently cycle in there and have never seen a locked car park?
I am just about to join TROT as I have just recently found out that the farm next to my yard is in fact a TROT ride (been there almost a year and never knew!! :eek:) and it states on the paper work that Hempstead and Bedgebury are also under the TROT scheme. I can understand this of Bedgebury, as a lot goes on there and the security is quite strict but not too sure on Hemstead :confused:
 
If they have taken £15 from me for a key that I don't need I will be annoyed!

I used to be stabled at Bedgebury, and could never understand the need for a permit to ride round there when most of it is bridlepaths anyway!
 
Love Hemstead too, horses, dog walks and bikes you can do it all.

You will love camber, we take the horses there regularly. Funnily enough even the spooky ones seem to take everything in their stride there, the tidal reach is huge and you can have a great gallop.
 
The Hemstead entrance that I use for dog walking is on Golford road (I live in Cranbrook).

A few years ago, I looked at Hemstead EC, and wasn't impressed; the school, which was very important to me, was deep, dusty and flooded when it rained. Also their own horses looked very poor, and I have since heard that they overworked them.
But, this was at least 4 years ago, so things have probably changed.

All I will say, is that if your are looking for livery in the area, don't touch a certain yard in Cranbrook (towards Hartley) with a barge pole - very nasty experience there, for myself and lots of others.
 
Well I looked round and paid a bit more attention to detail at the weekend. I went past the EC you so know where you mean now but I don't really know anything about it - sorry. The entrance we take the horses in from our new house is on Goddards Green Road just opposite the turning into Benenden school, down the road a short way and then up a slope. I also noticed that the height restriction had been removed and there was no gate on there at the weekend, not sure if it's gone or they are just in the process of replacing it, but you might be able to use this one until you get your keys. This entrance is definately busier than the one on the Cranbrook road and so are the main paths, but still very good, lots of nice sandy paths down this end too, still quite wet for a canter, but they're getting there in terms of drying out.
 
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