Length: 19.3km (12 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10: gentle hills
10.15 (Hastings-bound) train from Charing Cross (10.18 Waterloo East, 10.23 London Bridge) to Robertsbridge, arriving 11.34.
For walk directions click here.
This Wealden walk makes a nice summer outing. Its original lunch pub has closed, but there are alternatives on the Hurst Green alternative route (see walk directions), 3.4 miles into the walk where Eurasia, an Asian style restaurant occupies a former pub, or at the Waterside Cafe in Hawkhurst Fish Farm, 5.3 miles into the main walk (ie no need to go to Hurst Green), which does proper meals until 4pm. You can book tables at either place.
Your arrival at beautiful Bodiam Castle is delayed until tea time, but this means you can take advantage of the lovely cakes at the National Trust tea room. Faster walkers might still get there in time to visit the perfect fairy-tale castle, which only takes an hour or so. Otherwise you can see it for free from public footpaths.
In the background at Bodiam you may hear the hooting of a steam train. If you fancy a ride on one, the Kent & East Sussex Railway has departures to Tenterden at 3.28 and 4.40. It is a glorious ride through remote countryside that takes a full 50 minutes and gives you the real feel of a Victorian branch line. There are buses from Tenterden to Headcorn (best option) or Ashford leaving as late as 18.44: search on Traveline for details. From Headcorn your Robertsbridge ticket might just past muster: from Ashford you would need to pay a single train ticket back to Tonbridge.
Otherwise, it is a pleasant evening walk back into Robertsbridge, where the quirky Ostrich pub by the station is a favourite SWC drink stop.
Trains back go at at 14 and 44 past the hour until 19.14 and then 14 past the hour until 23.14. T=2.20
This Wealden walk makes a nice summer outing. Its original lunch pub has closed, but there are alternatives on the Hurst Green alternative route (see walk directions), 3.4 miles into the walk where Eurasia, an Asian style restaurant occupies a former pub, or at the Waterside Cafe in Hawkhurst Fish Farm, 5.3 miles into the main walk (ie no need to go to Hurst Green), which does proper meals until 4pm. You can book tables at either place.
Your arrival at beautiful Bodiam Castle is delayed until tea time, but this means you can take advantage of the lovely cakes at the National Trust tea room. Faster walkers might still get there in time to visit the perfect fairy-tale castle, which only takes an hour or so. Otherwise you can see it for free from public footpaths.
In the background at Bodiam you may hear the hooting of a steam train. If you fancy a ride on one, the Kent & East Sussex Railway has departures to Tenterden at 3.28 and 4.40. It is a glorious ride through remote countryside that takes a full 50 minutes and gives you the real feel of a Victorian branch line. There are buses from Tenterden to Headcorn (best option) or Ashford leaving as late as 18.44: search on Traveline for details. From Headcorn your Robertsbridge ticket might just past muster: from Ashford you would need to pay a single train ticket back to Tonbridge.
Otherwise, it is a pleasant evening walk back into Robertsbridge, where the quirky Ostrich pub by the station is a favourite SWC drink stop.
Trains back go at at 14 and 44 past the hour until 19.14 and then 14 past the hour until 23.14. T=2.20
1 comment:
About n=14 on this walk on a w=warm and sunny day. Nice walk, and about 10 of us had lunch at Waterside Cafe and others picnic just outside the cafe and joined us for drinks. Unfortunately one walker with an extremely fit and well behaved dog was excluded from the cafe as 'No Dogs Allowed' signs sprinkled everywhere.
Tea at Bodiam Castle for some, and then 4 of us ran to catch train as it pulled into Robertsbridge station.
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