Sunday Walk – Penshurst Circular, via Bough Beech

Extra Walk 300b – Penshurst Circular, via Bough Beech (Short Walk 2)

Length: 14¾ km (9.2 miles), with longer afternoon options. Toughness: 3/10

09:33 Portsmouth Harbour service from London Bridge (East Croydon 09:50), changing at Redhill (arr 10:04, dep 10:20) for the Tonbridge train and arriving Penshurst at 10:42.

If it's more convenient you can travel out from Charing Cross on the 09:14 Robertsbridge service, changing at Tonbridge (arr 10:11, dep 10:26) for the Reigate train and arriving Penshurst at 10:34. Cross the footbridge and wait a few minutes for the train from the other direction.

If you have any "Any Permitted" route ticket you can travel back from Penshurst on the hourly trains in either direction, although both leave at about the same time: westbound via Redhill at xx:34 and eastbound via Tonbridge at xx:42. If you've travelled out on a cheaper "via Redhill" ticket you'll need to return the same way.

This walk takes in the area around Bough Beech Reservoir, a large body of water tucked away in the Wealden countryside which is surprisingly well-hidden until you get close. The suggested lunch stop is in the hamlet of Bough Beech which you should reach at around 1pm; you'll need to call the up-market Wheatsheaf if you want an indoor table for Sunday lunch.

From Bough Beech I suggest taking the shortest (and least familiar) of the three possible afternoon routes, but tearoom aficionados will probably choose to head for Chiddingstone and perhaps on to Penshurst village as well. All routes return to Penshurst station (nowhere near its village) where the Little Brown Jug provides a useful watering-hole while waiting for a homeward-bound train.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.300.b page. If you're printing the directions and know which afternoon route you'll be taking, you can save paper by clicking that option.