Length: Main Walk: 18 km (11.2 miles).
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Circular Walk, returning to Tonbridge: 18¼ km (11.3 miles).
Toughness 3 out of 10 This walk provides a link from a major town with a frequent rail service to the rolling countryside around the villages of Penshurst and Chiddingstone. You are soon out of Tonbridge town centre and heading for Haysden Country Park, The remainder of the morning section follows the Eden Valley Walk to a choice of lunch places in Penshurst. The afternoon section climbs the low hills between the Medway and Eden rivers to Chiddingstone. A short final section takes you back over the River Eden and across low-lying farmland to a station which calls itself Penshurst but is 3 km away from that village. Trains: Take the 9.53 Hastings train from London Bridge arriving Tonbridge 10.43. |
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Return trains from Penshurst are at xx.35 (via Redhill to London Bridge) and xx.56 (via Tonbridge to London Victoria) |
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Buy a day return via all routes to Penshurst which will cover both return options. Lunch: The suggested lunch place (after 8¼ km) is the refurbished Leicester Arms Hotel (01892-871617) in Penshurst. On the way into the village the Porcupine Pantry (01892-871277) is just outside the main entrance to Penshurst Place and open daily to non-visitors; Tea: For the walk options finishing at Penshurst station, the nearby Little Brown Jug (01892-870318) is usually open all day and serves tea and coffee as well as normal pub fare. |
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Further options are detailed in
the walk directions here T=swc.235 |
6 comments:
You might have to make a few detours to get through Haysden Country Park, near the start of this walk. Sharpe's Bridge (at the end of Barden Lake) was closed for repairs last year, and not much seemed to have happened when I was there a few weeks ago. Further on there are major works taking place on the Leigh Flood Relief Barrier, but at least one of the footpaths across it should be kept open.
NB. The Hastings trains are being diverted via East Croydon (10:08) and Redhill (10:23), which might benefit south Londoners.
By all means shoot me down in flames, but if the start of the walk is problematic why not do the back half of the Tonbridge circular version in reverse, then continue to Penshurst?
The walk notes also suggest an alternative start at Hildenborough, but train times don't look great for that option
I haven't worked out the distance but it must be similar
@Sandy: Twelve of us did the Hildenborough-Tonbridge variation of this walk three months ago, so it was sensible of Wanderer to post the main walk this time. I only found out about the works on the Flood Barrier two weeks ago and did put a warning about it in the Walk Notes, but I wasn't expecting the walk to get another posting quite so soon.
Perhaps Wanderer will post a clarification for the best route to take on the day.
Pending any further discussion, a couple of clarifications from me:
1. the distance for my suggestion would actually be a bit longer, just over 20km, but there are a couple of short cuts available later in the walk
2. There is in fact a perfectly reasonable train to Hildenborough, 0931 from Victoria arriving 1019, but it's not so convenient as the London Bridge start for me
Thanks Sean and Sandy for info and suggestions.
It seems it may be possible to do the main walk as posted but it might entail a taking a different path from that suggested in the directions to cross the Leigh Flood Relief Barrier. If people want to do this option, I would suggest asking local walkers what paths to Haysden Water are open. Best to ask before crossing Lucifer Bridge in case you're advised to stay on the north side of the river. You would rejoin the official route at Haysden Water. Alternatively, you could do the route suggested by Sandy following map or GPS. A discussion can be had before setting off from the station.
Unfortunately I'll be away and unable to do the walk. It would be nice to know what routes you decide to take and how they work out.
I didn't see anybody at the station so I'm sorry if I missed anyone or if you were put off by the discussion below. So #1 in #sunny-weather-with-clouds-gathering-through-the-afternoon. I successfully undertook the plan to reverse the end of the circular walk from Tonbridge. Apart from a bit of a route-march between the A21 and Leigh I found the route very pleasant with the circuit of Tonbridge Castle a highlight.
On to Penshurst where I had a swift half at the Leicester Arms. They were keen for me to try the local ale (good but I've forgotten the name already); I found out later that they also offer no less than five English wines. There was plenty of room except in the back garden. I took the shorter route to the station, which I'm afraid means I didn't do very much of the Main Walk.
By the way, note that the Fleur de Lis in Leigh is "closed until further notice".
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