Train: Take the 9:45AM Southeastern train from London Charing Cross (9:54 London Bridge), arriving at Tunbridge Wells at 10:40AM. Return trains from TW are at 08 and 39 past the hour.
Distance: 14.8 Miles or 23 3/4 km -- with short cuts available -- see walk notes.
Difficulty: 6 out of 10
This is always a varied and pleasant route through the High Weald with plenty of interest...... You should have just about enough daylight to finish the full route -- but there are short cuts available More information and the walk instructions can be found here.
The recommended lunch stop is the is the Nevill Crest and Gun ( 01892-864209 ) in Eridge Green , which has a large garden and serves good food all day from noon. Please call ahead!
There are plenty of tea options back in TW -- not to mention along the route.....
2 comments:
Is anyone interested in starting from Frant given forecast of constant rain?
#1 in #rain . I wasn’t optimistic on numbers for this High Weald walk on a wet day, especially following dry and bright weather for Saturday’s walks. And so it turned out on this walk of two halves.
The busy road walking from Frant wasn't appealing so I started in TW. The morning was continuous rain, thankfully of the soft kind rather than the waterproof piercing type. Eridge Old Park was especially muddy and progress was slow, although the worst could be avoided by going on the semi cleared area off the main track.
The A26 bus shelter gave some respite for a lunch stop. Post sandwich the incoming bus back to Tunbridge Wells was tempting however I let it pass.
The rain then stopped making for a rewarding afternoon. Eridge Rocks were a highlight and some nice vistas of (1) red and brown ferns (2) silver birch. The mud wasn’t too bad, some minor woodland paths had become streams but were navigable.
I skipped Groombridge and Harrison’s Rocks given the tough conditions. Birchden Vineyards looked worth a visit, the coffee truck was even open - however I didn’t want to break my momentum and carried on.
Kudos to the walk scheduler on their walk start timing as I walked past Spa Valley Railway just as the steam train was passing making a nice end to the day.
PS - the walk directions were great, in particular the alternative less muddy options. It’s easy enough to figure out with a map however two edits would be helpful (1) Note 21 perhaps add the walker needs to cross the A267 to reach Thornbury in Note 27 (2) Note 56 add walker should go straight and not turn right up the hill (as well as not turn left under the bridge)
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