Good Friday Walk
Leigh to Tunbridge Wells t=1.15
A good Easter walk, with plenty of lambs frolicking around, and many spring flowers.
Length: 11.7 miles
Toughness: 5 out of 10
Trains:
9.30 train from London Bdge; 9.45 E Croydon; 9.55 Coulsdon Sth. Arrives Redhill 10.05 where you change and get the 10.19 train to Leigh arriving 10.45.
Return trains: Depart
Tunbridge Wells at 02 and 32 mins past the hour
Buy a return ticket to Tunbridge
Wells
This is a pretty walk with
a choice of nice lunchtime pubs. The route is through a landscape of great
beauty, confirming the description of Kent as the Garden of England. The walk goes through the
grounds of Penshurst Place, with fine views of the house, taking in a truly
pastoral landscape of rivers, lakes, woods androlling hills; and passes
through the lovely village of Penshurst. The walk then makes its way along
the River Medway and into historic Royal Tunbridge Wells, through
woods and parks which extend right into the heart of the town.
Full details of the walk
including directions, map and GPX can be found here: https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/leigh-to-tunbridge-wells/index.html
Lunch: Suggested pub is The Spotted Dog 01892 870253
Smarts Hill, Penshurst, Tonbridge TN11 8EP is 6.4k into the walk with lovely views
The Bottlehouse Inn:
Coldharbour Rd, Penshurst 01892 870306
is nearby
Leicester Arms: High St,
Penshurst, Tonbridge TN11 8BT Phone: 01892 871617 is 3.8k into the walk
As it is Good Friday, it
is recommended that you check availability at the pubs if you wish to have
lunch there.
Tea: No shortage of tearooms in Royal Tunbridge
Wells.
5 comments:
Have just returned from this walk with brisk walkers from the south bank ramblers all who are afficiondas of Thomas. Most of the fields are either under water or deep mud above one’s ankles. One kissing gate is knee deep in water and you need to climb a 5 bar gate and one unfortunate fell face down in deep water and was soaked from top to bottom. Another stretch includes a deep gully where the narrow path tries to suck your boots off with rocks tree roots and thick mud above ankle height . Wellies were not worn or recommended as you’d get them sucked off!!
Later on the leader fell in the mud and the earlier victim of the deep water fell again. He is also a walks leader. I found the whole experience treacherous and terrifying. Recommend a change of walk. You have been warned!! My high cuff boots saved my life. Thank goodness for strong sturdy expensive Meindl boots. Everyone else wore the best high cuff leather boots but most had mud and water over the top of the cuffs. No trainers or fabric boots worn. Walking poles essential.
Gosh, don't hold back, Marion. "Most" of the fields are under water? What, even the bit between Leigh and Penshurst where you are crossing hills? I am guessing you encountered some flooded areas in the low-lying sections along the river after lunch. The more specific you could be, the more helpful it would be, so that maybe walkers can find a way around the affected stretch.
Table for four people has been booked at the Spotted Dog for tomorrow and I was told plenty of space if more people want to book for tomorrow.
I was on the walk with South Bank Ramblers yesterday. It was very muddy but in an attempt to be helpful I offer the following.
Ironically the drier bits were in the afternoon following the River Medway although there were some muddy bits by stiles/gates etc where care was needed.
Some of the worst bits were at the beginning on the Penshurst estate (Paras 2-5) where vehicles have churned up the path. Then close to Penshurst Place (para 5) is the offending gate and adjacent 5-barred gate which have an enormous mud bath surrounding them - I don't see a way round this part.
The other nightmarish bit is para 42. The steep narrow path 500m of it which is exceedingly muddy and treacherous. The only way round I can see is to keep to the road at Stockland Green (part of the Wealdway) and do a detour back to the road which the offending path joins. It probably means 1.5km of road walking.
On a positive note there were gambling lambs and spring flowers.
#18 in total, including 2 who joined us at the pub. It was a lovely sunny day, with signs of spring everywhere. Lots of wood anemone, daffodils,primrose,celandine,wild garlic and a few bluebells flowering here and there. There was some mud, but nothing that we couldn't manage.
About 10 of us went to the Spotted Dog for lunch, where a few of us sat outside basking in the sun enjoying our drinks and food. The food was good and reasonably prompt,the staff were friendly and helpful with the exception of one rather grumpy bar person.
After lunch we continued meadering through the beautiful Kent countryside,eventually arriving in Tunbridge Wells where a few of us went to a cafe in The Pantiles for drinks and cake, before catching the 17.25 back to London.
Thanks to Branchline for posting,
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