Length: Main walk: 19¼ km (12.0 miles). Toughness: 2/10
10:04 Dover Priory train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 10:07, London Bridge 10:13), arriving Tonbridge at 10:47
If you miss this, you could instead get the 10:15 Hastings train from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 10:18, London Bridge 10:24), arriving Tonbridge at 10:58 and catch up with the group along the route.
From south London you could alternatively take the 10.00 Tonbridge train from Redhill, which would get you to Tonbridge at 10:31.
Return trains to London: xx:03; xx:21; xx:33: xx:51 or to Redhill at xx:01
Buy a return ticket to Tonbridge
This gentle walk out of Tonbridge through parkland, farm fields and orchards should be at it's best at this time of the year, with its fields crops and the hedgerows in full bloom - expect blackberries. The beautiful 12 stained glass windows by Marc Chagall in Tudeley Church should not be missed.
Lunch: Poacher and Partridge (01732-358934) in the hamlet of Tudeley Hale is the recommended lunch time pub on the main walk route. It has a large back garden as well as a patio area at the front.
Tea: Lots of options on and around Tonbridge High Street including Wetherspoon'sThe Humphrey Bean, Nancy's Tea Rooms (01732-300401) in Lamberts Yard, Finch House Cafe and Bakery (01732 771775)
You'll need to bring the latest, revised directions from the L=swc.220 page.
3 comments:
It was tricky to count numbers as people scattered in various directions on arrival at Tonbridge, with some waiting for friends on the next train and others doing a short cut, others on even later trains, but at at guess I'd say 20 doing some version of this walk today in warm sunshine. If anyone managed to count, feel free to correct me.
The Poacher and Partridge was busy but had plenty of space outside and inside and people who ate there said food, drink and service were excellent.
I was hoping to catch this walk at it's best and the orchards and hedgerows were in full bloom. A few of the fields had been harvested though so it might be better to do this one in June or early July.
The large lake at Haysden Country Park was busy with fmilies and five of us baulked at walking around it, instead improvising a walk along the river and then back on the other side. I'd be tempted to do the loop out to Capel next time and omit Haysden Country Park next time.
N=20
W=warm-sunshine
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