Ashurst to
Eridge: via Langton Green:
Choose
Option M(a) from the written walk directions which is the Alternative walk via
Langton Green omitting Speldhurst.
Length: 16 km (9.9 miles).
Toughness: 4
out of 10
Travel:
10.07 from London Bridge station; E Croydon 10.22. Arrives Ashurst at 10.57.
Return
trains from Eridge are xx.50.
Ticket type:
Return ticket to Eridge
Description: Leaving Ashurst station we walk along the
Wealdway, to Fordcombe. Just before reaching
Bullingstone Lane, we turn right onto
the Turnbridge Wells Circular Walk and then through Langton Green. You can find directions for this at point
B.11 of the walk notes, or follow the blue route of the GPX, or clearly marked as
TWC on OS map.
Highlights on this walk include Groombridge
Place, a visit to the platform of the Spa Valley Railway of Groombridge station,
and Harrison Rocks after which you reach Eridge Station. There is an Open Day event on Saturday 24th
January for the Spa Valley Railway with steam and heritage diesal trains
running between Tunbridge Wells West and Eridge, calling at High Rocks and
Groombridge. If you want to book tickets
check their website here: https://spavalleyrailway.co.uk/events/green-timetable-steam-heritage-diesel-trains/#tickets
There is
usually a tea kiosk on the platform and seating, and also second hand
booksales.
Refreshments
at the end of the walk can be had at the Huntsman Pub five minutes from Eridge
station.
Lunch: Suggested pub is The Hare (01892-862419) in Langton Green, after
8¼ km. This is a Brunning & Price
pub.
Map, GPS and
full details of walk options can be found here: https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/ashurst-to-eridge/index.html
L=swc.236
1 comment:
N=27 on this walk in w=unexpected-sunshine - a real tonic after the week’s gloom and rain. I have to confess that as a result of said rain, and this being the Weald, I expected a massive mudbath. Perhaps due to such negative expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by how un-muddy it was. Others may disagree, particularly the three who slipped over on the walk. One ended up looking like a building site worker and was too ashamed of his appearance to come to the pub at the end.
Four had booked for lunch at the Hare. Eight more of us tried to book and were told No Way, José. So most of us shunned the place, though I am told 7 did eat there, while one had a latte that he said was so nutritious it was like a meal. Two felt victim to what we will call Excess GPX-ism - “we just followed the green line” - and did the main walk, ending up at its pub and having a mulled wine (?) there.
The rest of us ploughed on to the lovely Crown in Groombridge, where we all SAT OUTSIDE - in January!!! - and enjoyed pleasant food and efficient service. It was warm except when the wind blew (which it did occasionally). At its peak I counted 15 of us there.
This left a short afternoon, but this adequately filled the remaining daylight. We got a bit split up but some of us got to Eridge to see the last steam train leave. (We had earlier tried to get tea at the Groombridge station kiosk only to find it had just closed.)
Most of us then met up in the Huntsman at the end of the walk, different groups arriving at different times and giving reports on their day - the perfect end to any SWC walk. We exhausted the pub’s supply of tea pots (very big ones!) but they were reasonably good natured about it.
Many got the 16.50 train, while a few of us nobly waited for the walk poster, whose meal had been delayed at lunch and who had thus been left behind there. It then turned out she had got the 16.50 too, without coming to the pub. However some other SWC stragglers turned up and we had a convivial hour near the fire, talking of this and that. We then got the 17.50.
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