Length: 15½ km (9.6 miles). Shorter afternoon options are available. Toughness: 3/10
10:04 Dover Priory service from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 10.07, London Bridge 10.13), changing at Tonbridge (arr 10:47, dep 11:01) for the Redhill train and arriving Penshurst at 11:09.
If you prefer to travel on the (less expensive) via Redhill ticket, the Thameslink Three Bridges service leaves London Bridge at 10.21 (Norwood Junction 10.32, East Croydon 10.36), changing Redhill (arr 10.52, dep 11.00) for the Tonbridge service to arrive at Penshurst 13 minutes after the others at 11.22.
If you have any "Any Permitted" route ticket you can travel back from Penshurst on the hourly trains in either direction via Redhill at xx:09 and via Tonbridge at xx:22. If you've traveled out on a cheaper "via Redhill" ticket you'll need to return the same way.
This walk takes in the area around Bough Beech Reservoir, a large body of water tucked away in the Wealden countryside which is surprisingly well-hidden until you get close. The suggested lunch stop is in the hamlet of Bough Beech, which you should reach about 2hrs 15 mins into the walk. You'll need to book a table at the Wheatsheaf (01732-700100) if you want an indoor table for lunch. For a picnic, look out for a spot along the morning route, otherwise walkers have previously sat in a pleasant field behind the pub garden. From Bough Beech the main route follows the longest of the three possible afternoon routes via Chiddingstone. Shorter afternoon routes are available (see the clickable map on this walk's web page). All routes return to Penshurst station where the Little Brown Jug provides a pleasant place to wait for a homeward-bound train.
Be sure to download the latest version of the directions from the L=swc.300 page. If you're printing the directions and know which afternoon route you'll be taking, you can save paper by clicking that option.
#2026-09-19T10:04
1 comment:
N=15 on this walk. I nearly counted two others who looked like SWC types but turned out to be independent walkers. If anyone came on the slightly later train via Redhill I was not aware of it. Right from the start we had a tendency to spread out. Some streaked ahead, including one habitual backmarker who somehow got to the lunch pub before most of us.
It seemed like quite a long morning. I was ready for lunch by the time we got to Bough Beech Reservoir but there was still a good distance to go afterwards. The bit alongside the reservoir after the visitor centre was a bit trying in places - ie overgrown, but not tragically so.
The fabled Wheatsheaf pub was busy-ish but still had plenty of space. One of the group had booked a table for six but was sat at a table for four. Two others had their own table. Two drinkers were outside on the terrace and six more of us opted to eat outside despite the w=cloudy skies. The pub let us order at the bar and the food came quickly. I enjoyed a tasty chickpea curry of generous proportions.
A few people disappeared after lunch to get buses or take shortcuts to the station. Those remaining split into a tea party and a non tea party. The latter - four of us - went to the Tulip Tree in Chiddingstone and had delicious cakes while watching blue tits vie for cake crumbs and some late season house martins fly around the church tower.
We got to the Little Brown Jug at 17.25 to find the non tea types had left on the 17.22 train. We had a drink in the garden and got the 18.22, marvelling how early it was getting dark these days.
Oh, and just to mention we found lots of huge boletes - apparently edible - in a field just before Chiddingfold. One of our number picked an armful. The fungi season has arrived…
Post a Comment