Walk 19 : Frant to Tunbridge Wells

A varied High Weald walk, with the option of finishing with a trip on a steam train.

Length	Main Walk: 21 km (13 miles). Five hours 15 minutes walking time. For the whole excursion including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 9 hours 30 minutes. Short Walk, starting at Eridge: 11¾ km (7.3 miles). Three hours walking time.
OS Maps	Explorer 135 & 136. Frant Station (in Bells Yew Green), map reference TQ607364, is in East Sussex. It is 4 km SE of Tunbridge Wells, which is in Kent.
Streetmaps
Toughness	6 out of 10 (2 out of 10 for the Short Walk).
Features	This walk through the High Weald near the border of East Sussex and Kent has plenty of interest and variety. After climbing to the elegant village of Frant (some way from its station), the route is along the High Weald Walk through Eridge Old Park, said to be one of the oldest deer parks in the country. Forge Wood, near the end of the morning section, has a particularly fine display of bluebells in spring. After a pub lunch in the small hamlet of Eridge Green, the afternoon section is notable for three massive sandstone outcrops: Eridge Rocks, Harrison's Rocks (which are very popular with climbers) and High Rocks. Soon after a tea stop in Groombridge you pass the grounds of Groombridge Place, a beautiful Jacobean manor house surrounded by a medieval moat. The final part of the walk is up the Grom valley to the attractive spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells. The route here goes alongside the Spa Valley Railway, a restored branch line; if they are running, you have the option of taking a trip on a steam train to round off the day.
Shortening the Walk	There are regular buses along the A26 through Tunbridge Wells: Brighton & Hove Bus 28/29/29A/29B runs half-hourly on weekdays and hourly on Sundays (see Brighton & Hove Travel Information). Arriva 229 also goes this way (on weekdays, hourly). If you take one of these buses, you could cut out the morning section of the Main Walk and start at either Eridge Green or Eridge Station. Conversely, if you wanted to finish the walk at lunchtime, you could take one of these buses into Tunbridge Wells. In the afternoon section, you can cut out the loop through Birchden Wood to see Harrison's Rocks by walking along a minor road from Birchden Farm into Groombridge, saving over 3 km. There are buses from Groombridge to East Grinstead or Tunbridge Wells, but the most pleasant way to shorten the end of the walk is to take a trip on the Spa Valley Railway from Groombridge to the old Tunbridge Wells West station (or just part of the way to High Rocks). The full train journey cuts out almost all the final section of the walk, leaving just a 1 km stroll via The Pantiles to the main line station (follow the brown tourist information signs along Linden Park Road).
Transport	There is an hourly service from London Charing Cross to Frant, taking 1 hour. For the Short Walk, there is an hourly service from London Bridge to Eridge, taking 55 minutes (longer on Sundays, when you have to change at Oxted). If driving, you could park in Tunbridge Wells and take the train to Frant to start the Main Walk. You could also take Stagecoach Bus 252 to Frant village and start the walk from there, or a bus to Eridge Green or Eridge Station (see details above).
Saturday Walkers Club	Take the train nearest to 09:15 from Charing Cross to Frant. For the Short Walk, take the train nearest to 10:15 from London Bridge to Eridge. If you plan to have an early lunch stop in Frant village (see comments below), take the train an hour later.
Train Times
Lunch	Note: The most conveniently placed lunchtime pub on this walk, the Nevill Crest and Gun (01892-864209) in Eridge Green, was sold by Brewers Fayre at the end of 2009. It is being refurbished by its new owners, Brunning & Price, and not expected to reopen until summer 2010. Until then, the only pub on the walk route before Groombridge is the George Inn (01892-750350) in Frant village; an attractive pub with a large garden serving good food, but just 3 km into the walk. If you start at Eridge, the recommended lunch stop is the Crown Inn (01892-864742) in Old Groombridge, a little way north of the present town on a picturesque village green. The town's alternative pub, the Junction Inn (01892-864275), is on the walk route; its tearoom (see below) also does light lunches.
Tea	The tearoom alongside the Junction Inn in Groombridge is recommended for tea on the Main Walk. It is open daily in summer, closing at 5pm; in winter it is only open Fri–Sun and closes at 4pm. Halfway between Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells, the High Rocks Inn is another convenient place to stop for refreshment, especially if you don't expect to reach Tunbridge Wells in time for the tea places there. If you do get there in time, there are several tearooms in The Pantiles with outdoor seating in fine weather. Some of the restaurants and winebars here also serve excellent cream teas: Woods Restaurant & Winebar at #62 is recommended. Further on, there are many cafés and coffee shops in the High Street and Mount Pleasant Road, while a five-minute walk up this road past the station will bring you to The Opera House, a splendid building which more recently was a cinema and bingo hall and is now a JD Wetherspoon pub.

Travel by Train	Out: (not a train station) Back: (not a train station)
Travel by Car	Start: Frant Station is near : TN3 9BJ [gmap] Finish: Tunbridge Wells Station is near : TN1 1GE [gmap] Return to your car by train: (park at the start) at 4pm (park at the end) at 10am
OS Explorer Map	135 : Ashdown Forest [Amazon] 136 : High Weald [Amazon]
Other The Weald (Kent) Walks	Balcombe (round walk), Balcombe to East Grinstead, Crowhurst to Battle, Wadhurst Circular, Stonegate Circular, Robertsbridge Circular, Pluckley Circular, Cowden to Eridge, Wadhurst via Bewl Water Circular, Balcombe Circular via Ardingly Reservoir, Forest Row Circular, Forest Row to Sheffield Park, Ashdown Forest and Medway Valley, Battle Circular, East Grinstead Circular, Cowden to Hever, Penshurst to Leigh, Buxted Circular,

Walking Instructions 

Walk Options

Click on any option to show the sections making up that route, or the heading above to show all sections.

Main Walk (21 km)

Main Walk, starting in Frant village (18¼ km)

Main Walk, starting in Eridge Green (14¼ km)

Short Walk, starting at Eridge Station (11¾ km)

Walk Directions

Click on any section heading to switch between detailed directions and an outline, or the heading above to do the same for all sections.

If you take bus 252 from Tunbridge Wells to Frant (Abergavenny Arms), head south on the A267 past the village green and start at §2.

If you take bus 28/29 from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge Green (Church), start at §3.

If you take bus 28/29 from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge Station (or a train to Eridge), start at §5.

Frant Station to Frant (3 km)

Turn left onto the B2169 and go under the railway bridge, where there is a choice of routes to Frant. To go via Ely Grange, continue along the road for 500m, then turn left onto a footpath through a wood. The path climbs gently and eventually reaches a large new house. After bending around it, continue along a ridge. Turn left on the other side of a hedge towards Frant church and go through the churchyard into the village. For the alternative route via Manor Farm, turn left onto a track which climbs up between fields. At the top go past some buildings onto a track and then a path on the left to a road. Turn right onto the road, then left into the driveway to Manor Farm. At a junction of paths cross a stile on the right and go across a large field. Bear right across the next field and then follow a grassy path back to the road. Turn left onto the road and follow it into the village. Go onto the main village green and follow the line of a tarmac path down to the A267.

Leave the station through its car park and turn left along the B2169, heading NW. There is no pavement along this road so take great care. In 250m the road curves to the left and passes under the railway bridge.

If you do not want to continue for another 500m along this awkward road, you can take the alternative route via Manor Farm at §1b.

To Frant via Ely Grange

Continue along the road. At the top of a rise you pass a workshop on your right and then the road descends. At a bend to the right, ignore a footpath into the woods on the left and continue along the road, now with a golf course on your right. In a further 125m, just past a road sign for traffic in the other direction, turn left onto a narrow footpath into the woods by an inconspicuous stone marker (which may be hidden in the undergrowth).

Follow this path SW, close to the edge of the wood on your right. The path climbs gently and then more steeply in places. About 400m from the road, follow a temporary path round to the right of a fallen tree to continue in the same direction (ignore a fork to the right). In another 25m pass to the right of a short wire fence to join a car-wide track heading in the same direction, with a gate leading down to a Sewage Works on your left. A field soon appears on your left and you continue along the track, still climbing gently.

At the time of writing, there were Official Path Diversion notices on the next section, to take account of the development work here. You may need to vary your route slightly from the directions given below.

As you approach a large new house, follow the path round to the left, over a stile and through a gate. After passing the house follow the path as it bends right, but where it turns left go over a stile in the hedge ahead. Go across a small parking area and over another stile in the fence opposite.

You now follow a faint grassy path W, with views across a valley to the southern outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. There is a temporary access road for developers on your right-hand side (which is actually the right of way shown on the OS map). About 500m along this path, go through a gap in the hedge ahead, about 100m to the left of the access road. Turn left on the other side to go along the edge of a field, heading S towards Frant church.

If you were on the access road, you would need to turn left at a High Weald Walk signpost and climb up a path with the hedge on your left to reach this point.

In 125m cross a stile in the corner of the field to enter the churchyard of St Alban's, Frant. Follow the path round to the front of the church and go through its lychgate into the High Street, with the George Inn (a possible early lunch stop) on your left and the Old School¹ on your right. Continue along Frant's attractive High Street and then along the top of a small triangular green to the site of an old well.

To Frant via Manor Farm

Where the road bends to the right after the railway bridge, turn left onto a car-wide track, past a couple of very old metal gates. This initially unappealing track bears left to head SW and passes a house on the left. It climbs gradually between fields towards some buildings on the horizon, veering right and then left about halfway up the hill.

At the top continue in the same direction between these buildings and across a concrete track by a sign for Stubby Grove Works. Go over a stile beside a field gate to continue SW along a tarmac track. When you come to a gate across the track and a ‘Private Property’ sign, go over the stile on the left and down a narrow path between hedges to a minor road.

Cross this road and turn right to walk along the wide grass verge. In 75m, turn left through the solid brick and stone gateway to Manor Farm. Follow this driveway S for 300m to a junction of tracks and cross a stile in the hedge on the right into a field.

Head W across this large field (if the path is not visible on the ground, aim for a prominent half-timbered house in the distance). On the other side of the field, go over a stile and bear slightly right across the next field, gently uphill.

At the time of writing there was no path visible through the crops in this field. You need to head for a single holly tree in the hedge opposite, to the left of a small clump of trees, where there is a stile.

Leave this field via a stile and follow a faint grassy track to the left of a hedge. This gradually swings round to the left as it approaches the minor road you crossed earlier. Cross a stile to the right of a double field gate to go onto this road and turn left towards Frant village. In 150m the road forks in front of a small triangular green. Go onto the grass and climb up to the site of an old well at the top of the green.

To continue the walk turn left here, but if you want to see Frant's church and old school, or visit the George Inn, turn right. All three buildings are about 150m away at the end of the old High Street ahead of you. Return the same way.

Head S from the old well to the end of the small green. Go across a minor road and climb up onto Frant's main green.

If you want to visit the Abergavenny Arms, turn right here to go down the edge of the green alongside the minor road to the A267, and turn right again. The pub is about 75m along the main road. Afterwards, return along the A267 and follow it past the green.

Follow the direction of a tarmac path down the large sloping green to the junction of the minor road on your left and the A267 on your right.

Frant to Eridge Green (4½ km)

Head south along the A267, then turn right onto a footpath which goes downhill and through a gate into Eridge Old Park. Follow a grassy path through parkland, later veering right onto a wide track which goes through managed woodland up to a lake. Turn left at the end of the lake, then right on the other side to go up to a high fence. Go through a gate and turn left onto a path. At the end of the fence join a track and follow it uphill across a large field, with Eridge Park mansion and a large lake away to your right. At the bottom of the field continue ahead on a track, then fork right onto a path through Forge Wood. On the other side, cross a track and bend right on a path which crosses a stream and climbs steeply uphill, curving round to the left at the top and coming to the A26. Turn right onto the main road to reach a church. If you visit the Nevill Crest and Gun pub, which is a little further along the road, return to the church afterwards.

Head S along the A267, crossing over at some point. 175m from the end of the main green, between a house called Thornbury and a small telephone exchange, turn right down a narrow path signposted ‘Eridge Green 2½ miles’ with a profusion of High Weald Walk markers (you will be following this waymarked walk to Eridge Rocks). The path meanders downhill between wire fences for about 200m and eventually veers left in front of a high wire fence. In 20m go through a gate in this fence to enter Eridge Old Park².

Head W along a pleasant grassy track. In 400m go past a path on your right, now with a stream in a lightly wooded area down to your right. In another 400m, with a metal fieldgate on your left, veer right onto a wide track. The track crosses the stream on a slab of concrete and you continue W with a high wire fence on your left, ignoring ways off.

In the past there have been major tree clearance works here. If the main track has been churned into mud by heavy machinery, you could try hacking a way through the scrub on your right.

In 500m a lake³ appears on your left. When you reach the end of this lake, turn left to cross its outflow on a bridge. Continue to the other side of the lake and turn right to go along the right-hand edge of a field. Go through a metal gate and turn left on the other side to head SW on a path.

In 300m the path merges with a car-wide track which you follow round to the right into a large field. Head W uphill on a wide grassy track (though the official right of way appears to be a few metres to your right, as indicated by a line of marker posts). You soon have a fine view of Eridge Park mansion on the other side of a large lake on your right.

After descending, go across a car-wide track onto another wide track (if you were following the right of way, you would cross a ditch on a wooden footbridge, turn left and then immediately right onto this track). In 15m fork right onto a path through Forge Wood. This attractive path meanders through the trees and eventually meets the track again in about 300m.

Cross over the track onto a path opposite, which turns right to run parallel to the track, heading N. Ignore a stile into the field on the left and continue ahead to cross a stream. On the other side, climb steeply up the right-hand edge of a large field. In 200m go through a narrow strip of woodland and continue along the edge of the next field, now climbing more gently. In a further 200m follow the field edge round to the left. Go down a dip in the ground and back up the other side to reach the A26.

Go through a gate onto this road and turn right, heading NE. Cross over this busy road carefully and continue along it for 100m towards Holy Trinity Church. Just before the church, there is a lane on the left which is the continuation of the High Weald Walk.

If you are not visiting the Nevill Crest and Gun pub, you can save 300m by turning left here into this lane.

To visit the Nevill Crest and Gun (which is the recommended lunch stop on the Main Walk), continue along the A26 past the church to find the pub on the left, set back from the main road. Afterwards, return the same way past the church and turn right into the lane.

Eridge Green to Birchden Farm (2¾ km)

Go along the lane past some cottages and turn right through a small car park to follow a path along the base of Eridge Rocks. Continue ahead where they end, then turn left onto a wide track. Take the second track on the right, then the first one on the left. Just after a path junction, fork left onto a narrow path which goes along the edge of a wood and comes to a minor road by Birchden Farm.

Take the lane to the left of Holy Trinity Church, signposted ‘Park Corner 1½ miles’. Follow this round to the left past a row of cottages and towards Eridge Rocks. On reaching the rocks, turn right (leaving the High Weald Walk) to go through a small car park and past an information panel. Follow a path N into the woods, keeping the rocks close by on your left and ignoring ways off. In 150m the path bends to the left and then curves right to head N again.

Where the rocks finally end, continue along the path and over a path crossing. 200m from the end of the rocks the path comes to a T-junction with a wide track in front of a large oak tree, where you turn left to head W (you can also take an obvious shortcut about 40m before this tree).

In 300m, having ignored one track to the right, turn right onto a wide track, heading N. In 100m, turn left onto another wide track heading W, now with an area of young trees and more open views on your right.

In 550m a track merges from the left. In another 30m, go straight on at a path crossing, but 10m later take a narrow path on the left which heads W just inside the edge of the wood, with a field on the left. Follow this path for 500m until it emerges at a road junction opposite Birchden Farm.

If you want to take a short cut into Groombridge, cross over the single-track road and head west along Station Road. You come to a bridge over the railway by the station in 1 km, with the Junction Inn 100m beyond it. This cuts more than 3 km off the length of the walk. Continue the walk directions at §7.

Birchden Farm to Harrison's Rocks (2½ km)

Turn left onto the road and follow it to a T-junction at Park Corner. Continue ahead along the driveway to Pinstraw Farm, then along a track in the same direction. After curving to the right and going downhill, the track enters Birchden Wood. Fork right into the wood, then left at a path junction to come to the top of Harrison's Rocks. The most interesting route is to veer left and look for a path leading down through a gap in the rocks to the bottom; you now continue along a path at the base of the rocks. At the end of the rocks the path merges with another one near a disused railway line.

Turn left onto the single-track road and follow it S for 500m, climbing gently at first, to a T-junction at Park Corner. Cross over the road and go down the ‘Private Road to Pinstraw Farm’ slightly to your left (ie. not the private drive directly opposite); this is also a public footpath. In 300m you pass the farm and continue over a stile in the same direction.

After a gate on the left with a view across the High Weald, the track veers to the right, narrows and descends between hedges, on a potentially muddy stretch. As you enter some trees the path forks.

If you want to finish the walk at Eridge Station, continue ahead. The path goes downhill and comes out in a valley. After crossing a stile and passing Forge Farm Oast, turn left down its driveway. Cross the railway carefully at the level crossing and go up to a minor road. Turn left and follow this road for about 1½ km. After skirting around a large pond you will see the station ahead on your left; turn left at the T-junction ahead to reach it.

To continue the main walk, take the right fork, leaving the High Weald Walk. Go over a stile into Birchden Wood and in 50m fork left. Where the wire fence on your left ends after about 150m, you have a choice. You can simply continue along this path, which is now near the top of Harrison's Rocks, or bear left and look for one of several paths which drop down to the base of the rocks⁴. Either way, continue N beside the rocks until they end and you approach a path that runs alongside a disused railway line.

To continue the Main Walk, go to §6.

Eridge Station to Harrison's Rocks (2¾ km)

Turn right out of the station and then right again into Forge Road. 1 km after passing some ponds, turn right onto a private road which crosses the railway and goes up to Forge Farm. Turn left at a T-junction, which leads to a footpath which climbs gently and curves round to the right. Just before a gate, the most interesting route is to go through a gap in the fence on the right and take one of the paths leading to Harrison's Rocks. Turn left and continue along a path at the base of the rocks. At the end of the rocks the path merges with the one you left earlier near a disused railway line.

Leave the station and turn right. In 50m turn right again into Forge Road, passing the station on your right and heading in the same direction as London-bound trains. Go past some houses and in 300m follow the road as it bends sharply left and then right to skirt several large ponds.

Stay on this road, ignoring ways off to the left. 1 km after the ponds, turn right onto a private road, signposted as a public footpath. Cross the railway carefully at the level crossing and continue up the driveway to Forge Farm (there is an attractive weir on your right). When you reach a T-junction, turn left to head NW.

Go through a gate with a sign for Birchden Forge onto a footpath. The path climbs and curves gently round to the right. Just before reaching a gate across the path, go through a gap in the fence on your right. Take any of the narrow paths uphill into the woods and turn left when you reach Harrison's Rocks. Continue N along the base of the rocks⁴ for 600m until they end and you rejoin the path you left earlier.

Harrison's Rocks to Groombridge (1½ km)

Continue on the path round the edge of Birchden Wood, which bends round a car park and eventually joins its access road. Follow this out towards a road, but turn left onto a footpath before reaching it. This goes alongside fields and across the Spa Valley Railway line to reach a road. Turn right onto the road and follow it into Groombridge. Turn right to cut through a cul-de-sac and then a path to Station Road. Turn left for the Junction Inn tearoom.

Head N on the path which runs between Birchden Wood and the disused Eridge to Tunbridge Wells branch line⁵. In 50m an opening on your right leads into the wood.

There is a choice of routes for the next 600m. The public footpath continues outside the wood, then turns right to go around and above a car park before coming out onto its access road. If you take this route, turn right onto the road and continue the directions at [•] below. However, the footpath goes through an area which is sometimes waterlogged and the sunken path above the car park can also be very muddy.

The suggested route is to turn right into the wood and bear left onto a path used by rock-climbers to return to the car park. Here, too, you may have to negotiate some boggy patches as the path crosses several small streams. In 250m, as you come to the edge of the wood, you cross over the public footpath (and can turn right onto it if you wish). More simply, keep ahead through the car park (which has a toilet block in its centre) and continue up its access road. After this bends to the right the footpath rejoins from the trees on the right.

[•] In 125m (and 50m before a T-junction ahead), go through a kissing gate on the left onto a footpath, still following the High Weald Walk. This goes alongside fields for 400m, then down some steps to cross over the railway (with Groombridge station just visible 300m away on the right). On the other side climb back up some steps and go past a school to a road.

Turn right, soon passing the church of St Thomas the Apostle and then Lynwood. 250m along the road, turn right opposite Orchard Rise and then immediately fork left into Gromenfield. Where this cul-de-sac turns sharply left, continue ahead on a tarmac footpath to reach Station Road. There is a bridge over the railway on your right, but turn left to find the Junction Inn and its tearoom 100m down the road.

If you want to enquire about trains to High Rocks or Tunbridge Wells on the Spa Valley Railway, head back towards the railway bridge but immediately turn left into the station access road. Follow a path round the left of the old station building (now an office) to the platform. If you take the train to its terminus at Tunbridge Wells West station, follow the brown tourist signs to The Pantiles.

Groombridge to Groombridge Place (½ or 1¼ km)

Go through the recreation ground opposite the Junction Inn. In the far corner go onto a path which leads down to Groombridge Place and cross a stone bridge over the River Grom. If you want to visit the pub in Old Groombridge, turn left and follow a footpath between the front of the house and a lake to the village; afterwards, return the same way.

From the Junction Inn, cross Station Road and enter the recreation ground opposite. Pass to the right of a children's playground and head for the corner of the field, alongside a wire fence. Go through a gate here onto a path, which veers left and heads N downhill. Near the bottom bear right, staying close to the fence on your right, and cross the River Grom on a stone bridge in front of Groombridge Place⁶.

If you want to visit the Crown Inn in Old Groombridge (which is the recommended lunch stop on the Short Walk), follow the directions below.

Detour to the Crown Inn and back (+750m)

On the other side of the stone bridge, turn left. Go up to and across a driveway onto a grassy path which curves to the right, giving a fine view of the front of the house behind four giant redwood trees. Go between fish ponds up to a lake and follow the path round to the right. Go through a gate and turn half-left up a field to reach Old Groombridge⁷ with its unusual brick-built church, sloping village green and the Crown Inn.

After visiting the pub, retrace your steps to Groombridge Place and go around its right-hand side, continuing past the stone bridge.

If you are not visiting the pub, turn right on the other side of the stone bridge.

Groombridge Place to High Rocks (3 km)

Just after the bridge, bear right onto a footpath which leads into a large field. Go past Groombridge Place Gardens and then alongside a waterway. Continue along the edge of a field, later veering left uphill and crossing the driveway to two houses. Follow the path between fences, passing a water treatment works on the right. Cross Broom Lane and continue on a track, then downhill through trees. Keep right as the path winds its way down towards the river. After going through the edge of a wood the path eventually bends right, crosses the river and goes under the railway to emerge on a minor road. Turn left to come to the High Rocks Inn.

10m from the stone bridge, where the drive bends left into a private part of the house, bear right onto a footpath between wooden fences. This crosses a stream and continues along the left-hand edge of a large field, with Groombridge Place Gardens on your left.

Alternatively, there is a nice (but unofficial) path which meanders alongside the river to your right, rejoining the main path at the end of the field.

In 400m cross a stile and continue in the same direction, soon with the ‘fantasy wilderness’ of the “Enchanted Forest” behind a waterway on your left. In 200m cross a stream on a wooden bridge and continue along the left-hand field edge, later veering left uphill to head NE towards two houses. Cross a stile and a driveway to go along a path between fences, later with a large water treatment plant behind black metal railings on your right.

After passing these works go over a stile and cross Broom Lane to take the car-wide track opposite, signposted as a public bridleway. In 250m go across a car-parking area in front of a house and head downhill towards a footbridge. Cross the stream and go through a metal gate. Ignore a path up to the left and bear right with the path, which in 100m comes to a stile on the right. Go over this and bear half-left downhill on the edge of a field (with trees on your left) towards a footpath post, now heading SE.

Continue through a potentially muddy patch near the river to a stile by a huge old oak tree. On the other side take the right fork, passing under some electricity cables. The path later swings round to the left and goes just inside a wood, staying fairly close to the river. Eventually it crosses the river on a wooden footbridge and passes under the railway line. Bear left uphill on the other side to reach a minor road and turn left, passing High Rocks station and then the High Rocks Inn⁸ on your left.

High Rocks to Tunbridge Wells (3¼ km)

Go along the road past the High Rocks Inn. Just before a railway bridge, bear right into Friezland Wood and follow the woodland path alongside the railway. At the end of the wood, continue ahead to reach some garages. Turn right up a driveway, then left at the top. Go across a small green and through a passage to reach the A26. Turn left onto the main road and go under the railway, then take a path on the left leading onto Tunbridge Wells Common. After climbing steeply, turn right and follow a path through the trees and eventually back to the main road. Cross over and go down steps by the Swan Hotel into The Pantiles, with many possible tea places. For the station, turn left along The Pantiles. Go across Nevill Street into Cumberland Walk, then turn left up steps to go along the High Street. At the end cross a busy road to reach the station; its main entrance is down to the left.

Continue past the High Rocks Inn, with some massive sandstone rocks soon coming into view on your right. Where the road bends left to cross over the railway, bear right past a wooden barrier into Friezland Wood and follow the woodland path E alongside the railway for just under 1 km.

Where some houses appear on your right, continue ahead through a more open area for another 400m. Where this ends, pass through a gate into a tarmac area with a block of 12 garages on your right. At the end of this block, and before reaching more garages, turn right up a driveway to reach a road in Ramslye housing estate. Turn left and go across a small green towards a passage in the centre of a small parade of shops. Go through this (Ropers Gate) and pass more houses to reach the A26.

Turn left at the main road and go under the railway bridge. Just after the road curves to the right past Wyevale Country Gardens, turn left on a tarmac path leading onto Tunbridge Wells Common. This soon climbs steeply for about 100m and then levels off at a junction of paths, with two paths going off to the right. Take the right-hand of these paths, following the signpost. This meanders through a wooded part of the common for 600m before dropping back down to the main road opposite the Swan Hotel.

Cross the main road carefully at the mini-roundabout and go down a flight of steps to the left of the hotel to enter The Pantiles, a famous colonnaded walkway with interesting shops, galleries and (sometimes) market stalls. The main route continues to the left at the bottom of the steps, but turn right to find Woods Restaurant & Winebar (one of many possible tea places).

To get to the mainline railway station, head NE along The Pantiles, passing the famous Chalybeate Spring⁹ at the end of the walkway. Cross Nevill Street and go into Cumberland Walk opposite. In 20m turn left up some steps to an alleyway and then along the pedestrianised High Street for 300m to a road junction. The main station entrance and ticket office is across this busy road and down to the left (another entrance is straight ahead, but is sometimes locked).

Through trains to London leave from the platform by the ticket office, but trains starting from here can leave from either platform.

Return to Top | Walk Map | Walk Options | Walk Directions.

» Last updated: April 15, 2010