Return trains from T Wells: 15.38, 16.05, 16.34, 17.05, 17.38

16 on this walk, including one who had set out to walk with another group and failed to find it. We hope she enjoyed her day with us.

The weather started cloudy and there was discussion about whether the forecast was for rain later. But if it was, it was wrong, because it cleared to sun in the afternoon - a gorgeous ending to the day.

There was a sizeable sandwichista complement on this walk, with only six wanting a pub lunch. The Bottle House was decided upon, which had a decent menu, if a bit heavy on the meat and light on the potatoes. (As usual the fish and chips looked the most calorific option.) Two joined us for drinks. I was cast in my usual role of looking wistfully out of the windows at the outside tables while we ate inside in the gloom.

We never saw the sandwichistas again so they may like to add their own report. The eight of us from the pub ploughed on across the immense afternoon section (two thirds of the walk). I thought I knew this quite well, but large stretches of it were quite unfamiliar to me and some of the views very dramatic.

We were congratulating ourselves on how dry the paths were and how muddy they would have been a few weeks ago. But the Gods laugh at the pretentions of mortals! Several gloopy bits were soon provided. Those who picked their way carefully around these to minimise mud on their boots got their comeuppance later in the shape of a narrow mud-filled path down a hill, where we all filled our boots, so to speak.

Towards the end I was probably the only person who stopped in Hurst Wood to inspect the wood anemones. But alas, there were very few. Maybe there are more to come, or maybe the big displays of the past are no more. A compensating factor was the birdsong, both on this section and the whole last quarter of the walk: competing blackbirds, nuthatches, chiffchaffs (our first summer migrants), woodpeckers drumming, great tits, blue tits, robins…. A real sense that spring was finally here.

I was all ready to sit on a log and surrender myself to all this, but my companion pressed relentlessly on to get to the Pantilles in time for tea. This seemed a folorn hope to me, but when we got there at 4.50pm we were able to inveigle a “takeaways only now” cafe to let us sit on their terrace with tea and chocolate fudge cake. When the walk poster turned up a bit later, the cafe seemed to have reverted to serving tea in china cups. We sat there a good while, enjoying the ambience, then got the 18.05 home.

12 emerged from the train at Leigh and set off under sunny skies with rapidly rising temperatures and humidity . 11 followed the main route while one took the shortcut avoiding the pubs and proceeded at a slow pace, collecting blackberries along the way and being overtaken by the main walkers at Speldhurst. Most if not all had picnics and some had drinks in the pubs. If anyone had a pub lunch they might like to report back.. The All Souls Chapel near Poundsbridge is a good picnic spot with benches in its very pleasant and peaceful churchyard. This is a very lovely walk but today I felt the weather was too hot to enjoy it.

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,

For anyone wanting an even shorter short cut, it looks like the bus is running from Penshurst village to either Leigh or Tunbridge Wells train stations.

14 on this walk on a glorious warm and sunny day. Ten at least stopped at the Spotted Dog, most eating there, which although relatively busy had no problem accommodating us. All, I think, sat on the outside terrace at the back. In the afternoon we passed one of our number stretched out on the grass at the edge of a field enjoying the sun, and probably in danger of nodding off. I went straight for the train when we reached Tunbridge Wells, but both the Pantiles and the High Street were busy and buzzing with life.

I'm coming from East Croydon so I'll either be arriving at Leigh 10.26 or 11.26. Hope to catch the group at lunch time.

16 people in total. 12 on the advertised train. The 4 minutes to catch the connecting train at Tonbridge was too short for 1, who just missed the train and waited an hour for the next one, one came by car and 2 arrived on the 11.26 from East Croydon/Redhill.

It was good walking weather

not too hot sunny with a gentle breeze and a nice time of year to do this walk. There were bales of hay in the fields, others were still in crop, plus lots of blackberries to nibble along the way.

Those lunching at the pub split 50/50 between the Spotted Dog and the Bottle House Inn. The Spotted Dog group were happy with their food and the coffee was excellent. It would be good to hear from the Bottle House Inn group as the group I was with didn't see them again.

Some of us went for a very good tea and excellent cranberry cake and pear tart at Fine Grind on the high street.

11 off the train at Leigh (which at least one walker insisted on pronouncing "Lee" thus arousing suspicion that she was a German parachutist in disguise) and we set off in mainly sunshine with the odd shower and one burst of hailstones across pleasant, but very muddy parkland to Penshurst, after which we saw one man and his two dogs expertly marshalling sheep. About a mile further on we split into Pub Lunch and Sandwiches, the Sandwiches finding a convenient picnic table in the grounds of a small chapel, then it was even more mud all the way to Tunbridge Wells and tea and cakes in the Pantiles.

For once the lunchers were a minority. 4 reached The Spotted Dog, though one then cried off injured with an ankle strain and set off home by taxi.

The remaining 3 enjoyed good food at a reasonable price and good service. This pub is beautiful and ancient, though the seating is quite squeezed up. Not recommended for larger persons, who should try the nearby Bottle House Inn which has a modern extension. (Or sit outside in summer)

Enjoying a leisurely lunch meant that on arrival in Tunbridge Wells we were greeted by the clanging sound of one cafe after another closing their doors, so home on the 17.09

13 SWC walkers alighted from the scheduled train at Leigh, together with some 20 in a Meet-Up group, none of whom seemed to know where they were going. Having been corralled by a leader of sort, they set out 50 metres behind us, on the opening leg of our walk to Penshurst. 75 metres ahead of us was an additional group of 8 walkers, who disappeared into the great unknown on reaching Penshurst. The Meet-Uppers also went their own way after Penshurst, not to be seen again by us during the rest of the day.

The weather was overcast and mild , with the sun briefly appearing when we reached Smarts Hill, to disappear back into the clouds after lunch. Said lunch was enjoyed by 5 of us at the excellent Spotted Dog pub, who had reserved a cosy alcove for us. Some of the sandwichers dropped in for a drink, with 4 of them setting out on the long afternoon leg shortly after our arrival (the other 4 left thirty minutes later).

On leaving the pub, as we headed back to the top of Smarts Hill, us lunchioners were treated to the sight of 5 young roe deer dashing across the road, some 50 metres ahead of us, to disappear into the woodland beyond.

Time now to mention the mud: it was heavy duty for most of the day, mainly of the slubberdub, slippery variety, but all seemed to cope with it, and accepted that being early January, there will be mud !

Our afternoon was uneventful but very pleasant, this walk having lots of variety to keep a walker interested. We were losing the light as we eventually entered RTW, where 4 of us stopped at Juliet's Cafe in the High Street for a very nice tea. Up the hill then to the railway station for a fast train back to London.

A most enjoyable day was had in good company in Kent's lovely countryside: indeed, I might be tempted to venture out again on a SWC walk on a Saturday !

An alternative lunchtime pub is The Bottle House Inn, close to The Spotted Dog. A few of us looked at it and it seemed popular. Might be a good option when there's a large group http://www.thebottlehouseinnpenshurst.co.uk/

Not surprised you were running out of daylight Marcus. I was one of the "30 minutes later" group, we caught up with the advance party and arrived at RTW together; it was getting pretty murky even at 4.15. Four of us went to a cafe called Claudia's, which apparently used to be something else, but was fine, and got the 1659 train.

Sunday 19th February 2017

12 on this walk which was as lovely as ever. 5 of us ate at the Spotted Dog and then had tea in The Cake Shed in RTW.

12

I haven't been to the George and Dragon in Speldhurst for ages but it was always a favourite of mine

http://www.speldhurst.com/

Speldhurst Hill, Speldhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0NN | T: 01892 863125

You could get the 09.39 from Victoria direct arriving at Leigh at 10.34 if that makes sense and I have understood the train times properly

Oh yes i have always loved the George and Dragon in Spedhurst too altho9 hardly ever eaten there jfk

I'll be arriving a bit later on the at 10.34 via East Croydon and will catch the group up later.

Leigh to Tunbridge Wells, omitting Smart's Hill

18 or 25 depending on who you spoke to and whether you counted just the first train load or guessed the total with the second train crowd added in

14 had lunch in the George and Dragon and it was very good though not cheap but with very good waitress service

Weather was glorious sunshine and pleasantly warm all day with NO RAIN WHATSOEVER

Also some debate on how muddy it was, some said it was atrocious whilst others said it wasn't too bad

Okay the mud wasn't too bad but fording streams that don't normally exist made for damp socks

Some saw lambs but I didn't

Loads of other wildlife including badger, deer, foxes but all stuffed except the badger which was road kill

Daffs and snow drops abound around and blossom was blossoming in some trees

Tea in The Pantiles was okay but nowt to write home about - I need to choose a different tea room next time - the one that we 6 went to was the only one with seats inside

Obviously the locals know the good tea rooms but unfortunately they fill them up and leave no room for the muddy blowins

This change to the route and lunch stop at the George and Dragon is defiantly a good move

all the best

Sunni Daye

Give the Pantiles a miss and a little further on you'll find the high street with it's cafes and very nice cakes.

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1 Walk 15 : Leigh to Tunbridge Wells

Distance: 18.9km (11.7 miles) 5/10

8, sunny warm

Very nice walk with unexpectedly good weather. 5 had a good lunch at the Spotted Dog, seated outside with lovely views across the countryside. 3 picnicked nearby.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was an encounter with some friendly piglets that were grazing in a field alongside some sheep. Lots of fields of cows to traverse also. Walk was surprisingly tiring as there are many long, slow climbs and descents.

Arrived Tunbridge Wells not long after 4. 6 eschewed the tearooms on the Pantiles and instead had very good tea and cake at Juliets on the high street. I left the others after tea as they made their way to the station, and I took a walk around the town, making the 17:39 train.