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North Downs Way : Sandling to Wye walk

Pretty Ridge Walk along the North Downs Way with lovely views. Nice pubs for lunch and tea

Kent North Downs North Downs Way Ridge

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Post # Weather
Sun, 01-May-22 Sunday Walk: Sandling to Wye 6 high cloud and warm breezes
Sun, 23-May-21 Sunday Walk - Buttercups and Views on the North Downs ridge: Sandling to Wye 7 windy and grey but dry
Sat, 01-Jun-19 Saturday Walk - Sandling to Wye (yes, again!) - glorious buttercups, glorious views 34 sunny and hot
Sun, 19-May-19 Sunday Walk: Sandling to Wye 6
Tue, 15-Aug-17 Sandling to Wye on the North Downs Way 5 mostly sunny and warm to hot with a cooling breeze on top of the Downs
Sun, 02-Jul-17 Sandling to Wye 10 Warm and sunny
Sat, 01-Oct-16 Saturday Second Walk - Fine views on the North Downs Way 8 two very heavy showers but otherwise lots of sun
Sun, 08-May-16 Sunday Walk 2: Sandling to Wye 9 glorious hot and sunny
Sun, 11-Oct-15 A beautiful stretch of the North Downs way in rural Kent 9 sunny but with cool breeze at times
Sun, 29-Mar-15 Sandling to Wye 1
Sun, 22-Jun-14 Sandling to Wye 14
Mon, 27-May-13 Sandling to Wye
Sat, 06-Apr-13 Sandling to Wye 22
Sun, 01-Jul-12 Sandling to Wye
Sat, 19-Mar-11 Sandling to Wye
Sat, 05-Jun-10 Sandling to Wye
Sat, 03-Oct-09 North Downs Way : Sandling to Wye
Sun, 30-Mar-08 North Downs Way : Sandling to Wye
Sat, 01-Sep-07 North Downs Way : Sandling to Wye
Sun, 01-May-22
Mr M Tiger
Sunday Walk: Sandling to Wye

20.5 km (12.8 miles) Difficulty 6/10
A lovely walk following one of the best sections of the North Downs Way with fine views for nearly the whole walk.
A short detour before Wye Down’s Memorial Crown, would take you to Collyershill Wood where, at this time of year, there should be a magnificent display of flowering wild garlic.
Trains
The cheapest option is the 9:16 Ramsgate train from Victoria, direct to Sandling, arriving 10:41.
For a faster but dearer journey, take the 09:37 Dover Priory High Speed from St Pancras (Stratford International 09:44) changing at Ashford International onto the same Ramsgate train (10:30 platform 5).
Sandling and Wye are on different Southeastern lines out of Ashford. A return to Sandling, the dearer destination, is suggested. In practice this is usually accepted to return from Wye. But.....today, the short stretch from Wye to Ashford is a bus replacement so it may be prudent to also buy a single from Wye to Ashford.
Bus leaves Wye station xx::05, arrives Ashford xx:17 to connect with either….
- the xx:27 to Victoria (platform 1). Overall journey time from Wye 2hrs or
- the pricier xx:43 High Speed to St Pancras (platform 8). Overall journey time 1hr:16.
Lunch
The Tiger Inn (01303 862130) in Stowting has reopened. Possibly more upmarket than before. 9.2km (5.7 miles) into the walk. Open all day from noon.
Alternatively 2.2km (1.4 miles) further up the road you have the Five Bells Inn (01303 813334 in Brabourne. (This requires a detour, adding 800 metres (0.5 miles) to the walk length).
Tea
The Tickled Trout (01233 812227) in Wye is a popular pub stop, with a garden beside the River Stour. It is just across the bridge from Wye station. Other options include the Kings Head in Church Street (no garden), or the New Flying Horse, in Upper Bridge Street (has a garden).
Walk Directions here
The detour to Collyershill Wood starts about 750m into the 1 km stretch described in point 70. Go through a metal kissing gate on your right, (with a yellow circular walk sign) and across a field to reach the wood (this is on the route of SWC’s Wye Circular at point 18). Afterwards, retrace your steps to the main route.

That wild garlic (previous year)


T=swc.24

  • 28-Apr-22

    What is the best Return Ticket to get and ask for as I am a little bit confused there?

  • 28-Apr-22

    There isnt a simple answer Marc.

    I would say the best option is a return to Sandling plus a single back from Wye to Ashford..

    On balance Id say its better to get the Hispeed from St Pancras plus a single from Wye to Ashford '......But read on.

    Its cheaper to travel out from Victoria but Its faster on the Hi Speed, particularly coming back to London

    A return from Victoria to Sandling is £30 .10 (£19.90 with Travel card) plus £4.60 /£3 with card from Wye to Ashford

    A return on the High speed from St Pancras costs £37.10 (24.40 with travel card) plus £4.60 / £3 from Wye.

    The reason I think its best to get that single from Wye is because you cant be certain they'll accept a Sandling return on the bus at Wye . This could cause further.delay. to your journey. But it is only what I tnink. I haven't got a degree in trainology.

    If you got Advance tickets (which are still available ) You could get a single from Victoria to Sandling for £5.70 plus a single from Wye to London for £5.10, There are also reduced advance tickets on the High Speed( about £11 each way)

    The difficulty with advance tickets is you have to say what time trains you're going to get - easy to say going out,- not so not easy coming back

  • 02-May-22

    A select band of 6 exited the train at Sandling, others perhaps put off by adverse weather forecasts (inaccurate) or reports of rail replacement buses (on time and swift - if a little crowded.) Having all asked each other "where is everyone?" and discovered that two of our group had the same forename (what are the odds?) we set off on this beautiful, airy, high-level walk along the North Downs under high cloud and warm breezes , first tackling the climb up from the long-disused Sandling branch line to the top of the tunnel portal and then an equally steep but longer ascent of Tolhurst Hill to be rewarded, as always, with views right across Romney Marsh to the vague outlines of what's left of Dungeness nuclear power stations. Now being decommissioned. And to think, I remember them being built.

    Miles of glorious hilltop walking were interrupted by a picnic stop just before Stowting (pronounced "Stowting") for four of us and then a leisurely pint at the newly-revamped (and very popular) Tiger Inn with the other two, who had declined lunch (probably having seen the prices on the menu.)

    A short, steep climb took us back up to the Downs (whose name, incidentally, derives from the Celtic "Dun" meaning fortified place) and more long views over the Kent countryside, with markedly less oil-seed rape apparent than in previous years. A comparatively gentle stroll was only slightly marred by a missed (unmarked) 90 degree turn off a country lane, mainly because we were all chatting among ourselves, but, soon rectified, we approached Wye under soft and gentle rain which soon eased off. The non-lunching two opted for a late lunch at the Tickled Trout, always a welcome end to this walk, the others caught the bus to Ashford and trains home. As always, a pleasant outing in good company.

Sun, 23-May-21
Thomas G
Sunday Walk - Buttercups and Views on the North Downs ridge: Sandling to Wye
COVID 19
Track-and-Trace: please provide email address (preferred) or mobile phone number at the start
Rule of Thirty: up to June 21
Length: 21.7 km (13.5 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 429/476 m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours
Toughness: 6 out of 10
Take the 10.12 Margate train from St. Pancras I’nal (10.19 Stratford), change at Ashford (Dover Priory train, 10.50/11.04), arriving Sandling at 11.15.
The Dover Priory train changed onto at Ashford is the 09.40 from Charing Cross via Waterloo East, London Bridge, Orpington (10.05) and Sevenoaks (10.15).
Return trains: xx.18 to Victoria via Bromley South, change at Ashford for Charing Cross or St. Pancras services.
Buy a Wye or a Sandling return, they are the same price. Buy a High Speed-surcharge if travelling on the High Speed-trains from/to St. Pancras.
This lovely walk follows one of the finest sections of the North Downs Way along the edge of the North Downs escarpment with fine views for nearly the whole walk. There is just one 3 km section mid-afternoon when you are away from the escarpment edge. There can be intense displays of buttercups on this walk.
While the route for the most part follows the North Downs Way exactly (once it has climbed from Sandling up onto the ridge), the creation of Access Land in 2000 has also opened up some escarpment sections that were formerly off limits to walkers. Where these improve the walk, they have been included in the route.
Walk Option: above kilometerage assumes you descend from the Downs to the lunch pub. Picnicking on the ridge cuts 1.1 km and a re-ascent up the hill.
Note: while the North Downs Way is waymarked, it is not always comprehensively so, and in places the waymarks are confusing or missing. The path is not always as obvious as one might expect from such a major long-distance footpath. Hence full written-up directions are provided in pdf form on the website on top of the more-sparse directions at the bottom of the webpage.
Lunch: The Tiger Inn in Stowting will apparently re-open, but only on May 29; The Five Bells Inn in Brabourne (11.7 km/7.3 mi, food to 18.00, a table has been booked for 14.00 hours).
Tea: Kings Head, Wye Coffee Shop and Kitchen (closing at 16.00), Tickled Trout, all in Wye.
For summary, walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.24
  • Anonymous
    22-May-21

    Any short cut options please?

  • 22-May-21

    No, apart from the one mentioned in the walk post.

  • 23-May-21

    Changing at Ashford, there were 4 other SWCers on the platform, and we were then all surprised when during the 9 minute journey on the connecting train, there were raindrops hitting the windows! How dare they, this was not forecast!

    The rain lasted only for about 20 minutes after the walk's start, and most of that we were in the woods, so let's forget about it. For the rest of the walk it was grey and overcast with occasional sunny breaks.

    There were plenty of bluebells in those early woods, if just slightly past their peak (and some more in better state in that small wooded patch just b4 Farthing Common). Wild Garlic was present in several places and buttercups were practically everywhere.

    The wind (and quite some wind it was) was blowing in from the left behind all day, so wasn't a nuisance at all. All in, not bad for a walk in November... (oh, it's May, is it?).

    Passing the Tiger Inn, there were indeed about 10 workers on site, seemingly halfway through a grand inside and outside complete refurb of that pub (and it's looking promising).

    On to the Five Bells then for the 4 lunchers (all on tarmac lanes as per the walk directions, although there seem to be footpath alternatives possible through the open countryside w/o adding any kilometerage?). We arrived 4 minutes before the booked time, and were quickly ushered to our table. This was then one of the rare (if not only) moments on a group walk I remember when the whole group agreed that all and any item on the menu sounded interesting, tasty and needed to be eaten. Now, we did not order all and everything of course, but what we ordered was all that was hoped for. Recommended. Very recommended.

    The rest was a relative doddle, mainly escarpment paths with grand views (did I mention that we could see not only Dungeness and the Fire Hills between Rye and Hastings, but also France!?), and then we had about half an hour in Wye to waste before the 18.18. Cue the Tickled Trout, or so we thought. Only they had a Band Night on and all seats (inside and out) were fully booked. Baah! At least Wye Station has a waiting room...

    Later I found out (by text) that 1 other had overnighted in Hythe and had done some of the route a bit later than us while bumping into another Sunday regular en route (off a later train).

    7 windy and grey but dry

Sat, 01-Jun-19
Walker
Saturday Walk - Sandling to Wye (yes, again!) - glorious buttercups, glorious views
Length: 20.5km (12.8 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 (a couple of big climbs, basically) T=3.24

10.09 (Margate-bound) train from St Pancras International to Ashford International, changing there (arrive 10.47, depart 11.02) for Sandling, arriving 11.13.

OR

9.40 (Dover Priory-bound) train from Charing Cross (9.43 Waterloo East, 9.49 London Bridge) to Sandling direct, arriving 11.13.

Buy a day return to Sandling (valid for High Speed if going from St Pancras, otherwise not).

For walk directions click here. For GPX click here. For a map of the walk and some brief notes on the route click here and scroll down to the bottom of the page. Once you are up on the downs you are basically following the North Downs Way, with one or two minor "improvements".

I know this walk was posted on Sunday just two weeks back, but for whatever reason only six turned up. Saturday walkers are made of sterner stuff.

This is, in my humble opinion, a near perfect downland walk, with mouthwatering escarpment views for most of the way, except for an "inland section" just after lunch. Fear not, though: glorious downland views return towards the end. In past years it has also been a eye-aching yellow carpet of buttercups at this time of year - see the photo page for this walk.

Lunch is usually at the Tiger Inn 5.8 miles into the walk. This is a deservedly popular pub, whose capacity is doubled if the weather is fine by outside seating. It serves food all afternoon so it may not be a bad idea to get there a bit after the main lunchtime rush. The back-up option is the Five Bells Inn in Brabourne, another wonderful pub that also does food all afternoon but which requires an extra tranche of road walking and a 800 metre addition to the walk to get to it.

For tea the Wye Coffee Shop and Kitchen is now open till 5pm, not 4pm as stated in the walk notes, but for most a more practical and desirable destination is the Tickled Trout pub, idyllically and conveniently situated by the river just across the bridge from the station. It has a garden from which you can paddle in the stream, if that takes your fancy. It does tea, even cakes sometimes. Nice food too.

Trains back from Wye are at 20 and 54 past till late. The 54 past train takes 1hr 28 minutes to Charing Cross, while the 20 past is a bit of a dawdler, going to Victoria in 1hr 46 minutes: but with a five minute change at Ashford (from one side of the station to the other, so be quick) you can get to Charing Cross in 1hr 32

Both trains have a 16 minute connection at Ashford to the high speed trains to St Pancras, giving a Wye to St Pancras journey time of 1 hour.






  • 28-May-19

    I was one of the "Sunday 6" and can confirm the glorious carpets of buttercups and the overall brilliance of this walk. Just before you descend into Wye there is a seat overlooking superb views and I can remember many tears ago when quite a large SWC group had a rest and a snooze here before descending to Wye and drinks at the Tickled Trou which also has delicious (but not home made) cakes. Hope the weather is good and clear for you as this really enhances the views.

  • 01-Jun-19

    34 on this walk - 32 at the start and (at least) two late starters - with most, I think, getting the normal train rather than the high speed one. Weather: sunny and hot , though with the heat a bit mitigated by high cloud in the afternoon. Perhaps a walk with more shade might have been nice, but who was complaining? Glorious weather, glorious scenery, a glorious time of year. The countryside an eye-aching green with not a trace of brown or seediness or decay - excepting perhaps some ash trees that looked to be affected by die-back. Lots of buttercups everywhere. Common blue and small heath butterflies throughout. Swifts screaming over Wye at the end. Remember, oh remember, days like this.

    The group got very split up very early on. Some went off at warp speed, leaving three of us trailing far behind. On we walked across the lonely hills with not a soul in sight ahead nor behind. But later it transpired we were in the middle not at the back. A refugee group apparently got to the lunch pub even later than we did and took a taxi from there at 4pm.

    The Tiger Inn was as lovely as ever: pleasantly busy but not overcrowded; cheerful and friendly. No sucking of teeth or warnings about how long food would take to come. A convivial meal in the cool shade on a hot patio. In my mind’s eye it is always a sunny day in early June at this pub.

    A tea stop before the end of the walk would have been nice, but it was not to be. Some of us had a sit instead on the lip of the Devil’s Kneading Trough, or whatever it is called. Then down to Wye and the Tickled Trout and beer, tea, ice cream and a paddle for three of us in the cool stream. Some took the 18.54 train, which was delayed; the rest took the 19.20, which wasn’t.

  • 03-Jun-19

    "Remember, oh remember, days like this."

    Couldn't put it better - and I think we all will. (One of the three trailing far behind.)

Sun, 19-May-19
Mr M Tiger
Sunday Walk: Sandling to Wye
SWC Walk 24
20.5 km (12.8 miles) Difficulty 6/10
A lovely walk following one of the best sections of the North Downs Way with fine views for nearly the whole walk.
Trains
For the quickest journey, take the 10:09 Margate High Speed from St Pancras (Stratford International 10:16) and change at Ashford International for the 11:05 to Dover Priory (platform 5). This gets you to Sandling for 11:16.
For a cheaper slower journey, catch that same Dover Priory train from Cannon Street at 9:32 (London Bridge 9:36) direct to Sandling.
Sandling and Wye are on different Southeastern lines out of Ashford. A return to Sandling, the dearer option, is suggested. In practice this should be accepted from Wye but be prepared to pay the difference to Ashford if your luck's out.
Return from Wye at xx:55 and xx:19.
The xx:55 will take you direct to London Bridge (1hr34) or Cannon Street (1hr37).
The xx:19 will take you direct to Victoria in 1 hr50.
Wealthier walkers with their High Speed tickets can change at Ashford International for the connection to St Pancras (total journey time 1 hr).
Lunch
The Tiger Inn (01303 862130) in Stowting is a charming and friendly pub 9.2km (5.7 miles) into the walk. Open all day from noon.
Alternatively 2.2km (1.4 miles) further up the road you have the Five Bells Inn (01303 813334 in Brabourne. (This requires a detour, adding 800 metres (0.5 miles) to the walk length)
Tea
The Tickled Trout (01233 812227) in Wye is a popular pub stop, with a garden beside the River Stour. It is just across the bridge from Wye station.
Directions here
T=swc.24


  • 22-May-19

    6 (further comments from DC?)

Tue, 15-Aug-17
Marcus
Sandling to Wye on the North Downs Way
SWC 24 - Sandling to Wye

 Length: 20.5 km (12.8 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10

Either
London St Pancras: 10-08 hrs Margate service
Arrive Ashford International: 10-46 hrs
Leave Ashford International: 11-03 hrs Dover Priory service from Charing X
Arrive Sandling; 11-14 hrs

Or
London Charing Cross: 09-40 hrs Dover Priory service
Arrive Sandling: 11-14 hrs

Return

 Wye to Charing Cross: 15-54, 16-53, 17-52, 18-51 Journey length 1hr 32 mins
Wye to St Pancras: as above plus 21 mins past the hour, changing at Ashford International. Journey length 1 hr

Rail ticket: returns from either Sandling or Wye are usually accepted. You pay a supplement for using the HS1 service from or back to St Pancras.

This walk is a favourite amongst many a SWC walker, being along a lovely section of the North Downs Way which is more akin to the South Downs Way. For large parts of the day you enjoy stunning views of Kent's countryside.

Lunch is taken at the usually excellent Tiger Inn in Stowting, 9 km into the walk. Best 'phone ahead with numbers (01303-862130.

The latter part of the walk up on the lovely Crundale Downs reverses TO Book 1, Walk 53 - Wye Circular, and you descend into Wye for tea at the Tickled Trout pub, next door to the railway station.
T=swc.24
Walk directions here: L=swc.24
  • Anonymous
    14-Aug-17

    The Tiger Inn appears to be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

  • 16-Aug-17

    3 off the Javelin train from St Pancras, 1 off the service from Charing X, and 1 by car, so I make that 5 on our outing in Kent.

    mostly sunny and warm to hot with a cooling breeze on top of the Downs , near perfect summer walking conditions for this walk along a hilly, downs section of the North Downs Way.

    3 stopped at the closed Tiger Inn to make use of their outdoor seating whilst eating their sandwiches, leaving 2 of us to walk along the road to the Five Bells Inn in Brabourne, which served us excellent lunches. I can highly recommend this customer - and walker - friendly pub, with its comfortable internal and external seating areas, good choice of beers- and ciders - and a good choice of home cooked food from an extensive menu.

    One of the sandwichers joined us for the afternoon leg (the other two having continued post prandial along the main route) and the sun came out again after the skies briefly threatened us with a storm during our lunch break.

    More lovely views from the top of the Crundale Downs, then the descent to Wye. A swift half in the Tickled Trout, then home on the 17-52, arriving back at St Pancras at 19-00 hrs.

    This walk is suitably demanding in length and climbs to give one a really good workout whilst providing walkers with lovely panoramic views along most of its route, and especially enjoyable on a nice summers day.

Sun, 02-Jul-17
Mr M Tiger
Sandling to Wye
20.5 km (12.8 miles)
Difficulty 6/10
A lovely walk following one of the best sections of the North Downs Way with fine views for nearly the whole walk.
Trains note change
The simplest and cheapest option is the 9:30 Dover Priory train from Victoria direct to Sandling arriving 11:16.
For a faster journey, take the 10:08 Margate High Speed from St Pancras (Stratford International 10:15) changing at Ashford pInternational onto the same Dover Priory train (11:05 platform 5).
Sandling and Wye are on different Southeastern lines out of Ashford. A return to Sandling, the dearer option, is suggested. In practise this should be accepted to return from Wye but be prepared to pay the difference to Ashford if your luck's out.
Return from Wye at xx:57 (High Speed ticket-holders change at Ashford International).
As well as being on the District Line, Cannon St Station is only a short walk from Bank (exit 6, cross road, to go right, down St Swithins Lane).
Lunch
The Tiger Inn (01303 862130) in Stowting is a charming and friendly pub 9.2km (5.7 miles) into the walk. Open all day from noon.
Alternatively 2.2km (1.4 miles) further up the road you have the Five Bells Inn (01303 813334 in Brabourne. (This requires a detour, adding 800 metres (0.5 miles) to the walk length).
Tea
The Tickled Trout (01233 812227) in Wye is a popular pub stop, with a garden beside the River Stour. It is just across the bridge from Wye station. They have recently taken to hosting live bands on Sunday afternoons. If that’s not your thing, try the Kings Head in Church Street (no garden), or the New Flying Horse, in Upper Bridge Street (has a garden).
Walk Directions here
T=swc.24
  • Anonymous
    01-Jul-17

    Looks like the Cannon Street train is now starting at Victoria at 9.30 NOT CANNON STREET

  • Mr M Tiger
    02-Jul-17

    Thanks I tried to double check train times yesterday but was having problems with journey planner.

  • 03-Jul-17

    10 Warm and sunny , Summer is back. For many this is in the top 10 of the SWC walks with very fine views all along the North Downs Way. Looking back towards Folkestone the sea was blue and the sky clear enough to see France. A walker has sensibly booked a table at the The Tiger and we had a choice of inside or outside seating. Food was excellent and promptly served. The staff kindly brought an umbrella to shade the outdoor eaters. We all stopped at the Tickled Trout for refreshment and a few stayed on for a later train.

Sat, 01-Oct-16
Walker
Saturday Second Walk - Fine views on the North Downs Way
SWC Walk 24 - Sandling to Wye
Length: 20.5km (12.8 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10

9.40 train from Charing Cross (9.43 Waterloo East, 9.49 London Bridge) to Sandling, arriving 11.13

OR

10.08 Southeastern High Speed train from St Pancras International to Ashford, arriving 10.46, to connect with the above train departing 11.02.

Buy a day return to Sandling. This should be accepted between Wye and Ashford, but you may be liable to pay for this short hop.

For walk directions click here.

I had a request for this walk, which had a Sunday outing earlier in the year but has not had a Saturday outing for some time, I think. It is a simple walk along a very lovely stretch of the North Downs Way, - more like the South Downs here, with fine views for much of the walk (the exception being one section in the afternoon when you are away from the escarpment for a while).

Once you climb up onto the downs from Sandling you are following the North Downs Way, so you might be tempted to rely on waymarking. But in critical places it is not very clear and in at least one place open access now enables you to take a simpler route than the NDW - hence the walk directions in the link above.

Lunch is at the Tiger Inn in Stowting, a lovely pub that can be quite popular (hopefully less so now that summer is over). An equally nice alternative, which requires a bit of extra road walking is the Five Bells in Braborne. With either one it might be worth ringing to book a table when setting off on the walk, though both have outside seating too if it is fine.

Tea in Wye basically comes down to the Tickled Trout pub, which does serve tea and sometimes even cakes, and has a wonderful location by the river. Even more wonderfully it is just across the bridge from the train station.

Trains back from Wye are at

- 21 past, direct to Victoria, but slow - 1 hr 48
- 54 past, direct to Charing Cross - 1 hr 28

For both trains you can change at Ashford for St Pancras, the 54 having a slightly smaller waiting time there (13 mins versus 15 mins), both taking 1hr to London
  • 02-Oct-16

    8 on this walk. The gloomy weather forecast was only part right: we had two very heavy showers but otherwise lots of sun . The second shower was a rather magnificent hailstorm which produced wonderfully misty light effects on the valley below as it passed, also providing a good test for winter walking gear (which some items failed.....). But for the most part this was a fine day out on a fine downland ridge.

    The forecast meant the Tiger Inn in Stowting was not as busy as it might have been, though it was still far from empty. It is always a pleasure to eat at this friendly pub. In the afternoon we met two young Swedes who had started their walk at 7.30 am in Dover, which put us in our place. In Wye we optimistically sat in the garden as dusk fell, but were forced inside by the evening chill after one drink. Autumn is here!

Sun, 08-May-16
Mr M Tiger
Sunday Walk 2: Sandling to Wye
Sandling to Wye SWC Walk 24
20.5 km (12.8 miles)
Difficulty 6/10

A lovely walk following one of the best sections of the North Downs Way with fine views nearly all the way.
Trains.
It is cheapest to travel from Charing Cross on the 9:10 Ramsgate train (Waterloo East, 9:13) changing at Ashford for the 10:35 to Dover Priory (platform 5). This gets you to Sandling for 10:46.
For a quicker journey, take the 9:37 Ramsgate High Speed from St Pancras (Stratford International 9:44) and change at Ashford International for the same 10:35 Dover Priory train. High speed costs about £5 more on a return. Railcard savings still apply, but not London zone reductions.
Sandling and Wye are on different Southeastern lines out of Ashford. A return to Sandling, the dearer option, is suggested. In practice this should be accepted to return from Wye but be prepared to pay the difference to Ashford if not.
Return from Wye at xx:57 and xx:21.
The xx:57 will take you direct to Charing Cross in 1hr:37
The xx:21 will take you direct to Victoria in 2 hr.
Or change from either at Ashford for the High Speed to St Pancras (total journey time 1 hr).
Lunch
The Tiger Inn (01303 862130) in Stowting is a charming and friendly pub 9.2km (5.7 miles) into the walk. Open all day from noon.
Alternatively 2.2km (1.4 miles) further up the road you have the Five Bells Inn (01303 813334 in Brabourne. (This requires a detour, adding 800 metres (0.5 miles) to the walk length)
Tea
The Tickled Trout (01233 812227) with a riverside garden just across the bridge from Wye station, is a popular pub stop.
The Devil’s Kneading Trough restaurant and the Latte e Miele (both mentioned in the notes) have closed.
Directions here
There have been difficulties reported with the alternative route offered at point 57 (see comments). You now have to keep to the NDW at that point. This is covered in the directions.
T=swc.24
  • 02-May-16

    By a spooky coincidence I was in the Wye area on Sunday 1 May and took the opportunity to check the directions at point 57. I can confirm that the permissive route that took you closer to the escarpment at point 57 in the directions has indeed been closed. But the NDW route is also perfectly pleasant, if with less striking views, and you soon come to the escarpment edge by this route.

    The pdf directions

    http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/book_3/walk_24/SWC_Walk_24_Sandling_to_Wye.pdf

    have now been updated (2 May version) to reflect this change and give full details of the NDW route.

    I can also confirm that the early tea stop at the Devil's Kneading Trough has gone: it is now a wedding venue. The Latte e Miele cafe in Wye is now the Wye Coffee Shop and Kitchen, but it closes at 3pm on Sundays so is unlikely to be of use to any of us. The Tickled Trout pub flourishes, however and its riverside garden is as pleasant as ever.

    Fans of oilseed rape might also like to know that the fields along the base of the escarpment as you approach Wye are currently a feast of this lovely yellow crop. See

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/46429541@N02/26774468675/

    and

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/46429541@N02/26749299046/in/photostream/

  • Marion
    08-May-16

    Intend going via Waterloo East

  • 09-May-16

    9 on this walk; 6 off the train and 3 others we met up with en route. This is the best NDW walk in the SWC repertoire with glorious views throughout and the countryside looking lush and verdant in glorious hot and sunny weather. Three of us had our sandwich lunch on the hill overlooking the village and it was tough to tear ourselves away to amble down to the village to the Tiger pub to meet the others.

    We split up after lunch with 3 enjoying a "long" lunch whilst the rest of us enjoyed the superb ridge views on the way back to Wye. A final refreshing drink at the Tickled Trout whose policy of having live music on a hot sunny Sunday afternoon does not seem to work when 98% of their customers are lounging in the lovely garden by the river. They stopped after 2 numbers of blues rock.

    Superb day out in great company. (Finally saw loads of youngsters doing the Duke of Eds silver award and we, ahem, provided a little confirmation of the onward route to one group.)

  • Anonymous
    09-May-16

    Superb walk indeed. The 3 long lunchers eventually made it to Wye, only to be drummed out of the garden at the Tickled Trout by some ghastly band. Most trains cancelled due to signal failure so home on the 18.50 which was packed full with many passengers standing for the duration.

  • 09-May-16

    I feel your pain regarding the ghastly band. I had the same experience the Sunday previous. Got to the pub, bought my drink and peanuts, settled happily into a chair by the sunny riverside to listen to the evening birds and then BAM! Not one of the TT's more inspired ideas for summer Sundays.

  • 09-May-16

    I've e-mailed the Tickled Trout very politely suggesting they reconsider their music policy on summer Sundays

  • Marion
    10-May-16

    After enduring the loud rock music with horrible female singer trying to sing Elvis Presley, we found that Signal failure on the line affecting all trains to and from Victoria and Charing X. This meant the 3 Epicureans who had spent 2 hours consuming a fantastic lunch with amazing Yorvale ice-cream and coffee had to pile onto the high speed train- standing room only as far as Ashford. I used the interchange at Stratford to access the Jubilee line but it involves a long 10 mins walk towards Waitrose and then the whole length of Westfield shopping centre with hardly any signage to guide you! A quicker option if you don't want to continue to St Pancras however.

  • Anonymous
    26-Jan-17

    nice post ty

Sun, 11-Oct-15
PeteB
A beautiful stretch of the North Downs way in rural Kent
Download walk 24 Sandling to Wye
Length 20.5km (12.8m); toughness 6/10
Trains: two options:
  1. London Cannon Street 09.45 or London Bridge 09.48 arrive Sandling 11.16. or
  1. HS1 from London St Pancras International 10.08 (Stratford International 10.14) arrive Ashford International 10.46 and then from Platform 5 at Ashford Int take the 11.05 for Sandling arriving at 11.16.
Note for HS1 there is a small extra charge for the train ticket but it is a fast and comfortable service and is your recommended travel option.
Return trains from Wye: HS1 option: xx:57 to London St Pancras International changing at Ashford International (17.03) to pick up HS1 which leaves at 17.16 for London. If you are not using HS1 then you can stay on the original “slow” train back to London Bridge and Cannon Street.
There is also a slow train at xx:21 from Wye to London Victoria with a journey time of 2hrs.
Buy a day return to Sandling
I posted this walk at the end of March this year but on a bleak and miserable day I was the only walker who turned up. I make no apologies for posting it again as it is a lovely walk incorporating the finest section of the North Downs Way with some spectacular views. The pubs are excellent too and the Tickled Trout in Wye just 50m from the station is a fine spot for rest and refreshment whilst waiting for your train.

Although this walk follows the North Downs Way route finding can be a bit tricky but there are full walk directions and these can be found here along with further details about the walk and the various refreshment opportunities.
  • 12-Oct-15

    9 on this walk; me and eight women. sunny but with cool breeze at times . After a brief meeting and vote (5 to 3) I was invited to accompany the newly formed SWC feminist, collective walking group and we all enjoyed a glorious day out on this most beautiful section of the North Downs with its spectacular views. 5 of us took lunch at the recommended picnic spot before we all met up again at the Tiger Inn (excellent)for drinks where we managed to bag a large outside table in the sun for all 9 of us.

    In the afternoon we enjoyed more fine views of the rolling downs and distant plains in the glowing autumn light. One walker checked out a possible early tea stop but later reported it was not open. The rest of us marched on to Wye where most went straight to the station for the 16.57 train whilst 2 of us had a quick drink at the Tickled Trout (which I have to say needs a bit of a make-over as its looking a bit tired) and caught a later train. A superb SWC day out.