Edenbridge Figure of 8 Walk

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Walk Map

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Walk Options

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13. Main Walk (14¼ km)

1. Extended Walk, finishing in Hever (18 km)
2. Eden Valley Walk, as far as Hever (12¼ km)

Walk Directions

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

If you are doing the Eden Valley Walk, start at §D.

1. Edenbridge Town Station to the Redhill–Tonbridge line (2 km)
• Go out a short way along Station Approach and take a mazy route through residential streets on the left (Grange Close, Greenfields and Forge Croft) to reach a bridge across the Oxted–Uckfield railway line. Cross the bridge and continue on the footpath heading north-east past Skinners Farm to the Redhill–Tonbridge line.
1. Arriving from London, go through the subway near the London end of the platform to leave from the other side. Go a short way along Station Approach, then at the end of a row of garages turn left up a residential street (Grange Close). At the top turn left again and follow the road round to the right.
2. Keep ahead through vehicle barriers into another residential street (Greenfields). Follow it down to a T-junction with Forge Croft and turn left. In 75m turn left yet again onto an unsurfaced lane with a concrete footpath marker. The lane bends right as it climbs and crosses the railway line.

   Looking off to the left, you might be slightly dismayed by your lack of progress from the station.

3. After crossing the railway ignore a footpath on the left and follow the lane down a slope. At the bottom go through a wooden kissing gate ahead and veer right through a belt of trees into the corner of a field. Bear left to go along the field edge.
4. In the left-hand field corner keep ahead through a gap into the next field. Bear slightly right to follow a faint grassy path across it, heading NE and passing just to the right of a pole carrying power lines near the far side. Go out through a wooden kissing gate and turn right briefly onto a lane.
5. In 50m turn left in front of the entrance to some small business units, going through a kissing gate and along the right-hand edge of a small field. On the far side go through another gate and across a ditch to continue on a long enclosed path, still heading NE. At the far end bear slightly right to go along the left-hand edge of a large field, with a line of trees on your left.
6. In the field corner go through a metal side gate into the bottom corner of a large meadow, with no clear path ahead. Carry on in much the same direction, passing to the right of a tree-lined pond. At the top of the meadow turn right to head E, with the Redhill–Tonbridge line? in a shallow cutting on your left.
2. The Redhill–Tonbridge line to Delaware Farm (3 km)
• Turn right to head east on field edges and farm lanes, staying close to the railway for the next 1 km. In front of a farm bridge turn right onto a new footpath heading south alongside a stream for 800m, then veer right to go up across the field to the top corner. Turn left onto a footpath heading south, briefly joining the Eden Valley Walk as it crosses the River Eden and goes past the cluster of houses at Delaware Farm.
1. Go along the top of the meadow, parallel to the railway (which you will be closely tracking for the next 1 km). In the corner go over a plank footbridge and through a metal gate to continue along the edge of a farm field, with the railway now on a low embankment. In 75m veer left up the bank to a signposted footpath junction by a level crossing.
2. Do not cross the tracks but take the tree-lined farm track leading away from the crossing, which stays fairly close to the railway. In 250m keep ahead where the track swings round to the right. Go past a vehicle barrier and turn left as indicated onto another farm track taking you back towards the railway, although once again you will not be crossing the tracks.

   The rights of way around Medhurst Row were diverted in 2020, so are shown differently on old OS maps.

3. Follow the track round to the right to go all the way along the field edge, parallel to the railway. In the far corner turn right in front of a concrete farm bridge, as indicated by a new footpath signpost. Follow the winding field edge as it heads roughly S for 800m, with a tree-lined stream on your left.
4. Shortly after passing another farm bridge off to the left (and with a “Private Land” notice ahead) veer right at a footpath waymarker post to go gently uphill across the field on a clear path. Near the top the path passes to the left of an isolated tree and you leave the field through a large gap in the top corner.
5. At this footpath junction veer left onto a broad path going down across another farm field, heading S. This leads past the left-hand end of a hedge running along the bottom of the field, where it merges with another footpath from the right. Keep ahead down a grassy track with a line of small trees on the right.
6. At the bottom go through a metal kissing gate to cross the River Eden? on a concrete farm bridge. Continue along a track (which soon becomes a surfaced driveway), with woodland on the left and some well-kept gardens on the right. At the end of the wood the drive bends right, then later swings right and left past a large pond.

   This location is shown as Delaware Farm on old OS maps, but has long since been transformed into a cluster of private houses.

3. Delaware Farm to the Stone Bridge (1¾ km)
• Turn right onto a footpath heading west across meadows and farm fields, then over the Oxted–Uckfield railway line and past Burnt Oak Farm to Hever Road. Take the left-hand of two paths down across a meadow and continue along a man-made embankment which comes out onto the bottom of Edenbridge High Street next to the Stone Bridge.
1. Almost immediately after this zig-zag turn right to go across a gravel parking area, with an inconspicuous footpath waymarker post confirming that this is a right of way. On the far side take a path to the right of a metal fieldgate, between high hedges and then over a stile. Maintain direction on a faint grassy path across a meadow.
2. On the far side go over a stile in the tree boundary and turn left to go along the edge of a long meadow for 250m, with occasional glimpses of the river about 50m off to your right. In the corner go through a metal kissing gate and keep ahead along the left-hand edge of a large farm field, with a hedge on your left.
3. The footpath eventually bears left into a tree tunnel and climbs gently to a brick bridge across a long straight stretch of the Oxted–Uckfield railway line (with Edenbridge Town station 1 km to the right and Hever station 1¾ km to the left). Carry on across a small field towards the buildings of Burnt Oak Farm.
4. Go over a stile to the left of a metal fieldgate to continue on a tree-lined track to the left of the farm buildings. Skirt around another fieldgate and keep ahead down the farm drive. At the bottom do not go out onto Hever Road but turn right through a wooden kissing gate in the hedge to the left of a metal fieldgate, into the top of some more meadows.
5. Take the left-hand of two faint grassy paths sloping down across the meadow, heading WNW towards a wooden kissing gate in the far corner. Go through this to continue along the top of a low man-made embankment (part of the town's flood defences).
6. The grassy path eventually curves left and comes out by a roundabout at the southern end of Edenbridge High Street, with the town's Stone Bridge? across the river on the right. The walk continues from the patch of grass across the road with the town sign, a possible picnic spot. The Old Eden is on the left just past the roundabout with the town's bypass; Ye Olde Crown and a few other eateries can be found along the High Street to the right.

Continue the directions at §E.

4. Edenbridge Town Station to the Stone Bridge (¾ km)
• Go out along Station Approach and turn left onto Edenbridge High Street. Follow this long straight road through the town. After crossing the River Eden turn right onto the patch of grass alongside the river.
1. … Go all the way along Station Approach and turn left at the end onto the long straight High Street. In 300m you pass a Costa on the right, followed by the Eden Valley Museum? and Ye Olde Crown?.
2. At the junction with Church Street you pass Eden Bakes on the right, opposite the (closed) King & Queen pub. Continue past some fast-food shops and cross the River Eden? on the footbridge to the left of the Stone Bridge?. Cross the road and go onto a patch of grass with the town sign.
5. The Stone Bridge to East Haxted Airstrip (1¾ km)
• Go back across the river on the town's bypass and take any route through the water meadows on the left to the south-eastern corner of the town's large recreation ground. In this corner cross Kent Brook on a footbridge and immediately turn right to head west on a footpath running alongside it. Shortly after the rerouted Vanguard Way (VGW) joins from across the brook follow the footpath through a gate onto a farm airstrip.
1. From the patch of grass head W past an information panel about the Great Stone Bridge Trust?. Cross the river on the modern road bridge carrying the town's bypass (Mont St Aignan Way?), with a fine view back along the tree-lined river to the Stone Bridge.
2. Cross the main road carefully at the traffic island and turn left onto the tarmac path opposite, back towards the river. Bear left by an information panel about the water meadows? and go down a slope into this area.

   If these meadows are inundated you could skirt around them on the recreation ground off to the right, but in that case there is likely to be more flooding in the low-lying area further up the valley, making the whole western loop problematic.

3. In the meadows take the broad grassy path alongside the river (the right-hand path is an alternative, but is the suggested return route). As it approaches a weir fork right away from the river to head SW through a lightly wooded area.
   • For a slightly longer route you could detour off to the left to explore the southern part of these water meadows.
4. The path eventually narrows and goes through an overgrown area into the south-eastern corner of the town's large recreation ground. Bear left and go up to a wooden footbridge in the tree boundary 50m away, where Kent Brook? flows into the River Eden.
5. Cross the brook and turn right on the other side (the path ahead is the return route). Follow the path along the edge of a copse for 250m, heading W parallel to the brook (hidden in the trees on your right). After the path emerges into open countryside keep ahead on this side of the tree-lined brook.
6. In 500m keep left at a waymarked footpath junction, merging with the rerouted Vanguard Way? (VGW) from across the brook. In a further 150m the path goes through a narrow gap in a hedge with a rusty iron framework and a warning notice that “Footpath Crosses Taxiway / Airstrip”.

   You will need to stay alert for light aircraft coming in to land while in this large area.

6. East Haxted Airstrip to Cernes Farm (2 km)
• Follow the waymarked VGW along a taxiway and then field edges to a footpath T-junction south of East Haxted Farm. Turn left and head south across the River Eden and Eden Brook to Cernes Farm.
1. Walk along the broad grass taxiway for 50m and then turn right onto another taxiway going gently uphill.
   • For a short cut you could keep ahead at this junction. This taxiway turns half-left after 200m and meets the return route in a further 500m or so. This is not a right of way but local dog-walkers seem to treat this area as Open Access land. If you take this short cut (saving 2 km), turn left to rejoin the main route and resume the directions at [?] in §G.
2. For the main route head W along the taxiway for 450m, up to a line of trees with a prominent yellow notice about aircraft movement next to a footpath signpost. Turn left as indicated to go gently downhill along the tree-lined field edge, heading S.
3. At the end of the trees veer right across a ditch to continue along the right-hand edge of another field, heading W again. In 250m you come to a footpath T-junction and turn left onto a grassy farm track, heading S underneath power lines (which you can use as a guide for the rest of this section).
4. Almost immediately fork left off the track to stay on the right of way, a potentially overgrown path between high hedges. In 250m keep left where the path splits and follow it through a tree boundary into the corner of a meadow.
5. Keep ahead on a faint grassy path near the right-hand edge of the meadow, heading for a footbridge with metal handrails 150m away. The footpath takes you across two such bridges in quick succession, the first over the River Eden again and the second over Eden Brook? (they merge just off to the left).
6. Carry on in the same direction across another meadow. On the far side go over a stile and across a plank footbridge into a field. Continue in much the same direction, gradually approaching the left-hand side of this long narrow field. On the far side go through a wide gap in the trees and continue near the left-hand edge of the next field.
7. Go through a gap in the next line of trees, passing the buildings of Cernes Farm off to the left. At the end of the hedge on your left veer left at a three-way footpath signpost, towards a metal kissing gate. Go through this and up to a new footpath signpost by a farm track.
7. Cernes Farm to Kent Brook (2 km)
• Leave the VGW and follow the Eden Valley Walk (EVW) from its starting point here, initially heading north-east across meadows and through Gabriel's Fishery. Continue along the riverbank, cutting across another part of the farm airstrip and eventually going back across Kent Brook into the recreation ground.
1. The signpost (installed in May 2021) confirms that this is the starting point of the Eden Valley Walk? (EVW) to Tonbridge, with the VGW turning off to the right. Go straight across the farm track and continue along the left-hand edge of a field. In the corner go over a stile in the hedge and bear left, following a faint grassy path heading NE across a large field.
2. On the far side go over a stile beside a wooden fieldgate into Gabriel's Fishery?. Follow a broad straight track through this mixed area of scrubland, wet woodland and fishing lakes, joining an unsurfaced roadway along the way. After going through a wooden gate keep ahead across a field used by campers, where the roadway veers right towards a parking area.
3. On the far side go back across the River Eden on a narrow concrete footbridge, emerging into another part of the airstrip. To stay on the right of way (and the published route of the EVW) turn right onto a grassy path following the course of the river round to the left in a wide arc.
   • A faint grassy path going straight ahead after the footbridge suggests that some walkers take a more direct route here, slanting across the main airstrip. If you are tempted by this short cut you need to be extra-vigilant to watch for light aircraft coming into land.
4. On both routes you pass the end of a long taxiway stretching off to the left, from which you would turn left if you had taken the short cut mentioned in §F. The riverside path eventually crosses the main airstrip near a WW Ⅱ pillbox and rejoins the direct route at a narrow gap in a hedge with another yellow warning notice about aircraft movement.
5. Make your way past a rusty iron framework to leave the farm airstrip and follow a clear grassy path ahead, staying close to a tree-lined stream on your right. In 300m the path goes through a copse containing the remains of an overgrown moat, shown as Devil's Den? on the OS map.
6. The main river is now on your right and you simply follow the riverside path for a further 500m, curving round to the left. After going through a lightly wooded area you meet your outward route at the wooden footbridge over Kent Brook. Go back across this into the corner of the recreation ground.

If you are doing the Eden Valley Walk (as published), go to §J.

8. Kent Brook to Church Street via the meadows (1 km)
• Take any route back through the water meadows to the town's bypass. Take the path running alongside the river to the Stone Bridge. Turn left and go along the High Street to its junction with Church Street.
1. Start by briefly retracing your outward route, along the right-hand side of the recreation ground for 50m and then the narrow path on the right leading into the water meadows. For a different route back fork right at the first path junction, soon going through a line of trees.
2. Unless you want to detour further into the southern part of the meadows, fork left and stay on the main grassy path as it gradually curves round to the left. In 200m keep ahead at a main crosspaths (crossing over the suggested outward route in §E) and continue through a lightly wooded area.
3. In a further 300m the path merges with the riverside path in front of the modern road bridge. Go up the grassy slope and fork right at the top, briefly retracing your outward route. Cross the town's bypass carefully at the traffic island and turn right, then immediately veer left onto a tarmac path which runs alongside the tree-lined river.
4. At a seating area in front of the Stone Bridge take the path on the left curving up to the High Street. Unless you want to (re)visit The Old Eden (off to the right) turn left onto the High Street, passing some fast-food shops. At the junction with Church Street Eden Bakes is opposite the (closed) King & Queen pub.
   • If you are finishing in Edenbridge the onward route along the High Street passes more refreshment places.

If you are doing the Extended Walk to Hever, go to §K.

9. Church Street to Edenbridge stations (¾ • 1½ km)
• Head north up the High Street to its junction with Station Approach. Either turn right and go along this road to Edenbridge Town station (on the Oxted–Uckfield line), or continue northwards along the B2026 for a further 1 km to Edenbridge station (on the Redhill–Tonbridge line).
  
1. From the junction with Church Street head N along the High Street, passing Ye Olde Crown and later a Costa, both on the left. After going over a small rise, and just before the road swings left towards traffic lights, Edenbridge Town station is signposted to the right.

   It will rarely be worth returning from the town's station on the Redhill–Tonbridge line, but directions to it have been included in [?] in case there is disruption on the Oxted–Uckfield line.

2. Finishing at Edenbridge Town Station (+¼ km)

1. Turn right and go all the way along Station Approach to Edenbridge Town station. Platform 1 on the near side is for trains to London; if the ticket office is closed, the entrance is on the right.

3. Finishing at Edenbridge Station (+1 km)

1. Carry on along the High Street to the traffic lights and bear right onto the B2026. Follow this long straight road for nearly 1 km, passing under a railway bridge carrying the Oxted–Uckfield line and later going past a small industrial estate.
2. In front of the railway bridge carrying the Redhill–Tonbridge line turn left onto a tarmac path sloping up to Platform 1 of Edenbridge station, for trains to Redhill. If you want to travel back via Tonbridge, cross the footbridge to Platform 2.
   
10. Kent Brook to Church Street on the EVW (1¼ km)
• To stay on the published EVW, go up the right-hand side of the recreation ground and then turn left to leave by its car park. Follow Coomb Field and Lingfield Road to the High Street. Turn right to reach its junction with Church Street.

The water meadows were not accessible when the EVW was devised in the 1980s and so its route is not as straightforward as it could be.

1. To stay on the published route of the EVW, go all the way along the right-hand side of the recreation ground. At the far end turn left in front of a curious iron structure? on a low embankment (briefly heading away from the town centre).
2. Head for a waymarker post by the recreation ground's car park, 100m away. Turn right as indicated and go all the way along a residential street (Coomb Field), then turn right onto Lingfield Road. In 200m go straight across the town's bypass at the traffic lights and along a short side street to the High Street.
3. Unless you want to visit the Costa (on the left) turn right onto the High Street, passing Ye Olde Crown as you repeat a short stretch of the outward route in §D. …
   • For the town's other pub you would have to continue along the High Street for a further 200m to find The Old Eden on the other side of the Stone Bridge, then return to this junction.
11. Church Street to Delaware Farm (2½ km)
• Go through the churchyard and continue along Churchfield to Forge Croft. Cross a bridge over the Oxted–Uckfield railway line and continue along the left-hand side of a field. Turn right in the field corner and head east across several more fields, passing Skinners Farm on the left. Follow the footpath up a small rise and then fork right onto a path slanting down the hillside. In the bottom field corner turn right onto a farm track leading down to the River Eden. Cross the river and follow a driveway past the cluster of houses at Delaware Farm.
1. From the High Street head E along Church Street, towards the church. Go through its lychgate into the churchyard of Ss Peter and Paul? and bear left to go past the church tower (or detour to its entrance on the south side if you want to look inside). Follow a tarmac path along an avenue of lime trees and then the north side of the churchyard.
2. Near the far end leave the churchyard through an opening on the left and go along a short alleyway to the end of a cul-de-sac (Churchfield). Follow this out to a T-junction (with Forge Croft) and bear right to continue up an unsurfaced lane with a concrete footpath marker. The lane bends right as it climbs and crosses the Oxted–Uckfield railway line not far from Edenbridge Town station.
3. …
4. In the field corner turn right as indicated by a waymarker post to head E along its edge. In the next corner go through a new metal gate by a large oak tree and continue along the left-hand edge of another field. Cross a ditch on a footbridge and keep ahead across the next field, with the buildings of Skinners Farm away to your left and a meander of the River Eden not far off to the right.
5. Keep to the right of a wire fence enclosing a portion of the field. On the far side cross another ditch and go through a gate in the hedge. Bear slightly right to follow a faint grassy path climbing gently up the next field, passing to the right of a clump of trees concealing a pond.
6. At the top go through a new metal gate and take the right-hand of two footpaths ahead, slanting downhill across a field (possibly with no clear path). You gradually approach a hedge along the bottom of the field, at the end of which you turn half-right onto a grassy farm track going downhill with a line of small trees on the right.
7. …
12. Delaware Farm to Hever Station (2 km)
• At the end of the drive cross Hever Road onto the signposted footpath opposite, which turns right and then leads into a field. Take the left-hand of two footpaths, slanting across the field. Follow the path under the railway line and turn right onto Lydens Lane. Just after the driveway to Oast Farm, turn left onto a new footpath going directly across some large fields. In the far left-hand corner go out onto a path passing Hever station and double back on a short path sloping down to the platform.
  
1. Follow the drive out to Hever Road. Cross the road carefully and turn right onto the signposted footpath, a fenced path established to avoid 75m of awkward road walking. At the end go through a metal gate (opposite the original way in from the road) into a large field.
2. There is a high embankment on the far side of the field, and a signpost by the road indicates two footpaths towards it. Do not head for the steps up the embankment but turn half-left to head S across the field. On reaching the far side (where you might find a dilapidated waymarker post confirming the right of way) turn left to go along the field edge.
3. About 100m before the field corner turn right through a metal gate in the fence and follow a path under a high brick bridge carrying the Oxted–Uckfield railway line. This leads into a field where you turn half-left to go across it, skirting a pond on your right along the way.
4. On the far side make your way past a vehicle barrier and turn right onto a minor road (Lydens Lane), taking care as there is no pavement. In 150m you pass the driveway to Oast Farm on the left. Just past this drive turn left through a small metal gate in the hedge onto a new public footpath.

   In 2023 the right of way from Lydens Lane to Hever station was diverted away from the cluster of houses at Lydens Farm, where it used to take an intrusive route through the grounds of an oast house and barn conversion.

5. Head directly away from the lane, aiming for a pair of small metal gates at the top of the field, 200m away. Go through these gates (crossing a farm track in between) into a very large field and head towards the far end of the tree boundary on its left-hand side, where there is a waymarker post. Continue in much the same direction towards the far left-hand field corner, with the platforms of Hever station coming into view on the left.
6. In the field corner go through a metal kissing gate onto a narrow path through some undergrowth, which soon comes to a path junction alongside a new chainlink fence. Unless you are continuing on the EVW towards the King Henry Ⅷ inn in Hever village (1½ km away) turn sharp left onto a path sloping down to Platform 1, for trains to London.
   

Walk Notes

1. The Redhill–Tonbridge line opened in 1842 as part of the main line between London and Dover, and retained that status until the direct line via Sevenoaks opened in 1868.
2. The source of the River Eden is in the Titsey Estate, on the slopes of the North Downs near Oxted. It is one of the main tributaries of the River Medway, joining it near Penshurst.
3. The single-arch Stone Bridge was built in 1836, replacing an earlier six-arch bridge.
4. The Eden Valley Museum is a local history museum in a Grade Ⅱ* listed medieval building on Edenbridge High Street, originally Doggett's Farmhouse but now called Church House. One of its exhibits (a needlework box made by a German POW in World War Ⅱ) featured in the BBC's “A History of the World in 100 Objects”.
5. Ye Old Crown dates from the 14^thC and has an unusual bridging sign, spanning the High Street. This coaching inn was a haunt of the Ranslye Gang, a notorious band of smugglers in the early 19^thC.
6. The Great Stone Bridge Trust was established in the 16^thC to pay for twelve Bridge Wardens and provide funds for repairs. Its funds are now used for the benefit of Edenbridge generally.
7. Edenbridge is twinned with Mont-Saint-Aignan in France, hence the name of the town's bypass.
8. Edenbridge Water Meadows were taken under the control of the Great Stone Bridge Trust in 2015. The 16 acres are actively managed for the benefit of wildlife, with visitors being asked to stay on the mown paths.
9. Kent Brook is a minor tributary of the River Eden, with its source in the Greensand Hills near Limpsfield Chart. It forms the county boundary between Surrey and Kent for part of its length.
10. The Vanguard Way runs for 105 km “from the suburbs to the sea”, from Croydon in south London to Newhaven in East Sussex. A new section between Troy Town and Cernes Farm replaced the original route via Haxted Mill, which included an awkward stretch along Dwelly Lane.
11. Eden Brook is one of the three main tributaries of the River Eden, with a strong enough flow to be mistaken for the main river (it powered watermills at Felbridge and Lingfield). Its source is in the High Weald near East Grinstead.
12. The Eden Valley Walk runs for 24 km, linking the Vanguard Way with the Wealdway and the Medway Valley Walk in Tonbridge. There are few rights of way alongside the River Eden itself and from Penshurst much of the route actually follows the River Medway.
13. Gabriel's Fishery was created in the early 20^thC, transforming some arable farmland into an area of lakes and surrounding woodland.
14. Devil's Den was a medieval name for earthworks of unknown origin (as was Devil's Highway for Roman roads whose origins had been forgotten). There is no trace of a farmstead which might have existed on this site.
15. The iron structure was apparently made to help the town's tug-of-war team practise.
16. Ss Peter and Paul, Edenbridge was rebuilt and extended in the 13^thC and there is little trace of an earlier Norman church. It contains a set of stained glass windows by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Burne-Jones in the east wall, some fine memorials and a poignant tombstone to Ann Jemett. The tower clock has an hour hand only.

» Last updated: July 3, 2024

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