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Tunbridge Wells to Hildenborough via Bidborough Walk

Gentle walk via elegant Tunbridge Wells, delightful woods, the Wealdway, and Haysden County Park

Kent

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 Option Post # Weather
Sat, 28-Jan-23 Tunbridge Wells to Tonbridge or Hildenborough 16 Sunny to start cloudy later
Sat, 02-Feb-19 Tunbridge Wells to Tonbridge 23 sunny intervals
Sat, 09-Jun-18 Tunbridge Wells to Hildenborough - Across the Weald and down into the valley 14 sunny and pleasant
Sat, 25-Mar-17 Northwards from Tunbridge Wells 25 bright sunshine but a cold wind
Sat, 18-Jun-16 Saturday Second Walk - a gentle stroll in Kent 13
Sat, 05-Sep-15 Saturday Third Walk – the Kentish Weald 14 Cloudy but dry
Sun, 25-Jan-15 a Tunbridge Wells to Hildenborough via Bidborough Walk 7

Saturday 28-Jan-23

branchline

TUNBRIDGE WELLS TO TONBRIDGE OR HILDENBOROUGH

Walk 238

Length of walk: to Tonbridge is 8.8 miles and to Hildenborough 10.5 miles

Options: The turn off for the Tonbridge finish is near the end of the walk, and starts at para 23 in the directions. Anyone wanting a bit more walking can carry on to Hildenborough (17.7 km) – follow walk directions.

Toughness: 4 out of 10

Train times : Take the 9.52 train from Charing X; 9.55 W’Loo East; 9.59 London Bdge.

Return trains from Hildenborough to Charing Cross: 16.48; 17.48;18.48

Return trains from Tonbridge to Charing X: 16.11; 16.44:17.11:17.44

Return trains from Tonbridge to Victoria: 16.07; 16.37; 17.07; 17.37

Lunch Options:

The Kentish Hare opens from 11am for coffee and drinks and lunch from 12-2:30pm Main restaurant open 12 to 2.30 pm tel: 01892 525709

The Plough at Leigh , Leigh Road , Hildenborough, TN11 9AJ

Open Tuesday to Saturday from 12 to 2.30pm

Tel: 01732 832149, http://www.theploughatleigh.com/

There are seats for picnics in Brookhurst Field, Birch Wood and Haysden

Country Park.

Tea options available in Tonbridge and Hildenborough

The walk takes us out of Tunbridge Wells via the town commons and Hurst Wood, mainly uphill but nothing too strenuous. It joins the Wealdway shortly before the hamlet of Modest Corner. A delightful section follows, through Brookhurst Field and Birch Wood on the outskirts of Bidborough, where you can stop for lunch. You then cut across Haysden Country Park, following a section of the River Medway.

Find walk directions, map, gpx here. t=swc.238

  • Fri, 27-Jan-23

    Departs London Charing Cross(CHX) at 09:52, arrives Tunbridge Wells(TBW) 11:02

  • Sun, 29-Jan-23

    14 or 15 did a quick round of names then, fshoom, they were off. Too fast for the two at the back - who didn’t catch up till lunchtime. The going was strenuous - up down, up down, mud, mud, mud. Stile-free, though.. Lunch pub was pleasant enough. Blue boot covers provided. There were two groups of sandwich eaters, one at a viewpoint, the rest in a churchyard. The remainder set off again. Fshoom. The two at the back opted for Tonbridge and got a fast train back.The weather? Sunny to start cloudy later

  • Sun, 29-Jan-23

    I counted 16 at Tunbridge Wells station. Seven picnickers finished the walk in Tonbridge, six went to the Finch House cafe for tea and cakes. Although busy, service was fast and there was plenty of seating. We caught the 16.44 train back to London Bridge. Nice walk.

  • Mon, 30-Jan-23

    I must put in a word for the Basil Café, 30 High St, Tonbridge TN9 1EJ which is open 9-4.30 (last orders) on Saturdays. Earlier closing times during the week. Very friendly and helpful staff, generous pots of tea, and delicious cakes. Five of us had refreshments there on Saturday

Saturday 02-Feb-19

PeteG
Tunbridge Wells to Tonbridge (or Hildenborough ) T=swc.238

 Length: 8.9 miles (14.3km)

The turn off for the Tonbridge finish is near the end of the walk, and starts at para 23 in the directions. Anyone wanting a bit more walking can carry on to Hildenborough (17.7 km)

The walk follows a familiar SWC route out of Tunbridge Wells via the town commons and Hurst Wood, mainly uphill but nothing too strenuous. It joins the Wealdway shortly before the hamlet of Modest Corner. A delightful section follows, through Brookhurst Field and Birch Wood on the outskirts of Bidborough, where you can stop for lunch. You then cut across Haysden Country Park, following a section of the River Medway.

Trains:
Southeastern are running a Winter Timetable on Friday. I'll check on Friday for any changes on Saturday.

Get the 0945 Hastings train from Charing Cross (London Bridge 0952) arriving 1052. Buy return to Tunbridge Wells. Return trains from Tonbridge xx06, xx22, xx36, xx53 to Charing Cross, from Hildenbouroug xx27 xx57.

Lunch: The Kentish Hare Bidborough, TN3 0XB after 4.5 Miles (7.3km.) The pub incorporates two bar areas though seating is limited. The public bar serves bar meals. The second bar, with dining tables, has an open fire and a small private dining area. Food 12 to 2.30 pm. It would be prudent to book a table. Tel: 01892 525709 , http://www.thekentishhare.com/

There is a churchyard with fine views for picnics.

  • Anonymous
    Tue, 29-Jan-19

    I'm planning to do the Hildenborough ending, so about 10.9 miles in total.

  • Brian
    Thu, 31-Jan-19

    I live in Tunbridge Wells. There is a warning of overnight snow. I'll try to post an update first thing on Saturday morning.

  • Fri, 01-Feb-19

    Thank Brian

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 01-Feb-19

    Just looked at website of The Plough. Seems to be closed at lunch for a couple's anniversary event, only opening to general public at 6.

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 01-Feb-19

    Fear not. The Kentish Hare in Bidborough is open and there's pubs at the end in Tonbridge and Hildenborogh

  • Fri, 01-Feb-19

    Trains look OK

  • Sat, 02-Feb-19

    Is there much snow on the ground? I can't find out...

  • Brian
    Sat, 02-Feb-19

    Heavy local snowfall last night caused some problems on the roads, but trains running normally. Expect a few inches of snow on open ground, but temperature is (just) above freezing.

    Sadly, I won't be joining you, as my wife got trapped in Wadhurst and I have to go and rescue her.

  • Sat, 02-Feb-19

    Thanks, Brian. Hope you manage to dig your wife out without too much trouble

  • Sat, 02-Feb-19

    The guard on the train said there was lots of snow south of Tunbridge Wells - 2 inches at Stonegate, apparently. But alas, in vain did I attempt to persuade the 22 walkers who got off the train to abandon the specified walk and head south. Instead we headed north through intermittent snow - some fair-sized patches - but basically fewer and further between as the day went on.

    Some apparently got lost in Hurst Wood, blaming the directions. I wasn’t looking at the directions and so did not get lost. One reported to be lost and trying to catch up had not been in my original count, so I am saying 23.

    Six had booked at the Kentish Hare. Seventeen wanted to lunch there, but they managed to accommodate us without difficulty. We were, in fact, about half of their lunch business. Not a few of us looked with quiet desperation at the rather odd restaurant menu before discovering a much more basic bar menu. Nice fish and chips, though for once more chips would have been nice.

    At the end of lunch, lots had coffees. So many did that two of us decided to do so also. Just as our coffees arrived everyone else got up and left. We did not see them again, so the rest of the report is a partial one.

    It was cloudy and rather cold after lunch, perhaps because we caught the north wind as we came over the escarpment. But there had been sunny intervals in the morning and there were some at dusk, so I am choosing that as the “official” weather. Underfoot there was slippy mud. The tunnel under the A21 was closed, but the advance party forewarned us (thanks) and we went round to the left by road.

    We were by now four walkers again and two split off to Tonbridge “looking for the tea we hope they found”, as the song nearly says. Two of us went on to Hildenborough, where a sad sight awaited. No more Kelly Holmes cafe, of course, and the Half Moon pub had a “Sky Sports” sign outside and proved as unpromising as that suggested. Five minutes into the half cup of tea they had produced with much raising of eyebrows, we decided to rush for the 16.57 train. Google Maps said a 23 minute walk: we did it in 15. We met one other walker on the train.

  • Anonymous
    Sat, 02-Feb-19

    Sorry to leave you Walker, as the drinks arrived, but we were already in a standing position and raring to go. We noticed you had excellent, and highly musical, company. Glad you enjoyed the rest of a great walk. Thanks for all your brilliant scheduling.

  • Sun, 03-Feb-19

    Arriving at the first tea room in Tonbridge at 3.45 we were told by the proprietress that the machines had been switched off and the T Room was closed.

    This turned out to be quite fortunate as we found the Bakehouse at 124 High Street. Artinsan Bakery, lovely cakes and floury scones, slices of bread available to toast for yourself at a table laid out with jams etc, spacious seating downstairs, and very spacious with beamed and more seating upstairs. We thought this tea room should be added to the list for Tonbridge.

Saturday 09-Jun-18

Walker
Length: 17.7km (11 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

10.00 train from Charing Cross (10.03 Waterloo East, 10.09 London Bridge) to Tunbridge Wells, arriving 10.58

Buy a day return to Tunbridge Wells

For walk directions click here. For GPX click here.

This walk starts in pretty Tunbridge Wells and heads north - into hilly territory but never too strenuous, finally coming to the northern escarpment of the Weald, with fine views. After that you descend onto flatter lands to come to Hildenborough, where there is a nice place for tea, owned by former Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

There are two pubs for lunch. From memory last time we ate at the Kentish Hare, which was a bit gourmet but has nice outdoor seating. The walk author does not give distances to the lunch pubs, but I don't remember it as being a big stretch.

In the event that the Bidborough pub is full, one option that was mentioned when this walk was last posted is to divert for 600 metres eastwards up to through the woods just before you get to Bidborough to the main road. This is the centre of the charming old town of Southborough, which predates Tunbridge Wells and has at least two pubs - the Hand and Sceptre and the Imperial.

On the last outing three of us also continued walking from Hildenborough to Sevenoaks, but this was a map-led option, ie no walk directions. A very pleasant walk if anyone wants to try it, though....

Trains back from Hildenborough are at 05 and 35 past the hour. T=3.238
  • Mike
    Wed, 06-Jun-18

    The Kentish Hare is officially 7.3kms in to the walk. The Plough comes after 14.1 kms (or 12.9kms if you take the more direct option bypassing Bidborough).

  • Mike
    Mon, 11-Jun-18

    Did anyone do this walk?

  • Mon, 11-Jun-18

    About 14 walkers on a sunny and pleasant day. Half of them picniced in the church yard in Bidborough with great views across the valley and half of them had lunch in the pub. Two finished the walk in Tonbridge, one talked about continuing on to Sevenoaks I suppose the majority ended up in Hildenborough. Of note is that the underpass under the A21 is closed for what seems like another year. You need to detour along the road towards the west or the east, either is possible and recapture the walk at the Medway.

Saturday 25-Mar-17

Walker
SWC walk 238 - Tunbridge Wells to Hildenborough
Length: 17.7 km (11 miles)
Toughness: 4 out of 10

9.23 train from London Bridge (9.41 East Croydon) to Tunbridge Wells, arriving 10.28.

Buy a day return to Tunbridge Wells.

For walk directions click here.

My reason for picking this walk is that I have never tried it and would like to.... But early in the walk (which initially reverses the ending of Book 1's Leigh to Tunbridge Wells) there is also a wood anemone wood, which hopefully will be at least partly abloom by now (though the flowers only open up on warm sunny days).

The route then strikes north over Wealden hills, passing a possible lunch pub in Bidborough, before descending into the Medway Valley, where there is another lunch pub and - somewhat later - tea in Hildenborough, one option being a cafe run by Olympic champion Kelly Holmes, apparently.

 The first pub, in Bidborough, is described as having "limited seating" in the description of this walk and the pub's website says it has "limited availability for large groups at weekend". SWC groups have managed in the past, however. It is also Mother's Day weekend when pubs are busy, though usually it is Sunday that is most affected by this. An alternative for those with maps might be to divert for 600 metres eastwards up to through the woods just before you get to Bidborough to the main road. This is the centre of the charming old town of Southborough, which predates Tunbridge Wells and has at least two pubs - the Hand and Sceptre and the Imperial

Trains are a little odd for this walk due to engineering works - the reason why the outward train goes via East Croydon. This has minimal impact on journey times, however.

Trains back are similarly a bit unusual, at 09 and 39 past and morphing at Sevenoaks into a stopping service that goes to various points in South London. This takes 1hr 05 minutes to get to Victoria (not London Bridge or Charing Cross) versus the normal 45 minutes, but you can reduce this to 58 minutes by changing at Sevenoaks and waiting 9 minutes for a fast train, also to Victoria.
T=3.238
  • Fri, 24-Mar-17

    If your doing a Walk Tomorrow. Well as you are going from a London Station. You just got to be Cautious at all times due to the incident since last Wednesday at Westminster.

  • Fri, 24-Mar-17

    I am aiming to join the walk coming on the train from Hastings arriving at TW at exactly the same time.

  • David
    Sat, 25-Mar-17

    25

    bright sunshine but a cold wind

    An interesting walk in the morning, with some ups and downs, to keep exercise-minded walkers happy. A slightly faster group of 7 walked on ahead and chose to have lunch at the Hand and Sceptre in Southborough, while the majority dined at the Kentish Hare in Bidborough. The afternoon was quite gentle walking in comparison and included a pleasant stretch along the Medway, as well as a number of fine oast houses, reminding us we had crossed over the county border into Kent. A number of walkers stopped off at Café 1809 for a cup of tea and slice of sticky cake. It's a friendly café, but not ideal for thirsty walkers, who might like to order a pot of tea (unavailable), rather than a cup (or, in our case, a paper take-away cup, because they'd run out of proper cups)... tut-tut!

  • David
    Fri, 31-Mar-17

    A postscript to the walk report... I emailed Café 1809 last Saturday, speaking highly of the warm welcome and tasty cakes, but also suggesting that thirsty walkers would really like to order pots of tea. I got the following reply from Kelly Holmes (see below):

    Dear David

    I have been forwarded your email.

    Many thanks for the kind words and your feedback.

    Yes we will be introducing teapots on our next revamp.

    As you will appreciate different cafes have different styles of serving and to be honest tea pots are pretty expensive when you take natural breakages. However it is something I am now investing in and teapots will be at the cafe by mid April you will be pleased to know!

    I hope to see you in the cafe sometime soon.

    Best wishes

    Kelly

    Dame Kelly Holmes

    Cafe 1809 Ltd 

Saturday 18-Jun-16

Walker
SWC Walk 238 - Tunbridge Wells to Hildenborough via Bidborough
Length: 17.7km (11 miles), with shorter option 14.3km (8.8 miles)
Toughness: 2 out of 10

9.30 train from Charing Cross (9.33 Waterloo East) to Tunbridge Wells, arriving 10.39.

Buy a day return to Tunbridge Wells.

For walk directions click here.

This walk had its debut last September and has not, I think, had an outing since. It is a gentle ramble north from Tunbridge Wells into delightful Weald territory, coming to the village of Bidborough after 7.3km (4.5 miles), where the Kentish Hare will probably be the best pub lunch stop for most, though there is a later option 12.9km (8 miles) into the walk that speedier walkers may just be able to get to.

In the afternoon you descend into flatter territory, crossing the pleasant Haysden Country Park and following the River Eden for a way. Here there is a possible short cut into Tonbridge which reduces the walk length to 14.3km (8.8 miles)

Otherwise you end the walk Hildenborough, where a cafe run by Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes is one of the tea options if you can get here by 5pm.

Trains back from Hildenborough are at 28 and 58 past till 19.58, then hourly at 58 past till 22.58
  • Anonymous
    Fri, 17-Jun-16

    Intend going and doing the full walk.

  • Mon, 20-Jun-16

    13 on this walk. The lunch time pub was a bit expensive, £18 per person, crisps £1.50 etc. Everyone seemed to have a good time despite it being muddy and a bit cold. Got to Kelly Holmes tearoom before the dreaded 5 o'clock closure, and everybody subsequently enjoyed tea and cakes. Kelly wasn't there though, probably getting ready for work in Rio.

Saturday 05-Sep-15

Sean
Extra Walk 238 – Tunbridge Wells to Hildenborough
Length: 17.7 km (11 miles), with shorter options. Toughness: 2/10 (I'd have said 4/10)

10:03 Tunbridge Wells train from Cannon Street (London Bridge 10:07, New Cross 10:13, Orpington 10:26), arriving Tunbridge Wells at 10:57. Buy a day return to Tunbridge Wells.

Trains back from Hildenborough go to London Bridge and Cannon Street at 06 & 36 minutes past the hour.

This new walk was posted as a last-minute Sunday replacement for another Tunbridge Wells walk back in January. I don't think the weather was great and the group opted for a shorter ending in Tonbridge, so this will be the full walk's début. The start is essentially the same as the ending of Book 1 Walk 15 in reverse, after which it continues on a northerly route via Bidborough and Haysden Country Park to Hildenborough and its out-of-the-way station on the Sevenoaks-Tonbridge line.

Lunch is at a newly-renovated gastro-pub in Bidborough, the Kentish Hare, which you should reach before 1pm. Halfway through the afternoon you go through Haysden Country Park where you could switch to one of the shorter endings in Tonbridge or Leigh.

If you continue to Hildenborough be sure not to miss the suggested tea place: Café 1809 “one eight oh nine” was opened by Dame Kelly Holmes last year and looks very appealing. Note that the station is a mile out of the village, so unless you can run as fast as Ms Holmes you'd better allow 20-25 minutes to get there from the café.

You'll need to print the directions from the Extra Walk 238 page.
  • Sat, 05-Sep-15

    14

    Cloudy but dry

    We agree with walk poster this a a 4 out of 10. Some footpaths a bit overgrown as you climb out of Tunbridge Wells. The Kentish Hare is smart and modern but was welcoming and efficient, some ate in the bar area and others outside. The food is good and whilst you could spend £40 on a three course lunch there are some reasonably priced options in the menu. The blackberries were good in places and we enjoyed tea at Cafe 1809 including meeting Dame Kelly Holmes who dropped in just before we left. It is a great addition to Hildenborough with reasonable prices but don't leave too late on Saturday or all the best cakes will have gone.