Best walks near Tonbridge by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Tonbridge and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Tonbridge.
Sevenoaks Circular via Ightham Mote (Kent)
8 minutes direct from Tonbridge.
Highly recommended: Deer park, fields, woods, coppiced woodland, escarpment ridge, bluebell and wild garlic woods and Weald views.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Knole House: enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself.
Time: 5h–9h30
1 lunch spot: Ightham Mote café
1 end-of-walk reward: the Bucks Head
Warnings: Some mud inevitable.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Penshurst Circular via Chiddingstone (Kent)
8 minutes direct from Tonbridge.
Highly recommended: Stately home.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 3h30–7h
4 lunch spots: Chiddingstone (1h–1h30 in) — the Tulip Tree, or the Castle Inn; Penshurst (2h–4h in) — the Leicester Arms Pub, or Penshurst Place café
1 end-of-walk reward: the Little Brown Jug
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Tunbridge Wells Circular via Groombridge (Kent)
9 minutes direct from Tonbridge.
Highly recommended: Escarpments.
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 6h30–12h30
2 lunch spots: Frant (1h30–3h in) — the Abergavenny Arms, or the George
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Crown Inn, the High Rocks, or the Pantiles
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Wadhurst Circular via Bewl Water (Sussex)
15 minutes direct from Tonbridge.
Highly recommended: Hidden valleys, ancient woods, quaint old farms, reservoir shoreline, hilltop village and gentle but rolling Wealden landscape.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 5h–9h30
2 lunch spots: the Old Vine (1h30–3h in), or Waterfront Café (2h–3h30 in)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Otford Circular via Shoreham (Kent)
15 minutes from Tonbridge, with one change.
Highly recommended: Quiet country lanes, meadows, rolling wooded hills, and two very attractive villages.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 4h–7h30
3 lunch spots: Shoreham (1h30–2h30 in) — the Samuel Palmer, the Kings Arms, or the Mount Vineyard
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Eynsford Circular via Otford (Kent)
30 minutes from Tonbridge, with one change.
Highly recommended: Secluded valleys, chalk downland ridges, ancient woodland, golf course, chalk grassland nature reserves, riverside paths and farmland.
Time: 3h–6h
3 lunch spots: Shoreham (1h–2h in) — the Samuel Palmer, the Honey Pot, or the Kings Arms
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Castle Hotel, the Five Bells, or the Malt Shovel
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Gomshall Circular via Shere (Surrey)
1 hour from Tonbridge, with one change.
Highly recommended: Extensive woodland.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Saint James's Church: see the remains of where a devout anchorite was encased within the church walls.
Time: 3h–6h
7 lunch spots: Shere (1h–1h30 in) — the Dabbling Duck Café (excellent), the William Bray, Hillys Tea Shop, or the White Horse; plus the Drummond Arms (1h–2h in), Mandira's Kitchen at Silent Pool (1h–2h30 in), or Carb Up and Go (1h30–3h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Compasses Inn, or the Gomshall Mill
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Sandling to Folkestone Central (Kent)
45 minutes direct from Tonbridge.
Highly recommended: Chalky escarpment ridge, steep climbs, open downland with Channel views, cliff top promenade, shingle beach and historic harbour.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 5h30–10h30
1 lunch spot: the Gatekeeper Inn (1h30–3h in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: Valiant Sailor, the Lord Morris, or the Park Inn
Warnings: Steep climbs near start.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Yalding to Sevenoaks (Kent)
15 minutes from Tonbridge, with one change.
Highly recommended: Undulating Kent farmland, orchards, bluebell woods, greensand escarpment and deer park.
Knole House: enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself.
Time: 6h–12h
3 lunch spots: the Swan on the Green (1h30–3h in), the Kentish Rifleman (2h30–5h in), or Ightham Mote café (3h30–7h in)
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Charing to Chilham (Kent)
45 minutes from Tonbridge, with one change.
Highly recommended
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 4h30–9h
2 lunch spots: the Flying Horse (2h–3h30 in), or Perry Court Tea Room (2h–3h30 in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Chilham Square, the White Horse, Chilham, or the Woolpack Inn, Chilham
Warnings: Penultimate section of the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Chilham to Canterbury East (Kent)
1 hour from Tonbridge, with one change.
Highly recommended
Time: 3h–6h
2 lunch spots: Chilham (30m–1h in) — the Chilham Square, or the Star Inn
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Monument, the Unicorn Inn, the West Gate Inn, the Carpenters Arms, or the Old Buttermarket
Warnings: A fifth urban.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Folkestone Central to Dover Priory (Kent)
1 hour from Tonbridge, with one change.
Highly recommended: Coastal cliffs, chalk downland, sea defences, wild landslip area, wartime installations, ridge between valley and sea and town crossing.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Coastal: four fifths along the coast.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 4h–8h30
1 lunch spot: Camping Café (1h–2h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Malvern, or the Priory Hotel
Warnings: Cracked sea defences.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).