Tonbridge Bean

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TONBRIDGE TO TUDELEY: A PUB WALK TO THE POACHER AND PARTRIDGE.

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If you are anything like us, a good day out involves a walk and a pub. We are actually quite spoilt for choice in Tonbridge, with many great pubs in town and a handful to walk to as well. One of our favourite walks with a pub is to the Poacher and Partridge in Tudeley.

It’s a great walk, that feels far away from the town and takes you right out into the countryside. Yet, at only 8km and 2-3 hours, it’s not a huge time investment. In spring and summer, you can even do this in the evening – taking advantage of light evenings. In winter, it makes a great welly walk too.

How long is the walk from Tonbridge to the Poacher and Partridge

The total distance is around 8km – this includes 3.5km from Tonbridge to the Poacher and Partridge Pub via Postern Lane, then a longer walk back via Somerhill of 4.5km. The walk will take you around 2-3 hours in total. You will (of course) want extra time at the pub and perhaps a little time to visit All Saints Church in Tudeley.

The walk from Tonbridge to Tudeley

There are a number of different ways you can walk from Tonbridge to Tudeley. Our two favourites are via Postern Lane and via Somerhill School. So, we suggest heading out via one way and returning the other, to create a circular walk!

This walk can be done in either direction, starting at Postern Lane or starting at Somerhill. It depends on which end of town you want to start with.

Personally, I prefer starting in town and walking first via Postern Lane, then returning through Somerhill Park. This guide is written on the basis of walking in that direction.

🐶 The walk is generally dog friendly – Postern Lane is a quiet road, so dogs may be kept off lead in close control. Dogs must be kept on leads in Somerhill School grounds.

From Tonbridge along the river

Start your walk at Medway Wharf Road (next to Verdigris), it is most pleasant to walk directly alongside the river. Head towards the Town Loch, keeping the river to your left.

Pass the loch and simply continue along the river walk until you reach the A26. Cross the road carefully to reach Postern Lane (directly opposite the path you will have just come from.)

From Postern Lane to the Poacher and Partridge

Postern Lane is a private road for driving but there is a public right of way to walk.

Continue along Postern Lane, until you reach this junction and see a footpath sign pointing left – take the left turn.

Walk until you reach a gate to your right, head through the gate and then walk through a cut in the fence to your left.

Turn right to keep the footpath along the apple orchards.

From here, continue through the orchard fields, eventually crossing a small bridge, then continue until you reach a gap in the hedge.

From here, cross one more field until you meet Hartlake Road. Stepping carefully onto Hartlake Road, turn left to get to the pub (100m or so further.)

From the Poacher and Partridge to All Saints Church

Turn left out of the Poacher and Partridge pub back onto Hartlake Road. Take extra care as this is a fast road. Continue until you reach the junction with Tudeley Road, then continue onwards with the bus stop to your left. In 100m or so, you’ll see the small lane heading left to the Church. I’d recommend stopping by the church, in particular the famous windows created by artist Marc Chagall.

Walking from Tudely back to Tonbridge via Somerhill

After the church, head back to the main road and cross directly over it, to a small cut in the fence and a field.

Turn left to walk along the field (staying parallel with the road), until you reach a house, then follow the footpath round to the right.

From here, the path runs downhill to a small stream with a bridge.

Cross the bridge and head through the small woodland (often filled with bluebells and wild garlic in spring) into the next field.

Follow the field round, heading forward, with the trees to your right until you reach an opening. Follow the lane around and up the hill, until you reach a cross roads.

From here, continue straight forward to climb up the hill and take the footpath across the field.

At the top of the field, you’ll reach a gate – currently broken – which leads into Somerhill grounds. Take a moment to look back at the view across the fields and into the countryside beyond.

Then continue through the woodland, straight on until you pass through a walled walkway (known by former students of the school as the “ha ha”).

Continue through the school car park, towards a gate which leads to the grounds (the school will be behind you to the left.)

Take the gate into the grounds and follow the footpath signs through the grounds, eventually leading past a lake, down a lane and out to the gates of Somerhill.

If you’re heading back to Tonbridge centre from here, you can cross at the roundabout, take Pembury Road, then any of the residential roads leading down into town (Goldsmid Road or Lavender Hill.)