The Spa Valley Railway Walk,  Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Taking the train from Groombridge to Tunbridge Wells and walking back - that's all of five  miles!

                 Useful maps:  Ordnance Survey  Explorer 135 or Landranger 188

Railway operating days:  Trains are scheduled for every weekend from mid-March until October inclusive, and in December. (Santa Specials); also on Thursdays from June until August inclusive. 
A timetable is available from The Spar Valley Railway, West Station, Royal Tunbridge Wells, 
Kent TN2 5QY. 

                  Telephone:  01892 537715                 Web site:  www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk

Getting there: 
By road:  Groombridge is on the B2110 five miles south-west of Tunbridge Wells. On arrival keep left into Station Road for the village car park. Access to the station is further uphill, on the left.  It's grid reference is 532370. 
By public transport:  Metrobus route 291 from Tunbridge Wells main line station to Crawley calls at Groombridge hourly, Monday to Saturday, infrequent Sunday. If you wish, you could walk through the town from the main line station; then walk to Groombridge as detailed later in 'The Walk'.  The best route from the main line station is via The Pantiles, followed by a short piece of the A26, and Neville Terrace.  If you arrive at Groombridge too late for the last train back to Tunbridge Wells, you could catch the 291 bus instead.  

Eating out:  There is a buffet at the Spa Valley Railway's Tunbridge Wells station, and at Groombridge Station. These close after the last train has departed. The Junction Inn and tearoom is located near the station at Groombridge; and the High Rocks Inn is adjacent to High Rocks station, the first stop out from Tunbridge Wells. 

Visitor attractions:  If time allows do try to walk through the Pantiles, a delightful colonnaded shopping area in Tunbridge Wells, It is only a five minute walk from the Spa Valley Station.  Near the other end of the railway stands the magnificent Groombridge Place, with gardens laid out by John Evelyn. The gardens are open to the public, as is the Enchanted Forest, which is especially enjoyed by children. The Spa Valley Station at Tunbridge Wells also has much of interest, including locomotive restoration, an excellent model railway and a tiny cinema!

Summary of the walk:  On leaving the Spar Valley Railway at Tunbridge Wells and the suburbs of the town, the walk enters Friezland Wood. It runs parallel to the railway for 3/4 mile, offering views of passing trains through gaps in the trees. The impressive sandstone outcrop, High Rocks, accompanies the path to the road by High Rocks Inn and Station. More woodland follows before the path hits open country (with more railway views) and finally approaches Groombridge Place and Groombridge village. 

The Walk:  
1.  From the Spa valley station at Tunbridge Wells go to the left (with your back to the supermarkets) and into Neville Terrace. The original station building (now a restaurant) will be behind you as you make your way to the A26. Turn left there (the Lewis direction) and proceed as far as Broadwater Lane on the left. Go along this to a path on the right just beyond the railway bridge. The path passes between the railway embankment and a housing estate and turns left before meeting the A26 at a pedestrian crossing.

2.  Once over the A26 pedestrian crossing keep forward in a resident's walkway. Soon turn left, then right after 20 yards between the houses (Ropers Gate) and walk alongside the railway embankment. This path emerges into a small parking area before entering Friezland Wood, from which there are, from here on, numerous opportunities to observe passing trains.  
 After the main path climbs through the wood, the magnificent High Rocks outcrop comes into view.

3.  Finally leaving the wood, go forward in the road past the High Rocks Inn. You may find the station gate locked, since this is only opened on arrival of a train - by the train guard. This is unfortunate, since the platform is an ideal place for a little relaxation! From outside the station gate, follow the enclosing fence downhill and under the railway; then over a brook and into the path's left-hand turn.Staying with the woodland path, you will eventually emerge into an open area of grass and scattered trees - by a magnificent oak tree. Keeping forward awhile, you should cross a stile on the right and follow a path to a junction of ways. Turn left there (with the signposted Link Route) through a metal gate and uphill in a field. Joining a drive at the top, stay with this a far as a road. 

4.  We avoid contact with the sewage farm ahead (and much of its odours!) by turning left in the road and going down this and over a river bridge. Climbing the ensuing hill, an opening on the right provides a view of the railway, and, if this is your lucky day, that of a passing train!
  Continuing in the road, a footpath on the right near the top of the hill (when it first levels out) directs you under trees and into a field corner. While enjoying a another good view of the railway, cross the field to its far right-hand corner and go forward in a tarmac drive. On arrival amongst farm buildings, turn half-right at a farm crossing and join a path behind a hedge on the left opposite a large stable and open barn. The path, which may not be easy to find, maintains your previous direction and passes a brick-built office building and a large pond. 
 Now take care: continuing from the pond, but just a little to the right, immediately enter a very large and magnificent meadow. Here you will, I am certain, share my delight - and not only on account of a great railway view! Initially following the short left-hand wood-edge, go straight on across the meadow, with the railway running parallel well down to your right. 

5.  On leaving the meadow from its far extremity, you will walk alongside a line of venerable oak trees and enter a further field at its corner. A few more paces and you are at a railway underpass and at the parting of ways. If you are bent on returning to Groombridge post-haste, you should continue forward, initially alongside woodland, and straight on along a clearly defined path.  Otherwise come with me under the railway, along a path and into a field corner. Then with Groombridge Place coming into view, follow the left-hand edge of the field followed by an avenue of lime trees. 

6.  At the first entrance to Groombridge Place, go left in the drive for a few yards only and leave it for a path between wire fences. Soon go half-left in the path (part of the High Weald Walk) between the  fence and a hedge and make your exit into a recreation area. Aim towards the right-hand end of a car park (where you may have left your vehicle) and turn left between this and the village hall. For the railway station turn left in the road; for the bus to Tunbridge Wells turn right and go down to the roundabout at the bottom of the hill.

The Spa Valley Story
Once part of the London,  Brighton and South Coast Railway, the line from Eridge was opened in 1866 and terminated in an impressive station building at Tunbridge Wells. This building remains, but as a restaurant, and recognisable by its imposing clock tower. The present Spa Valley station occupies part of the original engine shed. Around 1876 a tunnel was dug between the two Tunbridge Wells stations. This enabled a direct connection between two main lines linking London to the South coast. With more than 100 trains passing each day, the line became a popular cross-country route. But it was not to last. With the increased dependence on road traffic, eventual closure was inevitable; and this came in 1985. 
 Enter the Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society (TWERPS!) whose penultimate triumph was the line's reopening as far as Groombridge by August 1997. Only one year later an intermediate station was opened at High Rocks.  Interestingly, this was built by, and on land belonging to, the owner of High Rocks Inn. That's why access to the station is only possible when a train is arriving at the station. The Railway's most recent achievement was the extension from Groombridge to Birchden Junction in 2005, and by 2010/11 to Eridge on the main line between London and the South Coast.
Although the railway has achieved its enviable status by the determined efforts of volunteers, encouragement and practical help came from J Sainsbury's, whose store lies close to the railway at Tunbridge Wells. Support when it was needed also came from  two local councils and from British Rail.     
                

'Great Western 7715' is on its way to High Rocks and Tunbridge Wells.

'London Transport L99' prepares to pull away from Groombridge station.