A guide to the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk

The Tunbridge Wells circular walk is no stroll in the park, so on the off chance that you are looking for a long and hilly walk, you came to the right place! This challenging hike takes you from the magnificence of the Kent slopes to woodlands covered in bluebells passing by old villages.

I did this walk with a friend as I was training for a 42km hike marathon. It is perfect if you are looking to mix long-distance, hill-climbing and scenic views in the same hike.

So lace up your hiking boots and let’s go to Kent!

Logistics for the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk

Highlights of the Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk

The Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk

Tunbridge Wells to Pembury

Found 30 miles (48 km) from London, Royal Tunbridge Wells, formerly Tunbridge Wells, is one of the few towns in England to be given a Royal title. It turned into a popular touristic destination during the 1700s due to the discovery of the chalybeate spring in Pantiles, near Tunbridge Wells, in which water was said to have healing properties.

We start our walk at Tunbridge Wells Station and walk through the city centre and afterwards a more residential area to reach the fields at the end of High Woods Lane.

We climb our first hill leading to High Wood, where we can see some bluebells. I highly recommend that you go during the month of May to enjoy them in full bloom. As we leave high wood, we began strolling on the ridge, admiring the view over the valley as we descend towards Pembury.

As we approach the village, we come face to face with a very steep hill. It requires some time to get to the top, but we at last arrive and we are rewarded by an outstanding view over the High Weald. It is the perfect spot to stop for a snack and take some selfies.

Pembury to Tonbridge

The village of Pembury, probably settled in the Late Eleventh Century, is located within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Beauty. The village green and its High Street are classed as a conservation area.

We go along the village and enter the woods of Horse Pasture. The sparsed trees let a ton of light coming through. We follow the path and emerge at the Pippins Farm Orchards. As we walk through the plantation we notice the orchards covered in flowers in full bloom.

We pass before the Old Church of St Peter, designed by John Colepeper of Bayhallby and finished in 1337.

We at that point climb another slope and enter a forested area carpeted in bluebells on both sides of the path. We follow this trail in direction of Tudeley.

Related Content: Beautiful Bluebell Walks Near London

We get to Somerhill Grammar School. The land where the school presently stands was given by Queen Elizabeth I to Frances Walsingham, the daughter of one of her favourites. Nowadays, the land covers 152 acres and is composed of 3 schools. We pass by the pound looking for a spot to stop for lunch but are discouraged by the number of pupils playing around. We walk through the entrance gate and we arrive in Tonbridge.

Tonbridge to Southborough

Tonbridge is a market town located 29 miles (47 km) from London. Initially spelt Tunbridge, the name of the town had to be changed to avoid confusion with the nearby town of Tunbridge Wells. The town is the home of a medieval castle built between 1230 and 1260 by Richard de Clare. In 1783, a mansion was added to the castle. Both are Grade I listed buildings.

We leave Tunbridge following an undulating path between forested areas and open clearings. As we approach Southborough we start our second steepest climb of this hike. At the top, we cross over the A25 and make our way to the church of St Peter which was built in 1830 by Decimus Burton.

We continue to the Duck House Pound where we make a turn and begin climbing our third steepest hill of this walk to get to the top of the village.

Southborough to Speldhurst

We start our descent toward Speldhurst, passing by meadows where sheep are grazing and walk through a forested area just at the edge of the village.

The village’s name means “wood hill” in Old English. Its church, St Mary, was erected 900 years ago and met a tragic end when struck by lightning on the 20th October 1791. The temperature inside the church raised to the point that the 6 bells melted. The current church was built between 1870 and 1871 by John Oldrid Scott, following the very plans as the one that ended in ashes. Speldhurst village is renowned for its local custom: the pram race! Every second Sunday of May, contestants dressed up in costumes push a pram through a circuit in the village for 2 laps and have to drink half a pint every time they pass the drink stations.

As we leave the village, we start our climb towards the woods of Shadwell. We cross the forest and as we emerge, we come encounter horses. We cross the field, being mindful not to scare the horses (or the horses to scare us) and arrive at the village of Rusthall.

Rusthall to Tunbridge Wells

The village of Rusthall was created in the wake of the discovery of chalybeate spring in Pantiles, to provide accommodations for tourists. As the town of Tunbridge Wells turns out to be increasingly famous and was finally able to provide facilities closer to the water for travellers, the village of Rushthall started to decline.

After leaving Rushthall, it takes us 30 minutes to reach Tunbridge Wells, our final destination. We go along the High Street, admiring the little boutiques and the old buildings. Moreover, I highly recommend that you take the time to roam around the paved alleys and streets of the city centre where you can get the spa town feeling. If you ever had the opportunity to go to Leamington Spa, the similarity with Tunbridge Wells is shocking.

We make our way to the Claremont Pub, conveniently located near the station, for a merited post-hike meal. However, as much as the service is friendly and the burger delicious, we went there whilst the Covid restrictions were still in place. Therefore, we had to eat outside exposed to the cold and the wind, with next to no warmth coming out of the patio heater, which ruined the experience. I recommend it as your post-hike stop once you have the option to eat inside. Bon appetit!

Tunbridge Wells Circular Walk Map

If you have done this walk, let me know in the comment below, I would love to hear your feedback. Alternatively, if you have any questions regarding this walk, please drop me a note and I will get back to you.

Searching for additional walks in Kent? Why not check these articles?

Circular walk in Kent: Oxted via Chartwell

Otford to Eynsford: A Perfect Sunday Walk

Otford to Oxted: Another North Downs Walk

Cuxton to Otford Walk: The North Downs

Sole Street Circular: A Walk In Kent

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