Description
Stays west of the railway unlike the other versions and avoids an urban approach into Tonbridge. There is under a mile of road walking, all within Southborough and Tonbridge on quiet streets with pavements. The route goes via Southborough Common, Birch Wood, then cross-country to Haysden Country Park along the Weald Way with a few great views across the Medway Valley towards the Greensand ridge, (some footpaths round here have shifted position somewhat vs OS mapping but route line is accurate). The last part follows the edge of Barden Lake in the country park then stays close to the River Medway arriving at the High Street with a riverside view of Tonbridge Castle.
You can easily find alternative path/alleys into the centre of Southborough which technically are more off-road but I think these quiet streets have more charm. Similarly Tonbridge has many possible approaches, but I recommend this one for being largely off-road, having varied visual interest, having an easy shortcut to the railway station and because it avoids the unsightly carpark and leisure centre behind Tonbridge Castle.
The nearest station to the Southborough start point is a mile downhill at High Brooms. The decent bus routes connect to Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Edenbridge and Maidstone and you can also catch them from near the 3km mark. There are kiosks and toilets near the entrance to Haysden Country Park and the exit from Racecourse Park in Tonbridge.
Various obstacles and unlikely to suit wheelchairs but (I think) no stiles: several small gates, an anti-motorbike narrow point, raised roots, uneven ground, earthen steps in Birch Wood (currently very dilapidated) and it crosses some arable fields which will at times be ploughed or muddy. No fields were suitable for grazing. SevTon 1 and 4 definitely do have stiles.
In wet times I think these woodland paths will be less muddy than any of SouTon routes 1, 2 or 4 as personally seen/experienced e.g. in Brokes Wood just east of Southborough, the woods on the slopes north of Southborough village, or several others east of the railway
Stays west of the railway unlike the other versions and avoids an urban approach into Tonbridge. There is under a mile of road walking, all within Southborough and Tonbridge on quiet streets with pavements. The route goes via Southborough Common, Birch Wood, then cross-country to Haysden Country Park along the Weald Way with a few great views across the Medway Valley towards the Greensand ridge, (some footpaths round here have shifted position somewhat vs OS mapping but route line is accurate). The last part follows the edge of Barden Lake in the country park then stays close to the River Medway arriving at the High Street with a riverside view of Tonbridge Castle.
You can easily find alternative path/alleys into the centre of Southborough which technically are more off-road but I think these quiet streets have more charm. Similarly Tonbridge has many possible approaches, but I recommend this one for being largely off-road, having varied visual interest, having an easy shortcut to the railway station and because it avoids the unsightly carpark and leisure centre behind Tonbridge Castle.
The nearest station to the Southborough start point is a mile downhill at High Brooms. The decent bus routes connect to Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Edenbridge and Maidstone and you can also catch them from near the 3km mark. There are kiosks and toilets near the entrance to Haysden Country Park and the exit from Racecourse Park in Tonbridge.
Various obstacles and unlikely to suit wheelchairs but (I think) no stiles: several small gates, an anti-motorbike narrow point, raised roots, uneven ground, earthen steps in Birch Wood (currently very dilapidated) and it crosses some arable fields which will at times be ploughed or muddy. No fields were suitable for grazing. SevTon 1 and 4 definitely do have stiles.
In wet times I think these woodland paths will be less muddy than any of SouTon routes 1, 2 or 4 as personally seen/experienced e.g. in Brokes Wood just east of Southborough, the woods on the slopes north of Southborough village, or several others east of the railway
Status
This route has been reviewed by 1 person.
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 1
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (1)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 0
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Southborough
Grid Ref
TQ5812742111
Lat / Lon
51.15641° / 0.25981°
Easting / Northing
558,127E / 142,111N
What3Words
vocal.bucked.moved
Tonbridge
Grid Ref
TQ5905346521
Lat / Lon
51.19577° / 0.27499°
Easting / Northing
559,053E / 146,521N
What3Words
organ.hungry.mock
| Southborough | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ5812742111 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.15641° / 0.25981° |
| Easting / Northing | 558,127E / 142,111N |
| What3Words | vocal.bucked.moved |
| Tonbridge | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ5905346521 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.19577° / 0.27499° |
| Easting / Northing | 559,053E / 146,521N |
| What3Words | organ.hungry.mock |
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review
Daisy C
19 Jan 2026Walked Southborough to Tonbridge between Christmas and New Year 2025, on a dry but grey day after mixed recent December weather. Had walked Tonbridge to Southborough earlier, using SouTon 4, technically pioneering both although the other has major overlaps with versions 1 and 2.
This is the longest SouTon route but also the one I enjoyed most although all four deserve better than the current meagre number of reviews. This has the most expensive views, the most pleasant and green approaches into both towns, the least woodland mud and avoids the currently frustrating stretch of mud, fallen trees and undergrowth through Brokes Wood.
I confess I didn't walk the final part that day; as it was getting dark I cut across Racecourse Field for the station. But I have walked and enjoyed it before, see final photo.
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