Souton one

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Nice walk, lots of fields with a stream that you can get to some fields have livestock so dogs need to be on the lead!.

Nice walk, lots of fields with a stream that you an get to. some fields have livestock so dogs need to be on the lead!.

Nice walk with pretty scenery, direct and enjoyable but the lane walking near Mount Farm is not ideal so only 4 stars. This route is much more open than SouTon 2 and I suspect easier going underfoot in wetter seasons. I walked both on the same day and this had fewer signs of having been particularly muddy. That summer's day the ground was dry and weather was bright but it did begin to rain once I hit tarmac on the edge of Tonbridge.

After arriving in Southborough via SouTon 2 I walked north along the main road for a while but the route leaves housing altogether by going into (I think) a local nature reserve. First down a long set of rough steps then through a few meadows and small bits of woodland, which was very pleasant, particularly with the tall mature grasses. Photos 1-4.
Where you leave the lower meadows (to cross a stream) the path and postmarker were both hidden by drooping tree boughs. A much clearer path here continues around the meadow edge, which could be distracting.
Beyond was a slow curving climb through farm land, mostly meadow or grazing. There were cows in one field, with one calf so small, wobbly and damp that it may have only been born that day. Photos 7, 8, 9.
Next is Vauxhall Lane, mostly hedge-lined with some poor sight lines. Photos 10-12. I stayed very alert but it wasn't busy and overall I felt safe. The four cars who passed were considerate, one heralded by their horn beeps approaching each corner. The footpath after this road climbs up a steep meadow where I met a single roe deer who I think was guarding her fawn hidden in the tall grass, photo 13. Nearby is a cottage hospital and so from here the path into Tonbridge is all tarmac; it grades down (aesthetically) from the meadow, to between trees, then between fences, then onto a quiet residential road, photos 14, 15. This soon had a good view across town but it was a bit spoilt by the rain, photo 16. The final part was on fairly busy roads which do have quieter alternatives but were very straightforward to navigate, photo 17.
There's also a quieter, but again fiddlier, way to get through Southborough. Behind the library are several linked playing fields and you can get out onto Oak End Close, this isn't obvious from maps but you can see it on Strava's Heatmap, photo 18.

Possible constraints: long steps, stiles (one was missing steps altogether), cattle, a handful of gates and a disconcerting little bridge over a stream - the wonky camber twisted different ways at either end.

Edited in 2025 to belatedly add the photos. I think if I did the first review now I would be a little fussier about the route being imprecise.

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