Tonpad two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Tonpad here.

A very enjoyable variation on TonPad 1 which includes another (better value but very lovely) pub and a medieval church. Also adds a near pass to a convenience store and a closed pub which I'm told is soon reopening. More than 2/3 off road, along footpaths through fields and a quiet lane. Expect converted oasthouses, cornfields, hedgerows, timbered barns and cottages, many commercial and traditional orchards and a walk beside the River Medway into Tonbridge.

If you want to go right through Five Oak Green for the shop or the soon-to-be-reopened Queens Head, you leave/join the route on the lane south from Moat Farm (aka Scripps Farm). In fruit season it may be busy and the other path looks nicer, so that is what I tested.

You could save about 800m by walking along Five Oak Green Rd between the George and Dragon and the village, half the distance is paved, but it's fairly busy with a bend on the unpaved bit. Apparently some walkers do use it in summer, but locals not so much. The route goes along footpaths instead, via the church of Thomas a Beckett at Capel which is very charming, Grade 1 listed, with interesting things to see inside. I can highly recommend the log fires and warm welcome at the George and Dragon (technically "at Tudely") bang in the middle of the route, including paper slippers for my muddy boots. The Poacher and Partridge is quite close to Tonbridge, about 300m just off route on Hartlake Rd (TonPad 1 is nearby too).

There's a fourth pub nearby, The Dovecote Inn, about half a mile SW from the church at Capel along the slightly quieter Alders Lane. A final possible detour, which sadly I only found out about later, is to All Saint's Church (right in) Tudely which is lit by stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. You could take a slightly different pair of footpaths to get there and add very little distance, but again there's some walking along a busy road with no pavement, or double back to/from quiet Sherenden Rd.

There are also plenty of places to eat at both ends - Tonbridge has a cat cafe. Trains (on the same line) and buses from each end. Along the way are some kissing gates, stiles, little footbridges, some light mud, animal den holes large and small in the path. At one place at Moat Farm I thought the mud may come over my boots. There is a pair of fairly busy road crossings without crossing places in Paddock Wood, straightish roads though. There are some lovely ground nesting birds in the area, it makes a big difference if you keep your dogs on a lead

A very enjoyable variation on TonPad 1 which includes another (better value but very lovely) pub and a medieval church. Also adds a near pass to a convenience store and a closed pub which I'm told is soon reopening. More than 2/3 off road, along footpaths through fields and a quiet lane. Expect converted oasthouses, cornfields, hedgerows, timbered barns and cottages, many commercial and traditional orchards and a walk beside the River Medway into Tonbridge.

If you want to go right through Five Oak Green for the shop or the soon-to-be-reopened Queens Head, you leave/join the route on the lane south from Moat Farm (aka Scripps Farm). In fruit season it may be busy and the other path looks nicer, so that is what I tested.

You could save about 800m by walking along Five Oak Green Rd between the George and Dragon and the village, half the distance is paved, but it's fairly busy with a bend on the unpaved bit. Apparently some walkers do use it in summer, but locals not so much. The route goes along footpaths instead, via the church of Thomas a Beckett at Capel which is very charming, Grade 1 listed, with interesting things to see inside. I can highly recommend the log fires and warm welcome at the George and Dragon (technically "at Tudely") bang in the middle of the route, including paper slippers for my muddy boots. The Poacher and Partridge is quite close to Tonbridge, about 300m just off route on Hartlake Rd (TonPad 1 is nearby too).

There's a fourth pub nearby, The Dovecote Inn, about half a mile SW from the church at Capel along the slightly quieter Alders Lane. A final possible detour, which sadly I only found out about later, is to All Saint's Church (right in) Tudely which is lit by stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. You could take a slightly different pair of footpaths to get there and add very little distance, but again there's some walking along a busy road with no pavement, or double back to/from quiet Sherenden Rd.

There are also plenty of places to eat at both ends - Tonbridge has a cat cafe. Trains (on the same line) and buses from each end. Along the way are some kissing gates, stiles, little footbridges, some light mud, animal den holes large and small in the path. At one place at Moat Farm I thought the mud may come over my boots. There is a pair of fairly busy road crossings without crossing places in Paddock Wood, straightish roads though. There are some lovely ground nesting birds in the area, it makes a big difference if you keep your dogs on a lead