I walked this and then SouTon 3 on a dry-ish grey day between Christmas and New Year 2025 with mixed weather over the previous week. I had already walked SouTon 1 and 2, which each overlap with this, in high summer 2023 and even then the evidence of serious mud was baked into the paths. It is a very good walk though and, once out of the end towns, is better shrouded from large road noise than SouTon 3 and feels quite secluded, if that's your bag, especially compared to the popular Haysden Country Park and Medway-side paths....

Daisy C

Had walked Tonbridge to Southborough earlier, using SouTon 4, technically pioneering both although the other has major overlaps with versions 1 and 2....

Daisy C

Would be 4 or maybe 5 stars through pleasant countryside with some good views but I didn't get on at all with the section between Sevenoaks Station and the A225 at River Hill. In some ways this route does clearly outdo SevTon 4 (and 1 and 3) with much better mid-route public transport for a walk this long: train station at Leigh, good buses at Sevenoaks Weald (7/7 from Sevenoaks) and buses at Leigh and Powder Mills (from Tonbridge, M-Sat only and far fewer) as well as better spacing of refreshments with pubs in the same villages and a small shop in Leigh....

Daisy C

I'm very happy to review this finessed version of SevTon 3 as I have walked it in March 2023 and then, in reverse, in June 2025....

Daisy C

The route now follows the Greensand Way for a long time, and the walk is great (photo #4). These views continue (photo #6, #7) into the Ightham Mote National Trust site as well. Once you pass Ightham Mote itself (photo #8), the route no longer goes through woods, but instead mostly open countryside (photo #9, #10, #11). The route then continues across Rugby fields (photo #13) and after a short residential section (photo #14) you go around the castle (photo #15)....

Derick Rethans

SevWes3 takes a much nicer direction, away from the busy London Road (photo #1), with sometimes a narrow pavement. Once you get to Knole Park (photo #2), the route becomes really nice, although quite hilly. Sometimes, the path comes along an often narrow path, with a steep drop on the south (photo #5). Once you pass Ightham Mote itself (photo #7), the route no longer goes through woods, but instead mostly open countryside (photo #8, #,9, #10). It's much nicer to follow Hawden Road to Stafford Road and go south of the castle's car park, instead of going further north and missing the castle (photo #12)....

Derick Rethans

Nice walk, the wide tarmacked footpath would be great for bikes and buggies but it quickly leads into a wooded area with narrow uneven paths, lots of birds (I saw a kingfisher at the mill pond) and really quiet!...

Rebecca

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!...

Rebecca

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!...

Rebecca

I walked this a few years ago but it was a good one and so I volunteered to walk it again for the Slow Ways National Park Trail project in June 2025. Another difference was I tried the Ightham Mote (photo 12) National Trust cafe this time instead of The Chaser pub in Shipbourne, both are good mid-route stops, there's also a bench in the Shipbourne church yard with a pleasant view (photo 10). I do have a complaint about the route design just outside Knole Park where it briefly takes you off the rights of way through a riding school field (map 14). SevTon 3 is loosey goosey, and sometimes ambiguous, especially through Knole Park where one time the closest fit is a deer path through tall bracken; and so it gains 600m, as much as this route loses....

Daisy C

Lovely walk - did it Tonbridge to Sevenoaks direction and there’s a bit of a climb up to Knole Park and the like. Otherwise very strollable indeed! Easy access to trains on same line are a help too....

Piers Young

A very pleasant walk that follows the Eden Valley Walk route for most of its length, featuring woodland, crossing fields and passing a number of streams and reservoirs as you near Tonbridge....

Jonathon Smith

This is a very pleasant walk, with a good variety of woodland, waterways, lakes, gentle hills, and nice views. It's a longer walk, and Edenbridge and Tonbridge have shops for refreshments, but there are only a few good spots for rest should you need it - Hever, Penshurst, Haysden Water, for example....

Ingrina

Lovely walk although slightly muddy so be ready for that But other than that route was perfect Recommended...

Scott Johnson

A wonderful walk that was spoiled by long stretch of uncomfortable non-pavemented, relatively high traffic road walking, the main road between Hever and Edenbridge. On the day I chose to divert quite quickly and tried the Eden Valley Walk again, plus then a shortcut footpath between Lydens Lane and Hever Rd. From Hever take a footpath going south from the church, then quiet Rectory Lane, left onto Uckfield Lane for 100m and join EdeCow 2 on quiet Hever Lane. Using the Eden Valley Walk would add <100m and be off road immediately. Most of this route follows the Eden Valley Walk and for a few miles the Wealdway too. Road walking between Hever and Edenbridge as above...

Daisy C

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. A much clearer path here continues around the meadow edge, which could be distracting. 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....

Daisy C

UPDATE April 2025: The footpath through Brokes Wood (western end) was blocked by several fallen trees and mud, e.g. Less seriously in Southborough there are shorter and much quieter ways to Brokes Wood through the playing fields, or up the W side of Brokes Wood if it is bluebell season....

Daisy C

We walked from Tonbridge to Sevenoaks and enjoyed stopping at Knole Park cafe for some bean stew and massive chunks of bread....

danravenellison

Flat and sometimes muddy but ok in boots except short bit through orchard tractor churn, north of Five Oak Green, where it nearly came over!...

Daisy C

I came off the route early at Hilden Ave (Hildenborough) and walked the main road into Tonbridge because the light was going. I reckon from Hildenborough to Tonbridge High St is used a lot, e.g. There is a traffic island quite near but hidden by a slight bend head east, it's just past Farm Lane. I took a slightly different route to the end point inside Tonbridge, first along Hawden Rd and then following cycle and foot signs for the castle and station Went to a park, past the swimming pool, around the castle then beside the river I did walk down the high street last time and it does look good for restaurants, past the castle your choice is mainly takeaways....

Daisy C

If you end at Tonbridge, Fuggles Beer Cafe is a great place for relaxed drinks, with a huge range of drinks (alcoholic and alcohol free). - Near Tonbridge, crossing the B245 (London Road) feels fairly treacherous. Speeding vehicles, no protected crossing within sight!...

Ingrina