{"id":"69394e757202e9abd62bd0c5","title":"Groombridge Broadwater Warren Eridge Rocks Harrison S Rocks","path":"walks/routes/recommended/groombridge-broadwater-warren-eridge-rocks-harrison-s-rocks","contentMarkdown":"# Kent Ramblers: Walk 132\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_132.jpg)\n\n## Points of Interest\n\n### Spa Valley Railway\n\nThe line from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge was closed by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBritish Rail in 1985.  The line was reopened by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tvolunteers, running from Tunbridge Wells West to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGroombridge in 1997.  A connection to the main \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\trailway network at Eridge was restored in 2011 but there \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tseems little prospect of restoring the link from \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTunbridge Wells West to the main line at Tunbridge Wells \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t(formerly Tunbridge Wells Central).\n\nThe line runs a mixture of steam-hauled services and \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t'heritage diesel' locomotives.\n\n### Broadwater Warren\n\nThe RSPB acquired the site in 2007 and are removing \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tlarge patches of conifer either to restore to heathland \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tor to replace with native broadleaves.\n\n### Eridge Rocks\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P132a.jpg)\n\nThis is a Site of Special Scientific Interest managed \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tby Sussex Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve.\n\n### Forge Farm and Harrison�s Rocks\n\nForge Farm is on the site of old Birchden Forge.  \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHere the stream was used to power a bellows to forge \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tiron, last used by William Harrison to make firearms \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tuntil 1750.  Finding this unprofitable, he opened \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe land to people wanting to visit see the scenery, \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tespecially the 40ft sandstone outcrop now owned by the \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBritish Mountaineering Council.  It is rare not to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tsee rock climbers training here.\n\n### Groombridge Place\n\nA 17th century manor house surrounded by a medieval \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tmoat, used as a location in the 2005 film Pride and \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPrejudice.  It is not currently open to the public.\n\n### Public Transport\n\nGroombridge is accessible by the Spa Valley Railway \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom Tonbridge Wells or bus service 291 from Tunbridge \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWells, East Grinstead and Crawley.\n\nAutomatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_132.htm on 2025-12-11 08:56","contentHtml":"<h1>Kent Ramblers: Walk 132</h1>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_132.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<h2>Points of Interest</h2>\n<h3>Spa Valley Railway</h3>\n<p>The line from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge was closed by \n\t\t\t\t\t\tBritish Rail in 1985.  The line was reopened by \n\t\t\t\t\t\tvolunteers, running from Tunbridge Wells West to \n\t\t\t\t\t\tGroombridge in 1997.  A connection to the main \n\t\t\t\t\t\trailway network at Eridge was restored in 2011 but there \n\t\t\t\t\t\tseems little prospect of restoring the link from \n\t\t\t\t\t\tTunbridge Wells West to the main line at Tunbridge Wells \n\t\t\t\t\t\t(formerly Tunbridge Wells Central).</p>\n<p>The line runs a mixture of steam-hauled services and \n\t\t\t\t\t\t&#39;heritage diesel&#39; locomotives.</p>\n<h3>Broadwater Warren</h3>\n<p>The RSPB acquired the site in 2007 and are removing \n\t\t\t\t\t\tlarge patches of conifer either to restore to heathland \n\t\t\t\t\t\tor to replace with native broadleaves.</p>\n<h3>Eridge Rocks</h3>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P132a.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<p>This is a Site of Special Scientific Interest managed \n\t\t\t\t\t\tby Sussex Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve.</p>\n<h3>Forge Farm and Harrison�s Rocks</h3>\n<p>Forge Farm is on the site of old Birchden Forge.<br>\t\t\t\t\t\tHere the stream was used to power a bellows to forge \n\t\t\t\t\t\tiron, last used by William Harrison to make firearms \n\t\t\t\t\t\tuntil 1750.  Finding this unprofitable, he opened \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe land to people wanting to visit see the scenery, \n\t\t\t\t\t\tespecially the 40ft sandstone outcrop now owned by the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tBritish Mountaineering Council.  It is rare not to \n\t\t\t\t\t\tsee rock climbers training here.</p>\n<h3>Groombridge Place</h3>\n<p>A 17th century manor house surrounded by a medieval \n\t\t\t\t\t\tmoat, used as a location in the 2005 film Pride and \n\t\t\t\t\t\tPrejudice.  It is not currently open to the public.</p>\n<h3>Public Transport</h3>\n<p>Groombridge is accessible by the Spa Valley Railway \n\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom Tonbridge Wells or bus service 291 from Tunbridge \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWells, East Grinstead and Crawley.</p>\n<p>Automatically migrated from <a href=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_132.htm\">https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_132.htm</a> on 2025-12-11 08:56</p>\n"}