# Kent Ramblers: Walk 33

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_033.jpg)

## Points of Interest

### The Straight Mile

The canal on your right was built in the 1830s by the 
						Penshurst Canal Company in an attempt to straighten the 
						Medway to make it navigable upstream from Tonbridge.  
						The enterprise caused a huge dispute with the Medway 
						Navigation Company whose supply of water for the 
						operation of its locks was threatened.  There were 
						expensive legal proceedings and fights between workers 
						from the two companies.  The chief instigator of 
						the venture, James Christie, was bankrupted by 
						escalating costs and fled to America leaving the canal 
						never to be completed.

### Avalon

Known as Meopham Bank until a few years ago and still 
						shown as such on most maps, Avalon was once the home of 
						artist John Frederick Herring Senior (1795 to 1865), 
						renowned for his paintings of horses.  The house, 
						possibly designed by Septimus Burton (brother of the 
						more famous Decimus Burton who designed many houses in 
						Tunbridge Wells and also the Palm House at Kew Gardens), 
						was then known as Meopham Park.

### Barden Lake

![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P033a.jpg)

Created between 1974 and 1980 by the removal of a 4m 
						layer of sand and gravel which was itself 2m beneath 
						soil and other deposits.

### Long Distance Walks

Both the 82-mile 
						Wealdway from Gravesend to Eastbourne and the
						[Eden Valley Walk](https://kent.ngx-ramblers.org.uk/walks/routes/long-distance-paths/eden-valley-walk) from 
						near Edenbridge to Tonbridge pass through Haysden 
						Country Park.  Kent Ramblers has published guides 
						to both (see below).

### Public Transport

Haysden Country Park is within walking distance of 
						Tonbridge Station.  Alternatively you could start 
						and finish the walk at Leigh which has a railway station 
						and is on the 210 bus route to Tonbridge.

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