{"id":"69394e457202e9abd62bd0ac","title":"Penshurst Bidborough","path":"walks/routes/recommended/penshurst-bidborough","contentMarkdown":"# Kent Ramblers: Walk 55\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_055.jpg)\n\n## Points of Interest\n\n### Eden Valley Walk\n\nThe first couple of miles of the route follow the \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEden Valley Walk which goes from Cernes Farm west of \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEdenbridge to Tonbridge Castle. There is a full \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdescription of the route and the places of interest it \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tpasses in our Guide to Three River Valley Walks.\n\n### The Old Farmhouse\n\nAlso known as Killick's Bank, this is a Grade II \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tlisted late mediaeval hall house with alterations, in \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tparticular the probable demolition of one end-bay.\n\n### The Kentish Hare\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P055b.jpg)\n\nThis is a gastropub at Bidborough that has won awards \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t' not necessarily what a walker with muddy boots and \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\trucksack is looking for. There is a bar too where \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tyou can get fish and chips or a burger ' prices a bit \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tabove average. Not open Mondays and Tuesdays.\n\n### Beehive Former Public House\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P055a.jpg)\n\nA grade II listed building, probably built as two \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcottages in the 18th century. The pub closed in \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe 1990s.\n\n### Swaylands\n\nThe large house up the hill on your right has had a \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tchequered history. Once popular with the Prince of \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWales (Edward VII) and writers such as J M Barrie and \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tJohn Buchan, in 1919 it became the Cassell Hospital for \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFunctional Nervous Disorders. It later became a \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSpecial School. Around 2012 the buildings were \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tconverted into what at the time appeared to be very posh \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tapartments but construction defects subsequently emerged \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthat have require major remedial work, still in progress \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tat the time of writing.\n\n### Public Transport\n\nBuses 231 and 233 from Tunbridge Wells station to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEdenbridge station pass through Penshurst, making the \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twalk accessible from either station. No service on \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSundays or Bank Holidays.\n\nAutomatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_055.htm on 2025-12-11 09:19","contentHtml":"

Kent Ramblers: Walk 55

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Points of Interest

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Eden Valley Walk

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The first couple of miles of the route follow the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tEden Valley Walk which goes from Cernes Farm west of \n\t\t\t\t\t\tEdenbridge to Tonbridge Castle. There is a full \n\t\t\t\t\t\tdescription of the route and the places of interest it \n\t\t\t\t\t\tpasses in our Guide to Three River Valley Walks.

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The Old Farmhouse

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Also known as Killick's Bank, this is a Grade II \n\t\t\t\t\t\tlisted late mediaeval hall house with alterations, in \n\t\t\t\t\t\tparticular the probable demolition of one end-bay.

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The Kentish Hare

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This is a gastropub at Bidborough that has won awards \n\t\t\t\t\t\t' not necessarily what a walker with muddy boots and \n\t\t\t\t\t\trucksack is looking for. There is a bar too where \n\t\t\t\t\t\tyou can get fish and chips or a burger ' prices a bit \n\t\t\t\t\t\tabove average. Not open Mondays and Tuesdays.

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Beehive Former Public House

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A grade II listed building, probably built as two \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcottages in the 18th century. The pub closed in \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe 1990s.

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Swaylands

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The large house up the hill on your right has had a \n\t\t\t\t\t\tchequered history. Once popular with the Prince of \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWales (Edward VII) and writers such as J M Barrie and \n\t\t\t\t\t\tJohn Buchan, in 1919 it became the Cassell Hospital for \n\t\t\t\t\t\tFunctional Nervous Disorders. It later became a \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSpecial School. Around 2012 the buildings were \n\t\t\t\t\t\tconverted into what at the time appeared to be very posh \n\t\t\t\t\t\tapartments but construction defects subsequently emerged \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthat have require major remedial work, still in progress \n\t\t\t\t\t\tat the time of writing.

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Public Transport

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Buses 231 and 233 from Tunbridge Wells station to \n\t\t\t\t\t\tEdenbridge station pass through Penshurst, making the \n\t\t\t\t\t\twalk accessible from either station. No service on \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSundays or Bank Holidays.

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Automatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_055.htm on 2025-12-11 09:19

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