Wealdway

author: Robert Peel.
The Wealdway is an exceptionally fine walk running for 82 miles from Gravesend on the Thames Estuary to Beachy Head and Eastbourne on the south coast. It crosses the North Downs, the Greensand ridge, the Medway valley (twice), the High Weald (including Ashdown Forest), the Low Weald, and the South Downs.

This is quintessentially English countryside with rolling downs, archetypal village greens on which cricket has been played for centuries, deep wooded valleys and traditional pubs. History abounds with numerous furnace and hammer ponds reminding us of the iron industry that characterised the Weald in the times of the Tudors and Stuarts. Many fine old houses can be seen, constructed of materials that vary along the route with the underlying geology. Despite its proximity to many towns and with London not far away, much of the route has a surprisingly remote feel to it.

The book begins with an excellent introduction to the area including its geology, geography, and history. The route is then described in 10 day-walk chapters with detailed navigation instructions supported with full colour 1:25,000 scale mapping showing the route, plus information about points of interest illustrated with plenty of colour photographs. A Tonbridge town trail is included.

The day walk sections are as follows:
Gravesend to Sole Street - 5.9 miles
Sole Street to Platt - 9.3 miles
Platt to Tonbridge - 12.9 miles
Tonbridge to Speldhurst - 6.5 miles
Speldhurst to Withyham - 6.5 miles
Withyham to Five Ash Down - 9.1 miles
Five Ash Down to East Hoathly - 9 miles
East Hoathly to Upper Horsebridge - 6.1 miles
Upper Horsebridge to Wilmington - 7.1 miles
Wilmington to Eastbourne - 10.3 miles

ISBN 9781906494322 Pages 80 (2023) 148mm x 210mm