Groombridge - Gillridge - Harrison's Rocks

Alison and Clive Gilbert

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This walk was originally compiled by Alan and Janet Love, sadly both are no longer with us. Alison Gilbert has kindly offered to take them over. Alison and Walkingworld would like all these excellent walks to remain as a continuing tribute to Alan and Janet.

This lovely circular walk takes us among hills, valleys, streams, rocks, railways and some superb scenery with several fine viewpoints. The walk straddles the border between Kent and East Sussex on stretches of the Sussex Border Path and the High Weald Landscape Trail. The sandstone rocky outcrops seen on the walk are very much a feature in this area. Groombridge Place Gardens are open to the public from the 21st March to the 5th November daily 9.30am - 6pm (or dusk if earlier). The Restoration Manor-House is not open to the public. For further information, visit the Groombridge Place Gardens website.

England - South England - Kent - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Great Views, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

8/9/2016 - Simon Dodson

Really enjoyable walk, gorgeous scenery and countryside teeming with wildlife. Wp 3 - no wire fences anymore, follow the path at the edge of the field to reach the farm buildings. Wp 11 - No fingerpost anymore but follow the edge of the field until you come to the stile. Wp 17 - no signs for Gillridge Fruit farm. Wp19- no way mark opposite the bridge, hedge very overgrown and hard to see but it is directly opposite the wooden bridge. Wp 26 - Car park is in Birchden woods- to find the swing- gate follow the road up the hill out of the carpark past the metal barrier and the swing -gate is on the left.

6/15/2012 - JULIA VORSTER

I decided to run rather than walk this morning and this was a lovely route to take. My 2yr old labrador loved it too, although I had to lift her over the stiles into and out of the paddock before Gillridge, at 16 and 17. There was a bit too much road work for us to be a perfect route, but one we'll definitely do again. We didn't mind the mud, but I'd advise wellies or hiking boots, lots of it is under water!! Thanks for posting the walk!

6/5/2012 - Patricia Daw

We completed this in about the time the walk said it would take if you exclude time to stop and admire the beautiful views. It is a very varied walk with lots to see. We even stopped to have a chat with the volunteer manning the level crossing at wp24. We found the walk very, very wet in places - we had to back track at wp 27 and go into Groombridge on the road - it was just too wet down there. We enjoyed the walk very much - thank you. (Had lunch at The Hare Langton Green - highly recommend it).

5/30/2011 - Walkingworld Administrator

Our thanks to Sid Marks for his updates for this walk. May 2011. Adrian (Admin)

5/22/2011 - Sid Marks

Fantastic walk, superb views, excellent instructions. Recommended, although the path at the edge of the wood at waymark 4 was badly overgrown. After waymark 19 go through the kissing gate to find a bench for an ideal sandwich stop.

12/30/2009 - Joanne Ferguson

Just like to say thank you to Alan & Janet Love for introducing us to this picturesque bit of the world! Wear proper hiking boots as paths can be very muddy and wet.

6/24/2008 - Robert Honeyball

A lovely walk but I'd warn against eating at the Crown Inn in Groombridge - terrible food and even poorer customer service.

10/12/2005 - Phil Scudder

As a novice walker I enjoyed this walk very much. Although I did this on a wet afternoon it made me realise to buy a map case. You come out on a busy road just before Gillridge with no path and high banks, care needed.