Walk 2: We’re Going On A Bear Hunt

With the parks closed and the family garden working overtime, this has been one of our go to walks when we need to prise the kids off their iPads and burn off some steam after home schooling.

It’s short enough for our 4 year old to walk all the way without getting tired, whilst being sufficiently active to keep our 8 year old interested.

Every time I have walked this route I have seen young families getting outdoors and enjoying themselves, but it’s a lovely walk whatever your age. In all honesty its probably even more pleasurable when you are not accompanied by a small child poking you with a stick!

Starting off from the Vauxhall Inn (Please note that parking is for customers only), walk past the large metal gate to the right of the pub, and follow the track uphill until you reach Priory Wood. Once the site of a brick works, this is now a green space, awarded Fields in Trust status as part of the Queens Diamond jubilee celebrations.

The path runs all the way round the clearing so you can take either direction, or have a race with your kids. On the opposite side there is a smaller path branching off to a wooden gate. Go through the gate, follow the path to the left and then cross the footbridge with the A21 rushing past below you.

Pass through the metal kissing gate and then walk down the hill - this is a legendary Tonbridge sledging location on the rare occasions that we get snow. The tarmac path veers to the left, leading to the Cottage Hospital, but you need to keep going down hill.

At the bottom, go through the gate and cross over Vauxhall Lane into Little Rook Wood. The path curls round through the trees and across a stream, with fallen trees make natural bridges across the water.

If you go down to the woods today…

In Springtime this wood is filled with wild garlic, also known as bear leeks or bears garlic - as its bulbs are a favourite food of brown bears in mainland Europe. It’s not just bears that enjoy this plant though - if you fancy foraging some for yourself, its spear shaped leaves and delicate white flowers can be picked and made into a tasty homemade pesto. It’s quick and easy to make, you can find a recipe here. Perfect with pasta, spread on a baguette for homemade garlic bread, or mixed with mushrooms and slathered on toast.

Wild garlic flower

Clamber over the next stile and make your way through the field until you reach a wooden bridge, stopping for an obligatory game of pooh sticks. If you’ve not played before you can consult the rules here!

Cross over the bridge and back into the wood. The stream is much wider at this point, making it a good spot to paddle in. The water can be surprisingly deep in parts, so make sure little ones are supervised and watch where you tread.

Paddling in the shallows

Once you have finished paddling, walk up through the woods and go over the stile into the field. There will be another stile on your left. The path crosses the railway line at this point, so climb over and then stop, look and listen for trains before carefully crossing the tracks. This is the London to Hastings line - so trains going right will normally be heading to the seaside, and trains going left will be travelling to the city.

Walk up the hill beneath the towering pines and you will be able to make out the railway line running below you. At the end of the path you will emerge into a clearing where the pylons cut through the trees. Take an immediate left, opposite the big wooden gate and follow the path into the trees.

This is a lovely section of woodland, with fallen branches for little ones to climb over or under and more sticks than you can shake a stick at. In Spring this will be carpeted with bluebells, making it a stunning sight whatever your age.

Spring Bluebells

Keep going until you a reach a fork in the path, head to your right and then continue downhill through the field, walking between the bramble bushes. This is a good blackberry picking spot come late summer.

Continue into the little wood and over the narrow bridge. Walk along the path and then at the end turn left ontp the road and then take an immediate right.

Follow this road past the drainage pond and then turn left past the the large oak tree, continuing downhill until you reach Vauxhall Lane.

Cross over at the pelican crossing and walk under the flyover. Turn left at the roundabout, crossing the road with care, and you will see the Vauxhall Inn on your left. This is a family friendly pub/restaurant so is perfect if you want to re-fuel after your walk.